A, A Prime | |
![]() Cover of A, A Prime as published by Viz Media | |
Genre | Science fiction, romance |
---|---|
Manga | |
Written by | Moto Hagio |
Published by | Akita Shoten Shogakukan |
English publisher | |
Magazine | Princess Petit Flower |
English magazine | |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Published | November 20, 1984 |
Volumes | 1 |
A, A Prime is a manga anthology of short stories written and illustrated by Moto Hagio. Originally spelled A, A′, it was first published in November 1984 by Shogakukan and brings together three science fiction stories published between 1981 and 1984. In addition to the titular short story which appeared in Akita Shoten's Princess, the anthology includes "4/4 [Quatre-Quarts]" and "X+Y"—both of which were serialized in the Shogakukan magazine Petit Flower. English translations of the stories, which first appeared separately in Viz Media's Manga Vizion from 1995 to 1996, were collected by the publisher in 1997.
The anthology deals with gender, with the androgyny and ambiguity typical of Hagio’s characters, as well as identity and memory. Gender and sexuality are explored most prominently in "X+Y", which features a young man who learns that he is intersex, gender fluidity and transition, and a gay relationship. The story won the 1985 Seiun Best Comic Award, and its English-language version was praised for its artwork and emotion. It is also regarded as having introduced gender-bending to the shōjo manga genre.