Feb 12, 2023
How do you feel when a story, whether it be manga, anime, book, movie, etc., captures you long after the story is done? There is a thrumming in the head and a recall of how those simple scenes grab you in the most profound ways; it's a... sensory experience. Netsutai no Citron is one of those tales, a page-turner that starts free-flowing, promising a world of sex and discombobulating psychedelics called "soda pop." Soma jumps from scene to scene, searching for purpose in the jungles of Vietnam while trying to escape the town that keeps him in place.
The plot thickens as the haze of dreams
...
and drugs takes shape and the story becomes something: not just a boy searching for his "next" trip but a coming-of-age story. He navigates magic, gods, witches, destiny, freedom, and individual vs. collective identity to defeat the rabbit and save March Town. Ironically, Soma discovers that Mako, the witch, is not controlling his actions through magic or drugs and that he is free to make his own choices. Choices and actions that he can make in March Town, the original town he was stuck in, Vietnam, or anywhere. That is the true magic of this work, Soma is free no matter where he goes, wherever he can share his talents with the world. To fight the rabbit, practice his art, and live his own way, in the face of death, is what makes his character arc so satisfying. He doesn't owe march town anything, but this is where he makes his stand. This is where he chooses to fight.
This is what makes this manga so great. It's not afraid to jump into divisive or contentious topics as the author is unapologetic in telling the story. And the narrative takes a deeper step into the idea of freedom with feelings. The feeling of cool water streaming past your hands, the taste of your favorite home-cooked meal that you haven't had in so long, or the heat of the citron tree in the tropics. The sensations and the experiences of life are the ultimate freedom. And as Soma was able to live a full life in such a short time, I believe Jiro Matsumoto wishes the same of us, wherever our circumstances take us.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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