The Poe Clan

The Poe Clan is a remarkable yet melancholic supernatural BL that explores the inherent misery of immortality and having loved and lost. The story of The Poe Clan is a memoir uniquely told in non-chronological order, with its events spanning between the 18th and 20th centuries. Each chapter is a glimpse into the life of its protagonist, Edgar Portnell, trapped in eternal youth as a teenage vampire. The portrayal of vampires is unique in this manga and are instead called "Vampirnella" and are characterized with more uncommon traits that don't typically show up in traditional Western European folklore. The narrative of this manga primarily centers aroundEdgar and the two loves of his life: his dear sister, Marybelle, and his male companion, Alan Twilight. Over the course of 200 years, Edgar and his loved ones will mysteriously enter and exit the lives of many people they encounter on their lonely journey through eternal youth. Most of those they share their lives with are envious of their immortality, which makes for a somber exploration of life without death, and yearning for eternal youth. The themes presented in this series are handled very tenderly and make for a bittersweet read through from start to finish. The characters presented in this BL have genuine chemistry with each other, unlike most I've seen from this genre. Edgar is ruthless and sardonic, while Alan is pompous and mischievous. The Bond between Edgar and Allan is quite captivating as their opposite personalities bounce off each other and create a playful yet steadfast dynamic. As for Edgar's sister Marybelle, she plays an incredibly important role in the chemistry of their relationship as she is the catalyst for Edgar and Alan's everlasting bond. I appreciate that Marybelle is an important leading heroine within the story and has actual self-agency. She actively contributes a positive development to the relationship between Edgar and Alan without being used as a vehicle to create tension between the two male protagonists. Marybelle's involvement in the plot makes The Poe Clan really stand out in the BL genre as she is more than just the token female, and her character is handled with sincerity without contributing to harmful tropes applied to a majority of female characters that appear in BL stories. One of the most remarkable characteristics of The Poe Clan is its art. Each page is filled with luscious, elegant details that flow with the panel structure. Its art style defines the Showa era of shojo manga, along with its beautiful character designs that complement the lavish atmosphere. Taking a major inspiration from Western European art, the illustrations accompanying this series are among the most breathtaking from this early era of shojo that pioneered the BL genre. I think after reading The Poe Clan, this might be one of my favorite BL manga series. I cannot put into words how significant the Showa era was to developing the shojo demographic, so I am genuinely grateful that a manga this old has been officially published in English and made available for future generations and BL fans alike to enjoy.