From Eroica with Love
From Eroica with Love |
Cover of Japanese volume 34 |
エロイカより愛をこめて
(Eroica Yori Ai o Komete) |
Genre |
Comedy |
Manga |
Written by |
Yasuko Aoike |
Published by |
Akita Shoten |
English publisher |
CMX Manga |
Demographic |
Shōjo |
Magazine |
Princess |
Original run |
1976 – ongoing |
Volumes |
38 |
Anime and Manga Portal |
From Eroica with Love (エロイカより愛をこめて, Eroica Yori Ai o Komete?) is a long-running shōjo manga by Yasuko Aoike which originally began publication in 1976 by Akita Shoten. The series ran irregularly in the Japanese anthology magazine Viva Princess from December 1976 to April 1979, then moved to the sister publication Princess beginning in September 1979.[1] It was featured regularly in Princess, with several later side stories appearing in Viva Princess, until August 1989. It went on hiatus for several years, then reappeared in Princess in May 1995 and ran irregularly through December 2007. As of January 2009, it is once again regularly featured in Princess Gold. The English translation by CMX began publication in 2004. It has also been translated to Chinese, as Romantic Hero, with 21 volumes.
The series revolves around the adventures of Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria, an openly gay English lord who is an art thief known as "Eroica", and Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach, an uptight West German NATO major.
The series is driven by frequent inadvertent encounters between Dorian and Klaus, with Dorian often disrupting Klaus's missions. Dorian has developed a fondness for and flirts incessantly with Klaus, who typically reacts with extreme disgust. Other reoccurring characters include Dorian and Klaus's respective subordinates and Klaus's enemies from the Russian KGB.
The series is generally comedic, although it involves violence, theft, and bizarre international incidents. Much of the series spoofs spy stories, as indicated by the title, a play on the James Bond novel From Russia, with Love.
Characters
Titles
In English 15 volumes with 21 titles have been published.
A Thousand Kisses
A Thousand Kisses centers more around Caesar, Sugar and Leopard, than it does around the series's title character, "Eroica" (or Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria). The other main character of the series, Major Klaus von dem Eberbach, does not appear at all in this part. Some fans go so far as to, when recommending the series, caution that the "interesting" stuff does not start until the next part, Iron Klaus.
Three teenagers with supernatural powers meet Dorian, Earl of Gloria, at an art lover's, Lady Devlin's, house, during an exhibition. Dorian becomes infatuated with one of the teens, Caesar Gabriel. He performs a series of heists, among them he steals a painting which strongly resembles Caesar. The trio of teenagers are suspected by detective Tarao Bannai, of INTERPOL, since Caesar had expressed a liking for the painting despite just having claimed it a fake. In self-defense, the trio starts investigating the matter themselves.
In trying to capture the Earl's interest (which gets more and more focused on Caesar) Sugar Plum and Leopard Solid makes a statue of the Archangel Gabriel (looking very much like Caesar) and hides it in Westminster Abbey, intending for Dorian to steal it. Dorian, knowing it is a trap, ups the ante, by calling the Abbey to inform them of what he intends to do. Using Westminster Abbey as a bluff, he then proceeds to rob the British Museum, only to, when the police heads over to the museum, take the Gabriel statue - and Caesar.
The first part gets its name from a poem Catullus, which Dorian thinks of while kissing Caesar.
Special guest stars of this episode: characters from Sons of Eve, another of Aoike Yasuko's series, when Caesar, Leopard and Sugar flees Tarao Bannai into a club where Sons of Eve play.
Heists |
National Gallery, London, England |
Musée du Louvre, Paris, France |
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA |
Lady Devlin's House, London, England |
Tate Gallery, London, England (aborted) |
Westminster Abbey, London, England |
British Museum, London, England |
Iron Klaus
The second part takes place about half a year later. The title character is Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach He works for NATO, the intelligence division, Bonn, West Germany. "The other side calls him 'Iron Klaus' out of respect and fear."
Klaus's mission is to evaluate Professor Caesar Gabriel, to see if he is telepathic. In order to find out, he sets Caesar to evaluate the Eberbach Collection, owned by Klaus's family. Klaus and Dorian meets up for the first time when Dorian comes to view the collection. Later Dorian steals some of the paintings, earning Klaus's wrath. Meanwhile, though, Klaus has Caesar and Dorian still wants him, so he steals him too (after first having attempted to blackmail Klaus for him).
At first Dorian does not like Klaus at all, calling him a philistine. Eventually Dorian realizes that Klaus does appreciate beauty, though, albeit one of steel. He even starts seeing what Klaus sees in it - and promptly steals something very dear to Klaus ...
Achillies' Last Stand
Cast |
James |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent C |
Agent D |
Professor Caesar Gabriel |
Countess Boulanger |
Duke Boulanger |
Bonham |
Love in Greece
Cast |
James |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Maya Bulgakova |
Yanis Phaerikis |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent A |
Agent G |
Bonham |
Agent B |
Dramatic Spring
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Bonham |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent B |
Agent C |
Gabon |
In'shallah
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Bonham |
Agent Z |
Giovanni Stephano |
Captain Sanjhiabi |
Captain Azhali |
Agent H |
Agent L |
Ibrahim Arashid, Gedi |
Harlun |
The Bakchials |
Hallelujah Express
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Bonham |
Agent G |
Agent Z |
Mischa the Bear Cub |
Dostoyevsky |
Tolstoy |
Turgenev |
Veni, Vidi, Vici
Cast |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent A |
Agent B |
James |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Fra Angelico |
Franco Giuliani |
Lucretia Umberto |
Agent Z |
Bonham |
Pope John Paul II |
Gian Mari aVolvolante |
Agent G |
Red Fox |
Alaskan Front
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent G |
Agent Z |
Bonham |
Agent J |
Special Investigator Smith |
Mischa the Bear Cub |
Agent Ford |
William Smile |
General Nikolaivich |
Mary |
Special Vacation Orders
Cast |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Green Raccoon |
Sister Theresa |
Brigette Koch |
East High Schwartz |
Glass Target
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Bonham |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent Z |
Charles Lawrence |
The Bakchials |
Agent G |
Polar Bear |
Giovanni Stephano |
Agent C |
Agent D |
Jonesy |
Franz Rudolf |
Queen Elizabeth |
Midnight Collector
Cast |
James |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Bonham |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Sir Rex Price |
Reynolds |
Saleem Al Sabaah |
Charles Lawrence |
The Bakchials |
John-Paul |
Seven Days in September
Klaus is asked to pick up some files from a contact in the British Secret Service called "L" in a convoluted manner. Dorian plots to steal "The Man in Purple" from Klaus's hotel room, but is foiled by his wish to see Klaus naked in the bath. Klaus's plane is hijacked by terrorists, and Dorian steals a plane in pursuit of the painting. Dorian blackmails A into letting him help free the hostages, and enters the plane during the refueling in disguise as a British diplomat. Dorian drugs the passengers and pilots with a sleeping draft and flirts with Klaus. The hijackers let Klaus pilot the plane because they do not know how to, and he turns the plane around towards safety.
Cast |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Charles Lawrence |
Saleem Al Sabaah |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Bonham |
James |
Mr L |
Agent Z |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent G |
Captain Richter |
Graham/Silver Aurora |
Major Munch |
Ambassador Freeman |
Mischa |
Colonel Mendoza |
Gian Maria Volvolante |
Agent C |
Agent D |
Paradise Party
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Bonham |
Charles Lawrence |
Agent G |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
The Laughing Cardinals
Cast |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Bonham |
James |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent E |
Agent G |
Agent Z |
Ringen |
Agent Y |
Agent X |
Fra Angelico |
Franco Giuliani |
Kurt Rudolf |
Cardinal Ferrani |
Morning Crow |
Red Fox |
Agent D |
Brother Sebastian |
Brother Pete |
Agent C |
A Tale of Alaska
Cast |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent G |
Mischa |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
From Lawrence with Love
Cast |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Charles Lawrence |
Mr L |
Ivanov |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Brother Sebastian |
Bonham |
Agent Z |
Agent G |
Agent A |
Agent B |
The Seventh Seal
Cast |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Agent Z |
Maynard Scott |
James |
Bonham |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Charles Lawrence |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Agent G |
Mischa the Bear Cub |
Polar Bear |
Holn Geissman |
Franz Joseph II |
Agent Smith |
Herr Linz |
Robert |
Schmidt |
Schmidt |
Major Munch |
Agent H |
Zorba |
Pavlos Kazantzakis, Heracles |
Paris |
Dora |
Cleo |
John |
Mary |
Mr Lawrence Writes A Letter
Cast |
Charles Lawrence |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Intermission
Cast |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Charles Lawrence |
Agent A |
Agent B |
Mr L |
Agent G |
Agent Z |
Bonham |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
James |
Eau de Cologne
Cast |
Irene |
Stefan ranke |
Dondorf |
Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach |
Lord Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria |
Bonham |
Volumes
No. |
Original |
English |
Release date |
ISBN |
Release date |
ISBN |
1 |
1978 |
ISBN 4-253-07109-0 |
November 28, 2004 |
ISBN 1-4012-0519-4 |
A Thousand Kisses, Iron Klaus and Achillies' Last Stand |
|
2 |
1980 |
ISBN 4-253-07110-4 |
January 12, 2005 |
ISBN 1-4012-0520-8 |
Love in Greece and Dramatic Spring, also a non-Eroica-story I.V.Y. Navy |
|
3 |
1981 |
ISBN 4-253-07111-2 |
April 13, 2005 |
ISBN 1-4012-0521-6 |
In'shallah and Hallelujah Express |
|
4 |
1981 |
ISBN 4-253-07112-0 |
July 13, 2005 |
ISBN 1-4012-0523-2 |
Veni, Vidi, Vici and Alaskan Front (part 1) |
|
5 |
1981 |
ISBN 4-253-07113-9 |
October 12, 2005 |
ISBN 1-4012-0522-4 |
|
6 |
1982 |
ISBN 4-253-07114-7 |
February 8, 2006 |
ISBN 1-4012-0875-4 |
Special Vacation Orders and Glass Target (part 1) |
|
7 |
1982 |
ISBN 4-253-07115-5 |
September 30, 2006 |
ISBN 1-4012-0876-2 |
Glass Target (part 2) and Midnight Collector |
|
8 |
1982 |
ISBN 4-253-07116-3 |
January 31, 2007 |
ISBN 1-4012-0877-0 |
Seven Days in September (part 1) |
|
9 |
1983 |
ISBN 4-253-07117-1 |
May 2, 2007 |
ISBN 1-4012-0878-9 |
Seven Days in September (part 2) |
|
10 |
1983 |
ISBN 4-253-07118-X |
September 30, 2007 |
ISBN 1-4012-0879-7 |
Seven Days in September (part 3), Party and The Laughing Cardinals (part 1) |
|
11 |
1983 |
ISBN 4-253-07119-8 |
December 31, 2007 |
ISBN 1-4012-0880-0 |
The Laughing Cardinals (part 2) |
|
12 |
1984 |
ISBN 4-253-07120-1 |
March 31, 2008 |
ISBN 9781401208813 |
The Laughing Cardinals (part 3), A Tale of Alaska, From Lawrence with Love and The Seventh Seal (part 1) |
|
13 |
1985 |
ISBN 4-253-07121-X |
July 9, 2008 |
ISBN 9781401208820 |
The Seventh Seal (part 2) |
|
14 |
1985 |
ISBN 4-253-07122-8 |
July 21, 2009 |
ISBN 9781401208837 |
The Seventh Seal (part 3) |
|
15 |
1986 |
ISBN 4-253-07123-6 |
March 16, 2010[2] |
ISBN 978-1401208844 |
The Seventh Seal (part 4), Mr Lawrence Writes A Letter, Intermission and Eau de Cologne |
|
No. |
Release date |
ISBN |
16 |
1987 |
ISBN 4-253-07124-4 |
17 |
1987 |
ISBN 4-253-07125-2 |
18 |
1988 |
ISBN 4-253-07126-0 |
19 |
1988 |
ISBN 4-253-07127-9 |
20 |
1996 |
ISBN 4-253-07128-7 |
21 |
1997 |
ISBN 4-253-07129-5 |
22 |
1997 |
ISBN 4-253-07130-9 |
23 |
1998 |
ISBN 4-253-07131-7 |
24 |
1999 |
ISBN 4-253-07132-5 |
25 |
1999 |
ISBN 4-253-07460-X |
26 |
2000 |
ISBN 4-253-07461-8 |
27 |
2002 |
ISBN 4-253-07462-6 |
28 |
2003 |
ISBN 978-4-253-07477-3 |
29 |
2003 |
ISBN 4-253-07480-4 |
30 |
2004 |
ISBN 4-253-07481-2 |
31 |
2005 |
ISBN 4-253-19451-6 |
32 |
2005 |
ISBN 978-253-19452-5 |
33 |
2006 |
ISBN 4-253-19453-2 |
34 |
2006/12/15[3] |
ISBN 978-4253194549 |
35 |
2009/6/16[4] |
ISBN 978-4253194556 |
36 |
2010/2/16[5] |
ISBN 978-4253194563 |
37 |
2010/12/16[6] |
ISBN 978-4253194570 |
38 |
2011/08/12 |
ISBN 9784253194587 |
Reception
As of the mid-1980s, fan translations of From Eroica with Love began to circulate through the slash fiction community,[7] creating a "tenuous link" between slash and shōnen-ai.[8] From Eroica with Love is more popular with slash fans than it has been with dōjinshi artists.[7] The series has been described as an example of a movement in shōnen-ai and yaoi to depict more masculine men, as part of the audience's increasing comfort with objectifying males.[9]
Timeline
The first story, A Thousand Kisses, starts just before Christmas.
23 December: The exhibition of Christ. In the first sequence Caesar Gabriel asks his friends, Leopard Solid and Sugar Plum, "By the way, what are you doing for Christmas Eve Tomorrow?"
24 December: Thefts and accusations. Series of thefts from the Metropolian, the Louvre and National Gallery appears to start at midnight between 23 December and 24 December. Broadcasts of the news are, presumably, the same morning, 24 December. The theft of Christ from Lady Devlin appears to have happened later the same night, as the broadcast ends with the dramatic "Who is this 'Eroica' and what can we expect from them", fading out to an image of the Earl's airplane, where someone says "Lady Devlin ought to be up in arms now." Leopard, Sugar and Caesar are then called back to Lady Devlin's house, presumably also on the 24th of December. Afterwards (again, persumably on the same day), they discuss the matter and Sugar foretells that something will happen "10 days from now".
3 January?: the Tate Gallery. 10 days for now would make the Tate Gallery incident on the 3rd of January.
4th of January?: The Archangel Gabriel, making of. Soon after the Tate Gallery, maybe the next day, Sugar Plum and Leopard Solid starts on their project of making a statue of the Archangel Gabriel. They estimate that this will take them a week.
11 January?: The Archangel Gabriel, burial. If their projections of a week to make the statue holds, burial of the Archangel Gabriel statue could takes place roughly on January 11.
12 January-19 January?: The Archangel Gabriel, finding. It is unclear if more time passes between the statue is dug down an the statue is found, as the monk who finds it only mentions a barking dog. The dog could have barked due to the statue being dug down, but could, of course, be due to something else. Caesar does comment, on seeing the statue in the newspapers that "Produce of the late Renaissance? Bah! It was made last week!" So presumably not more than a week had passed.
15 January-22 January?: The Archangel Gabriel, stealing. On seeing the article about the Archangel Gabriel statue, Dorian decides to steal it "in three days time, at midnight".
The second story, Iron Klaus, takes place six months after the first story, so presumably around July.
References
- ^ "Aoike Yasuko Official Website". http://www.aoikeyasuko.com/list/60.html. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/1401208843
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4253194540
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4253194559
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4253194567
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4253194575
- ^ a b Thorn, Matthew (2004) Girls And Women Getting Out Of Hand: The Pleasure And Politics Of Japan's Amateur Comics Community in Fanning the Flames: Fans and Consumer Culture in Contemporary Japan William W. Kelly, ed., State University of New York Press
- ^ "Girls' Stuff, May (?) '94". http://www.matt-thorn.com/shoujo_manga/girls_stuff/gs94-03-08.html.
- ^ Suzuki, Kazuko. (1999) "Pornography or Therapy? Japanese Girls Creating the Yaoi Phenomenon". In Sherrie Inness, ed., Millennium Girls: Today's Girls Around the World. London: Rowman & Littlefield, p.251 ISBN 0847691365, ISBN 0847691373.
External links