Love so strong that it drives someone to death. Guilt that tears the wings of innocence away. Forgiveness that redeems a life. The Heart of Thomas is based on such emotions all mixed up into a beautiful, intense whirlwind of feelings that are more tragic than any of ours, yet resonate with each of us. While it is, in fact, a boy's love classic, The Heart of Thomas has very little in common with almost any other BL title out there. Set in a 20th century German boarding school, it begins with the arrival of Eric, a sweet-faced yet strong-willed transfer student. He quickly discovers thathe's almost identical in appearance to Thomas, a boy who has recently died, much to the dismay and confusion of the cold prefect Julusmole. The story is irremediably linked to the characters: most of the conflict is internal, as these boys are overwhelmed and confused by both the people around them and their own tumultuous emotions. It's a tale of romance, injury, death, family, and friendship, to be sure, but it's also a tale of what it means to love, to hurt, and to forgive. It may be a boy's love series, but there is no sex and very little in the way of physical affection. Instead, it shows us that love isn't about kissing or dating; love just is.

The Heart of Thomas is one of the most emotionally intense manga I have ever encountered. It takes place in a world that is a distinct, existing part of our history as human beings, but at the same time it's so beautiful, so fragile that we know it's merely a fantasy. In this world, nothing matters more than people discovering themselves, and discovering each other. In a way, it's just like growing up, as the characters stumble through learning to think and care and feel. That is where this fantasy and our own reality meet, and where we realize that although we've never hurled ourselves off of a bridge to show our love, we have all felt the things that these characters have felt.

Moto Hagio tells this story with her usual gorgeous art. While the first chapter or two features somewhat dull character designs, things improve very quickly, and by a third of the way into the series, everything has gone from average to gorgeous. Characters are drawn in the doe-eyed, androgynous, and anorexic style that was so prevalent in shoujo of the 70s, but Hagio makes the style her own. Each page is superb, with an endless variety of panel layouts used and gorgeous and dynamic angles. It's distinctly shoujo -- full of flowers and sparkles -- without being unbearably girly; Hagio clearly knew how to set limits for herself. Don't let the promise of classic shoujo drawings cause you to pass The Heart of Thomas up: it's a great choice for people who are unfamiliar with this particular niche, as the art is both clearly 70s and completely timeless.

Every element blends together seamlessly to create something close to perfection. The Heart of Thomas is a masterpiece not only of early boy's love but of all manga, thanks to the way it so wonderfully portrays emotions, pain, and most importantly, a love that transcends labels.