Explore Your Passions: BL/GL/Romance with MangaPlaza Panel at Anime Expo 2026

Written by Sky

On July 3, MangaPlaza hosted the “Explore Your Passions: BL/GL/Romance with MangaPlaza” panel at Anime Expo 2026. MangaPlaza is a high-quality Japanese manga and comics app focused on providing an easy way to read romance, BL, GL, horror, and more. The app is also geared toward women, and the first chapters of most series are available for free.

The panel was hosted by two content creators who read and discuss manga. Daniel Dueñas enjoys talking about wholesome gay stories and hopes to help people feel comfortable with their identities. Laura Neuzeth is a well-known manga reviewer on YouTube and TikTok.

Throughout the panel, guests were given point coupons to redeem on the MangaPlaza app while Daniel and Laura discussed tropes from select titles available on MangaPlaza. The audience took turns sharing their favorite tropes that they thought might exist in the manga from the cover and summary.

Highlighted manga

Keeping You in Sight:
Rio is a perfectly average high schooler, perpetually overshadowed by her gorgeous best friend, Katsuki, and starting to feel invisible to the whole world. Her one hope is Haruta, the boy who actually seems to notice her. Then she discovers he’s crushing on Katsuki instead. Devastated, Rio flees and is found by Echizenya, the class “reaper” everyone avoids… who’s not at all who he pretends to be.

Plus-sized Misadventures in Love!:
Yumeko had a mountain of complexes about herself until a terrible accident befalls her. Somehow saved from the brink of death, she wakes up a completely different person. Her hyper-positive new attitude turns everyone around her upside down. Yumeko cuts through hang-ups in love, work, and friendship… and even an attempted murder case! This frenzied romantic comedy will leave you bubbling with energy.

I Don’t Need This Ring Anymore: Is He Even Worth Forgiving?:
Rin and Kenya vowed to always be honest with each other and to live happily ever after. Two years later, their relationship has become strained. Kenya’s warmth has soured into daily cutting remarks about Rin’s weight. Then, she discovers he’s been cheating. At the point of no return, Rin begins a different kind of journey – toward herself and away from the man who betrayed her.

Satan on Parental Leave and His Fake Hero:
“I’m going to defeat Satan Louie and bring world peace!” so declared Hero Jade. Now? He’s stuck in the countryside raising Mao, the future Satan, while keeping Louie’s identity a secret. Jade handles every chore, every meal, and every escape attempt. Louie? Gloriously unhelpful, demanding constant attention. Can a perfect Satan and a stubborn hero raise Mao to be a good person and bring peace to the world?

AYAKA is in LOVE with HIROKO!:
Soft and bubbly office worker Ayaka is madly in love with her senior coworker, Hiroko! Two lovestruck coworkers who both think the other is straight are totally crushing on each other… Popular Twitter artist Sal Jiang’s latest office rom-com!

After Giving Up on Improving Our Relationship and Distancing Myself, My Salty Fiance Began to Pester Me:
Beatrice has been despised by her classmates at the academy because of her relationship with the popular Prince Ernest, but she’s determined to turn things around and live the way she wants! However, when she starts making friends, spending time with handsome gentlemen, and finally enjoying life at the academy… her salty fiancé becomes more and more assertive…!

I, the Wicked Woman of High Society: The Charming Marquis’s Son Broke My Arm, so I’m Making Him Take Responsibility:
Lady Serena is forced to play the role of the villainess so that her younger stepsister, Marin, can be the tragic heroine. After spilling wine on Marin’s dress, the young Lord of Balgoa grabs Serena by the wrist and suddenly, snap. Thus begins a dramatic meeting that could only be described as destiny.

The panel concluded with a “Guess the Line” quiz featuring panels from all of the manga discussed during the event. The grand prize was a shikishi board featuring artwork from The Ogre’s Bride, which recently received an anime adaptation.