. The humor has every thing from low brow slapstick, dry humor (my fav) , also complex political satire

Oh I agree completely on this point. One of my big draws for the series is the great humor in it and the various types of humor it has.

The cultural angle is one of the other aspects that is great about ‘Eroica.’ The clash of cultures and various agencies is great. As as you mentioned, the charactures of all these different people from different countries. For example, Lawrence and his James-Bond antics are priceless.

And the art references (and Klaus’s less than educated blunt comments on them) have always made me laugh. I’ve taken enough art classes and art history to find his “uneducated” view on these famous art pieces hilarious.

I’ve noticed quite a lot of similarities between Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Grey and Dorian Red Gloria. I havent read the novel yet , just a vague summary but I will shortly.

This Im not so sure is correct. But my Cultural Anthropolgy professor got on a tangent about body language and how differant cultures express it differantly. Somehow the lecture shifted to how people flip each other off in other European countries. (yeah we all have fun in that class) In Germany they do something that looks like a peace sign but not really. In vol 5 after being cooped up with Dorian in a cabin Klaus really wants a cigarette. Agent A doesnt get it , and in the third panel on pg 110 it really looks like he’s flipping him off. (in German..at least according to my professor) Though she’s never been to Germany , so I dont know. It would be pretty funny in several ways if he was.

The art related stuff I also get a kick out of. Im an art student , so Ive had my fill of art history. I almost died when they mentioned the Loin Cloth painter. Not to mention Klaus’ comments on art. (and Dorians retorts) Two of my favorite examples , the look on his face when he lays eyes on Michelangelo’s “Last Judgement “. Like hes seen to most offensive adult film in the world. Then there’s the time he said one of the Ruebens women had a beer gut.

Also…

One of the most interesting things about this manga is how one can see other countries’ opinions of each other, (at least during the Cold War). Some of the one episode-only military agents (like said before) are political charactures that either represent real people or represent a slight personification of their countries. Ive noticed how in America we have our little international sterotypes , It was really refreshing to see someone elses perspective. (Not to mention the American sterotypes ..but I was kind of disappointed in them ..they were rather boring…but maybe that was the joke..and if it is, I guess thats pretty funny)

One politically-minded friend I know told me “I cant believe they distribute that here!” of course he meant that in a good way. Im not one to dwell too heavily on such matters, but it really makes you think. And of course makes the manga series even funnier.

Yay I’ve gotten someone into it XD

Yah, they’ve released through 9 via CMX and I think the next volume is out in September. I’ve gotten ahold of a few extra side-story and chapters from later on though, so let me know when you get caught up and I can pass them on to you ^^