Publisher
Dark Horse
Country of origin
Japan
Length
240 pages
Year of production
1980
Writers
Katsuhiro Otomo
Artists
Katsuhiro Otomo
Katsuhiro Otomo is one of the great anime and manga giants whose work is widely respected around the globe. His seminal work Akira broke the mold in many ways and truly brought anime and manga to the attention of the US and UK markets. Domu first published back in 1983 on Japan's sci-fi grand prix award and the quality that garnered this award is clear from the outset.
The story is in many ways analogous to Akira as a battle between 2 forces either blessed, or cursed with psychic powers. The story centres around a housing estate in Tokyo where over the years there have been many mysterious murders, suicides and deaths all linked by missing pieces of the victim's property, usually trinkets or toys. The police baffled by the spate of strange occurrences, and start to investigate the housing estate. This leads to deaths of several of the police officers investigating the case but also of the uncovering of the source of all the pain and grief of the residents of the housing association. Unfortunately the blurb on the back of the edition I have gives that all away which doesn't lead to any suspense in the police's investigation.
Now as anyone who has seen Otomo's graphical work it is no surprise to see such a detailed environment and world realised on the page. The buildings are detailed; the character designs are clear and distinctive. And this goes for secondary as well as primary characters. The writing is also of a similarly high standard the narrative flowing freely, the scripting sounding authentic and neither feeling at all forced but allowed the freedom to develop at its own speed. The psychic battles are well portrayed between the two central characters, the understatement between the world around them being warped by the opposing power much more inventive than the anime portrayals of this power (you know running around, bright fireballs etc.).
Dark Horse publishing have treated this title with respect, the translation is good, the picture flop clear. The paper quality used in the printing also of high quality. They clearly understood the respect that needs to be afforded any of Otomo's work. Now this type of treatment warms any fanboy's heart as this is one of the godfather's of manga and this work should be treated with a level of reverence, bordering on but not quite the level of Akira. I really do recommend checking this out. If you like the type of stories that Otomo weaves then I cannot see any reason why you would not appreciate this.
Dark Horse
Country of origin
Japan
Length
240 pages
Year of production
1980
Writers
Katsuhiro Otomo
Artists
Katsuhiro Otomo
Katsuhiro Otomo is one of the great anime and manga giants whose work is widely respected around the globe. His seminal work Akira broke the mold in many ways and truly brought anime and manga to the attention of the US and UK markets. Domu first published back in 1983 on Japan's sci-fi grand prix award and the quality that garnered this award is clear from the outset.
The story is in many ways analogous to Akira as a battle between 2 forces either blessed, or cursed with psychic powers. The story centres around a housing estate in Tokyo where over the years there have been many mysterious murders, suicides and deaths all linked by missing pieces of the victim's property, usually trinkets or toys. The police baffled by the spate of strange occurrences, and start to investigate the housing estate. This leads to deaths of several of the police officers investigating the case but also of the uncovering of the source of all the pain and grief of the residents of the housing association. Unfortunately the blurb on the back of the edition I have gives that all away which doesn't lead to any suspense in the police's investigation.
Now as anyone who has seen Otomo's graphical work it is no surprise to see such a detailed environment and world realised on the page. The buildings are detailed; the character designs are clear and distinctive. And this goes for secondary as well as primary characters. The writing is also of a similarly high standard the narrative flowing freely, the scripting sounding authentic and neither feeling at all forced but allowed the freedom to develop at its own speed. The psychic battles are well portrayed between the two central characters, the understatement between the world around them being warped by the opposing power much more inventive than the anime portrayals of this power (you know running around, bright fireballs etc.).
Dark Horse publishing have treated this title with respect, the translation is good, the picture flop clear. The paper quality used in the printing also of high quality. They clearly understood the respect that needs to be afforded any of Otomo's work. Now this type of treatment warms any fanboy's heart as this is one of the godfather's of manga and this work should be treated with a level of reverence, bordering on but not quite the level of Akira. I really do recommend checking this out. If you like the type of stories that Otomo weaves then I cannot see any reason why you would not appreciate this.
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