Seibetsu X
X-Gender

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1 Recommended

1 Mixed Feelings

1 Not Recommended

Feb 26, 2023

Ins3rt_Us3rnam3

This manga is incredibly informative to anyone who has questions about gender and/or sexuality, and if you already know a lot about that kind of stuff and/or are gender queer, then this is one of the most validating manga for you. Not to mention, what's not to like about a manga where the main character loves anime and manga? Overall a great slice of life that along the way teaches you a lot of stuff you might be wondering about when it comes to gender identity. 10/10 would recommend.

In my opinion the story was incredibly unique because other than Ranma 1/2 and Host Club, ... there are very few manga where a significant character in the story is genderqueer rather than just a crossdresser played for laughs(keep in mind I do not hate cross-dressing manga at all). Let alone, one where the main character is not only non-binary, but teaches you everything you need to know about what that is. Not to mention, the manga is surprisingly funny. I laughed out loud a number of times.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Jun 27, 2023

Helvian494743

X-Gender is an autobiographical manga quite literally split in two. Composed of two equal-length volumes, the two parts delineate two very different manga.

The first volume of X-Gender is a delightful look at the struggles of Asuka Miyazaki, who identifies as X-Gender, a non-binary identity. Asuka's personality and struggles are quite relatable and well delivered. There's a real charm to watching Asuka's struggles through navigating the precarious dating world around them. The manga also provides useful terminology and gives a good look at the LGBT scene in Japan.

The second volume of X-Gender is less of an autobiographical manga and more of a real-time blog of ... what's going on in Asuka's life, meaning the story gets much less focused. While volume 1 gives essentially no focus to Asuka struggling to come up with chapter material, it becomes a running plot-line in volume 2. The first chapter of the volume starts with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively ending the chapters focusing on Asuka dating around, which was previously a highlight of the manga. Asuka's mental state seems to have taken a hit during this time period, as more chapters were focused on them talking about increasingly dark topics. Suicide, antinatalism, and euthanasia are all topics given entire chapters. The increasingly grim nature of the manga is quite jarring and makes it loose the charm and relatable nature it once had.

I can only recommend this manga on the basis of the first volume, but if you like it then I don't want to discourage you from continuing. There are good chapters to be found in volume 2, but they are unfortunately fewer and far between.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Aug 25, 2025

randomsnarfle

Let me start off by saying this: volume 1 is very good. The author has a very strong voice and personality that comes through their writing, and if you're a fan of LGBT autobiographies, then this is a good read.

But I cannot in any good conscience recommend volume 2.

Through no fault of the author, covid-19 essentially cut off whatever momentum they were building up to with Volume 1. As a result, Volume 2 is very much a disjointed mess as the author grasps at straws to find some topic to write about. While there are some highlights, like the author touching on their attempts to ... return to normalcy and a brief flashback to their school days, everything else is just meandering essays on a myriad of mental health adjacent topics.

Of all the colorful characters who appeared in the story in the first volume, like K or her friend from high school, only the General appears again, and only for a brief moment. It honestly felt like reading a completely different series, less about the author's life, and more just a collection of essays with pictures.

This series also has, in my opinion, a very unhealthy obsession with suicide. A two page spread is spent just gathering quotes from authors who've killed themselves, multiple chapters are spent discussing the ways they struggle not to think about doing it themselves and the different methods they could use, they genuinely try to convince the reader to agree with a life philosophy that believes humans should die out, and to top it all off, to choose an essay on the benefits of euthanasia for the mentally ill as the final chapter was... a choice! I can't help but feel like their editor was taking advantage their poor mental health to make them publish such sensationalized topics.

If you have ever struggled with thoughts of taking your own life, seriously do not read this book! This thing needs a content warning! It's not even about gender anymore at a certain point, and the author even alludes to their "male side" fading away in a random mention about halfway through volume 2, and it's just never addressed again after that. The entire premise of the series, discussing their gender identity, is thrown away in favor of them trying to justify why you should be totally okay with suicide.

If you want a raw and real look at an lgbt person struggling with mental health, go read Nagata Kabi. At least her works are self-aware. This book felt like a deeply unwell person screaming into the paper that they're totally fine, as they meticulously plan out their eventual death for everyone to read.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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by Keizakomu

by Keizakomu

by Keizakomu