Newbie looking for some recs

Hey everyone, I'm a Western comics fan looking to branch out. The only manga series I currently read are Nana and Fullmetal Alchemist. I enjoy most genres, but particularly fantasy and noir. I'm curious about the whole "Magical Girl' genre. I am very much in favor of BL, but I really don't care for uber-feminine ukes (think along the lines of FAKE, which I have also read and enjoyed.)

Thanks for your help, and if anyone is curious about Western comics, I'd be happy to do a cultural exchange ^_^

I'd certainly suggest the Cardcaptor Sakura series if you're into "Magical Girl" themes. It was one of my first manga/anime. Another I'd highly suggest is Her Majesty's Dog. Yurara was pretty fun as well.

Typically the suggestion made for fans of Fake is Yellow. One of the characters, Goh, is certainly flamboyant but I would hesitate to say that he is at all feminine.

Oh, and another along the lines of Fake that I'm reading now is Totally Captivated. I'm really enjoying it so far. It isn't actually a manga but a mahnwa (not sure if I spelled it right) which is Korean and reads right to left like American books.

if you like fantasy and noir you might enjoy Hellsing or Death Note. something else to check out (although i shouldn't really talk as i've only managed to get my hands on the anime while i wait desperately for the manga) is Elfin Leid (which isn't working in touchstones). and a complete series (only three books) that you might like is ghost talker's daydream, although i found it a bit scary when i read it.

If you REALLY want 'magical girl' genre stuff, you can always try out sailor moon, as that is what basically started the trend.

Try something by Yoshinaga Fumi. She does several different genres (well!), with a concentration in BL. I'd rec Gerard & Jacques and Lovers in the Night in particular. Another good BL work is The Tyrant Falls In Love. Mishima Kazuhiko often has non-girly characters and decent comedy as well. Reverse!? is probably my favorite available in English.

If you want fantasy and BL, definitely try Silver Diamond. Otherwise, a good fantasy shoujo work is The Good Witch of the West. There's lots more, but that's a decent start. :)

I wish I get get a hold of the physical volume of The Tyrant Falls in Love! I had a link to an online copy but it made my computer all buggy. I have the full set of Challengers which Tyrant was an offshoot of.

I'd certainly second Silver Diamond as well. It is a very cute fantasy series.

You can't go wrong with Death Note (Imo Fantasy and noir) also D.Grayman .
For BoysLove I enjoyed The Tyrant Falls in Love, Totally Captivated
and Junjou Romantica (funny but good)
Silver Diamond and Loveless are very good as well. (fantasy-storys with dark sides)

Jazz by Tamotsu Takamure is a really good series, that was one of the first things I read after FAKE. I would also have to recommend Loveless, Kyo Kara MAOH, and Vassalord. Kyo Kara MAOH! is kind of funny and it's not graphic like the last volume of FAKE or Jazz or Junjou Romantica. The same thing can be said for Loveless.

Just a warning about Vassalord (which I do personally love)--it can be pretty gruesome in places, especially in the third volume. Evisceration and acid baths oh my.