Claudine

Riyoko Ikeda, who also published The Rose of Versailles and Dear Brother, created the manga Claudine. The Rose of Versailles and Dear Brother are two other manga that deal with LGBTQ issues, with The Rose of Versailles' Lady Oscar breaking gender stereotypes and Dear Brother being a tragic drama featuring multiple gay women. Claudine, on the other hand, is groundbreaking for featuring one of the first transgender protagonists in manga. The manga follows the protagonist, Claude, as he struggles with his gender identity and falls in love with several women over the course of his life.

Unfortunately, Claudine is a product of her time. It's not perfect; it ends in tragedy, and, well, the manga's title is Claude's deceased name. Nonetheless, the majority of Claude's family supports his identity, and the manga treats Claude's circumstances and demise as a fault of society rather than an inevitability. Though it's an unsettling read, Claudine is still a part of manga's LGBTQ history. It is available for reading at Seven Seas Entertainment.

Author: Riyoko Ikeda
Original run: January 15, 1978 – January 29, 1978
Status: Completed
Volumes: 1
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Claudine-Riyoko-Ikeda/dp/1626928916