Asahi wants nothing more than to be an idol, and when he's chosen as the latest member of boyband B-Marks he's over the moon. Except for one little detail; Asahi is an omega, and one of the other members, Madoka, is an alpha. Insisting on staying unmated to remain loyal to their fanbase, Asahi agrees to a “friends with benefits” arrangement to appease their hormonal urges without commitment. At least, that's what he intends… (Tokyo Pop)
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Ashahi Amaya wants nothing more than to be a famous idol. He has the talent and the looks, but there's one problem: he's an omega. In Ken Homerun's enticing new manga “Heat x Beat: I May Be an Omega, But I'm Going to Be an Idol”, Asahi struggles to navigate fame while hiding his secret from their numerous fans.
As the access to numerous online Boy's Love comics like mangwa's and manhua's has increased in recent years, so has the popularity of its subgenres, with one of the most rapidly growing ones being Omegaverse. While every author approaches the genre differently, the general rules still apply, and Homerun seems to keep his depiction pretty traditional. They tackle the gender roles often associated with Omegaverse, which helps the story feel familiar in that sense. Fans of the genre will surely appreciate that Homerun doesn't stray from the norms they already enjoy and recognize.
Outside of the Omegaverse aspect, Homerun manages to craft a compelling story about idols and the ups and downs trainees may suffer while attempting to break into the industry. The intertwining of real-world issues, like idol relationships, with common Omegaverse problems, like heats, makes for a nuanced dynamic and adds more mature elements to the storyline. Despite being a bright, fun-looking Boy's Love story on the outside, the plot doesn't treat its audience as too dense to handle a layered romance with actual problems.
However, just because “Heat x Beat” is a bit more serious than some readers would expect, that doesn't mean there's no fun or romance. Throughout its five-part narrative, the manga balances comedy, romance, and drama in a way that makes it easy to devour without even realizing it. Asahi is an easy protagonist to root for, especially as readers delve deeper into his motivation for being an idol. The struggle he endures is the actual driving factor for the plot and what makes Heat x Beat stand out as more than just a romance. Asahi's romantic interest, Madoka, has all the traits of a typical alpha but will still surprise viewers with his more understanding approach to perusing Asahi.
Along with the more comedic and romantic aspects, the art of “Heat x Beat will surely attract readers as well. The panel diversity in the layout arrangement keeps things from feeling monotonous, especially in an everyday setting. The characters, like most characters in the Omegaverse genre, are, of course, delicately attractive and beautifully designed. One interesting thing to note in Homerun's depiction of Omegaverse is the addition of more animal-esque features, such as tails and mammal ears. This could be a bit surprising for fans approaching the category for the first time, and even some long-time fans, as this isn't an art direction many other published stories use.
While there is plenty of good about “Heat x Beat”, some fans will inevitably feel uncomfortable with the idea of Omegaverse in their Boy's Love content. Sometimes, the handling of gender roles can be off-putting to readers; other times, the lack of control during a heat may rub one the wrong way. However, for those already interested in the concept or looking to explore it more, the title proves to be a quality showing from the genre.
Overall, Homerun's “Heat x Beat” is an easy read to recommend for fans of Boys Love, Idol plots, or Omegaverse. Readers who already enjoy these likely won't be able to put it down, as the writing, characters, and drama are consistent with all the most popular tropes for these genres. Even for new or casual readers, Ken Homerun's story about a young adult chasing their dreams will easily resonate with them while they quickly burn through this manga.
