'Fake' as a genuine GLAAD contender

Lyle of Crocodile Caucus offers a glimpse at the nomination process for the GLAAD Media Awards, and explains why, as a member of the comic book committee, he'll be pushing for Fake to make the cut:

This year, I am taking a stand that Fake is worthy of consideration. Publishing Fake was a daring move for Tokyopop. With the exception of Banana Fish (where our heroes' relationship is limited to the two heroes saving each other from danger while the villains are pedophiles with no regrets about who they've hurt in the past) shounen-ai stories hadn't made it to American shores. Before Fake's success, the idea that there was a mainstream audience that would cheer for two guys to work out their differences and fall in love seemed like one most publishers weren't ready to try out.

Thanks to the success of Fake (and, sigh, Gravitation) other manga publishers are putting out shounen-ai and even YAOI titles. Manga has seen a huge growth in the past few years, bringing non-comic readers to the hobby and finding an audience and Toykopop has been one of the format's leaders, reaching a large number of readers who mostly buy their graphic literature in a place more accessible than the specialty shop.

He also rattles off a list of other gay-themed comics and storylines that caught his eye in 2004.