Young Bottoms in Love [Paperback]

Tim Fish (Author, Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Poison Press (February 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976278677
• ISBN-13: 978-0976278672
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,981,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Favorite, May 23, 2007

By 

Joe Palmer (Champaign, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Young Bottoms in Love (Paperback)

YOUNG BOTTOMS IN LOVE had its ambitious beginnings several years ago when, as recounted in this book's foreword, Tim Fish proposed to Pop Image editor Ed Mathews the idea of a daily online strip that would give the kitsch romance genre a gay makeover. Brett Hopkins and Randall Kirby stepped up to donate time and talent as co-editors, and YBIL became a sensation.

There's good news for you if life has been a little less gay, in either sense of the word, since the end of the webcomic! Many of the strips from the feature's four-year run are now thankfully collected into a trade paperback volume. Numbering over 350 pages and weighing a hefty 1 and ¾ lbs, the book also contains new strips and illustrations sprinkled throughout.

Not impressed by "stats"? You're more interested in "character"? These short stories evoke a wide variety of "personality" from witty, charming, bittersweet, fun, "feel-good," poignant, and, of course, kitschy. On the visual side, the array of art styles is equally impressive. A majority of the art is cartoon-like, by no means a put-down in my opinion. Other stories are drawn in a more photo-realistic manner, and a few that sidestep notions of traditionally accepted comic book art are told in very welcomed eclectic styles. There were a couple examples of art that didn't immediately attract my eye. I'm happy to report that my initial uncertain reaction changed for the positive upon reading those individual stories though.

My copy arrived in the mail last Wednesday, a lot quicker than anticipated. I love to read, and small stacks of books and a weekly stash of comics waiting to be read "decorate" my apartment. What to do? Now, being a creature of habit meant I had to thumb through the book, and my question was answered. The other stuff would have to wait and I immediately sat down and began devouring the short five-page stories. The yarns so entranced me that it was hard to put the book down for long and only an urgent personal matter kept me from finishing it over a couple of days.

As with most anthologies, you'll likely have your favorite stories. It isn't my intent to slight any of the writers or artists by listing only a few here because they've all turned in admirable work here. Next week I'll likely be drawn to different stories, too. A few of my favorites are: Monica Gallagher's "The Myth of Hyacinth," a retelling of the how the god Apollo fell in love with the beautiful Hyacinth; François Peneaud and Roger Zanni's "The Gardener," a son's coming out as seen by his father, himself, and the gardener who seduces him; Mike DiMotta and Greg Lockard's "Beauty and the Beast," skewering of body image dictates; Frank Muse and Andy Swist's take on a similar theme in "But They Never Live Up to My Expectations"; and "Grinding Curiosity" from Decker and Paige Braddock if only because one of the guys resembles Braddock's Ethan character from "Jane's World" that I've a crush on.

Contributions from Bill Roundy and Kyle Cummings are also up there. Last and not least is Howard Cruse's "The Hypnotist," which served as the webcomic's finale, and Adam DeKraker's spoof of a Marvel cover colored by my talented friend Phil Good. Fans of Tim Fish's Cavalcade of Boys comics will be entertained by his contributions, too.


YBIL leaves me with another pleasant predicament - finding a spot on a bookcase already filled with favorite graphic novels and trades.

Still need an incentive? Proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to several non-profit organizations. Seems like a win-win situation to me!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just splendid, June 1, 2007

By 

Larsson Fredrik "FavouriteFredrik" (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Young Bottoms in Love (Paperback)

This collection of issues of all YBIL is just splendid in all it's colourful richness. For those yearning for gay-themed stories, plenty is found here. Spanning from the broody and thoughtful to the lushly romantic and playful, these tales will always find their way in to your heart, simply because that is where they sprang from. Though incorporating many different styles of art and storytelling genres, the warmth of creative caring unites this lovely whole of a publication. It's folded cardboard cover and neat size makes it the perfect bed companion for many nights to come. Well, in lieu of something warmer, anyway...

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely comics, August 27, 2007

By 

Ventura Angelo (Brescia, Lombardia Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Young Bottoms in Love (Paperback)

This book is a bountiful! Dozen of artists give us his or her vision of the gay experience, from the almost caricaturally emo romance to the funny, from the dark to the endearing. The Authors include Tim Fish, Bill Roundy, Robert Kirby, Monica Gallagher, and many others.The last story by Howard Cruse, My Hypnotist, is the splendid conclusion of a great project.