The Heart of Thomas
The Heart of Thomas is one of the earliest Boys Love manga (its creator, Moto Hagio, is a contemporary and friend of Keiko Takemiya, together with whom she is known as a pioneer of the genre). The story starts with a letter from the eponymous Thomas to the young man he loves, confessing his feelings and the desire to have a place in his beloved's heart. Juli, to whom the letter was addressed, appears to be indifferent to it all. However, his world was shaken further by New Transfer Student Eric, a boy with looks identical to Thomas. The two clash with each other almost immediately and many hidden problems are revealed.
Originally a Japan-only manga, The Heart of Thomas has an English-language release in the works scheduled for an August 2012 release. The manga will be translated by Matt Thorn, a veteran translator who has written several articles on boys-love manga.
- Beneath the Mask: Juli appears to be a model student and son. However, he has problems connecting to other people.
- Brilliant but Lazy: Oscar.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Juli. Oscar has his share of this too.
- Fish Out of Water: Eric at first since he has never been to a boarding school.
- Identical Stranger: Eric to Thomas.
- The Messiah: Thomas.
- New Transfer Student: Eric. With the catch of having looks similar to Thomas, the newly dead boy.
- One-Gender School: with all its connotations
- Posthumous Character: Thomas, who committed suicide at the beginning of the story.