Publisher Summary
After the mysterious disappearance of a countryside cop, the role is reassigned to Officer Daigo Agawa. He finds the remote village quaint, and he looks forward to an easygoing post among the warm and welcoming citizenry. Then… He gets a call. The body of a local grandmother has been found. The scene immediately sows doubt for the young policeman. A human bite mark has been left on the corpse, and any voiced suspicion of Agawa's is met with a strange, sudden, and intense hostility. Something dark is lurking under the idyllic façade of the charming mountain village. But can Officer Agawa spare himself and his family from it?
Author: Masaaki Ninomiya
Translation: Alex Kon
Lettering: Vibrant Studios
I received Gannibal Volume 1 as a Review Copy from Ablaze Manga in exchange for an honest review.
Background
Gannibal was serialized in Nihon Bungeisha's Weekly Manga Goraku magazine from October 5th, 2018 to November 26th, 2021. The series was collected into thirteen volumes.
A live action adaptation of the series was announced on October 14th, 2021 and premiered on Disney+/Hulu December 28th, 2022 with a second season currently in production.
On July 17th, 2023, Publisher Ablaze announced it licensed the series in English . Ablaze later launched a Kickstarter campaign on October 26th, 2023 for Hardcover editions of the series with volume 1 of the series scheduled to release July 2nd, 2024.
Review
We're introduced to our main protagonist, Officer Daigo Agawa, who, along with his wife and daughter, moved to the remote village of Kuge due to the disappearance of the previous officer stationed there. All that's known is that the previous officer racked up a ton of debt and often got into fights with the locals. As the Agawa family settles into their new home, Daigo receives a distress call in which a dead body was discovered in the forest. When Daigo arrives at the scene, he meets the victim's family and village hunting association member Keisuke. However, tension in the air arises as Keisuke and the victim's family respond apprehensively when Daigo begins his investigation. During the investigation, Daigo discovers what looks like human bite marks on the body and asks the victim's family how they got there. As Daigo begins to inquire about the possibility of cannibalism, Keisuke points a shotgun at Daigo's face and threatens to pull the trigger. Scared for his life, Daigo backs off from the question, and strangely enough, Keisuke and the victim's family burst into laughter and invited the Agawa family over to a welcome party.
Confused by the situation, Daigo reluctantly agrees to attend the party but cautions his wife and child to stay behind, sensing that something is amiss. Upon his arrival, the villagers immediately inquired about the whereabouts of his family. Reluctant to disclose the truth, Daigo fabricates a story about them being out for a walk. His explanation is debunked by Keisuke, who exposes the actual location of his family and warns Daigo about the close-knit nature of Kuge Village. During dinner, Daigo musters the courage to ask Keisuke about the cannibalism rumor he had mentioned earlier at the crime scene. Initially met with silence, the room erupted in laughter at the outlandish claim. Relieved, Daigo continues drinking into the night before heading home. However, upon his return, his wife informs him that their daughter has gone missing. After a brief search, they locate her, but as she wakes up, she hands Daigo a human finger that appears to have been bitten off. This discovery puts Daigo in a difficult position, prompting him to uncover the truth behind the events in Kuge Village.
Upon reading Gannibal, what immediately caught my eye was its meticulous attention to detail. From the historical architecture showcased in Kuge Village to the oppressive forest setting of the crime scene, these helped establish the ominous tone and setting the stage for the mystery within the first chapter. Looking beyond it's set pieces, Gannibal's character design, both for the main and supporting cast, further enhances the eerie atmosphere. Through their appearance alone, you can glean insights into a character's background, personality, and unique voice, even before they utter a single word. Notably, the expressive faces of each character in this manga serve to intensify the gripping narrative.
For example: The manga uses Daigo's facial expressions to convey a wide range of emotions, allowing readers to visually track his character development. When Daigo first arrives at kuge village, his face beams with joy, showing his excitement and anticipation of a new job location . However, as the story progresses, Daigo's expressions shift dramatically when he finds himself at the crime scene. His visible distress when none of his comments resonate with the villagers and Keisuke to fear when a loaded shotgun is pointed at his face. with precision, highlighting the intense emotions he is grappling with in that moment. The thoughtful depiction of Daigo's emotional journey through facial expressions adds depth and nuance to Gannibal's storytelling, making the manga engaging for the reader.
The gore found in Gannibal is well presented. The meticulous focus on the decaying flesh to shattered bones that seem to have been forcefully torn off. It's so visceral that it leaves you in aw, but it also helps you relate to Daigo, who is left pondering how? Despite the villagers rejecting his allegations of cannibalism, Daigo cannot help but consider it as a potential scenario in the back of his mind throughout his investigation
In terms of the actual "mystery" at hand, Gannibal was able to nail it. The pacing of each chapter is well-maintained, introducing surprises and revelations from Daigo's encounters with Kuge Village to hold the readers' interest. This storytelling approach reminds me of Naoki Urasawa's style, where a captivating ensemble, an intriguing main plot filled with twists and turns are interwoven to create a gripping narrative
I don't have anything negative to say about Gannibal; this is an outstanding thriller that provides enough substance to keep you engrossed into the mystery behind Kuge Village alongside Daigo journey to uncover it.
Final Verdict
Gannibal does a great job immersing the immersing you into Daigo's investigations and uncertainties. From the meticulous attention to detail in it's environments. To it's use of facial expressions to track character development, adding depth to the storytelling. The pacing kept me engaged throughout the entire volume making it a great read for those looking for a mystery thriller to dive into.
Verdict: Buy It
Gannibal Volume 1 from Ablaze Manga is now available at all retailers
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