Ranked #2209

Cipher (Manga)

I was introduced to this title by a friend when I was in high school (eons ago before English translations were widely availability in the U.S.). This title was very popular in Taiwan.

The story centers around twin brothers and we follow their personal identity struggles. It's a coming-of-age story and quite honestly, it was anti-climatic for me. I was expecting some kind of epiphany or some great revelation for the brothers but, that didn't happen. :(

The artwork was very consistent throughout the whole series. From the time publishing began in the early-mid 80's to when it ended in the early 90's, the characters' always looked the same. Only their hairstyles and fashion changed as time moved forward in the story. That said, this manga does look very dated. It's a great case study of the 80's. The mangaka was a huge Thompson Twins fan and it obviously influenced her art. LOL.

Overall, I found this manga okay. I recommend this to those who are interested in 80's mangas and while it is definitely showing its age, the artwork is very well-done and most people can relate to the brothers' experiences. read more