I wouldn't call it "shounenai." The author swore off BL in the 80s & Klaus still basically hates Dorian in the end. She had actually dropped it for a long time, then was paid in advance to finish it. Which is why a manga that started in the 70s & ended in the 2000s has so few volumes. The art style is DRASTICALLY different after picking it back up.

I still recommend reading it though. It's got some damn good comedy. interesting stories & characters, & it's basically gay Lupin III for girls.

... Last updated on November 9th, 2019, 1:48am

The settings, the characters, the plot, their relationship.. Everything is just perfect. I never got tired of reading this. Im actually dying to see the rest.
The art is very old but dont miss this awesome work bc of it.

... Last updated on July 7th, 2013, 11:55pm

I kinda grew attached to the ESP trio, so when the story started to turn toward Eroica and Klaus, I lost interest.
I mean, why would they start the manga off with them in the first place?
When I skipped to look for them, it seems they stopped appearing just like that. So unfinished.

If you love; Action + Comedy + Shounen ai , you should read this manga .All of characters is different.Main character Dorian is a flamboyant gay , a thief....and more I know you will like him.And the another character Major is opposite he is asexual , workaholic ... a tought person.. .. First Volume is like a test manga but later ..you will find cleverly in fictional manga .Eroica is best

This manga is absolutely brilliant. Each story have a ton of turns in event; and even when they match the characters' characteristics, they are still so mind-blowing hilarious. As the manga goes on, some more characters are introduced, hence makes the interactions very fun. "Enemies today can be friends tomorrow, and vice versa" is this manga's motto.

My most favorite story so far is The Emperor Waltz. There's so much fun.

... Last updated on January 1st, 2011, 5:12pm

Why's it unexpected? Well, although it may start off as pure, camp shoujo-ness in the first volume (as the previous commenter pointed out), Eroica swiftly evolves into a genre-busting manga that appeals to readers of all kinds. It's a gripping, fast-paced, action-oriented story with amazing plots and hilarious humor. In later volumes, the art becomes very masculine (in a good way!), and the camp is much more mature. Dorian's homosexuality is matter-of-fact, and somehow manages to be understated and glamorous all at once. Not that his character is understated in any way! Good god, no. But the mangaka's portrayal of his character is very clever and subtle. In most BL stories, a protagonist's sexuality is the centerpiece of his character -- but for Dorian, there's a lot more at stake. He's a criminal, an aristocrat and an aesthete -- and there are layers to his character that make him palpably real, rather than just That Gay Guy.

In fact, if I had to recommend BL to a non-BL reader, I'd start them off with this. Sure, the title character's gay, but there's just so much more to the story than that! The plot's based on politics and espionage and thievery, rather than on smut. Which actually makes this a more emotionally realistic story -- you don't just have one mindless sex scene after another, with the two protagonists jumping into the sack as soon as they get the chance. No. This manga's not about the sex (which hasn't even happened after 30 volumes!). It's about the chase, in every sense of the word -- the chase of art, of beauty, of information, of power, and of the human heart. It's just awesome. I feel satisfied after reading every volume, as if I've had a meal that fulfills all my requirements of taste and nutrition.

Oh, and. Since the plot is formed of interconnected stories, you don't necessarily have to start at volume 1 and read every single volume along the way. If the thought of catching up with so many volumes freaks you out, just read the most recent releases and see if they're to your taste. If they are, then you can go all the way back and embark on your journey into the Eroica fandom -- a land of no return, I promise you, if only because that manga's that. Damn. GOOD.

... Last updated on January 25th, 2008, 5:15pm

Though the art and the first volume can totally turn off readers. The story is gets much better later on! Their adventures are hilarious and keeps you reading. Dorian is different from most BL characters as he is more like the American 'gay stereotype' with his flamboyancy and love of artistic creations.