Candy Color Paradox Manga Ends After a 17-Year Journey
One of the most established and beloved titles in the Boys' Love (BL) world, Candy Color Paradox (Ameiro Paradox), has completed its long-running journey. The series, written by the renowned artist Isaku Natsume, bid farewell to its readers with the final chapter published in Shinshokan's Dear+ magazine. First beginning its publication in 2009, this adventure managed to build a loyal fanbase over the course of 17 years.
The series focuses on the dynamic relationship between Satoshi Onoe, an honest reporter working for a gossip magazine, and his polar opposite, the playboy photographer Motoharu Kaburagi. The story, which follows this duo as they form a forced partnership and eventually fall in love while chasing celebrities during secret stakeouts, is considered one of the most successful examples of the "enemies-to-lovers" trope in the genre. The conflict between Onoe's sense of justice and Kaburagi's professional coldness kept the series' humorous and romantic aspects alive for years.
Candy Color Paradox did not just remain on the pages of manga; it also served as the inspiration for a live-action television series in 2022. The eight-episode series, starring Keito Kimura and Jyutaro Yamanaka, increased the series' popularity on a global scale and helped it reach a new audience. This adaptation received full marks from critics and fans alike for successfully reflecting the character chemistry from the manga onto the screen.
While author Isaku Natsume has become one of the most respected names in the modern BL genre with this work, the series finale is being described as the end of an era within the community. Although the release date for the final volume of the manga, which has seen 8 volumes published to date, has not yet been finalized, fans are already excited to complete their collections. What new projects Natsume will present after this iconic series is currently one of the most anticipated topics in the manga world.
