Hero Heel

Minami is an inexperienced young actor naïve about both his craft and the mysteries of love. After landing the lead role in a children's sentai (team adventure) show, Minami finds himself drawn to his enigmatic co-star, the show's villain, Sawada. He soon discovers Sawada kissing a man, and realizing that his feelings go beyond friendship, Minami eventually confesses his love. Hero and villain share a brief moment that leaves Minami more wounded than anything, a hero with an uncertain future. Acclaimed yaoi manga-ka Tateno (Yellow ) continues to push the envelope in her second series to be released in English. She plays with the yaoi tradition of aggressor and receiver characters by casting a hero and a villain in these roles for a fresh take on an old technique. The art, meanwhile, is playful and boyish, with sexy, appealing leads. Combined with the superhero setting, this allows readers to get the feeling of discovering love for the first time. Hero Heel captures both the excitement of getting swept away by love and the crushing blows of rejection. (Nov.)