Blame!

Blame! is a dark sci-fi manga by Tsutomu Nihei.  It was published beginning in 1997 and was compiled into 10 tankoubon.

    Killy is on a mission to find a human with net access genes.  To do so he has to scour through the unending maze of the construct.  His job is made more difficult by the scores of enemies trying to stop him.  Along the way he has to face an army of silicon based life forms, deranged AI, cyborgs and the construct it’s self.  He and other non-human beings are searching high and low for the few remaining uncorrupted humans.

    This is an entertaining and confusing manga.  There is little in the way if dialogue for most if the series, with entire issues where there is none at all.  This works well for the series but can also lead to moments if confusion.  I am still really unsure about some of what was going on at some points.  In the end some things are kind of left unresolved.  But...maybe not.  With the void of text it leaves room for a lot of analysis.  What is the construct?  What was its initial purpose?  What caused it to change?  What happened to humanity over the countless generations?

    Even with all the potential confusion this was a highly enjoyable manga.  The artwork is well detailed with memorable character designs.  Sit back and take the detail in.  There is a lot of action as Killy doesn't ask questions, but instead shoots his way through his problems.  The hordes of silicon based enemies he faces are creepy and dark.  You can tell from the art that this world has been left to rot for a long time and the survivors don’t have much hope for survival.  This series is like a cyber-goths wet dream, with plenty of cosplay ideas to scare the shit out of the loli goth and visual kei people.

    Much of the series reminded me of Gunnm, but with fewer words.  Which reminded me of how bored I was during the annoying and unneeded dialog in that awesome series.  This a relatively unique and enjoyable manga.  Even with its flaws.  The world in it is mesmerizing and unfathomable.  I would like to see a bit more, but thought the series was done well...even if parts started to become convoluted in the end.

    Fortunately Nihei decided to do a number of prequels and follow ups to this manga as well as an ONA.  The manga for Blame! Is available in North America and was distributed by Tokyo Pop.  If you are wondering, Nihei is also responsible for Knights of Sidonia and he reuses some of the character designs in that series as he used in Blame!.