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A Cruel God Reigns
Cover of A Cruel God Reigns volume 1 as published by Shogakukan
残酷な神が支配する (Zankokuna Kami ga Shihai Suru)
Genre	Yaoi
Manga
Author	Moto Hagio
Publisher	Shogakukan
Demographic	Josei
Original run	March 19, 1993 – August 20, 2001
Volumes	17
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A Cruel God Reigns (残酷な神が支配する, Zankokuna Kami ga Shihai Suru ^?, aka. "A Cruel God Rules in Heaven") is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Moto Hagio. The manga was serialized in Shogakukan's josei manga magazine, Petit Flower.^[1][2] The name comes from Al Alvarez's 1972 novel, The Savage God.^[3] Moto Hagio was awarded the first Osamu Tezuka Culture Award Excellence prize in 1997 for A Cruel God Reigns.^[3] The story follows the ordeals Jeremy endures at the hands of his sexually-abusive stepfather, Greg. He does not tell his emotionally unstable mother for fearing of destroying her dream of a happy marriage.^[4][5] Shogakukan published the manga's 17 tankōbon volumes between March 19, 1993 and August 20, 2001.^[1][2] After completing A Cruel God Reigns, Hagio took a year's hiatus from manga.^[3] The manga was republished into 10 kanzenban volumes between October 15, 2004 and February 15, 2005.^[6][7]

Characters

• Jeremy - Sandra's son, he is sixteen years old at the start of the story.
• Sandra - Works in an antique shop, mother to Jeremy. A very emotionally weak person, who attempted suicide when a boyfriend broke up with her when Jeremy was ten.
• Greg - An English aristocrat, he proposes to Sandra but tells Jeremy he loves him too, abusing Jeremy and then threatening to leave Sandra unless Jeremy is compliant.
• Vivi - Jeremy's girlfriend, at the beginning of the story they are planning to consummate their relationship, but she believes Jeremy to be unfaithful after Jeremy kisses like Greg does. When Jeremy confesses that he is being abused by Greg, Vivi doesn't believe him.
• Cass - a classmate of Jeremy's who is rumoured to be prostituting himself.
• Ian - Greg's son in his late teens who begins to lust after Jeremy.
• Matt - Greg's twelve year old son, withdrawn but loves his dog, Pepe, and Natasha.
• Aunt Karen - Jeremy's father's sister.
• Hannah - Maid at Greg's mansion.
• Natasha - Lilya's older sister.
• Lilya - Greg's late wife, mother to Ian and Matt.

Volumes

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "プチフラワーコミックス - 残酷な神が支配する / 1 [Petit Flower Comics - A Cruel God Reigns 1]" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091721710. Retrieved 2009-07-21.  
2. ^ ^{a b} "プチフラワーコミックス - 残酷な神が支配する / 17 [Petit Flower Comics - A Cruel God Reigns 17]" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091722474. Retrieved 2009-07-21.  
3. ^ ^{a b c} Thorn, Matt. "The Moto Hagio Interview". The Comics Journal. http://www.matt-thorn.com/shoujo_manga/hagio_interview.php#Phantoms. Retrieved 2009-07-21.  
4. ^ J. McLelland, Mark (October 12, 2000). Male Homosexuality in Modern Japan. Routledge. pp. 78. ISBN 978-0700713004.  
5. ^ Duffield, Patricia (November 2002). "Moto Hagio article". Animerica Extra 5 (12): 1. http://www.mindspring.com/~theduffields/resume/articles/features/hagio.htm.  
6. ^ "小学館文庫 - 残酷な神が支配する / 1 [Shogakukan book - A Cruel God Reigns 1]" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091916112. Retrieved 2009-07-21.  
7. ^ "小学館文庫 - 残酷な神が支配する / 10 [Shogakukan book - A Cruel God Reigns 10]" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091916201. Retrieved 2009-07-21.  
8. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q} "小学館：コミック" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_src?jan=cl&pat=b2&text=%8Ec%8D%93%82%C8%90_%82%AA%8Ex%94z%82%B7%82%E9. Retrieved 2009-07-21.  

External links

• Zankokuna Kami ga Shihai Suru (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia