The Fall 2023 Manga Guide

ORIGIN

What's It About? 

Tokyo, 2048. The northern hemisphere is now connected by the Eurasian Railroad, which deposits all manner of crime and vice here at its eastern terminus. Night after night, the megalopolis is gripped by fear as bodies turn up mutilated in ways unthinkable for a human assailant. Remorseless killers stalk the shadows—but one man stalks them! He is ORIGIN. And he is not what he seems.

The ORIGIN manga has a story and art by Boichi. The English translation is by Mark Streer. Published by Vertical Comics (November 21, 2023).

Is It Worth Reading?

MrAJCosplay

Rating:

From the artist that brought you Dr. Stone, we have ORIGIN, probably one of the most well-drawn robot manga I have ever read in my life. I cannot understate enough that I could recommend this book solely from the artwork alone. It is so intricate and detailed to the point of being borderline unnecessary. As a story that focuses on robots masquerading as humans, there is an excruciating attention to detail in these machines' intricate wiring and metal placement. The action is incredibly fluid, with every panel serving a purpose, and there's an intense weight behind everything that feels crunchy on the paper. There are some moments where the facial expressions look a little bit off in an unintentional way, but aside from that, visually, this book is easily one of my favorites in the entire preview guide.

However, the story still has its fair share of intrigue. It's a straightforward story about a robot trying to live a simple life by ironically hunting down his robotic brethren. Our lead is a quirky fellow and a fun take on the “robot trying to act human” trope. Some of my favorite parts of the manga are him trying very hard to appear normal, so whenever somebody asks him a question, he constantly contemplates the appropriate response. This is the right amount of levity for what is ostensibly a very dry yet exciting story. Considering that the book has this rising sense of escalation and stops just short of a resolution, it's got me by the throat, and I can't wait to see what happens next.