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Monthly Flowers Editors Ask for Help to Locate Original The Heart of Thomas Manga Art
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
Sometimes original manga artwork goes missing only to later reappear with a collector's size price tag on an auction site. Other times it's simply given away as prizes never to be seen again. Acclaimed sci-fi manga artist Moto Hagio's situation falls in the latter category and her editors are hoping to recover it for an upcoming event.
The editors of Shogakukan's Monthly Flowers magazine issued the request to find art from Hagio's 1970s boys-love drama The Heart of Thomas on the publication's website on December 28. The editors are hoping to locate the owners of the artwork so it can be used in an upcoming commemorative event for Hagio's 50th anniversary.
There's a total of 32 pieces of art that were used as chapter openers during the manga's original run in 1974. The art was later given away to readers as part of a lottery campaign. The editors are hoping that whomever has the art will loan it to them for the event and the staff promises to return it afterwards.
The Heart of Thomas takes place after a classmate at a German boarding school commits suicide. The secrets and trauma that affects many of the boys starts to come to the surface, especially Juli whose new roommate looks just like the recently deceased Thomas.
Hagio's They Were Eleven, A Drunken Dream and Other Stories, A,A', The Heart of Thomas, and Otherworld Barbara manga have English releases. She won the Asahi Prize for fiscal year 2016. The award "honors distinguished individuals and groups in academics, arts and other fields who have contributed to advancements in Japanese culture and society." The foundation chose Hagio "for her innovative approach to drawing manga for young girls."
Source: Monthly Flowers website, Comic Natalie
