There are two universal truths in today’s rapidly changing comics industry. The first is that Dog Man is the defining comic of our time. Second, more people are reading manga and webtoons (aka vertically scrolling comics) than ever before. Therefore, we at Comics Beat have decided to embark on a new venture called Beat’s Bizarre Adventure. Each week, three writers recommend their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and other countries. This week we have a zombie dad, a high school romance long past our high school days, and of course CLAMP. Where would we be without CLAMP?
human fragments
Story & Art: IRON Shin, SICK
Platform: Webtoon
I don’t remember how I came across this series when it was released, but I was hooked. Pieces of Humans is a WEBTOON thriller set in a zombie apocalypse, or more specifically, a post-apocalyptic world. A mysterious zombie virus breaks out, and within a short period of time, the city is destroyed and the military outpost is overrun. The story is about Min-cheol Baek, a captain in his country’s army, who sacrifices his life to protect a military outpost from overrun in order to get his wife and daughter to safety.
Min-cheol is eventually killed by a horde of zombies, but when he wakes up six months later, he realizes that he has become one of the undead. Still, thanks to a last-minute vaccine administered to the military, he remained conscious and able to control his body. Unfortunately, Mincheol is slowly decaying. Only by exchanging one’s organs and limbs with those of a living human can one extend one’s “lifespan.” His new goal is to live long enough to be reunited with his wife and daughter and do everything he can to survive in this new world.
What stands out to me while reading this series is the presentation and premise. I can only describe it as Tokyo Ghoul meets The Walking Dead. We have a protagonist, which is very rare in media. He is a military captain with a wife and daughter. His goals, while simple, drive his every action throughout the series thus far.
When it comes to presentation, the art is just unique. Many of WEBTOON’s comics use clean line art, bright colors, and simple cell shading. In comparison, the line art in Pieces of Humans is very rough and has muted colors. Use gauze clouds and watercolor brushes to highlight the detail and texture of characters and environment materials. It sets a raw, melancholic, and gritty tone that fits perfectly with the theme and atmosphere of the story.
The use of panels is also nice. Some adjust the pacing to give the characters and their actions a sense of movement. Others take advantage of this format to make the panel scroll so that the camera tilts down or moves overhead. I love how comics use their format to bring ideas to life that aren’t physically possible in other mediums.
As of this writing, there are only 10 episodes of Pieces of Human. The most recent one had me sitting on the edge of my seat literally biting my lip. Please read it. — Justin Guerrero
blue sky complex
Writer/Artist: Kei Ichikawa
Translation: Kat Skarbinek / Amimal
Typesetting: Maria Victoria Gallo Garcia / Amimal
Production assistant: Mackenzie Carnahan, Hannah SSH, WH, HIKARI / Amimaru
Proofreader: Lauren Ellis, Taylor Drew
Quality Assurance: Molly Rabbit
Platform: Fukiya
Many romances, especially those that fall into the stranger-to-lovers category, begin with two strangers meeting, initially misunderstanding each other, then becoming friends, and something more happening later. Masu. Watching two people fall in love and end up together is satisfying. And that’s it. boom! It is assumed that the story ends and the two live happily ever after.
“Blue Sky Complex,” written and illustrated by Kei Ichikawa, takes us beyond “eternal happiness.” The story begins in high school, when Narasaki, a quiet high school student who only wants peace and quiet, is asked to keep an eye on Natsuki, a juvenile delinquent, under the guise of helping out at the library’s reception desk. Narasaki is naturally wary, but as the two of them sit next to each other and read a book in silence, he is surprised to see that Natsuki seems to like the quietness of the library. The two bond through books and become tentative friends. Things change completely when Natsuki suddenly steals a kiss from Narasaki.
It may be a cliché, but it is a story of two people who are diametrically opposed to each other: an honor student and a delinquent. Natsuki expresses her heart and is the more expressive of the two. Narasaki is more stoic, but it’s clear he’s trying to think about what that kiss means to Natsuki, and more importantly, to him. He realized early on that he was doing something he never did before he met Natsuki, although there are no words to define it.
Once the two get together, the story follows their lives from high school, to graduation, to college, and (I hope) until they leave school and become “real” adults. Unfortunately, some stories of everyday life can be difficult because real life can be boring if nothing happens. Blue Sky Complex is the story of a couple who start out not knowing who they are (like what happens when they are only 15-16 years old). We will follow them as they walk through life together and grow as individuals and as a couple.
Neither Narasaki nor Natsuki are perfect. No matter how long they’ve been together, they still have insecurities. It’s rare to see a same-sex relationship develop like this in comics, so it’s refreshing. And at the end of the day, it’s comforting because you know after seeing what they’ve been through, these two are going to stick together. — Hilary Leon
Miyuki-chan from Wonderland
Writer/Artist: CLAMP
English adaptation: Jamie S. Rich
Translation: Ray Oshimoto
Publisher: Tokyo Pop (original), VIZ (current)
If in doubt, use a clamp to solve the problem! Here we write about yet another title from the brilliant minds behind an all-female theater company. Miyuki-chan in Wonderland follows the title character as she is sucked into various thematic realms and has adventurous dream-like experiences. Start with famous classic literature such as “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass.” Additionally, there are strange worlds like TV Land, Mahjong Land, and even X Land, a crossover with CLAMP Series X. (Editor’s note: The most CLAMP work among all CLAMP manga! I wonder if it will ever be completed…)
This short series is one of the group’s more experimental adventures. There’s really no overarching narrative, and the individual stories progress at a breakneck pace, like an uncontrollable dream. As the story continues, Miyuki becomes more and more aware that these events keep happening to her. She remembers previous stories so there is continuity, but each is self-contained so you can read these adventures even if you haven’t read the previous story.
What’s interesting about Miyuki from Wonderland is that she is very original and eccentric. CLAMP has a lot of fun with this premise, populating a strange world with fun characters. Places appear and disappear in an instant. However, please note that this story contains a lot of fan service. The characters, including women, have suggestive interactions and undress with each other in each chapter. However, it never reaches the level of explicit nudity.
This manga is short, just over 100 pages, making it a quick and easy read. If you just want to enjoy manga and CLAMP goodness, check out Miyuki-chan. There is also a short anime version, so be sure to check it out. — Derrick Crowe
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