Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing, June 6, 2006
It's a bit pointless to review just one volume of a serialized manga, particularly one like this that really develops its continuity over its entire length. This can be a problem with manga books because if you like a series, you'll end up spending something like $100 or more to get the whole story.
In Japan, I've heard, they have Manga Cafes in which one can sit and read tankouban (as these collected volumes of previously serialized material are called). But a story like BLAME! deserves to be owned because of 1) the complexity of the storyline, and 2) the striking dark beauty of the artwork.
One of the things I enjoy most about Blame! is the way Nihei (trained as an architect) manages to create sublime images of calamitous, anarchic architectural spaces that are by turns claustrophobic and cavernous. And the substantial emotional impact of these spaces (the entire story, thus far, takes place within an oppressively infinite INTERIOR space) comes across magnificently even on these relatively small pages.
The story and characters are engaging as well, and in a way that binds them tightly to the space that surrounds them. Nihei succeeds in visualizing and "narrativizing" philosophical concepts about the interplay of (in)organic technologies and human(?) biology that rivals or even exceeds (or maybe it's just in a totally different dimension from) Shirow Masamune's (Ghost in the Shell) most interesting work - only without the "sexy" cyborg crotch shots on every page. And Nihei also achieves this without relying on tons of words on the page. His art speaks volumes - the linework is paradoxically crisp and filthy at the same time, and his sense of pacing is unparalleled - a breathtaking balance of panel-dense and show-stopping splash pages.
Lucky for us, there's alot more of Nihei's work currently available in Japan - just waiting to be translated for us English speakers (including a sequel to Blame! called Net Sphere Engineer).
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
cream of the cyberpunk crop, February 28, 2006
When manga was first getting imported to the US market, you could pretty much trust that everything that hit the stands was decent, since the first books to get translated were the cream of the crop. Then, we started to see the real diversity of titles available in Japan, and, unfortunately, with diversity also comes a certain level of mediocrity.
Fortunately, there are still treasures out there for those willing to look for them, and BLAME! is one of those treasures. With unique artwork, a sinister and cryptic tale unfolds slowly before you and captures your attention in a way few manga can these days.
The first volume just misses the five star mark simply for the slow ramp-up, but it's worth it. I equate this first volume with the very first of Stephen King's Dark Tower books - it's a necessary intro, albeit a little clunky.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent series with a slow start, August 9, 2005
I've been interested in BLAME! ever since I found an art book on an import website. After readint through the volumes in Japanese, I must say I wasn't let down. This series is easily one of my favorites. Unfortunately, It also takes a while to get going.
The ten volume series tells the story of Killy as he wanders through the what was once the earth, and now is a gigantic city known as the megastructure which grows out of control. Despite it being a city, few humans are to be seen due to an infestation of beings known as Silicon Creatures (essentially cyborgs). Killy seeks the net terminal genes, or an individual who has them, in order to restore ballance to the city. He thus faces the perils of the megastructure armed with a superhuman constitution and a small pistol that punches holes two feet in diameter through whatever it hits.
What really sets BLAME! aside from many other manga is the unusual art style. Though it still contains the general feel of most Japanese comics the characters never seem to focus their eyes, which can be hard to get used to but adds to the lonely, hopeless atmosphere of the story. The also has a rather messy style, which may appeal to some but not to others. The factor that elevates the artwork though are the environments. From great bridges to monolithic towers the backdrops are truly masterpieces in their own right. The detail and depth is simply unmatched.
Unfortunately, the series suffers from a slow start, and thus the first volume is not up to par with the rest of the story. The artwork is still in its early stages, and visually improves as the series progresses. There are no monumental plot shifts in the story either. It's really more of an introduction. The story and artwork also appeals to only a limited audience, due to a story that requires a lot of thinking to fully understand (though perhaps not in this volume). Still, if you're looking for something unique with an art style that stands out and a story to match, BLAME! offers something that breaks away from the conventional.
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