Doe Eyed

Grounded in reality XD

I haven't read it, but by Divine, it is most likely Chinese, and Chinese are mainly focused over volume, and doesn't have any standard for grading.
Sometime, it uses iron, copper, silver, gold, plat, diamond. . .
Sometime stars.
Whatever the author likes.

Noo don't leave me hanging I need more~~

The authors POV (3rd best on the list)
Advent of the 3 calamities (2nd best on the list)
Why should I stop being a villain (Worse one on the list
The novels extra (Best one on the list)

These are the only ones I’ve read that are worth reading

I just loved this story. Thank you to the author. excellent story. I don't know if you wrote anymore stories like this.💕😘

O shit get out and kill that uncle

Imagine three individuals stranded on an island. Now, imagine that they chose to be there in order to "redeem" themselves. Intriguing scenario, isn't it? "Believers" is a psychological drama manga that delves into the daily lives of three cult members isolated on an island.

The plot is relatively simple: three members of a cult participate in the "Desert Island Program," choosing to live on a remote island to cleanse themselves from the corruption of society. This purification occurs in two ways: through mental exercises that involve sharing everything, even secrets, and peculiar meditation techniques. As one might expect, it's unlikely that three people can endure for long without succumbing to basic human desires, especially when the cult organization ceases delivering food to the island.

This is where "Believers" excels; it vividly portrays human nature through subtle, realistic events and compelling storytelling. Themes of jealousy, lust, paranoia, betrayal, and death are all present, depicted authentically through the characters. The narrative effectively captures the essence of many cults: blind obedience to orders without question, and the potential consequences of such behavior.

The cast is not extensive, focusing primarily on the three individuals on the island. The characters are well-developed, with two being weak-willed and the third exhibiting strong determination. This dynamic is bound to lead to conflict; as time progresses, the demands become increasingly absurd, intertwined with jealousy, disdain, and paranoia. Occasional interactions with outsiders highlight the madness that can arise from unwavering faith.

The art style is not particularly remarkable. There are occasional inconsistencies in the illustrations, but it serves its purpose adequately.

Overall, "Believers" is an engaging read with a fascinating story that realistically portrays human nature. With a satisfying and convincing conclusion, "Believers" essentially tells the tale of humans attempting to escape the oppressive reality and monotony of societal life.

Thank you for reading.

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First, some background information. Naoki Yamamoto's 'Believers' draws inspiration from the Subway Sarin Incident perpetrated by the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, which led him to explore a book about the Japanese Red Army (JRA). The JRA was a terrorist group aiming to overthrow the Japanese government and spark a global revolution. In this book, Yamamoto encountered firsthand accounts from former JRA members detailing their experiences. Aptly titled 'Believers,' the series is Yamamoto's exploration of what might occur if individuals fervently committed to an extreme ideology were isolated together. The narrative also takes significant cues from Jonestown and its late leader, Jim Jones, as well as the video game culture of the 90s.

'Believers' centers on three cult members—two men and one woman—who participate in the “Deserted Island Program.” This program aims to “purify” them from modern society's corrupting influences. The characters don't use their birth names; they're referred to by their rank titles—Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Operator. Their daily routine includes meditating in a triangle formation with each other's feet touching, analyzing dreams to cleanse themselves of impurities, testing supposed “psychic” powers, listening to their “master” via radio transmissions, and reporting progress to higher-ranking cult members. Celibacy and honesty are paramount virtues, while sexual thoughts are akin to heresy, punishable by spending a night buried up to the chest in sand to purge the body of its “poison.”

'Believers' starts as a mystery that gradually reveals itself as the story unfolds and the characters spiral into madness. At its heart, 'Believers' is a romance, though labeling it as such oversimplifies its complexity. The tale brims with black comedy, drama, and psychological elements. A recurring theme is the erosion of the boundary between dream and reality, leaving it unclear whether events depicted are real or merely distorted perceptions. It evokes comparisons to Satoshi Kon's work, a high compliment indeed. Yamamoto skillfully contrasts the perils of blind obedience with the mindless contentment of having thoughts dictated. Readers root for the characters' success while recognizing their predicament stems from personal negligence. Their conflicts are as much internal as external. A dominant theme involves the suppression of human desires, particularly sex, a recurring motif in all of Yamamoto's manga.

Yamamoto ranks among the more divisive mangaka due to his focus on erotic manga, leading many to dismiss his work outright. However, the inclusion of sex serves a purpose beyond mere Hentai. As sex symbolized liberation in 'Arigatou,' it fulfills a similar role in 'Believers.' Rarely has an author used sex as intelligently as Yamamoto. Despite censored or obscured genitalia, nothing is left to the imagination. One chapter is entirely dedicated to sexual acts, which, while occasionally seeming gratuitous, shouldn't deter readers from experiencing an otherwise compelling manga.

The story's weakest point lies in its conclusion. It seems Yamamoto crafted the first 20 chapters without considering how to end the series. Consequently, tying up loose ends within limited time feels rushed and poorly planned. This doesn't entirely undermine prior achievements but could have been better executed. Another minor issue is excessive dialogue. For instance, a scene where the Chairman explains a script idea features pages filled with unprecedented amounts of text.

Regarding art, 'Believers' marks Yamamoto's first solo-drawn manga, entirely created on a tablet. While commendable, results vary. The main characters resemble each other too closely, sharing similar body types, hairstyles, facial features, and attire throughout the story. Matters worsen when the Vice Chairman cuts her hair, exacerbating identification issues. Inconsistency in character depiction from panel to panel further complicates matters, especially noticeable with varying facial hair thickness. Yamamoto's preference for thin lines diminishes depth, causing characters to blend into white backgrounds and creases in t-shirts to appear merely as lines. Nonetheless, the setting redeems the artwork somewhat. The island, based on the Second Sea Fortress off Tokyo Bay, benefits from effective long shots showcasing detailed landscapes. Overall, the art is serviceable but not exceptional. As always, Yamamoto prioritizes storytelling over artistic finesse in 'Believers.'

Recommending 'Believers' hinges on one's tolerance for explicit sexual content, abundant here. If appreciated for its intent, 'Believers' appeals to diverse audiences. Yamamoto himself stated genre indifference, a key strength of 'Believers'—there's something for everyone (except minors). Given its short completion time, it might be worth exploring.