In a world overflowing with polished webtoon platforms and licensed manga apps, My Reading Manga stands out as a raw, underground haven for fans of BL, yaoi, doujinshi, and taboo themed storytelling. It’s not just another manga site it’s a cultural archive powered by anonymous uploads, fan translators, and a fiercely loyal global audience.
But with growing concerns about legality, safety, and the explicit nature of its content, many new users ask the same question:
Is MyReadingManga still worth visiting in 2025?
This isn’t your average surface level review. In this blog, we dive deep examining the platform’s history, community culture, legal risks, and why it continues to thrive despite the odds. Whether you’re a first time visitor or a longtime fan, here’s everything you need to know before hitting “read” on My Reading Manga.
What Is My Reading Manga?
Founded around early 2010s, its database has grown organically through user uploads, often from:
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Anonymous contributors
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Scanners and fan translators
- Reddit and Discord manga circles
It’s less a business and more a grassroots project, driven by desire to preserve queer, censored, or forgotten manga content, especially from Japan’s doujin culture.
Content Library Breakdown
Unique Categories:
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Bara: Muscular male characters, hypermasculine art, Japanese gay comics
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Shotacon: Underage themes, controversial but deeply requested
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Futanari: Gender bending/fantasy content not hosted on mainstream BL sites
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Western Yaoi Doujinshi: Even some fan made BL by non Japanese creators
- Tag Heavy Kink Sorting: Includes BDSM, age gap, taboo, cross dressing, and more
⚠️ Important: The site doesn’t shy away from dark, controversial, or NSFW content. Reader discretion is essential.
Languages Available:
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English (primary)
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Japanese (raw)
- Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese (via community translators)
Site Structure & User Behavior
Despite its raw layout, MRM is highly functional. The structure favors:
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No account needed
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Tag based filtering
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Chronological posting
- Comment system (often used for warnings, corrections, and trigger alerts)
Why users stay:
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Content that even Futekiya or Lezhin won’t touch
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Nostalgia for manga that vanished from print
- Anonymous access to taboo material
Ethical & Legal Analysis
MRM operates in a copyright gray zone. Most uploads fall into three categories:
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Old works no longer in circulation
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Fan translations without permission
- Doujinshi shared outside of Comic Market (Comiket)
Legal Risk Score:
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Reading: Low risk (personal use)
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Uploading: Medium–High risk (depending on your country)
- Downloading or redistributing: High risk
Some manga artists have publicly condemned fan uploads, especially of works sold via DLsite or BOOTH.
But others remain silent or supportive, knowing MRM helps build international fanbases.
Cultural Insight: Why MRM Thrives
Japanese BL culture is built around:
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Fan interpretation
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Taboo as fantasy
- Blurred lines between shipping, kink, and identity
Western platforms like Tapas or Webtoon often sanitize BL. MRM preserves the raw, explicit, and transgressive roots of BL culture.
It’s not just manga it’s a window into:
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Japanese gender expression
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Queer erotic art evolution
- Underground fandom circles
Community Voice: What Readers Say
Reddit, Tumblr, and BL Discord servers have ongoing discussions about MRM.
Real User Feedback:
🗣️ “I only found a 1999 DJ of Cardcaptor Sakura here. Nowhere else.”
🗣️ “Not proud of what I read there sometimes… but it scratches a very real itch.”
🗣️ “I found content that helped me understand my queerness more than any webtoon.”
Despite some ethical debates, MRM is viewed as irreplaceable by many global fans.
Controversy: Is It Too Problematic?
Yes. Even within the BL fandom, MyReadingManga is divisive.
Concerns:
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Underage character depictions (Shotacon, Loli)
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Rape/non consensual storylines
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No age verification
- No formal content moderation
Some users advocate for:
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Better tagging
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Trigger warning systems
- Hard filters for minors
But its lack of moderation is also why many still use it for total creative freedom.
Comparison with Other Platforms
| Platform | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| MRM | Free, raw, rare content | Legally grey, NSFW, unfiltered |
| Futekiya | Legal, high-quality BL | Subscription only, SFW |
| Lezhin | Beautiful art, licensed stories | Expensive, paywall heavy |
| MangaDex | Community based, safe BL uploads | No explicit content allowed |
Should You Use It?
Yes, but with caution.
MRM is like the underground music tape swap of the manga world. It isn’t polished, or fully legal, but it’s raw, passionate, and often the only source for otherwise lost queer media.
Recommended For:
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BL/yaoi fans seeking uncensored variety
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Queer readers exploring niche themes
- Manga historians and doujin collectors
Not Recommended For:
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Minors
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Readers looking for safe for work or romance only stories
- Anyone unwilling to take basic cybersecurity precautions
Most Important Review Table
| Factor | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Content Variety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Unmatched for taboo and rare BL content |
| Legality | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | Unlicensed, fan uploaded, legally grey |
| Safety | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | Use VPN, antivirus, and ad blocker |
| Navigation | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | Functional, but unpolished interface |
| Cultural Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Preserves fan driven queer storytelling |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Powerful platform if you know the risks |
Would you like this converted into HTML, or need image banners, content filter widgets, or a downloadable PDF version for content upgrades?
Thanks for pointing that out! Here’s a well crafted FAQ section tailored to the deep, detailed review of MyReadingManga:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is My Reading Manga legal?
Not officially. Most of the content is uploaded without permission from the creators or publishers. It’s in a legal grey zone. Reading for personal use is typically low risk, but uploading or distributing can be illegal depending on your country’s copyright laws.
Is MyReadingManga safe to browse?
Generally yes, if you’re cautious. The site itself doesn’t require login, but:
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Use an ad blocker to prevent popups.
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Avoid clicking on download links unless you trust the source.
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Consider browsing in incognito/private mode.
- Install basic antivirus protection.
Why is MyReadingManga blocked in some countries?
Because of explicit adult content and legal grey areas, some ISPs or governments block access. If the site isn’t loading:
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Try using a VPN
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Look for mirror links on Reddit or Discord
- Avoid unknown mirror sites to prevent phishing
Can I download manga from MyReadingManga?
There is no official download feature. You can:
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Use browser extensions like Image Downloader (at your own risk)
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Screenshot pages for offline viewing
- Avoid third-party APKs or software that promise batch downloads they may contain malware
Does MyReadingManga have an app?
No. My Reading Manga is browser based only. There’s no official app on Android or iOS. If you find one, it’s likely fake or unsafe.
What kind of content does it host?
Mostly:
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Yaoi / BL (romantic/erotic male male stories)
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Bara (gay manga with masculine characters)
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Doujinshi (fan comics, often NSFW)
- Themes include BDSM, incest, age gap, fantasy, and taboo scenarios
⚠️ Not all content is tagged with warnings. Read summaries carefully.
Is there a community or forum?
MRM itself doesn’t have a built in forum, but you’ll find large user bases on:
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Reddit (e.g., r/My Reading Manga)
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Discord (BL, bara, and yaoi fan groups)
- Tumblr and Pinterest (for tagged collections and recs)