No.6

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The No. 6 manga is the only thing from what I've encountered so far that I've been able to give a 10 to. I'll do my best to refrain from any spoilers or summarizing the plot.

Story. (10/10)

The Good: the plot is excellent and I thought it was extremely well paced. From the very first page you're transported into the fake world of No. 6. You're then taken for a crash course on reality in the Western District. You're swept away by the every line, every detail on the page.

When I first saw the anime, I was jaded. When I read the light ... novels, I wept. It wasn't until I read this manga that everything felt complete. The execution of the plot was perfect. There was never a dull moment for me and I couldn't stop reading. In the end, everything came together in a way that exceeded every hope and every desire I could have had.

The Bad: I spent quite some time trying to come up with something to complain about when it came to this manga, something-anything- that irritated me. I found...nothing, much to my own amazement.

Art. (10/10)

Wow, that art. What can you really say? The art was simply mesmerizing. You weren't just reading a manga. You were there. You were living it. Facial expressions, body language, backgrounds, panels, and bubble placement- it was all perfect and easy to follow. More than that- the art of the characters themselves were flawless. More often than not I found myself taking quite some time per page just to really appreciate the beauty of the characters and the fantastic details. I can't find a single thing about the art that I'd change.

Character. (10/10)

This is where the manga shines brightest. The struggles of these characters are real. They've all been shaped by their experiences, and oftentimes not for the better. You end up at the edge of your seat with baited breath watching as these characters are forced to make decisions and how those decisions are going to effect their personalities. The more you learn, the more you eagerly wonder what will happen next.

With that said:

This manga does feature two 16 year old boys who are romantically attracted to one another. It is this relationship, this friendship, this bond that makes the story great. This manga is not about a gay couple having gay sex (which they don't, by the way). It would work just as well if Nezumi or Shion were a female. I love that it doesn't stereotype gay relationships. It shows two people who find each other against all odds and dares to take charge of their own lives.

Quite frankly, I don't think people should freak out over Nezumi and Shion's relationship. If you chose not to read the manga because of that, I certainly can't stop you, but if you like an amazing dystopian manga with lots of action, and character development that makes you think, then this isn't one you should skip over lightly.

This is about two boys, as different as night and day, who form a seemingly impossible bond and change everything. In their own lives and in the world around them. It's a story of personal growth. To be a ignorant or to be knowledgeable. To be conquered or to be the survivor. To be human or to be...something else. It's a plot driven by characters evolving and it's utterly amazing to behold. In light of that, so what if two boys like each other? It's their relationship that makes the plot all the more worth while, and every decision they make so much more intense because of how they force each other to change.

4. Enjoyment. (10/10)

I am enthralled with every single aspect of this manga. It glides effortlessly through the pages, engulfing you in a world of horror, action, despair, and hope where hope should only be done while dreaming (if even then). It makes you question what you'd do if you were in any of the characters' positions. How far would you be willing to go for someone else? How much horror can you see, hear, smell, touch, before it becomes a part of you? How deeply can you change, before you lose yourself completely?

You are put on a roller-coaster of emotion and the ride doesn't end just because the manga is over.

5. Overall. (10/10)

This was, quite simply put, a very outstanding and unforgettable manga. In fact, the only thing bad about it is that it ends.

I love No.6 the manga it really does explain a lot more than the anime. It really is captivating. I read all volumes released up to this day and I did that in just two days. That's how hooked I got to this and I will continue to read it.

No.6 follows two boys from opposite ends of the socioeconomic ladder as they try to reveal the secrets behind a so-called utopia. Although it's only 35 chapters long, I'm giving it a 10 because it's incredibly well-done despite its length. Read below for the full review.

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Storyline: 9

To some extent, No.6 is just another dystopian story--perfect society with a dark secret, disillusioned citizens, etc.--but the inner workings of its dystopia are both unique and unexpected. Its plot is well-developed and easy to follow. The only reason why I don't give a perfect score for this category is because some moments within the ... manga feel a bit rushed.

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Characters: 10 (Mild spoilers below.)

The backstories and personalities are well-crafted, and everyone who is introduced has a role within the story. Character development is executed well. The issues that the protagonists face, as well as the personality changes they undergo, are believable and never left unexplained.

I also have to give props to this series for being one of the few I've read that aren't exclusively BL, but portray a same-sex couple as realistically as they would a heterosexual couple. (Note: No.6 is not a yaoi manga. It does, however, have shounen-ai elements.) It doesn't dole out fanservice. Nezumi and Shion's relationship isn't established to pander to BL fans; it's there to represent a legitimate bond between two characters--one that develops over time, and through mutual understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. There's no masculine or feminine binary, no "husband" or "wife" imposed upon Nezumi and Shion. They're just two characters that happen to fall in love.

- - - - -
Art: 10

No issues here. No.6 is beautifully illustrated and skillfully paneled. As well, the character designs are memorable and unique without being over-the-top.

- - - - -
Enjoyment: 10

All the factors mentioned above culminate in a series that's difficult to stop reading once you start. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good action/adventure/sci-fi manga.

Not gonna lie, this manga is doing me a little cognitive dissonance moment. You see, I have quite enjoyed the novel. The manga however, not so much. What made me not enjoy the manga so much despite liking the source material?

When reading a novel, a lot can actually depend on the reader’s imagination. The manga however is obviously a more direct approach – unsurprisingly, as a visual medium. It chooses which parts to accent, what to focus on and how to portray a world. So instead of a gritty world with serious vibe more akin to western dystopia works that existed in my imagination which ... mostly ignored the BL subtext of the story, the manga does the opposite.

There’s no futuristic city, the drawings don’t portray anything unique, just a very generic town setting with a slum problem. There is hardly anything indicating a dystopian vibe in the arstyle. The characters themselves too are mainly designed as bishounen characters as the BL now undoubtedly takes a main role in the storytelling. The disaster is portrayed as more of a way to get the pairing together rather than that being a byproduct of an emergency situation.

Emergency and stakes are another big problem in this adaptation. They are mostly gone. The pacing is terrible and the manga doesn’t seem to be sure if it wants to be have a serious story or goofy situations. This is unlike the juxtaposition of cuteness and seriousness in works like for example Girls' Last Tour. I don’t sense author intent in No. 6, just tone-deafness.

Those downgrades combined make No. 6 manga nothing more than very average young adult dystopian storyline, just with non-heterosexual main pairing. Or maybe the novel wasn’t that good in the first place and it’s just the fact that I have read it almost a decade ago that could solve the mystery of me no longer enjoying the story that much. But for confirming that I’d have to reread it, and I’ll pass for that.

Anyway, to summarize - if the boys love elements were your favourite parts of the novel, your experience with the manga adaptations will likely be the exact opposite of mine, so go ahead and pick this up. And if you’re unfamiliar with the novel, set your expectations on a YA literature level.

Neck Bees: the Manga series.

If the prospect of reading a (gay??????) scifi story about a bipolar jerk (Eve/Rat), a confusingly determined piece of paper (Shion), and bees coming out of people's necks appeals to you, then I can recommend it.
To start, there's nothing particularly bad about the premise, I mean having bees erupt from people's necks is equivalent of a disease that kills people in a horrifying way. It's silly and dumb, but most anime is and I just found myself laughing about it anyways.
The characters are decent at first, Shion being a levelheaded guy who just wants the best for his friends and Rat ... (oh god that name) is a cold, heartless guy. But then they don't really go anywhere. The character progress resets sporadically and you'll have to sit through the same scene 4 different times. This happens with many different scenes, such as: Rat and Shion fighting but then resolving it, Rat and Shion monologing about how much they saved each others life, and Rat and Inukashi having their spat among a bunch of other types.
If you found this manga because you heard about it's mains being the best couple evar, you'll be met with Rat tossing Shion around half the time like a 6-year old with a pinata bat. Rat kicks the crap out of Shion on several different occasions and professes his hatred for the guy. They kiss like twice, but then don't ever address it. They don't even address homosexuality at all. Yeaaah, it's a far stretch to call it romantic. There's a reason why it's not listed as Shounen-ai in the genre tags.

It's a waste of time as an action dsytopian scifi romance (?), because it doesnt know what it's going for and it keeps repeating itself, getting nowhere with the characters.

No. 6 may be overlooked but after getting a glimpse of its world, you can say it’s worth your time.

I can’t say the story is unique but it is well written and delivered that the flow is, without a doubt, fluid. The manga has its share of gore, thrill, and sometimes humor and every mood was well-balanced to the convenience of its reader. The only problem is that the plot isn’t shown in a particular light whereas it appears mysterious or suspenseful. You may be thinking, ‘does that mean I can easily tell what’s going to happen next?’ and, somehow, yes but not exactly. ... You may be able to guess a portion of it but No. 6 has its own way of telling the story. Simply put, the story was very good!

Shion and Nezumi, being the main characters, were amazingly portrayed. For some reason, the personalities of these characters didn’t appear to be clichéd. The track of development of the characters weren’t predictable and you can easily have second thoughts from time to time. Shion and Nezumi developed in a good way that I found their actions and thoughts based on their experiences were convincing and even natural.

However, I wasn’t able to feel a strong connection with the characters because there were still gaps in between – there wasn’t enough depth in their personalities. To point out, it looked like the story didn’t really have a main antagonist that stand out among the challenges faced by our main cast.

I have to commend the artists for their brilliant work with the illustrations! The graphics seemed sharp and detailed, not to mention it looks very clean even with all the action going on. The frequent and well placed appearances of artistic touches such as unique speech balloons, expressions and emphasizers were all appealing but most importantly, the totality of the art did really good in extending the story – giving us a better perspective of it.

Being the first manga I’ve completed, I am very satisfied that I chose a good one. I enjoyed all the thrills the manga had to offer that I wasn’t expecting to find myself unaware of my surroundings for moments – seriously, it wasn’t likely for me to lose focus that the person beside me had already called my name three times (two would have been acceptable). In the end, No.6 isn’t one of your mangas worth missing!

Well...this story got me captivated first moment. It's full with heart-race moments, and there is enough action in it too. The story is quite unique, but sometimes it's plain and predictable, but I still like it very much.

About the art: yeah, well the character designs are good, but a little more detail can't hurt, can it? I mean...I am used to pretty shoujo manga, with details by every block, so i kinda miss the creativity with the shadings, and other stuff like that.

Characters are pretty good: my favorite is Inukashi, but I'm not fond of dogs. I'm not sure if he/she is a ... girl/boy. The long hair confuses me a little, so I thought I'd be able to tell by his/her clothes, but those were unisex, so I seriously can't tell xD

For me, Nezumi is a little harsh, but melt from laughing when that harshness turns into 'Eve', with the 'oh so cute' smile. I like the rats though ^^

Shion is really dumb in my eyes, and too naive. But I guess its like this with all yaoi/shounen ai manga or anime, that the main is like a typical shoujo charachter: dumb, naive, and of course don't forget that a little too honest sometimes ( 'I'm drawn to you' ), and the typical damn innocent look. But whatever, I got used to it, with all these dumber shoujo stories. But Shion is different: he actually CHANGED a little as time passed in this manga.

I enjoyed this manga alot, and I hope you will, or did too!

this is my favorite manga. i first watched the show (SUBS IF YOURE PLANNING INTO OHMYGOD I HATe THE DUB) and the art is really good the character are much more developed and strong and its just overall really good i highly recommend it. i wasnt too satisfied with the ending in the anime thats why i went to the manga and i dont regret it. im was reading it on mangareader but i had an issue where i couldnt find the rest of the chapters after 22. its not on the site or anywhere i search like is it even released yet like it ... has to be because its not that new and ik it ended like if you know where i could read the rest of the chapters til the end that'd be awesome pls n thank u

The human emotions are a very sensitive thing to begin with, but what if you had grown up not knowing of the negative emotions? A place where there is no crime, and everything is perfect? Welcome to no. 6, a 'Utopian' town where everything seems to be perfect.

STORY: 9/10
The story follows the journey of two boys, Nezumi and Shion, along with many others. It is a story that can at first be hard to fall into (for some, at least), but as you continue reading, it's almost impossible to stop yourself from being interested. There are a wide variety of emotions in this manga, ... which is a big part of the story itself. If there were no emotions, this story wouldn't have gotten far. From character growth to plot direction, this manga is strong in its story and overall has a very good one to it.

ART: 9/10
There's nothing much to say about the art except for the fact that it's truly pleasing to the eye. It was amazing on its use of body language, facial expression, and more. Someone could read this manga without any dialogue,
and still possibly make a story out of just what they see.

CHARACTER: 10/10
One of the most important parts of a show (not including story), is its characters. No matter what you watch, it is hard to go through a show or manga without having any character development or importance. In no. 6, the characters were what this story was almost entirely based around. Shion's growth as a person, and the relationships between everyone showed its own uniqueness. Nezumi and Shion are two very loveable characters that you can't help but love - as well as (most of) the other characters.

Enjoyment: 10/10
If we're going to go personal with enjoyment, no. 6 was something that I fell in love with and grew deep connection to. From the characters to even the town(s) it is placed in - I almost felt as if I were there. It was a manga that could make you laugh, smile, and cry at the same time. It is a story that I will keep in my heart for a long time. I am personally happy have discovered this manga.

Overall, I give it a 9(.4) out of 10.

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This was my first review, so I apologize for any errors here and there. Besides, I wrote it a bit tired.
But, I felt the need to write a review for this manga simply because of my enjoyment, and how it managed to go far above my expectations from what I was expecting. I can proudly say that this manga is one of my favorites.

It is rare to find an original and riveting story in an unconventional world, that also fosters to the wishes of unappeasable fangirls. A mix of action, sci-fi, and drama; No. 6 is a manga that is not only thrilling, but prods at your emotions, focusing not only on the story at hand, but a complex relationship between two major characters.
I found this manga to be pleasantly progressive in its focus on romance, but not gender. It is rare to find an anime with two members of the same sex in love and confirmed in canon. It is even rarer to find one that does ... not focus on the homosexual element. No. 6 creates a complex relationship between two characters that happen to be male, yet the homosexuality is not a relevant topic to the progression of the manga.
It is a sweet respite to find an emotional approach to the topic of homosexuality, as opposed to the more common physical approach that animation and books more-so often emphasize.
In addition to this open-minded concept, this manga centers on a dystopian world of a mysterious nature, a set of events put into motion by a corrupted government masking an acclaimed utopian city.
This manga enthralls you with the story of a corrupted government, a topic that typically interests people as we hardly trust the governments in our real world. Appealing to the overly-curious nature of mankind, the story is not slow in reeling you into the city called No. 6. The common trope of two entirely different people coming together to expose a hidden truth, leads No. 6 to build a story based not only on action, but how the relationship between people can change more than you realize.
The characters are given complex personalities, imperfectly designed to be peculiar individuals that the reader grows to care for as the series darkens in its progression.
This manga gifts many scenes of delightful details that work to emphasize the little things, bringing an aura of positivity in the dreary atmosphere created. From one character's love of classical literature, to the simple incidences of everyday lives, to the budding romance subplot; the manga invites you into the world of No. 6; showing a realm full of not only horrors but also beauty of an alternate universe.

No. 6 is still, to this day, my favorite manga series. I've been meaning to sit down and write a review for this wonderful series for a while, and what better time to do it than now (you know nobody's actually doing anything right now). This manga just absolutely blew me away. I actually first encountered the series with the anime about a year ago, but it just didn't sit well with me; there were too many loose ends. That's how I ended up buying all the manga in one go.

Story: 10/10

The minute you open the first volume, you're swept into the carefully crafted ... world of No. 6. I was immediately enraptured by the way the mangaka revealed the real No. 6 little by little throughout the series. The pacing was perfect; it never dragged at all, unlike in the anime, and kept me turning the pages. The plot was also very intriguing. It was definitely not something you see everyday. In fact, I've never seen anything else like it. It also didn't go in the direction I was expecting, but I love where it ended up. I really liked how the author set the world of No. 6 in the future because it kind of makes you wonder if that's what our world could end up being.

There really was never a dull moment in this series. I will admit to crying multiple times while reading, but that just shows that the story is just that moving and will occasionally tug at your heart strings. I honestly don't have anything to gripe about plot-wise. Well, except maybe the bittersweet ending (If you've already read it then you know what I'm talking about). But overall, I really enjoyed the plot and the way it unfolded as the series progresses.

Art: 10/10

I don't understand how, but the mangaka manages to make even the most unimportant and uneventful frames gorgeous. I absolutely adore the art in this series. Half of the time I spent reading this manga was just me staring at every frame for a ridiculous amount of time, just admiring the art. She makes Nezumi so graceful but with tangible strength, and Shion both sweet and powerful. Sometimes there would be a frame that I couldn't stop looking at, and I would turn the page, but end up going back just to stare at it again. This manga was definitely easy on the eyes.

Characters: 9/10

I'm giving the characters a 9/10 mostly because of the side characters, even though they were all great. But I'll start with bad first. And it's not "bad" per sae, just something I wish was there, but wasn't. I enjoyed Rikiga's humor, but I wish he had a bit more substance. The only things we really know about him is that he is (or was) a fan of Eve, and that he likes Karan. Other than that, his character was a little flat. And then there's Inukashi (for the purpose of this review, I'll refer to Inukashi as "they/them," although I have an inkling that they are a transgender male. Don't quote me on that though). I honestly really liked Inukashi because of their extremely real fear of dying. I think this is something a lot of us can relate to. Of course, they also had their funny moments, especially with baby Shion. That was adorable.

Moving on to the main characters, who, in my opinion, were the highlight of the series. Let's start with Nezumi. Nezumi is a very three dimensional character. He is both emotional and cold at the same time. I think he really hated No. 6, and that was what made him occasionally lash out at Shion. He couldn't understand that there was such a kind person living in a horrid place like No. 6, that hadn't yet been corrupted. But under his hard exterior, he had a big heart, and he really cared for Shion. Speaking of Shion, I both loved and hated his character development. I loved how he was a just a naïve boy in the beginning of the series, but he couldn't have grown without everything that happened throughout the series. He did become much colder as the series went on, but it was fitting for the plot. Overall, Shion was another interesting character that changed drastically during the manga.

It's time to get to my favorite part: the relationship between Nezumi and Shion. Now this definitely isn't a BL series, nor is it really shounen-ai, but it does feature a gay couple, although it isn't the focus of the series. Of course they kiss a few times, and maybe dance together for a while, but that isn't why I like this couple so much. I found the developing relationship between the two of them very natural and fitting. Even from the beginning you could tell that there was something between them. And it only progressed from there. Nezumi was obviously fed up with Shion's naivety early on, but I think he came to accept him for who he was, and also became a little more like him. They both grow to care for each other deeply throughout the manga, and you can see it in every scene they have together.

Enjoyment: 10/10

This manga was an extremely enjoyable read. The characters were believable, the story kept you on your toes and never disappointed, and the art was wonderful. There really isn't much to complain about. It was just straight up (straight lol) good. Now the only thing left for me to do is to read the novels. The manga didn't leave any plot holes, but I NEED MORE CONTENT!

Overall: 10/10

From everything that I've said so far, I would hope that you can tell that I adore this series, but if you haven't, I'll say it again: I. Love. This. Manga. So if you've come from the anime hoping there would be something to fill in the gaps it left you with, the manga definitely delivers.

to me this manga is for sure the best one i've read. the characters, even if from different worlds, still understand each other. i like how the author didn't show too much romance scenes and that it's not just about love because it suits the story very well. their relationship is strong and makes the reading much better.
overall the mc shows us that people from different classes are all equal. he doesn't care about one's rank or looks and only sees through the other's character.

i'm amazed how one moment the main characters can talk about important things and the next they can peacefully laugh ... with each other. the storyline is written well,
the ending doesn't feed you enough but it doesn't affect me that much.

I don't want to say too much because I fear spoiling things for people, but it's a wonderfully done dysotopian romance, and as a queer person, I feel that the queer relationship was written genuinly. It's treated just the same as any straight romance in anime, and for that I was very greateful.

The story line is deep and interesting, especially once it wraps up at the end, the art is gorgeous and occasionally gorey, and I enjoyed the entire series thuroughly.

The only thing I felt was off was how fast the characters seemed to shrug off trauma, however, seeing as all people handle ... trauma differently, it can't really be counted as something "off." They deal with trauma in the way they must to continue staying alive in their society, and it gives readers a wonderful perspective on that.

So in short, I came for they dysotopian manga hoping to not be disapointed in the queer relationship attempt, and my expectations were blown out of the water.

10/10 in all categories for me.

[Disclaimer: I am writing this long after I've finished reading the manga, I'm trying to write some reviews while I have time]

No.6 was the first manga I have ever read, so it holds a special place in my heart. I found it very easy to read, and it didn't take long to finish.

The art was excellent, and the author did an excellent job on the story too! I enjoyed reading this manga, and I have reread it a few times over the years too.

I would recommend reading this manga and maybe consider watching the anime!

The characters (Shion and Nezumi) have a ... great development throughout the story and they meet other unique characters too, such as Inukashi.

No. 6 is a manga series written and illustrated by Atsuko Asano. The story is set in the near future, in a city called "No. 6," which is one of six city-states that rose from the ashes of a war-torn world. The story follows a young boy named Shion and his encounters with a boy named Nezumi, a mystery boy who is on the run from the city's secretive government. The story explores themes of class inequality, government control, and the importance of freedom and individuality.

The artwork is well-done and detailed, with a unique visual style that sets it apart from other manga series. The ... characters are well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motivations. The plot is intriguing and thought-provoking, with a good balance of action, drama and suspense. The themes explored in the series are relevant and current, which makes it a great read even today.

Overall, No. 6 is an excellent manga series that is worth reading for anyone who is a fan of science fiction and dystopian stories. The story is intense, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged, making it a great read for both teenagers and adults. It's a great manga to read for those who enjoy well-written and thought-provoking stories with interesting characters.

Overall Rating: 7