Boys Love, or BL for short is a genre that depicts romantic and/or sexual relationships between men. It’s a rich genre with stunning variety in its themes and due to its popularity, the English market gets a satisfactory number of localized titles. The trends and tropes change and evolve over time, however, certain broad strokes or fan favorites remain.
The word ‘trope’ has a negative connotation among anime and manga fans, but it is merely a tool whose outcome depends on its implementation. The romance genre especially runs on tropes, but it’s either a setting or a dynamic that helps the reader decide whether to invest in a series or not. In this corner, I want to highlight 5 Boys Love VSC that share the same trope. Today’s theme is Guideverse! But first…
Sit down! Guideverse 101 is in session!
Guideverse is an alternate universe where espers with supernatural powers and strong fighting capabilities exist. While that’s useful in combat, they tend to go berserk if they are pent up with this power beyond control. Then, there are the guides who help these espers relieve that excess energy. They also have classes/ranks depending on how strong they are, similar to hunters.
The most basic type of guiding is through touch and the more compatible and intimate the esper and guide are, the more successful the guiding is. Among the works I’ve read, most of them indicate the level of excess energy of the esper through the eye color or its intensity. The universe draws a lot of inspiration from Omegaverse and most of the time mating/imprinting exists in Guideverse as well. However, while the broad strokes are pretty standard, every series creates a unique universe with diverse rules. This theme is most suitable to readers who likes action-packed series.
The structure of Guideverse might feel familiar, especially to fanfiction lovers. That would be because the origins of Guideverse are from The Sentinel, a TV show that aired in the 1990s. The show’s fandom created the Sentinel/Guide dynamics based on the series’ leads. Fast forward to today, and we have the Guideverse! Okay, class dismissed! Now scroll down for your required reading.
Civilian A
Writer/Artist: 149
Original Story: Golden Spirit
Translator: yw740030
Editor: Kelly Lee
QA/QC: Elizabeth
Graphic QA: Yoom
Platform: Tappytoon (All-ages)
Who says ordinary people like you and me will never get their moment under the spotlight? Howoo’s on his way to the office, expecting the day to go as always. However, a huge, dragon-like monster abruptly appears. Just when he thinks this is the end Howoo’s rescued by an incredibly famous and handsome esper Oh Yool.
Then coincidences start to pile up. Oh Yool turns out to be the new next-door neighbor. He also happens to be an amazing cook and extremely fun to be around. He’s there to pick Howoo up when he forgot to take his umbrella to work. Howoo’s not one to question the status quo and enjoys the fairy tale life. If only that weird, almost electrifying sensation he feels whenever he touches Yool could go away…
Civilian A is a webnovel written by Golden Spirit and subsequently adapted into the vertical-scrolling comic format by 149. The series is currently in its third season and still ongoing, with 54 chapters available as of now.
The world Howoo and Yool inhabit is filled with dangerous monsters. People who are neither espers nor guides are confined in the city. Thanks to the espers their numbers have died down, and daily life in the city is fairly normal. When people reach the age of 15, they are required to take an aptitude test. Whether one has a superpower or not heavily affects the course of their life.
One of the points that stood out to me in Civilian A is the way civilians treat espers. You’d expect they’d be celebrated and admired given that they constantly fight for the safety of the civilians. But on the contrary, people openly avoid being near espers, and sometimes even feel reluctant to shake their hand or make eye contact. They are feared exactly because they’re powerful. It was so interesting to see in a Guideverse VSC!
Civilian A isn’t exactly subtle with its hints. In the first three or four chapters we get that Howoo will present as a guide and be the only one who can provide relief to the all-too-powerful Yool. It’s also hinted that they know each other from their childhood, so it’s up to the reader to continue reading and find the details out.
If you enjoy a love interest who’s a golden retriever to the male lead but a demon incarnate to everyone else, who hides something dark lurking beneath the surface, and a male lead who’s so air headed that it makes you wonder how he managed to reach the young adult phase in one piece, give Civilian A a chance!
Tangled Leashes
Writer/Artist: Kae-Sam
Platform: Lezhin (Mature)
Rick is the embodiment of a puppy. Doe eyes, honest, energetic. The only thing that clashes with that image is his gigantic body. But he’s a well-liked person among his peers. As an esper, he always strives to do his best, but that also means he gets hurt a tad too often. He’s excited to finally meet his guide but the gorgeous Beliel’s character is too hard to read! The way their skins touch, though, tells another story.
Kae-Sam‘s latest work to become available in English, Tangled Leashes, is an R-rated, short, completed series. Their first and longer VSC, Comfort Rewinder, is available on Pocket Comics.
To be real with you, there’s not much else to tell you about this series! It’s only 4 chapters in total, after all. So you’d be in for an intense “Wha-????” session if you expect a deep story where the creator delves into the human condition or something.
Tangled Leashes is a smutty romp that doesn’t go to lengths to create a fictional world or introduce obstacles for our leads to grapple with, but it’s the perfect choice for a quickie—pun intended. It’s short, it’s steamy, and you can read it during lunch under the inquisitive gazes of your coworkers wondering what in the world in your phone could make you giggle so mischievously.
If you love beefcakes, bottoms bigger than their tops, and prefer uncensored VSCs, this series is waiting for you to check it out! Worth noting that although espers are the tops in Guideverse similar to how alphas are in Omegaverse, here it’s the esper who’s the bottom.
Approximal Guide
Writer/Artist: PiHing
Original Story: Argon18
Translator: Toni
Editor: Sami
QA/QC: Jen Lee
Graphic QA: Yoom
Platform: Tappytoon (All-ages & Mature)
What Kang Hajeong knows about his situation so far: Hee should’ve died on the field, but somehow he’s alive. The guild ward he knows like the back of his hand seems to have gone through subtle changes. For some reason, everyone looks at him with disdain now and even the season seems to have turned to winter. Right when he was about to retire from the military, he was assigned to Kim Muhyeok, an S++ esper who recently awakened, as an instructor and a guide. He saved Muhyeok by putting his life on the line—he was an exceptional esper after all. But the way he’s being treated now tells Hajeong something went very, very wrong.
Approximal Guide is one of the newer additions to Tappytoon’s library! It’s currently in its first season with 18 chapters available. The series was originally a webnovel written by Argon18 and then adapted into a VSC by PiHing. While Argon18 has another Guideverse BL credited to their name, it seems to be PiHing’s first commercial VSC.
Wow, this one really doesn’t spare you the pain and hits you with the feels right from the first episode! People who present as espers or guides are to train at the military academy from an early age. Hajeong is one of them and despite what he went through, he’s also made close friends and enjoyed the time he spent teaching Muhyeok. As someone who awakened in his 20s, suddenly adapting to the strict hierarchy of the military wasn’t easy for Muhyeok, but Hajeong was like a lifeline for him.
It’s quite a common theme in BL where one of the two close people dies and wakes up in someone else’s body, then meets the other person again. I even recommended one that is set in the modern day in one of K-Beat’s monthly recommendations. I’m impressed by how the trope’s implemented into the plot and how the creators have given more thought to how espers and guides come to be in this particular universe instead of simply appearing. I appreciate the series not watering down the inhumane treatment that happens within the military.
The body Colonel Kang Hajeong woke up inside is incidentally another Kang Hajeong, but only a D-level guide who’s a sergeant. From what the old Hajeong could figure out in a limited time, he’s had his fair share of troubles int the military. I’m looking forward to the chapters that will cover his past and current relationship with Muhyeok who’s now a captain.
The art style of PiHing is to my taste as well. I love the bold, sharp outer lines that give the characters the edge needed. The earthy color palettes reflect the military setting suitably as well. I’d recommend this to readers who love the trope I mentioned above, the military setting and uniforms, and draw pleasure from getting their hearts broken!
Guiding Hazard
Writer: Sunsun
Artist: Chungnyun
Platform: Lezhin (Mature)
With his popularity, one might mistake Lee Taegun for a world-famous heartthrob idol. If he were one, at least his life wouldn’t be in immediate danger! Instead, he’s one of the few S-class espers in the world, slaving away from one dungeon to another. The horrible side effects he’s suffering from exerting so much power? Those are to be endured away from the onlookers, in solitude. Taegun refuses to be guided for reasons, but his health bar is one uppercut from being K.O.’ed. That’s when Seo Eunsung is summoned, a guide who’s on equal footing with Taegun in every aspect. And he’s determined to get under this unreasonably obstinate esper’s skin.
Guiding Hazard is created by a two-person team composed of the author Sunsun, and the artist Chungnyun. While this seems to be Sunsun’s first commercial BL, Chungyun has two other BL VSCs to their name together with MasterGin as the author, Angel Buddy and Royal Servant.
Guiding Hazard is created by a two-person team composed of the author Sunsun and the artist Chungnyun. While this seems to be Sunsun’s first commercial BL, Chungyun has two other BL VSCs to their name together with MasterGin as the author: Angel Buddy and Royal Servant.
I love how Lezhin defines the two as “the irresistible force meets the immovable object” and it couldn’t be more true! I remember seeing this series when it was first launched, but the key visual didn’t appeal to me, so I skipped it. The past me needs to be taught a good lesson.
This is because the way Chungnyun draws these characters in the chapters is more appealing than the promotional artwork! And once I picked it up for this list, I couldn’t put it down. Seo Enunsung’s character defying my first impression of him in the first chapter played a crucial role in my interest. Similar to Tangled Leashes above, the esper is the bottom in this Guideverse.
Another strong point of Guiding Hazard is that this series is very self-aware and doesn’t take itself seriously when necessary, which easily lends itself to instances where I rolled on my couch from laughing. Simply because the floor is too cold.
The series is currently in the midst of its second season with 46 chapters available, and I’m certainly looking forward to lose myself in it! And then shamelessly complain online about how I need the next chapter ASAP.
Guiding Hazard is perfect for readers who are looking for interesting worldbuilding, great humor, and good communication between the leads! Sending my heartfelt prayers for Eunsung’s remaining sanity. Truly the strongest soldier among us!
The S-Class Guide as Sweet as Honey
Writer: sua
Artist: Dalpi
Original Story: Canibs
Translator: Mimi
Editor: Sally
QA/QC: Jen Lee
Graphic QA: Ian P
Platform: Tappytoon (S1: All-ages, S2: All-ages & Mature)
Despite being an S-class guide that any guild would die to recruit, Jin Hyoseop is looking for a bottom-of-the-barrel guild composed of C-class espers where he won’t be doing anything more than basic guiding. He assumes it won’t be easy and guild commanders will pry into his reasons, but surprisingly Andante ends up accepting Hyoseop and his condition. The members of the guild Onaip are a little eccentric, and god knows why they keep coming to the office all badly battered and bruised. Weren’t this guild more of an odd job agency? Or did Hyoseop unknowingly bite more than he can chew?
The S-Class Guide as Sweet as Honey just concluded its first season with 45 chapters. The first season was all-ages, but for the second season, we’re moving up the gears! Both sua and Dalpi have other works credited to their name, but only sua‘s Perle, where they are the artist instead of the author this time, is licensed in English under the pen name Arthur.
When I first started reading The S-Class Guide as Sweet as Honey, I wasn’t aware of the existence of Guideverse and assumed it was just a variation on the hunters/healers I’m more familiar with. Surprise, surprise!
I don’t know what stood out to urge me to give it a chance, but I’m so glad I did! I have a special place in my heart for characters like Hyoseop who are honest and naive, at times to a fault. Andante’s personality is one of my favorites as well; he’s such a smooth, sweet-talker with a devilish charm and even seeing the trouble he’ll cause you from a mile away won’t stop you from giving into the sweet temptation. You said you needed my soul, good sir? You got yourself a contract.
And that’s also why Andante and Hyoseop make a good pair. The more you progress and get a better picture of the machinations of the world the clearer it becomes that Onaip has a hidden agenda. They are certainly not the C-class espers they claim to be, and Andante isn’t a saint who provides a place for an S-class guide and respects his conditions.
Despite knowing what to say and which buttons to push to get Hyoseop where he wants him to be, you can notice Hyoseop’s openness and kindness slowly but surely change Andante as well. Can’t wait to see the exact moment when Andante finally notices he’s no better than me and has caught feelings for the ball of cuteness that is Hyoseop.
I’d recommend The S-Class Guide as Sweet as Honey to people who can’t get enough of teasing and tangible sexual tension between the male leads, who’d be interested in power struggles between guilds and past resentment resurfacing here and there. Extra points if your bias is Hyoseop.
Guideverse Boys Love: Guide me to church (of hunky men)
Whew! This was as much a learning experience and a bizarre yet beautiful adventure for me, as I hope it was for you. From simply enjoying a new BL I jumpstarted my journey down the rabbit hole that is Guideverse.
As always, let us know what are your favorite Guideverse titles or whether you feel more inclined to check out a title. Don’t forget to study for the midterms and see you next time!
Catch up with previous entries in K-Comics Beat’s Boys Love for Life series by clicking here!
