A, A Prime

Lore & Background

The anthology collects three stories set in a shared futuristic universe centered on a genetically engineered 'Unicorn' species created for space travel. These humanoid beings are highly intelligent but struggle to understand others and their own emotions. The title story, 'A, A Prime,' involves a research group terraforming the planet Munzel, where a clone of the Unicorn Adelade Lee disrupts the emotional balance of Regg Bone. '4/4' follows Mori, a man with uncontrollable telekinetic powers, and his relationship with a Unicorn descendant named Trill on Jupiter's moon Io. 'X+Y' focuses on Tacto, a Unicorn whose mother committed suicide after a sex-change drug had unintended effects, and his eventual bond with Mori.

Reader's Guide

A, A Prime is significant for its early and nuanced treatment of gender and sexual identity in manga, particularly through the story 'X+Y,' which won the 1985 Seiun Award for Best Comic. The anthology is regarded as having introduced gender-bending to the manga genre. Critics have noted that the collection explores themes of identity in all its forms—sexual, gender, cloning, lost memories, and blocked emotions—and the relationship between memory and identity. The Unicorns' personal struggles have been interpreted as a metaphor for human alienation, though some scholars view them as 'eccentrics' common in Hagio's work. The English-language version was praised for its artwork and emotional depth, though one critic considered 'X+Y' the weakest story due to rushed character development.

Did You Know?

• The anthology's title story, 'A, A Prime,' was originally published in Akita Shoten's Princess magazine in August 1981.
• 'X+Y' features a young man who learns he is intersex and explores gender fluidity and transition.
• The English translations first appeared separately in Viz Media's Manga Vizion from 1995 to 1996 before being collected in 1997.
• The story '4/4' was serialized in Shogakukan's Petit Flower magazine in November 1983.