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Moto Hagio is considered one of the most important mangaka. However, none of her works have been published by German publishers so far. The situation is different in the USA, where, in addition to beautiful hardcover editions from Fantagraphics, other publishers have also discovered the classic works of the mangaka, like "The Heart of Thomas".
She is regarded as one of the first women to address themes like homosexuality and science fiction in her manga. For these contributions, she is counted among the "Year 24 Group" alongside Riyoko Ikeda and Keiko Takemiya.
How was it?
The story starts with the suicide of Thomas Werner, a student at the fictional Schlotterbach Gymnasium in Karlsruhe. The feminine and beautiful Thomas was in love with "Juli" Bauernfeind. However, the always direct Juli rejected his advances. Thomas leaves one final letter to Juli, in which he expresses his love and despair, forming the foundation for the subsequent events.
Thomas' death casts a shadow over the school, particularly affecting Juli, who struggles with feelings of guilt and internal conflict. Initially indifferent toward Thomas, Juli now faces the burden of his death and develops a complex mix of resentment and guilt. The arrival of a new student, Erich Frühling, who bears a striking resemblance to Thomas, adds further tension and emotional complexity. The story unfolds in a boarding school filled with secrets and unresolved conflicts, with relationships between the characters taking center stage.
A central theme in "The Heart of Thomas" is love in its many forms. Hagio explores love not only romantically but also platonically and familially, questioning how deep and complex this emotion can be. The unrequited love from Thomas to Juli, and the resulting despair and suicide, serves as the starting point of the story. The relationship between Juli and Erich, shaped by the shadows of the past and Erich's resemblance to Thomas, reveals further facets of love. Hagio successfully portrays love as a powerful and often destructive emotion that both drives and torments the characters. Juli’s internal turmoil and his attempts to cope with his guilt reflect the complexity of love. Erich’s initial disdain and later closeness to Juli show how love and loss are intertwined. Alongside them stands Oskar, Juli’s roommate and protector, who plays a central role in the dynamic between the characters. Oskar, with a traumatic past involving his mother’s murder by his stepfather, develops a deep bond with Juli. His love for Juli is marked by responsibility and care, making him a pivotal figure in the story.
The characters in "The Heart of Thomas" are intricately developed and contribute significantly to the depth of the narrative. Juli is a complex protagonist, wrestling with guilt and his own emotions. Erich, the new student who closely resembles Thomas, brings a new dynamic to the story, challenging Juli in different ways. Oskar, the illegitimate son of the school’s headmaster, abandoned after his mother’s murder by his stepfather, assumes a protective role over Juli. His complicated past and unrequited love for Juli add another layer of emotional pain and longing to the story. The dynamics between these characters and their individual stories make the plot both compelling and multilayered.
Moto Hagio's artistic style is crucial to the atmosphere of the manga. Her drawings are detailed and expressive, often incorporating floral and decorative elements that enhance the emotional intensity of the scenes. The use of symbols like flowers and sparkling eyes reinforces the melodramatic tone of the story.
At the end of the book, there’s also an essay by translator Thorn, offering further insights into the mangaka’s work. Fantagraphics presents the story in a beautifully crafted hardcover edition.
Is it worth reading?
"The Heart of Thomas" is a complex and deeply emotional manga that captivates readers with its layered portrayal of love, guilt, and identity. For fans of shoujo manga and love stories, as well as lovers of classic manga, "The Heart of Thomas" is an absolute must-read, standing out both for its story and its visual beauty. It is one of her most well-known works, and although it had been out of print in the USA for several years, fans can now enjoy the story again thanks to a new edition by the publisher.
Following the success of "The Rose of Versailles" at rival publisher Shueisha, editor Junya Yamamoto from Shukan Shojo Comic asked Hagio to create a series of similar length and complexity, which was originally supposed to run for two to three years. After drawing about 200 pages of "The Heart of Thomas", Hagio submitted the series. The first chapter was published on May 5, 1974, in the magazine. However, contrary to expectations, the series initially failed to find success and was even in danger of being canceled. But due to the success of other works, the popularity of "The Heart of Thomas" grew, and today it is considered one of the mangaka’s most beloved works.
Heart Of Thomas by Moto Hagio HC
€39,99
€44,99
The setting: A boys’ boarding school in Germany, sometime in the latter 20th Century. Fourteen year-old Thomas Werner falls from a lonely pedestrian overpass to his death immediately after sending a single, brief letter to a schoolmate: To Juli, one… read more
