Manga Review: Hero Heel

[Jason]

Title: Hero Heel
Volume: 1
Mangaka: Makoto Tateno
Originally Serialized in: Super Be Boy Comics (Biblos (vol 1), Libre Shuppan (vols 2-3))
Genre: Yaoi
Licensed by: DMP/June
Price: $12.95

Struggling actor Minami Masaki half-heartedly accepts the lead role on a children’s super-hero show, “Trans-Dimensional Warriors Airguard.” Despite his agent’s promises that such shows offer real acting opportunities, Minami figures he can simply breeze along in acting the role of the hero Airguard Oreas. But Minami soon discovers the job requires his full effort—especially if he expects to impress his co-worker Sawada Kazuomi, who plays the arch-villian General Gadriel. Minami becomes obsessed with pleasing Sawada, even renting tapes of an old super-hero show in which Sawada played the lead. Things become even more complicated when Minami discovers Sawada kissing another male actor. And although Sawada claims it’s “culture shock” Minami comes to realize he wants more than to be Sawada’s co-star!

The main characters:

• Minami Masaki—an over-confident actor, Minami wrestles with the idea that children’s television requires just as much commitment as any other acting gig. Sawada soon manages to crush his confidence, but Minami is still working on becoming a hero worthy of his on-screen persona by the end of volume 1.
• Sawada Kazuomi—a cold and slightly manipulative man, Sawada has a great deal of experience with super-hero shows. He seems to be drawn to Minami more for his similarities to Sawada’s younger self than any true interest in Minami. And although Sawada claims he feels no love for Minami, one wonders if that’s just a front.
• Yuki Arima—the lone female, Yuki plays the goddess Air. She’s yet to play much of a role in the plot but rather makes genki comments while Minami ogles Sawada.
• Katagiri Kousuke—Katagiri doesn’t show up until late in the volume (he plays Oreas’ comrade Dryas on the show) but he seems to be setting himself up as a good friend to Minami.
• Yuu Shigehara—Like Katagiri, Yuu shows up at the end of volume 1 to play Naias, another good guy, on the show. He’s yet to show much of a personality.

It’s always been hard for me not to be embarrassed for the actors on super-hero shows, so it was easy to understand Minami’s disdain for “Airguard” initially. It’s Minami’s constant obsession with Sawada that’s a little bit harder to swallow. Maybe Minami’s overconfidence has simply covered up his fear of being judged but from moment one Hero Heel becomes entirely about Minami practically stalking Sawada. Harder to understand is Sawada’s response. Thinking Minami can overcome the “culture shock” that meeting a real-life homosexual can cause (in Sawada’s mind that is), he passionately kisses Minami! Obviously that was a bit of fanservice but it certainly didn’t support Sawada’s claim of disliking Minami. The one sex scene is rather uncomfortable, as even the manga-ka notes. And despite that one steamy panel, much of volume 1 is spent understanding Minami’s acting struggles. Although I prefer my yaoi to have more plot than fanservice, I can’t help but feel that opposite for Hero Heel. Though Tateno is obviously skilled and the story (especially the fantastic character development) leaves little to be desired more fanservice wouldn’t go amiss.

Tateno is obviously a skilled artist (which she should be, with over four series under her belt.) The character designs are easy to recognize and the panels flow well. Tateno was especially clever in her clear separation of our leads—Sawada is always wearing dark clothes to match his black hair, whereas hero Minami is a blonde in white throughout most of the volume. My only complaint would be Minami’s hairstyle—it manages to change a number of times in the first twenty-pages.

As per usual, June/Digital Manga has provided a solid release. The dust jacket is an especially nice touch. The paper is thick and doesn’t leave any ink on your fingers. The lettering, too, is easy-to-read and doesn’t interrupt the beauty of Tateno’s artwork. I didn’t spot any spelling or grammar mistakes either, which is rare for me (though becoming less and less so as the manga industry establishes itself in the US.) Occasionally letterboxes are placed to awkwardly to translate Japanese in the artwork, but this occurs on only a couple pages and doesn’t distract overly.

Reviewer: LadyUranus
Proofer: RainyFrog
Editor: Jiji

Order Hero Heel (Yaoi) from Amazon.com!