Katabami to Ougon

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

As an Irish person I must say going into this manga I had low expectations. But this manga blew me away. It's a rare gem.

The historical accuracy is on point from the bleak coffin ships to the horror of the famine as well as the treatment of Irish immigrants in America during the 1840's/50's. It's informative and interesting at the same time. The mangakaka clearly researched a lot for this manga.

Don't be deterred by the deppressing sounding description of this manga because, although it has very heavy tones, the optimistic attitude of the main character, Amelia, helps keep the manga upbeat.

I don't want to ... make this review long so I will end it by saying you should definitely check this manga out. It's a short read and is worth the read.

There is something profound about this one. Almost feels wrong to review it so soon.

It's usually bad form to write a review of something before you've watched all of it right? We wait for series to be cancelled then write lengthy reviews justifying our paradoxical opinion that it was a 7 out of 10 but we still somehow don't think it should have been cancelled after 51 chapters?

Cue sentence complaining about a rushed ending.

Move onto the next one; read illegally of course.

Fuck me it's okay folks. I mean hell how do you think I read this one? Legally? I tried I really did.

I know ... the author's good so when I finally got around to seeing what he was doing next I went looking.

I saw that the author made something good via his twitter and two google searches later I laid eyes on the artwork.

I think I felt like I was reading Voynich Hotel but it was also Umi no Cradle but also Sheriff Evans Lies but also Golden Kamui?

The art is appropriate and restrained.

The layout is expressive if not traditional and ... unimpressive?

I don't know how I feel those last two sentences while also feeling so absolutely enamored by these characters. There's something like... I don't know the word dissonant?... about how the tone can be both simultaneously so uplifting and optimistic but also so ungodly morose.

... Wow... the description of the tone of the whole manga is also the description of the main character herself. Ladies and Gentlemen I think that's why I like this manga so much.

There's only seven chapters that I've laid eyes on but it was enough for me to cough up for all three volumes on amazon that are currently out right now in Japanese, a language that I'll surely speak eventually at this rate.

This author has done something special.

It doesn't feel like a stretch to imagine a manga like this being made. You don't need to go very far back in history to find compelling slots in historical narratives to tell stories in.

I didn't expect the tone or the narrative structure though, and that's what I'm extremely impressed by.

In ten chapters we could be in Oregon, or Canada, or still troupsing around Gangs-Of-New-York era New-Amsterdam, and it would feel right on track. It's really miraculous how sucess feels both impossible and innevitable at the same time. Amelia is one hell of a character.

I pray that enough people saw what I saw and bought the volumes to keep the spirit alive in these times.

"Young girl chases dream in America in the wake of a deadly disease destroying her future and ripping her aging family from her arms."
I think we'd all hope a story like that ends well, wouldn't you say?