With so much great all-ages content out there and more arriving every week, whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian or young reader, sifting through it all can be a daunting task. Of course, tastes and reading lists are subjective and even change over time. With an ever-growing collection of newly released and classic books, Multiversity’s Bookshelf Basics is designed not only to give you a place to start, it’s a resource to return to as your tastes and interests change. In today’s installment, we look at “My Brother’s Husband, Volume 2,” writer-illustrator Gengoroh Tagame’s exploration of contemporary Japanese attitudes toward homosexuality via the simple, daily experiences of one suburban Tokyo family.
Written and Illustrated by Gengoroh TagameCover by Chip Kidd
Translated by Anne IshiiAs Mike continues his journey of discovery concerning Ryoji’s past, Yaichi gradually comes to understand that being gay is just another way of being human. And that, in many ways, remains a radical concept in Japan even today. In the meantime, the bond between Mike and young Kana grows ever stronger, and yet he is going to have to return to Canada soon—a fact that fills them both with impending heartbreak. But not before more than a few revelations come to light.
Okay, Let’s Start with the Basics
As the title implies, “My Brother’s Husband, Volume Two” is the sequel to the first volume of Gengoroh Tagame’s Eisner winning smash hit. Whereas the first volume collected the original monthly series that was published in Japan from 2014 – 2017, however, the second volume is entirely new. Meanwhile, the original source material was also adapted into a three-episode live-action TV series in Japan, produced by NHK. Clearly, Tagame hit a nerve in his native Japan, while also capturing the imagination of fans around the world. In fact, the work is very much rooted in Japanese culture, traditions and social norms while also maintaining great universal appeal. For an American audience, in particular, some of the book’s power may lie in forcing readers to confront and examine deeply ingrained, systemic biases by comparing and contrasting the almost invisible but very real homophobic tendencies of another culture.
What’s It All About?
“My Brother’s Husband, Volume Two” picks up exactly where the first book left off. That said, the story is complete in itself and there’s nothing you need to know from the first volume to fully enjoy the second.
As in the first book, the basic set-up is simple and straightforward: single, stay-at-home dad Yaichi Origuchi continues to host his unexpected house guest from Canada, Mike Flanagan, the titular husband. Naturally, there are several complicating factors that fuel the plot. First off, Yaichi had been estranged from his twin brother Ryōji, who’d moved to Canada to live in a less repressive, more accepting environment. There, Ryōji met Mike, fell in love and got married. Mike and Ryōji had always planned to travel to Japan to meet Ryōji’s family, but Ryōji passed away before that could ever happen. Thus, Mike was forced to make the journey alone.
In the first book and throughout the second, Yaichi’s daughter Kana is completely smitten with her big, burly, amazingly affable uncle. She accepts him unconditionally, bonding with him over food, various aspects of Japanese culture and the small but significant rituals of everyday life. All the while, Kana’s unbridled enthusiasm forces her father to confront his own homophobia and examine the roots of his deeply entrenched prejudices. And he does exactly that, slowly growing and changing, one small step at a time.
What Makes It Essential?
“My Brother’s Husband, Volume 2” is slice-of-life Manga at it’s best. There aren’t any major plot points or big, theatrical crises. Rather, the story is told through a series of tightly structured and well constructed vignettes. There is dramatic tension to be sure, but the script and the images are seamlessly in sync, flowing intuitively from one beat to the next with expertly composed pages and panels.
It’s also exceptionally well balanced. Clearly, Yaichi is the protagonist in the conventional sense of the word, but this isn’t only his story. It’s a true ensemble piece with Mike and Kana each playing integral roles, not to mention other important, exceptionally well rounded characters who lift the story to unexpected heights.
Continued belowIntriguingly, each chapter basically reads like a complete short story with its own narrative arc, but upon completing one, you’ll no don’t want to press on to see what happens next. It all feels very lifelike, yet also well shaped and well crafted. Indeed, much of the story is told in the literal and metaphorical white space where the reader must fill in the blanks, connect the dots and flesh out the details. Tagame’s illustrations, especially, exist in this magical world of “show, don’t tell” without being heavy-handed or overly obvious. No doubt, his artistic style is essentially textbook Manga – immediately accessible, bold, energetic and clear – but it also feels incredibly authentic. You don’t simply read the comic, you actually experience the story on a deep, visceral level.
How Can You Read It?
You can find “My Brother’s Husband, Volume 2” in hard cover at book stores everywhere, as well as local comic shops and online retailers. You can also find it in various ebook versions, including Kobo and Google Play.
In Conclusion
Even more nuanced and intimate than the first book, “My Brother’s Husband, Volume 2” is expertly crafted Manga that tells the simple story of three individuals – Yaichi, Mike and Kana – who bond and become a family by living together and sharing life’s daily experiences.
