History Manga / Zetsuai1989

* {{Bokukko}}: Subverted. Young Kouji ''thought'' that young Izumi was one, but many years later he got quite the [[UnsettlingGenderReveal surprise]]. It doesn't help that "Izumi" is both a surname ''and'' a GenderBlenderName (though mostly used by females) in Japan.

%%* FreudianExcuse and OedipusComplex: Oh, Akihito...

''Zetsuai (1989)'' and its sequel series ''Bronze: Zetsuai since 1989'' One of the classics of the BoysLoveGenre.

One of the great groundbreaking classics of the BoysLoveGenre, '''''Zetsuai 1989''''' and its sequel series ''Bronze: Zetsuai since 1989'' combine unique character designs and layouts with an emotionally intense storyline brimming with melodrama and always on the verge of breaking out into violence.

''Zetsuai 1989'' ran in the {{shoujo}} magazine ''Margaret'' and was collected in five volumes, with the plot reaching no conclusion to speak of; the sequel series ''Bronze: Zetsuai since 1989'' ran in ''Margaret'' and later in the {{josei}} magazine ''Chorus'', and then was collected in 14 volumes but broke off due to the mangaka's illness; she eventually gave the series a proper ending in a doujinshi. There were four associated [[LightNovel light novels]], and two single-episode [=OVAs=], as well as a collection of associated music videos with the title ''Cathexis''.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: TheyDo. Eventually. [[spoiler: It takes five volumes if you even count the end of ''Zetsuai 1989'' volume 5 as a true example of "they do", which it arguably isn't since Izumi is just lying back and thinking of England. If you don't count that, it takes another three volumes.]]

* ArmorPiercingSlap: Izumi's sister Serika once slaps Kouji [[spoiler: when Izumi gets ''very'' sick because of him.]]

* {{Expy}}: Izumi is what Kojiro Hyuuga from ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' would've been, if CT was a BoysLove series. Minami Ozaki started her career as a Hyuuga/Wakashimazu djka.

* FriendToAllLivingThings: Kouji loves animals, [[HeroesLoveDogs specially dogs.]]

* IfICantHaveYou / IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Kouji swings between these two extremes with regard to Izumi. He's aware that IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy is a better attitude, but he can't quite bring himself to feel that way, and often talks about how he'd like to lock Izumi away. In fact, his behaviour tends to stop short of full-on IfICantHaveYou, but he angsts quite a bit about how he resents anything that makes Izumi happy if it takes Izumi's attention away from him.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: TheyDo. Eventually. [[spoiler: It takes five volumes, if you even count the end of ''Zetsuai 1989'' volume 5 as a true example of "they do", which it arguably isn't since Izumi is just lying back and thinking of England. If you don't count that, it takes another three volumes.]]

* YoungerThanTheyLook: Despite all of the characters looking to be in their mid-to-late 20s, they are actually in their mid teens.

''Zetsuai 1989'' ran in the {{shoujo}} magazine ''Margaret'' and was collected in five volumes, with the plot reaching no conclusion to speak of; the sequel series ''Bronze: Zetsuai since 1989'' ran in ''Margaret'' and later in the {{josei}} magazine ''Chorus'', and then was collected in 14 volumes but broke off [[IllGirl due to the mangaka's illness]]; she eventually gave the series a proper ending in a doujinshi. There were four associated [[LightNovel light novels]], and two single-episode [=OVAs=], as well as a collection of associated music videos with the title ''Cathexis''.

* BastardBoyfriend: Kouji is physically abusive & still sleeps with his ex-girlfriend on several occasions.

* '''{{Melodrama}}''': There's a very good reason why this trope is in bold.

* YaoiGenre: one of the defining series that launched the genre.

* {{Expy}}: Izumi is what Kojiro Hyuuga from ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' would've been, if CT was a BoysLove series. JustifiedTrope: Minami Ozaki started her career as a Hyuuga/Wakashimazu djka.

* {{Expy}}: Izumi is what Kojiro Hyuuga from CaptainTsubasa would've been, if CT was a BoysLove series. JustifiedTrope: Minami Ozaki started her career as a Hyuuga/Wakashimazu djka.

* MommyIssues and OedipusComplex: Oh, Akihito...