FAKE Review: Two NYPD Detectives Navigate Casework, a Child They're Foster-Parenting, and Their Feelings for Each Other
by Sanami Matoh
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Quick Take
- FAKE was one of the earliest boys' love manga to reach English-language audiences in a physical print edition — a historical landmark in BL publishing in the West
- The NYPD detective setting and police procedural elements give the series a grounded quality unusual in boys' love of its era
- 7 volumes complete; classic BL that holds up through its character dynamics
Who Is This Manga For?
- Boys' love readers interested in the genre's English-language history
- Anyone who wants BL with a police procedural backdrop
- Readers who enjoy the "persistent suitor and reluctant object" romantic structure
- Adult readers looking for classic complete BL
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: M (Mature) Content Warnings: Mature sexual content; police work violence and crime; found-family dynamics with a minor character; Dee's persistent pursuit
M rating — adult readers only; violence from police procedural elements alongside mature romantic content.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★☆☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Dee Laytner and Randy McLean — called Ryo — are NYPD detective partners. Dee is aggressive, extroverted, and has decided that he is interested in Ryo. Ryo is reserved, conscientious, and has not decided anything clearly.
A runaway child named Bikky attaches to Ryo and effectively joins his household — Ryo's instinct toward care extends to this child in ways that establish the found-family element that runs through the series. Bikky does not trust Dee and makes this clear.
The series alternates between police cases that the partners work together and the developing personal dynamic: Dee's pursuit, Ryo's ambivalence, Bikky's hostility, and the gradual accumulation of genuine relationship across seven volumes and multiple years of partnership.
Characters
Dee Laytner — A character whose energy and persistence are comic and earnest in equal measure; his certainty about his feelings for Ryo is one of the series' stable points.
Randy "Ryo" McLean — A character whose ambivalence is genuine rather than coy — his uncertainty about his own feelings, his identity, and what he wants from Dee drives the slow romantic development.
Bikky — The runaway child whose attachment to Ryo and hostility toward Dee provides both comedy and genuine found-family emotional content across the series.
Art Style
Matoh's art is the product of its era — 1990s shojo-influenced boys' love with character designs that reflect the period. The New York City setting is depicted with attention, and the action sequences from the police procedural elements are clearly staged.
Cultural Context
FAKE ran in BIBLOS from 1994 to 2000 and was one of the first boys' love manga to receive an English-language physical release through Tokyopop. Its influence on what Western readers expected from BL manga is historical — it was for many Western fans the first boys' love manga they read.
What I Love About It
Ryo's actual process. He does not simply capitulate to Dee's pursuit — the series follows his genuine working-through of what he feels and what he wants. By the time the relationship develops past ambivalence, it has been earned rather than simply asserted.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe FAKE with specific historical affection — it was for many the entry point into boys' love manga in English, and its police procedural setting and character dynamics hold up. Specifically noted for Dee's character being more substantial than a typical pursuer role, for Bikky providing emotional warmth, and for the series respecting Ryo's ambivalence rather than overriding it.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The volume 7 resolution — where Ryo's ambivalence finally resolves into genuine choice — is the payoff for seven volumes of careful restraint, and it is effective precisely because the series waited.
Similar Manga
- Sekaiichi Hatsukoi — BL with similar slow romantic development
- Junjou Romantica — Nakamura BL with similar pursuit dynamic
- Ten Count — SuBLime BL with similar psychological character work
- Loveless — Classic BL with similarly careful relationship development
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — The partnership, Bikky's arrival, and Dee's initial pursuit establish all three relationship tracks.
Official English Translation Status
Tokyopop published the complete English series. All 7 volumes available (may require secondhand market).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Historical BL classic that holds up
- Police procedural setting is distinctive
- Found-family element adds emotional depth
- Ryo's ambivalence is respected across the series
Cons
- Art style is dated (1990s)
- Tokyopop publishing may make newer copies harder to find
- Dee's persistence is read differently by modern readers
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Tokyopop; complete series (secondhand market) |
| Digital | May be available through select platforms |
Where to Buy
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.