neverbpractical's review against another edition
4.0
A future world struck with a plague that transfigures its victims into the grotesquely beautiful corpses of angels. A girl travels with a group of Magi to search for the truth behind this strange evolution; whether it be tragic fate or the birth of a new dawn.
I am SO annoyed this collaboration is unfinished, because the tone set in this novel makes me STARVING for more. I definitely recommend, even though its frustrating, but I urge you to read the ending afterword by Carl Gustav Horn as it goes into great detail regarding the serials adaptation into English, the history behind how it was released, the world built between these two great creators, and the possible reasons it went unfinished.
I am SO annoyed this collaboration is unfinished, because the tone set in this novel makes me STARVING for more. I definitely recommend, even though its frustrating, but I urge you to read the ending afterword by Carl Gustav Horn as it goes into great detail regarding the serials adaptation into English, the history behind how it was released, the world built between these two great creators, and the possible reasons it went unfinished.
gwylix's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, Body horror, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: War and Xenophobia
-graphic depictions of corpses and victims of disease -Spoiler
violence against a dogawkwardreader13's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 I guess
Best thing about this was Caspar the dog.
The whole idea of a virus that turns people into angel corpses was really interesting. But it was just boring. There was, in my opinion, too much focus on military and the politics involved. But whatever, some people will be into that, I personally just wanted to learn more about Sera, about the virus..
It also made me uncomfortable the way the little girl, Sera, was portrayed.
(minor spoilers below)
She's basically this sweet looking young girl who doesn't speak. Which is fine. But then there is this weird panel in the story where she is lying completely nude on a table, being checked over. In a really weird angle. And then later in the story it is revealed that she is actually very old. Maybe I'm putting too much into this, but imagining these two grown ass men creating that panel made me ~uncomfy~. It doesn't add anything to the story, and paired with the later stated fact that she is NOT a very young girl, she just looks like one,... well it just felt sketch to me.
Best thing about this was Caspar the dog.
The whole idea of a virus that turns people into angel corpses was really interesting. But it was just boring. There was, in my opinion, too much focus on military and the politics involved. But whatever, some people will be into that, I personally just wanted to learn more about Sera, about the virus..
It also made me uncomfortable the way the little girl, Sera, was portrayed.
(minor spoilers below)
She's basically this sweet looking young girl who doesn't speak. Which is fine. But then there is this weird panel in the story where she is lying completely nude on a table, being checked over. In a really weird angle. And then later in the story it is revealed that she is actually very old. Maybe I'm putting too much into this, but imagining these two grown ass men creating that panel made me ~uncomfy~. It doesn't add anything to the story, and paired with the later stated fact that she is NOT a very young girl, she just looks like one,... well it just felt sketch to me.
aitorfmg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Uno de esos proyectos inacabados que, como la Dune de Jodorowsky o la Silent Hills de Kojima y Del Toro, me pesan en el alma cada vez que pienso en ellos. Conociendo las ambiciones de Kon y Oshii, ese ser un nuevo Nausicaä, y la escala que respira todo el manga en sus pocas páginas, es una lástima que jamás vayamos a ver una conclusión a algo que apuntaba a ser un clásico. Tiene sus problemas, sin duda: la política de los primeros capítulos está muy bien pensada pero terriblemente presentada, el ritmo y densidad de los capítulos iniciales es casi insoportable, el viraje hacia la acción es agradecida pero demasiado brusca y el cambio de poder creativo se nota en exceso a partir del séptimo capítulo. Es comprensible que no saliera adelante un proyecto nacido de dos mentes tan poco compatibles y que el resultado sea dispar. Con todo, el futuro de la serie prometía y ese bocadillo final deja con ganas de más. Oshii tenía claro que iba a tratar sus temas fetiche a través de una historia muy arraigada en la religión, del mismo modo que las revelaciones finales sobre el virus y la pandemia (!) habrían sido espectaculares de haberse trabajado bien su misterio.
Supongo que es muy fácil especular sobre lo que podría haber sido esta obra en potencia, pero esto es lo que tenemos: un proyecto inacabado, confundido con su propia naturaleza y, al mismo tiempo, atrapante, vasto y profundo. Otra de esas pruebas de que el manga puede darnos auténticas obras maestras en las manos adecuadas.
Supongo que es muy fácil especular sobre lo que podría haber sido esta obra en potencia, pero esto es lo que tenemos: un proyecto inacabado, confundido con su propia naturaleza y, al mismo tiempo, atrapante, vasto y profundo. Otra de esas pruebas de que el manga puede darnos auténticas obras maestras en las manos adecuadas.
stellalectorem's review against another edition
4.0
It was an interesting story, taking into account current events in the 90's and interlacing them into the future world in the story.
the_scribbling_man's review
3.0
3.5
Philosophical.
Political.
Pretentious.
These are the three "P"'s we've come to expect from anything Oshi-spawned – and this book doesn't disappoint. It's a complex piece of science fiction layered with religious symbolism and a convoluted plot. All the things that tend to drive me nuts. However, it was very enjoyable. Though, frankly, it's only in the last third that it really starts to get going, which is a shame since the story doesn't actually conclude. This is a majorly posthumus work - I mean, this thing is way less than even half finished. Originally, I assumed that the project didn't go forward because of Satoshi's death, but it turns out this was written way back in the 90s! And all this time the project has remained unfinished due to creative differences and conflict over ownership.
(sigh) Why can't we all just get along? (sigh)
And it's a real shame, because it's only in that last bit you really start to see Satoshi's influence come through in the writing (weird dream sequences).
The concept is really interesting, but the story doesn't really get going until the end of the book. Part of the reason it also takes a while to gain traction is the characters. Visually, you can differentiate between them, but in terms of what they say there's really very little to provide them with any real development. I'm confident though that this could have been a real corker had it been finished.
Well worth the read if you're a fan of either Oshi or Kon, but don't expect to be blown away. The story ends abruptly and without any form of conclusion (unlike Opus), there is however a nice little article/mini-analysis at the back.
Story – 3
Art – 4
Article/Analysis – 3.5
Philosophical.
Political.
Pretentious.
These are the three "P"'s we've come to expect from anything Oshi-spawned – and this book doesn't disappoint. It's a complex piece of science fiction layered with religious symbolism and a convoluted plot. All the things that tend to drive me nuts. However, it was very enjoyable. Though, frankly, it's only in the last third that it really starts to get going, which is a shame since the story doesn't actually conclude. This is a majorly posthumus work - I mean, this thing is way less than even half finished. Originally, I assumed that the project didn't go forward because of Satoshi's death, but it turns out this was written way back in the 90s! And all this time the project has remained unfinished due to creative differences and conflict over ownership.
(sigh) Why can't we all just get along? (sigh)
And it's a real shame, because it's only in that last bit you really start to see Satoshi's influence come through in the writing (weird dream sequences).
The concept is really interesting, but the story doesn't really get going until the end of the book. Part of the reason it also takes a while to gain traction is the characters. Visually, you can differentiate between them, but in terms of what they say there's really very little to provide them with any real development. I'm confident though that this could have been a real corker had it been finished.
Well worth the read if you're a fan of either Oshi or Kon, but don't expect to be blown away. The story ends abruptly and without any form of conclusion (unlike Opus), there is however a nice little article/mini-analysis at the back.
Story – 3
Art – 4
Article/Analysis – 3.5
abomine's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Alas, this is only a fragment of a vast and epic story, but what a beautiful and intriguing fragment it is.
More...