Drama Queen

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

While I can't knock it for its anti-imperialist themes, Drama Queen does come off as incredibly racist dog-whistle for contemporary immigration issues in Japan. I'm going to edit this for clarity because some people have not been able to comprehend the obvious. The actions of the protagonists are nothing but glorified; this isn't Death Note, these aren't villain protagonists. The popular notion that the couple will be painted as unsympathetic later on is wishful thinking at its worst.

The setting is in Japan, where aliens live among Japanese people due to the aliens saving the Earth from a "giant meteorite" and introducing humans to fancy new ... technology. The protagonist; Nomamoto, is introduced harassing a mixed-species couple because the noticeably brash stereotypically American-acting alien accidentally bumped into her on the street. She goes on to state how she hates all the aliens including the ones who did nothing wrong (she somewhat reminds me of the intolerant bystander from Monster Musume as a result). Nomamoto also says that she also hates couples who refer to their significant other in gender neutral terms (does this remind you of anyone?), "partner" instead of "boyfriend" in this case. This is important because it indicates that the author has an unusual awareness of contemporary western neoreactionary ideology, such as works derived from Renaud Camus. This is the first tip-off that the aliens are a metaphor for migrants, contractors, American military enlistees, and all other foreigners.

The aliens are indicated to have better technology and higher level positions in Japanese society. You might say "but wait, this isn't the reality in Japan as of right now!", and you'd be right. However, if you're aware of the French-origin "The Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, which the author most likely has knowledge of considering the former commentary on gender ideology, this is exactly to be expected from the narrative. It is shown that Nomamoto's boss is an abusive alien who lashes out at his employees. Kitami (the other protagonist) chews him out and complains about the alien not learning Japanese; this is a common complaint about foreigners in Japan, which is the second tip-off that the aliens are a metaphor for foreigners.

Kitami meets up with Nomamoto on the beach and reveals that he hates all aliens too because one killed his entire family in a drunk driving accident. This is a direct, overt, and obvious reference to the dozens of times American military and base workers have done this, the most recent being Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis killing 2 Japanese people in 2022. Kitami's mention of the police being afraid it would turn into "an interplanetary issue" and covering it up is a direct reference to this happening in real life regarding the aforementioned killings. There's also accusations that the "meteorite" was a false flag, a common theme in neoreactionary communities.

Through a series of wacky hijinks, the abusive alien boss ends up self-immolating by accident. Kitami shows up at Nomamoto's door later that day with a dead alien body (he admitted to killing it for trivial reasons), and they decide to cover up the death of the alien by eating its corpse. This is strangely reminiscent of World War 2's Chichijima incident (look it up), and while cannibalism was not exceptional during the war, honestly I have no idea why the author would decide to invoke these themes considering that they make Japan look bad. The protagonists state their conviction to ethnically cleanse Japan of aliens by killing and eating them. The chapter then ends.

My main criticism is the following: The people who travelled or immigrated to Japan largely do so because they view Japan as a superior country, and yes, while there are a lot of foreigners who are totally Machiavellian and violent in nature, to portray all migrants and foreigners as a monolith of invading aliens is bad writing and doesn't make for an interesting plot. In addition, it wasn't for its premise being akin to The Turner Diaries, it would just be another Mary Sue meets Gary Stu romance manga with nothing in particular to offer to anyone. Let it be known that I am for free expression and all that cool stuff, but it's insidious that this is in a Shounen magazine aimed at younger children and not in a Seinen magazine for young adults who would be more equipped to view these themes critically.

The reasons it gets a 3 instead of a 1: anti-imperialism is still a cool theme even if the execution of the metaphor is the worst it could possibly be, the art is quite decent, and Nomamoto is kinda hot- she can munch on my alien nose any time if you know what I'm saying. You know what I'm sayin'? Yeah you know. Aight. Cool. Peace.

Drama Queen is EXTREMELY unsettling. I never felt so uncomfortable reading a manga before.

The plot of the manga is that an alien race saved humanity from an asteroid and then started inhabiting the planet among humans. Since they were the ones that apparently saved the planet, all humans treat them super well, like heroes. However, the aliens also started receiving very special treatment in detriment of humans, making some people very uncomfortable with their presence.
Our two protagonists have had very bad experiences dealing with aliens in their lives, especially in their recent job, having an abusive alien boss, and they start getting suspicious about how ... there was a whole alien species conveniently nearby to get rid of the asteroid menace and take advantage of humanity's favor right after. So what is the plan the protagonists come to?

Killing and eating all the aliens. Yeah.
No silver lining. No sugar coating. No investigation, duality, doubt or moral pondering; we're going straight to murder and consume.

I honestly don't know how the Jump editorial greenlit this thing. The story has a super engaging premise that could be taken in a bunch of directions, but instead focuses on the protagonist duo acting in blind rage to murder a whole species just because "eh, I don't like them and think they're sus".

And keep in mind: the protagonists are always depicted in this positive light, as if what they're doing is risky, but not close to being wrong. Morality never even comes into question.

Besides the plot being so bizarre and unsettling, there's a real chance that this plot is inspired by real life racism. The whole "I had some bad experiences with the people of this race, so I hate all of them and want their kind out of my country" reads a lot like racist subtext. And, to be fair, that wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the fact that there's no nuance; the protagonists are never questioned as of why could killing and eating someone else just because they're from a difference race be wrong. The whole thing is incredibly weird.

Tl;dr: Unsettling and weird manga, potentially racist/anti-immigrant propaganda. Dunno how the editors allowed this.

"Alliens" arrive in the country from outside, they get high ranking positions, the law doesnt touch them (not entirely), the 100% of them are rude, all of them are rich, "government cover ups", they stink so much even when they die the stench doesnt go away, 20+ million in number, they are "replacing" the natives. Racist BS i have heard a thousand times from europeans, americans and many others with all that bs backed by nothing other than insecurity that now gets made into a manga with protagonists that kill and eat those "alliens"

The story even without judging it on its obvious pararells to reality ... its a very bland story with nothing to offer other than controversy and a soon to be cancellation after said controversy dies out and the numbers plunge on the ground