MANGA REVIEW, IKIGAMI 1 to 4

Prod dets

IKIGAMI the Ultimate Limit vol 1—4

Pub: 2005, Shogakukan Inc., Tokyo

Story & Art: Motoro Mase

Format: graphic paperback; Episode 1 & Episode 8

Age Range: [parental Advisory EXPLICIT CONTENT]

    Synopsis

Dear Citizen:

Thank you for your loyalty. You’ve no doubt noticed that the world is a troubled place. People are apathetic, lazy, unmotivated. You’ve probably asked yourself

WHY ISN’T ANYTHING BEING DONE TO STOP THIS

SYSTEMATIC DECLINE?

Rest assured that measures are being taken. Beginning immediately, we will randomly select a different citizen each day who will be killed within 24 hours of notification. We believe this will help remind all people how precious life is and how important it is to be a productive, active member of society.

Thanks you for your continued attention and your cooperation and participation....

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT... TO DIE IN 24 HOURS!

What happens...

Vol 2: BEING A DEATH MESSENGER MAY NOT BE THE BEST WAY TO GET A DATE...

Vol 3: SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO “SHOOT THE MESSENGER”....

Vol 4: CAN A DEATH MESSENGER HAVE A PERSONAL LIFE?

It’s simple really; these are episodes that are all about what people will and won’t do in their last 24 hours of life. I’m not going to bother you all with what happens in each book, really, they are fabulously drawn and written and it makes you think, while giving you a real perception on what it would be like.

Yeah, you could think of a thousand things now, right, but when that time comes, when you are told your life is about to end, right down to the second, what are you really going to do? How are you really going to act?

They are touching tales, with a history and real time on what they do and don’t do. What happens when they chose revenge, did it really make a difference. Did they really care, like you did?

It’s about what they end up doing for the people alive that are really what’s touching about the story, in their last days, the freedom, and fear of what they will be leaving behind, is gone and the only thing left is to struggle with the fact and take a minute to really change someone else’s life.

I really enjoyed them; they touched my heart, and left a foot big to deep and wide for me to ever forget. They aren’t long, but they are deep and meaningful and, yeah, they were just....magnificent. All of them.

I really hope, that this could end up something that you will read; they are beautiful and real and are something I am glad I didn’t pass by.

   ARE YOU NEXT?

☼☼☼