The most striking aspect of this comic is undoubtedly its art. Its success hinges on the visual storytelling; any deviation from its unique style would likely result in failure. The narrative unfolds through vivid imagery, capturing shifting emotions and plot elements with minimal dialogue.
The story lacks a conventional beginning or end, presenting instead a snapshot—a small window into a much larger, intricate world. This approach enhances the expansive feel of the narrative, immersing readers in a vast, fantastical setting.
Emotionally rich, the comic focuses on human feelings, but it's more about being enveloped by an awe-inspiring, otherworldly design. The characters themselves are relatively uninteresting personality-wise, yet their designs are often remarkable. This isn't a tale centered on individuals but rather on the world they inhabit.
Due to its unconventional storytelling, reactions tend to be polarized—people either love it or hate it. Honestly, it's challenging to determine if it's executed well because there's nothing quite like it for comparison. There are definite weaknesses, such as underdeveloped character psychology, seemingly absent plot, and a lack of twists. However, these shortcomings don't detract from the overall experience; one might not grasp exactly what happened upon completion, but that doesn't matter.
This results in high re-read value. Even knowing every development beforehand wouldn't diminish its appeal. Each revisit offers something new, ensuring lasting enjoyment regardless of spoilers.
Blame is a niche series designed for an audience that appreciates peculiar cyberpunk narratives with ambiguous conclusions. Dialogue is sparse, and the plot minimal—it primarily revolves around wandering through a labyrinth in a post-apocalyptic setting, seeking something undefined.
The real strength of Blame lies in its architecture. Every page features buildings and backgrounds that are astonishingly imaginative, showcasing the mangaka's remarkable talent. The creativity behind these designs is beyond my comprehension, let alone their execution through drawing.
However, Blame does have its shortcomings. The action sequences can be challenging to follow. For example, a character might be firing a weapon one moment and falling several stories the next amidst a barrage of explosions. While this sounds exciting on paper, as gunfights and explosions are common in action stories, it becomes hard to track characters' positions relative to each other due to Blame’s intricate environments. The dark shading and scratchy art style further complicate scene visualization and understanding.
Despite these drawbacks, I wouldn’t label Blame as a poor manga. Its high ratings largely stem from its exceptional architecture and backgrounds. The detailed designs achieved by the mangaka are something 99% of people would find impossible to create and illustrate. However, if you're seeking a manga rich in story, deep character development, thought-provoking themes, and straightforward action, Blame may not align with your preferences.
Liked it, but I might be too simple-minded to fully grasp its depth. Missed out on several plot points due to the minimal narration. Though I admire the artistic approach, it's just not my cup of tea. The story earns a 7 from me - the overwhelming sense of disorientation is a bit much for me to handle. The ultimate plot twist ranks among the most jaw-dropping "WTF" moments I've ever witnessed.
The art style is stunning yet unsettling, reminiscent of Alien, with those dark, colossal structures being a visual delight. A solid 10 for the art department.
The characters are top-notch. Killy, shrouded in mystery, turns out to be more than meets the eye - tough as nails but guided by a strong moral compass. Cibo serves as an excellent counterbalance to the silent protagonist, at least she ensures there's enough dialogue for comprehension.
Overall, I'd give it an 8. Everything about it was remarkable, save for the storytelling style which didn't quite resonate with me.
This is an artistic masterpiece, delving into the concepts of eternity, nothingness, and the absurdity encapsulating these themes. Blame unfolds as a remarkably silent narrative; very few words are spoken throughout the series. The panels vividly depict motion, action, and destruction in ways that few other works can match. It could be argued that this story is perfect for everyone, given its capacity to mean anything to anyone.
For me, the story resonated on a personal level. I formed my own interpretation of the events and found it deeply meaningful. However, I cannot speak for others as there isn't a clear understanding of what transpires most of the time. It might be a loop, a series of endlessly repeating events, or perhaps the goal was achieved. The protagonist (Killy or Kyri) embarked on a mission to reach the net terminal genes in what can only be described as the backrooms. As a premise, it doesn’t matter much when the art, the way it’s drawn, and the anticipation of some kind of grand finale led me to believe something significant would unfold. While not disappointed, I wasn’t entirely satisfied either.
The art evolved perfectly over the course of the story. It was the only element providing a coherent path towards the end, and I adored it immensely. Despite being confusing and downright horrifying, the nightmare-inducing biomechanical eldritch abominations compelled me to finish the story, even if the plot itself didn’t.
The story was open to total interpretation, but thematically, it felt like observing a semi-immortal entity trapped in a never-ending cycle of monochrome death. Killy moved through this world, encountering new people who died, gained significance, and became clones. It all seemed somewhat pointless, but maybe that was the point.
As for the characters, what can one say? They weren’t perfect by any means. Everyone embodied the notion that actions speak louder than words. Yet, those actions only conveyed a slight care for each other at certain points. Relationships felt fleeting, like a sense of "I've been with you for years without much happening, you're cool." There wasn’t much to say, only things to see, even if they were minimal.
What can one take away from Blame? Perhaps the insignificance of time, or maybe it isn’t that profound. It explores how much time it takes to break the simple will of beings. Maybe these aren’t people but creations embodying will—a cyberpunk nightmare of existence. Blame is undoubtedly a masterpiece, yet I still felt lost despite my theories, so I can’t give it more than an 8. Reading it was exhausting, mainly due to the challenge of locating characters within panels. Sometimes I gave up trying to find them or make sense of what I was seeing. The author crafted a story he understands, and I felt that with every panel. Occasionally, I zoomed into a panel just to play “Let’s find the characters” and had fun doing so.
This mixed masterpiece will certainly not appeal to everyone, while others will love it equally. I wouldn’t recommend it to most readers, but I do recommend it to those who appreciate a dystopian future that makes you ponder: What is even going on? For around 40% of the manga, this question lingers prominently.
Content:
As expected of most cyberpunk titles, Blame! is a dark futuristic story laced with enough action to keep you at the edge of your seat. Unlike other works in the same genre, however, Blame! avoids most of the philosophical/existential questions usually associated with cyberpunk. Also not present are the verbose in-battle rants/soliloquies that some would find unnecessary. Instead, the author demonstrates that actions do speak louder than words sometimes.
Literary Style:
One of Blame!'s unique features is its lack of narration: only a few details are tossed in and it's up to the reader how to connect the dots (the "no spoonfeeding" policy). Because the author doesn't specify how everything comes together, there are multiple interpretations of how and why events actually happened. The story parallels The City itself in having endless possibilities and the imaginations of the readers are given plenty of room and materials to roam freely and do as they wish. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing would depend on the reader’s attitude towards open endings. Although some would be left unsatisfied due to the lack of details, others may also take it as a form of interaction with the story.
Visuals:
It is said that “a picture is worth a thousand words” and in Blame!, pictures do almost all of the talking. Rather than describing how powerful Killy’s gun is, Nihei spends a few pages showing the havoc caused whenever the trigger is pulled. Instead of saying “The Megastructure is vast and gloomy”, the artist shows the characters wandering through the labyrinth for months, through endless hallways or under pitch-black skies. More often than not, the deafening silence is only broken by the humming of machines or the roar of explosions. To say that the art simply complements the story would be incorrect since the art is pretty much integral to its delivery.
As for the quality of the art itself, it’s nothing short of impressive. The character designs may take some getting used to at first but Nihei’s style gradually improves throughout the series and his illustrations in the latter volumes are flawless. Also, the settings and action scenes are smoothly drawn and insanely detailed. Given his background in architecture, it’s no surprise that Nihei is exceptionally good at drawing colossal structures and perspective shots.
Overall:
Not many manga out there could offer straightforward action, extraordinary art, and a little grey matter exercise at the same time. While most of the characters aren’t exactly emotionally charged, it’s a refreshing break from the clichéd personalities of anime and manga.
Firstly, I'll start by saying that I generally prefer anime and didn't even read manga until I stumbled upon Blame.
I used to think, why bother with manga when it's just black and white images? Sure, I read One Piece and Naruto, but nothing else, so I was a bit ignorant. But when I started reading Blame, it was like becoming enlightened. I realized manga could deliver an experience as amazing as anime if done right, and Blame is one of those rare gems. This manga changed my perception, making it special to me. I couldn't stop binge-reading it, seriously.
Blame is perfect for newcomers to manga or those who want a short series. It's easy to read because most of the story is conveyed through jaw-dropping art panels. If you're like me and initially disliked manga, this might make you fall in love with them.
Story: Unique from start to finish, unlike anything I've ever read. 10/10. It can get confusing at times, but once you piece it together, it's mind-blowing.
Art: While art in most manga is subjective, here it's objectively a 10/10. It perfectly conveys the sense of dread and scale the author intended. The art was so good I read other works by this mangaka.
Characters: Not particularly memorable, and there aren't many, but the main character shines with his unwavering stoicism in a dystopian world. (9/10)
Verdict: This is one of THE BEST MANGA PERIOD.
For those who can't grasp its unique rhythm, the story might seem like "a boy with a big gun climbs many stairs to fix WiFi." But if you connect with it, the atmosphere is the manga's core strength. The scale is immense; everything exists within a labyrinth of structures so ancient that their origins and purposes are forgotten, even writing has nearly vanished, and their boundaries are unknown. In this artificial world, the few living beings must survive against rival factions and rogue machines—or machines functioning as intended but now useless or dangerous in the post-collapse context.
ART: 6
The artwork features abundant lines and darkness, far from clean. Panels can be confusing at times, yet the sketchbook feel adds significant character to the manga.
POLITICAL POTENTIAL: 6
Killy, the protagonist, encounters various groups on his quest for an unaltered human gene. Each group exhibits different levels of distress and stability, but knowledge about the bigger picture is lost. Most interactions involve violence, and Killy is willing to commit genocide when he encounters silicon life. The most compelling political content addresses unchecked economic growth: extractivism, development, and science run rampant in Blame's world. This perspective gains relevance today, given that human infrastructure outweighs global biomass, and AI's shadow looms. Perhaps seeking sobriety over clean energy is worth considering?
FEMINISM: 6
In Blame's altered human race, gender still seems to exist. However, women aren't treated differently and have long, skinny bodies, contrasting sharply with the movie version released 15 years later, featuring sexualized characters with exaggerated features—a regression. Notably, despite numerous violent deaths, there isn't a single scene of sexual violence—an unexpected miracle!
CONCLUSION: 6
Give Blame! a try. You'll either find the plot confusing and the art sketchy or get drawn into an epic urban exploration with a murderous administrative agent, covering hundreds of thousands of kilometers of dystopian hiking!
Story & Art - 10 & 9 The art is the story. BLAME! features minimal dialogue and no narration aside from occasional timestamps like "39216 hours later." Consequently, the narrative unfolds almost entirely through visuals. It's up to you to perceive, contemplate, and interpret both the present and past events. As you become more familiar with the universe, you might draw conclusions about earlier occurrences that initially seemed unclear.
A critic might label BLAME! as confusing, but whether this confusion is negative depends on you. It hinges on your engagement in interpretation and how far your imagination takes you. Personally, I'm tired of much modern entertainment designed solely to pacify viewers into passive enjoyment. In contrast, BLAME! is highly stimulating, prompting me to spend countless hours analyzing it from various angles due to its myriad interpretations—a beauty in itself. A friend, after I coerced him into reading it, found parts extremely confusing and couldn't grasp what was happening. My response involved a rant about my interpretations, but I ended up apologizing for potentially ruining his discovery process. Interestingly, he still considered it one of the best manga he'd read. Thus, while some may find it confusing, I recommend it regardless because it's fundamentally not a mystery manga. It's cyberpunk/action with a deeply dark, brooding atmosphere that clings to your mind. This makes it emotionally provocative, evoking unique and perhaps unsettling emotions that linger.
A critical aspect of the art is its portrayal of an immense, seemingly endless setting filled with colossal structures abandoned long ago. Excellent depictions of cold machinery, some broken down, others functioning purposelessly over time. Our protagonist wanders these vast landscapes, encountering new areas without clear guidance beyond surroundings and people met. The detail is fantastic, and Tsutomu Nihei’s mastery of perspective creates a 3D world. Character design captivated me instantly; the pale, grim expression suggested a hardened man who'd endured much. Even before he spoke, I felt I knew him.
Action scenes are depicted clearly, showcasing devastation and intense power. Unlike the complex story, they're straightforward and easy to follow. This approach avoids self-righteous rants and interrupting one-liners, delivering plain awesome action.
Character - 8 In this harsh, unforgiving world, there's no room for the soft or weak, a constant reminder through character interactions. Characters lack depth yet serve their roles well, some logically justified, others mysterious. Minimal character development exists but leaves room for more. Most characters appear cold and indifferent, fitting the setting—weepy scenes would feel out of place. Yet, glimpses of emotion through their hardened exteriors are beautiful.
Enjoyment - 10 I barely took breaks during my first read, utterly engrossed. While not the most enjoyable read per se, it prompted endless hours of reflection and analysis from multiple angles. Just thinking about it gives me a slight thrill. BLAME! has consistently kept me stimulated even when not reading, offering practically infinite enjoyment.
Blame is a manga that relies heavily on visuals and an immersive narrative, which can be appealing to some readers but not to others. Personally, I enjoy stories that challenge the reader to piece together the puzzle to understand the plot. However, in this case, I don't feel that engagement happening.
The story introduces several intriguing concepts: the architects, the control department, the safeguards, among many others. Nevertheless, these elements seem to be presented in a somewhat disjointed manner. It's possible that this was intentional, considering how vast and overwhelming the world of Blame appears, making everything else seem irrelevant and pointless.
The characters we encounter are equally ambiguous and sometimes even hollow, as they confront Killy during his quest for the terminal gene. Killy himself is nearly mute and doesn’t exhibit any moral facets or personal development throughout the story.
My highest praise goes to the artwork. It’s spectacular, gritty, and incredibly immersive. The way the author designs the settings, the battles, and even the sense of mundanity that surrounds the characters truly draws you into the world of the manga.
In summary, Blame offers a deeply immersive world filled with fascinating concepts and stunning art. However, I felt there was a lack of proper development in the story, characters, and other areas that left me wanting more.
One of my all-time favorite manga, I’m completely enamored with the art style, the plot intricacies, and the main character. Even most of the supporting cast is intriguing.
I’m not particularly fond of Nihei’s other works. Sidonia was decent, but I never connected with the protagonist or the bizarre phallic mushroom tentacle monster as a love interest. Additionally, I’m not a fan of how his art style shifted from extremely dark to overly light, based on what I last saw.
Blame! unfolds in a captivating...world? We can't quite pinpoint how vast this city actually is, but it has consumed most of the solar system, at least. This expansive setting offers nearly endless narrative possibilities. I would have loved spin-offs exploring what's happening elsewhere in the city, but Killy's quest to find someone who still carries the net terminal gene is compelling enough. Cybernetic humans, mutants, synthetic life forms, and a pistol capable of obliterating almost anything make for an enthralling mix.
I hesitate to delve into specifics, but I highly recommend BLAME! to anyone who doesn’t need every detail spelled out for them. It’s a thrilling ride for those willing to immerse themselves without needing everything explained.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the sci-fi genre. However, this one seemed promising, so I decided to give it a shot.
Even though I couldn't fully grasp some elements, I quite enjoyed this manga and found it very unique. What I appreciated most was the minimal dialogue between characters. The author lets the battle scenes and detailed depictions of this dystopian future world narrate the story. Initially, my biggest hurdle was the art style. It's not bad, but it's definitely unlike anything I've seen before. But soon enough, I adjusted, and it became more appealing over time. The vast, seemingly endless space filled with countless holes and passages evoked feelings of fear and loneliness in me. Living in this world is incredibly tough and perilous.
As for the characters, they were intriguing in their own ways. As the introduction suggests, Killy is a man of few words. He has a mission he must complete and nothing distracts him from his goal. When faced with trouble, he doesn't hesitate to use his GBE, one of the coolest weapons I've ever encountered. Despite often being emotionless and rarely laughing, he never hesitates to help someone in need. His faithful companion, Cibo, is more talkative and friendlier than Killy. While I didn't initially like the character designs, it stopped bothering me as I kept reading. I especially liked how the guardians and silicon creatures looked. As the story progresses, we learn more about the characters and this world. Another captivating, yet eerie feature is how time behaves differently from our reality.
There certainly aren't many manga out there that can be compared to "Blame." Even if you're not a fan of this type of story, it's a short manga and, at the very least, a peculiar piece of work.
Blame! This series was my gateway into the world of sci-fi manga. It offers such a rich and intriguing futuristic setting that it's clear one story alone wouldn't provide a complete, satisfying experience of its universe to readers. The narrative maintains an engaging focus on its characters and their adventures throughout, while striking a great balance between the main plot and its action sequences. This delivers a clear and understandable journey as readers progress from chapter to chapter.
Each character is well-developed and capable of capturing the reader's interest independently. There are several crucial individuals in the story, each with significant roles, which keeps readers engaged and prevents them from feeling bogged down by unnecessary elements. Characters, themes, dialogue scenes, and action sequences are seamlessly integrated into the storyline, providing an overall fantastic narrative complemented by superb art illustrations that are breathtakingly beautiful. Blame! truly embodies the essence of manga excellence.
Popular Reviews
The most striking aspect of this comic is undoubtedly its art. Its success hinges on the visual storytelling; any deviation from its unique style would likely result in failure. The narrative unfolds through vivid imagery, capturing shifting emotions and plot elements with minimal dialogue.
The story lacks a conventional beginning or end, presenting instead a snapshot—a small window into a much larger, intricate world. This approach enhances the expansive feel of the narrative, immersing readers in a vast, fantastical setting.
Emotionally rich, the comic focuses on human feelings, but it's more about being enveloped by an awe-inspiring, otherworldly design. The characters themselves are relatively uninteresting personality-wise, yet their designs are often remarkable. This isn't a tale centered on individuals but rather on the world they inhabit.
Due to its unconventional storytelling, reactions tend to be polarized—people either love it or hate it. Honestly, it's challenging to determine if it's executed well because there's nothing quite like it for comparison. There are definite weaknesses, such as underdeveloped character psychology, seemingly absent plot, and a lack of twists. However, these shortcomings don't detract from the overall experience; one might not grasp exactly what happened upon completion, but that doesn't matter.
This results in high re-read value. Even knowing every development beforehand wouldn't diminish its appeal. Each revisit offers something new, ensuring lasting enjoyment regardless of spoilers.
Blame is a niche series designed for an audience that appreciates peculiar cyberpunk narratives with ambiguous conclusions. Dialogue is sparse, and the plot minimal—it primarily revolves around wandering through a labyrinth in a post-apocalyptic setting, seeking something undefined.
The real strength of Blame lies in its architecture. Every page features buildings and backgrounds that are astonishingly imaginative, showcasing the mangaka's remarkable talent. The creativity behind these designs is beyond my comprehension, let alone their execution through drawing.
However, Blame does have its shortcomings. The action sequences can be challenging to follow. For example, a character might be firing a weapon one moment and falling several stories the next amidst a barrage of explosions. While this sounds exciting on paper, as gunfights and explosions are common in action stories, it becomes hard to track characters' positions relative to each other due to Blame’s intricate environments. The dark shading and scratchy art style further complicate scene visualization and understanding.
Despite these drawbacks, I wouldn’t label Blame as a poor manga. Its high ratings largely stem from its exceptional architecture and backgrounds. The detailed designs achieved by the mangaka are something 99% of people would find impossible to create and illustrate. However, if you're seeking a manga rich in story, deep character development, thought-provoking themes, and straightforward action, Blame may not align with your preferences.
Liked it, but I might be too simple-minded to fully grasp its depth. Missed out on several plot points due to the minimal narration. Though I admire the artistic approach, it's just not my cup of tea. The story earns a 7 from me - the overwhelming sense of disorientation is a bit much for me to handle. The ultimate plot twist ranks among the most jaw-dropping "WTF" moments I've ever witnessed.
The art style is stunning yet unsettling, reminiscent of Alien, with those dark, colossal structures being a visual delight. A solid 10 for the art department.
The characters are top-notch. Killy, shrouded in mystery, turns out to be more than meets the eye - tough as nails but guided by a strong moral compass. Cibo serves as an excellent counterbalance to the silent protagonist, at least she ensures there's enough dialogue for comprehension.
Overall, I'd give it an 8. Everything about it was remarkable, save for the storytelling style which didn't quite resonate with me.
This is an artistic masterpiece, delving into the concepts of eternity, nothingness, and the absurdity encapsulating these themes. Blame unfolds as a remarkably silent narrative; very few words are spoken throughout the series. The panels vividly depict motion, action, and destruction in ways that few other works can match. It could be argued that this story is perfect for everyone, given its capacity to mean anything to anyone.
For me, the story resonated on a personal level. I formed my own interpretation of the events and found it deeply meaningful. However, I cannot speak for others as there isn't a clear understanding of what transpires most of the time. It might be a loop, a series of endlessly repeating events, or perhaps the goal was achieved. The protagonist (Killy or Kyri) embarked on a mission to reach the net terminal genes in what can only be described as the backrooms. As a premise, it doesn’t matter much when the art, the way it’s drawn, and the anticipation of some kind of grand finale led me to believe something significant would unfold. While not disappointed, I wasn’t entirely satisfied either.
The art evolved perfectly over the course of the story. It was the only element providing a coherent path towards the end, and I adored it immensely. Despite being confusing and downright horrifying, the nightmare-inducing biomechanical eldritch abominations compelled me to finish the story, even if the plot itself didn’t.
The story was open to total interpretation, but thematically, it felt like observing a semi-immortal entity trapped in a never-ending cycle of monochrome death. Killy moved through this world, encountering new people who died, gained significance, and became clones. It all seemed somewhat pointless, but maybe that was the point.
As for the characters, what can one say? They weren’t perfect by any means. Everyone embodied the notion that actions speak louder than words. Yet, those actions only conveyed a slight care for each other at certain points. Relationships felt fleeting, like a sense of "I've been with you for years without much happening, you're cool." There wasn’t much to say, only things to see, even if they were minimal.
What can one take away from Blame? Perhaps the insignificance of time, or maybe it isn’t that profound. It explores how much time it takes to break the simple will of beings. Maybe these aren’t people but creations embodying will—a cyberpunk nightmare of existence. Blame is undoubtedly a masterpiece, yet I still felt lost despite my theories, so I can’t give it more than an 8. Reading it was exhausting, mainly due to the challenge of locating characters within panels. Sometimes I gave up trying to find them or make sense of what I was seeing. The author crafted a story he understands, and I felt that with every panel. Occasionally, I zoomed into a panel just to play “Let’s find the characters” and had fun doing so.
This mixed masterpiece will certainly not appeal to everyone, while others will love it equally. I wouldn’t recommend it to most readers, but I do recommend it to those who appreciate a dystopian future that makes you ponder: What is even going on? For around 40% of the manga, this question lingers prominently.
“Maybe on Earth. Maybe in the Future”
Content:
As expected of most cyberpunk titles, Blame! is a dark futuristic story laced with enough action to keep you at the edge of your seat. Unlike other works in the same genre, however, Blame! avoids most of the philosophical/existential questions usually associated with cyberpunk. Also not present are the verbose in-battle rants/soliloquies that some would find unnecessary. Instead, the author demonstrates that actions do speak louder than words sometimes.
Literary Style:
One of Blame!'s unique features is its lack of narration: only a few details are tossed in and it's up to the reader how to connect the dots (the "no spoonfeeding" policy). Because the author doesn't specify how everything comes together, there are multiple interpretations of how and why events actually happened. The story parallels The City itself in having endless possibilities and the imaginations of the readers are given plenty of room and materials to roam freely and do as they wish. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing would depend on the reader’s attitude towards open endings. Although some would be left unsatisfied due to the lack of details, others may also take it as a form of interaction with the story.
Visuals:
It is said that “a picture is worth a thousand words” and in Blame!, pictures do almost all of the talking. Rather than describing how powerful Killy’s gun is, Nihei spends a few pages showing the havoc caused whenever the trigger is pulled. Instead of saying “The Megastructure is vast and gloomy”, the artist shows the characters wandering through the labyrinth for months, through endless hallways or under pitch-black skies. More often than not, the deafening silence is only broken by the humming of machines or the roar of explosions. To say that the art simply complements the story would be incorrect since the art is pretty much integral to its delivery.
As for the quality of the art itself, it’s nothing short of impressive. The character designs may take some getting used to at first but Nihei’s style gradually improves throughout the series and his illustrations in the latter volumes are flawless. Also, the settings and action scenes are smoothly drawn and insanely detailed. Given his background in architecture, it’s no surprise that Nihei is exceptionally good at drawing colossal structures and perspective shots.
Overall:
Not many manga out there could offer straightforward action, extraordinary art, and a little grey matter exercise at the same time. While most of the characters aren’t exactly emotionally charged, it’s a refreshing break from the clichéd personalities of anime and manga.
STORY: 6
For those who can't grasp its unique rhythm, the story might seem like "a boy with a big gun climbs many stairs to fix WiFi." But if you connect with it, the atmosphere is the manga's core strength. The scale is immense; everything exists within a labyrinth of structures so ancient that their origins and purposes are forgotten, even writing has nearly vanished, and their boundaries are unknown. In this artificial world, the few living beings must survive against rival factions and rogue machines—or machines functioning as intended but now useless or dangerous in the post-collapse context.
ART: 6
The artwork features abundant lines and darkness, far from clean. Panels can be confusing at times, yet the sketchbook feel adds significant character to the manga.
POLITICAL POTENTIAL: 6
Killy, the protagonist, encounters various groups on his quest for an unaltered human gene. Each group exhibits different levels of distress and stability, but knowledge about the bigger picture is lost. Most interactions involve violence, and Killy is willing to commit genocide when he encounters silicon life. The most compelling political content addresses unchecked economic growth: extractivism, development, and science run rampant in Blame's world. This perspective gains relevance today, given that human infrastructure outweighs global biomass, and AI's shadow looms. Perhaps seeking sobriety over clean energy is worth considering?
FEMINISM: 6
In Blame's altered human race, gender still seems to exist. However, women aren't treated differently and have long, skinny bodies, contrasting sharply with the movie version released 15 years later, featuring sexualized characters with exaggerated features—a regression. Notably, despite numerous violent deaths, there isn't a single scene of sexual violence—an unexpected miracle!
CONCLUSION: 6
Give Blame! a try. You'll either find the plot confusing and the art sketchy or get drawn into an epic urban exploration with a murderous administrative agent, covering hundreds of thousands of kilometers of dystopian hiking!
Story & Art - 10 & 9
The art is the story. BLAME! features minimal dialogue and no narration aside from occasional timestamps like "39216 hours later." Consequently, the narrative unfolds almost entirely through visuals. It's up to you to perceive, contemplate, and interpret both the present and past events. As you become more familiar with the universe, you might draw conclusions about earlier occurrences that initially seemed unclear.
A critic might label BLAME! as confusing, but whether this confusion is negative depends on you. It hinges on your engagement in interpretation and how far your imagination takes you. Personally, I'm tired of much modern entertainment designed solely to pacify viewers into passive enjoyment. In contrast, BLAME! is highly stimulating, prompting me to spend countless hours analyzing it from various angles due to its myriad interpretations—a beauty in itself. A friend, after I coerced him into reading it, found parts extremely confusing and couldn't grasp what was happening. My response involved a rant about my interpretations, but I ended up apologizing for potentially ruining his discovery process. Interestingly, he still considered it one of the best manga he'd read. Thus, while some may find it confusing, I recommend it regardless because it's fundamentally not a mystery manga. It's cyberpunk/action with a deeply dark, brooding atmosphere that clings to your mind. This makes it emotionally provocative, evoking unique and perhaps unsettling emotions that linger.
A critical aspect of the art is its portrayal of an immense, seemingly endless setting filled with colossal structures abandoned long ago. Excellent depictions of cold machinery, some broken down, others functioning purposelessly over time. Our protagonist wanders these vast landscapes, encountering new areas without clear guidance beyond surroundings and people met. The detail is fantastic, and Tsutomu Nihei’s mastery of perspective creates a 3D world. Character design captivated me instantly; the pale, grim expression suggested a hardened man who'd endured much. Even before he spoke, I felt I knew him.
Action scenes are depicted clearly, showcasing devastation and intense power. Unlike the complex story, they're straightforward and easy to follow. This approach avoids self-righteous rants and interrupting one-liners, delivering plain awesome action.
Character - 8
In this harsh, unforgiving world, there's no room for the soft or weak, a constant reminder through character interactions. Characters lack depth yet serve their roles well, some logically justified, others mysterious. Minimal character development exists but leaves room for more. Most characters appear cold and indifferent, fitting the setting—weepy scenes would feel out of place. Yet, glimpses of emotion through their hardened exteriors are beautiful.
Enjoyment - 10
I barely took breaks during my first read, utterly engrossed. While not the most enjoyable read per se, it prompted endless hours of reflection and analysis from multiple angles. Just thinking about it gives me a slight thrill. BLAME! has consistently kept me stimulated even when not reading, offering practically infinite enjoyment.
Blame is a manga that relies heavily on visuals and an immersive narrative, which can be appealing to some readers but not to others. Personally, I enjoy stories that challenge the reader to piece together the puzzle to understand the plot. However, in this case, I don't feel that engagement happening.
The story introduces several intriguing concepts: the architects, the control department, the safeguards, among many others. Nevertheless, these elements seem to be presented in a somewhat disjointed manner. It's possible that this was intentional, considering how vast and overwhelming the world of Blame appears, making everything else seem irrelevant and pointless.
The characters we encounter are equally ambiguous and sometimes even hollow, as they confront Killy during his quest for the terminal gene. Killy himself is nearly mute and doesn’t exhibit any moral facets or personal development throughout the story.
My highest praise goes to the artwork. It’s spectacular, gritty, and incredibly immersive. The way the author designs the settings, the battles, and even the sense of mundanity that surrounds the characters truly draws you into the world of the manga.
In summary, Blame offers a deeply immersive world filled with fascinating concepts and stunning art. However, I felt there was a lack of proper development in the story, characters, and other areas that left me wanting more.
One of my all-time favorite manga, I’m completely enamored with the art style, the plot intricacies, and the main character. Even most of the supporting cast is intriguing.
I’m not particularly fond of Nihei’s other works. Sidonia was decent, but I never connected with the protagonist or the bizarre phallic mushroom tentacle monster as a love interest. Additionally, I’m not a fan of how his art style shifted from extremely dark to overly light, based on what I last saw.
Blame! unfolds in a captivating...world? We can't quite pinpoint how vast this city actually is, but it has consumed most of the solar system, at least. This expansive setting offers nearly endless narrative possibilities. I would have loved spin-offs exploring what's happening elsewhere in the city, but Killy's quest to find someone who still carries the net terminal gene is compelling enough. Cybernetic humans, mutants, synthetic life forms, and a pistol capable of obliterating almost anything make for an enthralling mix.
I hesitate to delve into specifics, but I highly recommend BLAME! to anyone who doesn’t need every detail spelled out for them. It’s a thrilling ride for those willing to immerse themselves without needing everything explained.
Blame! This series was my gateway into the world of sci-fi manga. It offers such a rich and intriguing futuristic setting that it's clear one story alone wouldn't provide a complete, satisfying experience of its universe to readers. The narrative maintains an engaging focus on its characters and their adventures throughout, while striking a great balance between the main plot and its action sequences. This delivers a clear and understandable journey as readers progress from chapter to chapter.
Each character is well-developed and capable of capturing the reader's interest independently. There are several crucial individuals in the story, each with significant roles, which keeps readers engaged and prevents them from feeling bogged down by unnecessary elements. Characters, themes, dialogue scenes, and action sequences are seamlessly integrated into the storyline, providing an overall fantastic narrative complemented by superb art illustrations that are breathtakingly beautiful. Blame! truly embodies the essence of manga excellence.
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