Super HxEros (Japanese: ド級編隊エグゼロス, Hepburn: Dokyū Hentai Eguzerosu, lit. "Dreadnought Formation HxEros") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryōma Kitada. It was serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine from May 2017 to February 2021, with its chapters collected into twelve tankōbon volumes. In North America, the manga is licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Project No.9 aired from July to September 2020.
Premise
An unknown type of alien called "Censor Bug" (キセイ蟲, Kiseichū) invades Earth. They plunder "H-energy" in an attempt to make mankind extinct. To save the Earth from the alien threat, high school boy Retto Enjō joins the "HxEros" team, partnering with four beautiful high school girls, one of whom is his childhood friend Kirara Hoshino. However, it turns out that Kirara's personality has drastically changed, which leads to an estrangement between the two childhood friends.
A second year high school student who lives in Saitama. He joined HxEros at the recommendation of his uncle after his childhood friend, Kirara Hoshino, was attacked by a Censor Bug when they were children. Despite the rift between them following the Censor Bug attack, he continues to have feelings for her. At the end of the series, he confesses to Kirara and they become a couple.
Kirara is Retto's childhood friend. Once having an outgoing personality when she was younger, Kirara changed after she was attacked by a Censor Bug, to the point she avoids boys in general. Despite that, she retains feelings for Retto.
An energetic and athletic girl, Momoka joined HxEros thanks to her rivalry with her older sister, who is a model. It is hinted that she has feelings for Retto.
Sora is the youngest member of HxEros who occasionally wanders into Retto's bed when she is half asleep. She likes to draw erotic manga. She is a classmate of Retto's younger sister, Hiiro.
Maihime is a friendly girl who believes she does not have any special abilities. Unbeknownst to her, however, her H-energy is a lot stronger than she thinks. She goes to an all-girls school.
A Censor Bug who is the oldest child of the queen. Unlike other members of her species, Chacha is able to release pheromones that make it easier for others to feel H-energy. As such, she is despised and imprisoned by her species.
A member of HxEros who works for the Tokyo Branch. Thanks to her XERO gear, she has a very insensitive body. She developed a crush on Retto after he helped her release her H-energy while he was in beast mode.
Super HxEros, written and illustrated by Ryōma Kitada, was serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine from May 2, 2017, to February 4, 2021.[14][15] Kitada announced that the series will continue in some form in the future.[16][17] Shueisha collected its chapters in twelve individual tankōbon volumes, which were released from September 4, 2017, to March 4, 2021.[18][17][19] In North America, the manga is licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment.[3]
An anime television series adaptation was announced on October 25, 2019.[45] The series was animated by Project No.9, written and directed by Masato Jinbo, with Akitomo Yamamoto designing the characters, and Gin from music group Busted Rose composing the music.[46] It aired from July 4 to September 26, 2020, on Tokyo MX and other channels.[47][48][a] The opening theme, "Wake Up Hx ERO!", was performed by the rock band Burnout Syndromes, performing as HxEros Syndromes, featuring Yoshitsugu Matsuoka performing as his character, Retto Enjō. The ending theme, "Lost emotion", was performed by Ai Kakuma as her character, Kirara Hoshino.[6] The series ran for 12 episodes.[49] An OVA is bundled with the manga's eleventh volume, which was released on November 4, 2020.[50] Another OVA is bundled with the manga's twelfth and final volume, which was released on March 4, 2021.[51]
The series is licensed by Aniplex of America. Funimation streamed the censored broadcast version on its platform.[52] On September 4, 2020, Funimation announced that the series would receive an English dub, which premiered on the same day.[5] Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll.[53]
As of October 2019, the manga had 900,000 copies in circulation.[45] Nicholas Dupree of Anime News Network called the series a "good-vs-evil superpowered girls show," while fellow reviewer, Monique Thomas called it a "horny Super Sentai parody show."[57] Dupree also praised the series for being more in-depth than what they expected, but Thomas criticized it for, at times, its "sex positive fanservice" falling flat. Both reviewers pointed out that Maihime has a "lesbian prince girlfriend," noting it is not the only lesbian relationship in the series, as one of Kirara's friends, not part of the Super HxEros, is "dating an older girl."[57]
Notes
^ abTokyo MX listed the series premiere at 24:00 on July 3, 2020, which is at midnight on July 4.
^ド級編隊エグゼロス 8 [Dokyū Hentai HxEros 8] (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
^ド級編隊エグゼロス 8 特装版 [Dokyū Hentai HxEros 8 Special Edition] (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
^ド級編隊エグゼロス 11 [Dokyū Hentai HxEros 11] (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^ド級編隊エグゼロス 11 アニメBD同梱版 [Dokyū Hentai HxEros 11 BD Bundled Version] (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^ド級編隊エグゼロス 12 アニメBD同梱版 [Dokyū Hentai HxEros 12 BD Bundled Version] (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
