From Eroica With
Love, or Eroica Yori Ai Wo Komete, is a shoujo manga written and drawn by Yasuko Aoike since 1978. The series revolves around the adventures of
Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach, an uptight and
homophobic NATO major, and Dorian
Red Gloria, an openly gay English lord who delights in bothering Klaus. Dorian is also an
art thief, known as Eroica, and states in the first volume that he makes it his purpose to pursue and capture
beautiful things...and
people. He says that he is in
love with Klaus and flirts with him incessantly, much to Klaus's consternation.
Also featured are Dorian's gang of thieves--chiefly Mr. James (the clingy, wailing, tightfisted accountant), Bonham (Dorian's right hand man), and John Paul (who only appears occasionally, and whose name changes from time to time). Dorian and his gang are based on the band Led Zeppelin, of which Yasuko Aoike is a fan.
Klaus's boss (the Chief), his butler, and his subordinates also appear frequently. The men working for Klaus are known as the Alphabets; A, B,
G, and
Z appear more often than the others. A is in charge of the Alphabets, B is generally portrayed as sort of a bumbling clown,
G enjoys crossdressing, and Z is a young agent who
hero-worships Klaus. Aoike has said that Klaus is based on aspects of her own personality, and she seems to have developed a crush on him.
The series is generally comedic, although it involves a great deal of violence, theft, and bizarre international incidents. Much of it spoofs James Bond-type stories (hence the title). Eroica has an active and growing fanbase; googling the title will lead to sites with additional information.
