Classic Yaoi: Iris Print, "Paintings of You" and "Only Words"
What yaoi might never have been published if not for Kellie Lynch and her Iris Print?
That little publisher of Original English Language (OEL) yaoi prose and manga only lasted about a year--2007 to 2008--but gave us two ground-breaking graphic novels: Only Words by Tina Anderson and Caroline Monaco, and Paintings of You by Mia Paluzzi and Chris Delk (aka Chrissy Delk), to mention but two works.
I doubt either Words or Paintings, both of which vividly and graphically portray complicated emotional landscapes, would've found a home with any other publisher, either of manga or GLBT creations.
Words was, and remains, super-controversial (and is very graphically and sexually explicit). In perhaps 100 short pages it mixes the right emotional complexities, combined with solid historical detail, to make us believe that perhaps a Polish Catholic and a Hitler Youth may have had a love-hate encounter in Nazi-controlled Poland during World War II. One co-creator, Tina Anderson, is still active and has her own Web site, except she now specializes in mainstream prose only. The other co-creator, Caroline Monaco, cannot be located today--and may be a pseudonym.
By contrast Paintings of You is a gay-themed contemporary romantic comedy that should have commercial appeal beyond the yaoi market--even to TV or film. It's about various types of relationships, sexual and otherwise, and is told without any heavy sex scenes. Art students meet up, break up, and make up in some college town, amid gallery openings, cups of espresso, and nerve-wracking roommates. The characters--some are sensitive, others, flamboyant--provide enough emotional complexities to keep the plot moving. Creators Mia Paluzzo and Chris (Chrissy) Delk graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2006. From searching the Internet I conclude this is their only published graphic novel.
Because Iris Print existed, yaoi fans have Only Words and Paintings of You. Fortunately both are still readily available from various online sources. We know another OEL yaoi manga, Home on the Range, has never been published because Iris Print folded while that book was being promoted. I continue to hope another publisher (of graphic novels or GLBT literature, perhaps) picks it up.
Note: Iris Print is not to be confused with Iris Press, an entirely different publisher.
That little publisher of Original English Language (OEL) yaoi prose and manga only lasted about a year--2007 to 2008--but gave us two ground-breaking graphic novels: Only Words by Tina Anderson and Caroline Monaco, and Paintings of You by Mia Paluzzi and Chris Delk (aka Chrissy Delk), to mention but two works.
I doubt either Words or Paintings, both of which vividly and graphically portray complicated emotional landscapes, would've found a home with any other publisher, either of manga or GLBT creations.
Words was, and remains, super-controversial (and is very graphically and sexually explicit). In perhaps 100 short pages it mixes the right emotional complexities, combined with solid historical detail, to make us believe that perhaps a Polish Catholic and a Hitler Youth may have had a love-hate encounter in Nazi-controlled Poland during World War II. One co-creator, Tina Anderson, is still active and has her own Web site, except she now specializes in mainstream prose only. The other co-creator, Caroline Monaco, cannot be located today--and may be a pseudonym.
By contrast Paintings of You is a gay-themed contemporary romantic comedy that should have commercial appeal beyond the yaoi market--even to TV or film. It's about various types of relationships, sexual and otherwise, and is told without any heavy sex scenes. Art students meet up, break up, and make up in some college town, amid gallery openings, cups of espresso, and nerve-wracking roommates. The characters--some are sensitive, others, flamboyant--provide enough emotional complexities to keep the plot moving. Creators Mia Paluzzo and Chris (Chrissy) Delk graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2006. From searching the Internet I conclude this is their only published graphic novel.
Because Iris Print existed, yaoi fans have Only Words and Paintings of You. Fortunately both are still readily available from various online sources. We know another OEL yaoi manga, Home on the Range, has never been published because Iris Print folded while that book was being promoted. I continue to hope another publisher (of graphic novels or GLBT literature, perhaps) picks it up.
Note: Iris Print is not to be confused with Iris Press, an entirely different publisher.
posted by Lyn Jensen | 12:40 PM
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