365 Days of Manga, Day 148: Noise

NOISE (NOiSE) • Tsutomu Nihei • Tokyopop (2007) • Kodansha (Afternoon, 2001) • 1 volume • Science Fiction Horror Action • 16+ (graphic violence)
Prequel to Tsutomu Nihei’s Blame!. In a dark future world, humanity dwells in an automated underground city, a rusting prison of dark, litter-strewn corridors. Susono, a cyber-suited investigator searching for kidnapped children, ends up fighting a mysterious cult that summons twisted silicon cyber-creatures, which she alone has the weapons to fight. Tsutomu Nihei’s grotesque, often terrifying visuals carry the action-driven story; his work combines the style of Giovanni Piranesi, Dark City, H.R. Giger and “Tool” music videos (not to mention The Matrix, but Nihei’s manga came first). The exposition is minimal, but what light it does shed on the Blame! universe makes us appreciate how deeply disturbing it is. The book also contains an early draft of Blame as a more conventional cops vs. cyborgs story drawn in a style similar to Tony Takezaki.

Today’s winner is Kay Z. of Texas. Congratulations, Kay! Now let’s look at one of our previous winners, holding his manga like a trophy of the hunt:

The photo is none other than Josh D. of Japanophile Productions! Thanks for sending in your photo, Josh! Brain Powered, Baby Birth and A.I. Love You… I sent you some pretty weird manga, didn’t I? I hope you like the next set of stuff that I’m going to send you! Let’s talk it over by email and I’ll try to hook you up with something mind-blowingly awesome.