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Eden: It's an Endless World! #1
Eden: It's an Endless World, Volume 1
Eden Volume One is both a brilliant love song to the post-apocalyptic survival genre and the beginning of a deep exploration on man's role in the natural order. In the near future, a large portion of humanity is wiped out by a brutal, new virus that hardens the skin while dissolving internal organs. Those who aren't immune are either severely crippled or allowed to live with cybernetically enhanced bodies. Taking advantage of a world in chaos, a paramilitary force known as the Propater topples the United Nations and seeks world domination. Elia, a young survivor searching for his mother, travels towards the Andes Mountains with an artificially intelligent combat robot. When he encounters a group of anti-Propater freedom fighters, a maelstrom of unique characters unfolds. Graphic, cyberpunk, and philosophical, Eden is a place where endearing heroes face a constant struggle for survival and violent surprises wait around every corner!
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
37 people are currently reading
2748 people want to read
About the author
Hiroki Endo
145 books91 followersHiroki Endo (遠藤浩輝) is a Japanese mangaka born on 1970 in Akita Prefecture. He graduated from Musashino Art University. He is best known for his science-fiction series Eden: It's an Endless World, which has been translated into English by Dark Horse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
October 22, 2014
Based on the glowing reviews, I feel like I missed something here. Solid but not stunning art, and a fairly standard post-apocalyptic setting in which most of humanity has been wiped out by a disease that seems to be a slightly grosser version of Glass Feet. It was a bit on the slow side (especially the flashbacks and superficial discussions of whether God was punishing people) and most of the plot and world-building elements were familiar.
March 10, 2017
I’ve had my share of sci-fi across all mediums and very few came close to the thematic detail of Eden. First and foremost, it doesn’t treat its characters only as mouthpieces but bothers to develop them into interesting and memorable personalities. It’s not just philosophical mambo-jumbo either, as it also has action and some comedy which surprisingly do not make it dumber.
A bit ambiguous is the amount of gore and tragedy it is implementing as part of its thematic exploration. The worst possible thing constantly happens to the best of characters and a lot of people die unnecessary. Yes, it is part of the narrative, as the story is partially about the cruelty of humanity and how being alive means nothing when you see the big picture. Life has no meaning as far as the universe is concerned and thus death is also nothing to give two dimes about. It still feels too much at times since it goes for the worst possible scenario for purposes of overdramatization.
It’s never done to the point of ruining the experience so it’s not really a major drawback. It’s still doing things most sci-fi would never dare to touch, such as openly mentioning real world countries at war. It takes some really big balls to not have an obviously evil fictional organization and instead present most exisitng countries in a negative light. That is after all the reason it was never promoted much, or will ever be adapted without heavy censorship. We can’t have our modern oversensitive SJW losing their shit; do we now?
Anyways, if you’re one of those people who love science fiction that expands to religion, philosophy, and ethics, without being just people talking around a table, it’s one of the best there is. It’s very holistic since it eventually deals with pretty much all aspects of human civilization, and occasionally jumps genres for better focus on different topics. In one arc it can be a war drama, in another a mafia gang war, and then it can become a sex comedy.
This can be tiresome when you try to binge read it, since a lot of chapters do not progress the main storyline and are more like stand alone side stories. They flesh out the setting so they are not completely worthless, but they definitely drag out the length of the story and can be frustrating if you seek answers or closure to the main plot. In fact, the pacing was so slow at first, spending entire volumes on a single skirmish, that the mangaka eventually speeded up things by resolving most conflicts with headshots. Meaning, even he realized the plot was moving too slow and decided to take out the action scenes in favor of theme exploration.
It feels a bit awkward seeing 90% of deaths being the result of a headshot, but it’s something that had to be done so the manga wouldn’t be twice the already big size it is now. Despite that, the pacing is still slow and you still need to show patience. I can only reassure you that there will eventually be a conclusion, which is solid and satisfactory, something that cannot be said about most manga in existence.
The art is great when it comes to weaponry or machinery and fine when it comes to human figures. I know many who consider it to be bland since many of the characters look the same, but nobody can claim it is crude or minimalistic. It’s extremely detailed when it needs to be and fine when it doesn’t.
Speaking of the characters, there are hundreds of them, constantly being introduced and killed off (usually with a headshot). If your memory is not that good or you don’t keep notes there is a high probability you will be lost when it comes to who did what, when, and how. Yet, it’s exactly this complexity that makes it feel so elaborate and holistic. Even if you don’t remember half of them by the end of the story you will still feel like you were immersed in a living, breathing world because of its size and scope.
In all this is a great work of fiction recommended for anyone seeking something more mature and better planned than the typical teenager with superpowers who saves the world with asspulls and resurrects dead people as easy as changing a shirt. An easy entry to the top 10 manga of all times.
Suggestion List:
Battle Angel Alita
Ghost in the Shell
Neon Genesis Evagelion
Akira
Full Metal Alchemist
Hi No Tori
Xenogears – Xenosaga (videogames)
A bit ambiguous is the amount of gore and tragedy it is implementing as part of its thematic exploration. The worst possible thing constantly happens to the best of characters and a lot of people die unnecessary. Yes, it is part of the narrative, as the story is partially about the cruelty of humanity and how being alive means nothing when you see the big picture. Life has no meaning as far as the universe is concerned and thus death is also nothing to give two dimes about. It still feels too much at times since it goes for the worst possible scenario for purposes of overdramatization.
It’s never done to the point of ruining the experience so it’s not really a major drawback. It’s still doing things most sci-fi would never dare to touch, such as openly mentioning real world countries at war. It takes some really big balls to not have an obviously evil fictional organization and instead present most exisitng countries in a negative light. That is after all the reason it was never promoted much, or will ever be adapted without heavy censorship. We can’t have our modern oversensitive SJW losing their shit; do we now?
Anyways, if you’re one of those people who love science fiction that expands to religion, philosophy, and ethics, without being just people talking around a table, it’s one of the best there is. It’s very holistic since it eventually deals with pretty much all aspects of human civilization, and occasionally jumps genres for better focus on different topics. In one arc it can be a war drama, in another a mafia gang war, and then it can become a sex comedy.
This can be tiresome when you try to binge read it, since a lot of chapters do not progress the main storyline and are more like stand alone side stories. They flesh out the setting so they are not completely worthless, but they definitely drag out the length of the story and can be frustrating if you seek answers or closure to the main plot. In fact, the pacing was so slow at first, spending entire volumes on a single skirmish, that the mangaka eventually speeded up things by resolving most conflicts with headshots. Meaning, even he realized the plot was moving too slow and decided to take out the action scenes in favor of theme exploration.
It feels a bit awkward seeing 90% of deaths being the result of a headshot, but it’s something that had to be done so the manga wouldn’t be twice the already big size it is now. Despite that, the pacing is still slow and you still need to show patience. I can only reassure you that there will eventually be a conclusion, which is solid and satisfactory, something that cannot be said about most manga in existence.
The art is great when it comes to weaponry or machinery and fine when it comes to human figures. I know many who consider it to be bland since many of the characters look the same, but nobody can claim it is crude or minimalistic. It’s extremely detailed when it needs to be and fine when it doesn’t.
Speaking of the characters, there are hundreds of them, constantly being introduced and killed off (usually with a headshot). If your memory is not that good or you don’t keep notes there is a high probability you will be lost when it comes to who did what, when, and how. Yet, it’s exactly this complexity that makes it feel so elaborate and holistic. Even if you don’t remember half of them by the end of the story you will still feel like you were immersed in a living, breathing world because of its size and scope.
In all this is a great work of fiction recommended for anyone seeking something more mature and better planned than the typical teenager with superpowers who saves the world with asspulls and resurrects dead people as easy as changing a shirt. An easy entry to the top 10 manga of all times.
Suggestion List:
Battle Angel Alita
Ghost in the Shell
Neon Genesis Evagelion
Akira
Full Metal Alchemist
Hi No Tori
Xenogears – Xenosaga (videogames)
May 11, 2013
The only way I can think of to describe this series is like Song of Ice and Fire (George RR Martin), but set about 100 years in a vaguely foreseeable future with a quicker pace, plus long digressions on theoretical physics; references to Noam Chomsky; fucked up bio-weapons; a strong treatment of ethnic conflict, homosexuality, and various political issues; a few moments of Evangelion-like strangeness; lots of characters (with impressively realistic characterization); meditations on gnostic philosophy; and an absurd amount of death, brutality, and suffering. It's maybe not the best manga I've read (there's one section in the center I especially didn't like), but it's probably the smartest, with a genuinely impressive scope/sophistication. The art wasn't great, but competent and occasionally striking. Like RR Martin, Endo has a tendency to frequently kill his characters, though I think Eden was maybe more gritty/unpleasant than Ice and Fire, as there were a few parts so brutal or sad I felt a little sick. I think I've been reading manga for about a month now and I've been lucky to stumble over a quite a few impressive works; this definitely rates pretty high next to them.
April 20, 2024
Intriguing- confusing?- first volume. Killing virus, post-apocalyptic settings with lots of cyberpunk gear, shadowy organizations, flashbacks all over the place, innuendoes, an unclear battle... and a new situation 20 years later.
I honestly don’t know what to make of it yet. Vol.2 will hopefully clear things up.
Good art, with a very strong Otomo influence.
I honestly don’t know what to make of it yet. Vol.2 will hopefully clear things up.
Good art, with a very strong Otomo influence.
December 19, 2021
A really intriguing series opener. It has some pretty dark themes and imagery; the depiction of the disease that is wiping out mankind isn't particularly graphic but something about it really gets under my skin (pardon the pun).
Unfortunately I know this series is difficult to track down in English so I don't want to get too attached but if I could read the rest I absolutely would.
Unfortunately I know this series is difficult to track down in English so I don't want to get too attached but if I could read the rest I absolutely would.
September 9, 2021
Me parece completamente incomprensible que uno de los seinen más famosos de ciencia ficción nunca haya sido publicado en castellano. Eden es una obra postapocalíptica y cyberpunk con una trama compleja que mezcla cuestiones medioambientales, políticas, económicas, filosóficas y religiosas para hablar de lo que todas las buenas obras hablan: de la condición humana. Me ha parecido un primer tomo brillante, con unos personajes cautivadores y un dibujo típico de los años noventa que hipnotiza. Qué suerte he tenido de haberme animado a comprarla en francés y ojalá un día se traduzca.
August 2, 2017
The first volume was a bit confusing, especially on character introductions. After the prolong where we were introduced to certain interesting characters, the story shifted and traveled to 20 years later with brand new ones. The world-building was nice but overused a bit, however I hope for new things to come in further volumes. The artwork is quite good and understandable. Overall, I am pleased with the first volume and will read the next ones.
May 14, 2024
"O mundo não acabou, afinal. Mas o mundo que eu me sentia bem em viver sim. Em um piscar de olhos."
[I: Sobre o conjunto da obra]
[II: Sobre o Primeiro Volume]
I. Eden
Eu sinceramente não consigo entender o motivo de uma obra tão vasta, tão redondinha, ser ignorada e preterida pelo grande público que consome mangá. Na ascensão relativamente recente dos quadrinhos japoneses, a última, alavancada pelos três grandes seinen's (Vagabond, Vinland Saga, Berserk), continuou e continua mantendo Eden às escondidas. Eden é melhor que, no mínimo, dois desse trio. E olha que Vagabond que me fez gostar de ler mangá. Mesmo dentro do próprio gênero da ficção científica japonesa, com Ghost In the Shell, Planetes, Sidonia no Kishi e outros, Eden fica escondido. Mal entra nas listas. Diminuindo ainda mais o escopo, nem no sub-gênero do Cyberpunk — que o Endo Hiroki demonstra compreender mais do que certos contemporâneos que acham que o Cyberpunk se resume a Chuva & Neon — você ouve falar de Eden.
Eden é um épico, fechado e planejado, que ao longo de seus dezessete volumes, cruza gêneros, demografias, e até área das ciências humanas e exatas com uma finalidade louvável: contar uma boa história. Atravessa filosofia, religião, física teórica, virologia, conflitos étnicos, políticos e sexuais, para falar, como toda grande obra, sobre a condição humana e a interação humana.
Quer mais? A discussão acerca das pandemias e vírus, cada vez mais frequentes e reincidentes desde o Covid, é um dos temas centrais da obra, de pasmem, 1998! Singularidade, existencialismo, eurocentrismo, brutalidade e sofrimento causado pela Guerra às Drogas aqui na América do Sul são só mais alguns pluses.
Eden apesar de ser uma obra com que você passa pelas páginas facilmente, dado o encadeamento envolvente, é denso; exige e desafia o leitor. Se o escopo já parece impressionante com tudo o que citei, há outra camada que envolve o gnosticismo e a tecnologia (razão pela qual acompanhamos três gerações de uma família específica [com nomes simbólicos como Elijah, Enoah, Hannah] em diferentes etapas e tempos). Você é inserido no mundo; você apresenta-se à narrativa, e não o contrário. Destaco a coragem do Endo Hiroki, tanto na construção quanto no worldbuilding especulativo/religioso.
Estamos no apocalipse, e por isso o autor não alivia nada. Não se censura nem na escrita nem no desenho. Eden equilibra suas partes mais especulativas e próximas da ficção científica com temas sérios e caros: vemos casos sobre os Uigures no Leste Europeu, tráfico de drogas e prostituição na América do Sul, conflitos do Oriente Médio e o conflito hindu-islâmico na Índia.
O principal conflito político criado pelo mangá também merece atenção: as ações da Própatria (Gnostia), uma federação originaria da OTAN e da ONU, mas que logo englobou ambas, e agora praticamente controla as Américas, Japão, Europa e algumas partes da África. Esse novo gigante imperial mundial visa a adesão de todos os países do mundo, visando alcançar a paz global em meio ao caos. Não surpreende que a organização, levantada durante um período drástico na humanidade (a Pandemia que você verá já no primeiro capítulo) seja internamente suja, tirana e dominadora.
De qualquer jeito, na Agnostia (nações ou comunidades marginais não-membros da Própatria) onde percorreremos nos primeiros volumes, as coisas também não vão bem, e países como Paraguai, Peru e Índia sofrem as consequências do tráfico e conflitos de guerrilhas armadas, chegando perto de um estado anárquico e fraturado pelas guerras internas.
Presenciamos táticas de guerrilha, conflitos entre supremacias éticas, guerras ao tráfico, combates de faca, mas tudo isso envolto em elementos de ficção cientifica, então temos também combates entre hackers, de criptografia e programação, super-soldados e avançadas tecnologias de combate. Hiroki também balanceia ação frenética com contemplação.
Inseridos nesse épico global, ainda temos uma gama incrível de personagens principais e secundários, consistentes, atrativos, inteligentes e bem desenvolvidos.
Reitero sempre caráter de Eden como um Épico por haver um todo por trás de tudo, um final bem amarrado, um bom final, que faz necessário tudo que vem antes. O primeiro capítulo é amarrado com o último capítulo, dezessete volumes depois, de um jeito muito particular, envolvendo um disco de vinil e uma dança — digo só para te deixar com um gostinho de ler. O primeiro volume, por conta disso — com exceção do ótimo primeiro capítulo —, não representa a série em sua totalidade. Eden se sobressai na corrida longa. Possui uma construção um pouco lenta, uma mudança de foco brusca, exposição e diálogo certas vezes engessados, e o visual de início ainda não está maduro. Mas ainda sim, é superior a muito do que se tem por aí. Eu ainda não li um primeiro capítulo que se equipare às cem paginas redondinhas, surpreendentes, que é o primeiro capítulo de Eden.
O desenvolvimento do enredo de toda a série é ótimo, os volumes vão seguindo um bom ritmo e a linha de acontecimentos que faz com que você queira sempre ler um pouco mais. A mudança de foco e personagens ocorrerá de tempos em tempos, mas isso possibilita desenvolver e mostrar cada faceta da história, é o Endo girando o cubo-mágico para cada parte receber a sua luz. Você acompanhará o desenvolvimento do próprio autor como artista visual, e também como escritor, já que gradualmente ele vai despertando seu gênio-magnânimo; a reta final de Eden é uma — quase — odisseia no espaço.
Você tem que estar disposto a mais do que apenas ler ''passando os olhos'', a obra deve ser observada com muita atenção, pois há muito mais detalhes que enriquecem a leitura. Eden eventualmente lida com praticamente todos os aspectos da civilização humana e, ocasionalmente, pula até de gêneros para um melhor foco em diferentes tópicos. Em um arco, temos uma narrativa com molde de romance de formação, em outro um drama, ou uma narrativa policial, uma guerra às drogas, e até uma comédia sexual com uma prostituta. À margem das explicações, muitas das mensagens e conexões ficam a cargo do leitor para serem interpretadas. É uma leitura completa, para se investir com algum tempo e sentir aquela imersão romanesca.
II. Volume 1
O primeiro capítulo de Eden começa contando a vida do jovem casal Enoah e Hanna — uns dos primeiros a serem descobertos como imunes à epidemia —, a maneira como vivem, como lidam com aquele “apocalipse”, como se sentem em relação ao destino incerto da humanidade. Começa quase como fosse um slice-of-lice, mas já percebemos algo de diferente quando o vírus é utilizado como uma doença que causa segregação, semelhante ao lepra ou o HIV.
Uma das partes mais interessantes no prólogo, se não a parte mais interessante, são as personagens. Um gostinho do que virá a ser a obra. Eles são construídos apenas para, no fim do capítulo, que é quase uma one-shot (conto), serem totalmente desconstruídos. Inverte-se os valores quando cada uma das motivações internas vão sendo reveladas. O paraíso se desfaz tanto para os protagonistas quanto para nós.
Por exemplo, há o Layne. Um cadeirante, homossexual que amava o melhor amigo, pai de uma das duas crianças que hoje ele cuida. Ou, o Chris, um militar que está do lado de fora “fazendo o bem” e tentando salvar o mundo. Ou, o Ennoia, o filho do Chris, que seria o protagonista bondoso hipotético do prólogo, que deseja semear vida naquele mundo morto.
Apesar das aparentes boas intenções destes três, o primeiro se revela um falso cordeiro, o segundo um falso herói e o próprio Ennoia, o mocinho, o personagem com quem deveríamos nos apegar, demonstra um embotamento de empatia quando ordena um massacre no final. Age tão frio quanto o robô que comanda no fim do prólogo.
A história do primeiro volume muda, então, de foco. Se acostume, que isso será comum. Um salto no tempo e somos apresentados ao filho de Hannah e Enoah, Elijah. Fora do Eden, anda pelo mundo sendo pela visão dele que somos pela primeira vez apresentados ao mundo além do Eden (Centro de Pesquisa) do prólogo; apresenta-nos a Própatria e os Nômades.
Elijah é acompanhado pelo robô, do pai, que reconstruiu, e mundo que ele percorre é um mundo em que civilização foi sendo tomada pela natureza, com a parte da humanidade afetada pelo vírus já há mortos há tempos mas ainda ali, como cascas vazias, é o efeito do Closer. A viagem de Ellijah o faz fazer diversos questionamentos sobre o mundo. São pequenas cenas de sobrevivência, com ele procurando por roupas e alimentos. Ele é um garoto inteligente, conhece o mundo em que vive, mas ainda muito ingênuo, ingenuidade que não vai durar muito, visto que logo precisará viver entre guerrilhas armadas, mercenários, prostituição, tráfico de drogas e muita morte.
Durante a passagem do tempo do prólogo para o segundo capítulo, Enoah, seu pai, virou o grande cabeça por trás de todo o tráfico de drogas na América do Sul. Mais uma virada na personagem inicialmente apresentada no prólogo.
Enoah é raptado, e somos apresentados ao grupo de guerrilheiros, personagens que conosco percorrerão alguns arcos. Sophia, uma super hacker com o corpo completamente mecânico e modos maternais, Kenji, um quieto e tímido soldado (que rende as melhores cenas de ação no mangá), e alguns outros. Eles estavam tentando cruzar a fronteira dos países da Gnostia e Propatia sorrateiramente. Nesse cenário, Elijah, que antes era só um garoto mimado pelo pai, agora uma mistura de narco-traficante com mafioso-chefe de estado, troca a lente pela qual costumava observar o mundo. Ele é mal tratado, linchado e sofre todas as consequências de ser o filho do praticamente chefe do crime organizado na América do Sul, e o primeiro volume, com seus altos e baixos, com sua frequente mudança de foco, acaba com os pés no primeiro arco do mangá: Conflitos militares na travessia dos Andes.
[I: Sobre o conjunto da obra]
[II: Sobre o Primeiro Volume]
I. Eden
Eu sinceramente não consigo entender o motivo de uma obra tão vasta, tão redondinha, ser ignorada e preterida pelo grande público que consome mangá. Na ascensão relativamente recente dos quadrinhos japoneses, a última, alavancada pelos três grandes seinen's (Vagabond, Vinland Saga, Berserk), continuou e continua mantendo Eden às escondidas. Eden é melhor que, no mínimo, dois desse trio. E olha que Vagabond que me fez gostar de ler mangá. Mesmo dentro do próprio gênero da ficção científica japonesa, com Ghost In the Shell, Planetes, Sidonia no Kishi e outros, Eden fica escondido. Mal entra nas listas. Diminuindo ainda mais o escopo, nem no sub-gênero do Cyberpunk — que o Endo Hiroki demonstra compreender mais do que certos contemporâneos que acham que o Cyberpunk se resume a Chuva & Neon — você ouve falar de Eden.
Eden é um épico, fechado e planejado, que ao longo de seus dezessete volumes, cruza gêneros, demografias, e até área das ciências humanas e exatas com uma finalidade louvável: contar uma boa história. Atravessa filosofia, religião, física teórica, virologia, conflitos étnicos, políticos e sexuais, para falar, como toda grande obra, sobre a condição humana e a interação humana.
Quer mais? A discussão acerca das pandemias e vírus, cada vez mais frequentes e reincidentes desde o Covid, é um dos temas centrais da obra, de pasmem, 1998! Singularidade, existencialismo, eurocentrismo, brutalidade e sofrimento causado pela Guerra às Drogas aqui na América do Sul são só mais alguns pluses.
Eden apesar de ser uma obra com que você passa pelas páginas facilmente, dado o encadeamento envolvente, é denso; exige e desafia o leitor. Se o escopo já parece impressionante com tudo o que citei, há outra camada que envolve o gnosticismo e a tecnologia (razão pela qual acompanhamos três gerações de uma família específica [com nomes simbólicos como Elijah, Enoah, Hannah] em diferentes etapas e tempos). Você é inserido no mundo; você apresenta-se à narrativa, e não o contrário. Destaco a coragem do Endo Hiroki, tanto na construção quanto no worldbuilding especulativo/religioso.
Estamos no apocalipse, e por isso o autor não alivia nada. Não se censura nem na escrita nem no desenho. Eden equilibra suas partes mais especulativas e próximas da ficção científica com temas sérios e caros: vemos casos sobre os Uigures no Leste Europeu, tráfico de drogas e prostituição na América do Sul, conflitos do Oriente Médio e o conflito hindu-islâmico na Índia.
O principal conflito político criado pelo mangá também merece atenção: as ações da Própatria (Gnostia), uma federação originaria da OTAN e da ONU, mas que logo englobou ambas, e agora praticamente controla as Américas, Japão, Europa e algumas partes da África. Esse novo gigante imperial mundial visa a adesão de todos os países do mundo, visando alcançar a paz global em meio ao caos. Não surpreende que a organização, levantada durante um período drástico na humanidade (a Pandemia que você verá já no primeiro capítulo) seja internamente suja, tirana e dominadora.
De qualquer jeito, na Agnostia (nações ou comunidades marginais não-membros da Própatria) onde percorreremos nos primeiros volumes, as coisas também não vão bem, e países como Paraguai, Peru e Índia sofrem as consequências do tráfico e conflitos de guerrilhas armadas, chegando perto de um estado anárquico e fraturado pelas guerras internas.
Presenciamos táticas de guerrilha, conflitos entre supremacias éticas, guerras ao tráfico, combates de faca, mas tudo isso envolto em elementos de ficção cientifica, então temos também combates entre hackers, de criptografia e programação, super-soldados e avançadas tecnologias de combate. Hiroki também balanceia ação frenética com contemplação.
Inseridos nesse épico global, ainda temos uma gama incrível de personagens principais e secundários, consistentes, atrativos, inteligentes e bem desenvolvidos.
Reitero sempre caráter de Eden como um Épico por haver um todo por trás de tudo, um final bem amarrado, um bom final, que faz necessário tudo que vem antes. O primeiro capítulo é amarrado com o último capítulo, dezessete volumes depois, de um jeito muito particular, envolvendo um disco de vinil e uma dança — digo só para te deixar com um gostinho de ler. O primeiro volume, por conta disso — com exceção do ótimo primeiro capítulo —, não representa a série em sua totalidade. Eden se sobressai na corrida longa. Possui uma construção um pouco lenta, uma mudança de foco brusca, exposição e diálogo certas vezes engessados, e o visual de início ainda não está maduro. Mas ainda sim, é superior a muito do que se tem por aí. Eu ainda não li um primeiro capítulo que se equipare às cem paginas redondinhas, surpreendentes, que é o primeiro capítulo de Eden.
O desenvolvimento do enredo de toda a série é ótimo, os volumes vão seguindo um bom ritmo e a linha de acontecimentos que faz com que você queira sempre ler um pouco mais. A mudança de foco e personagens ocorrerá de tempos em tempos, mas isso possibilita desenvolver e mostrar cada faceta da história, é o Endo girando o cubo-mágico para cada parte receber a sua luz. Você acompanhará o desenvolvimento do próprio autor como artista visual, e também como escritor, já que gradualmente ele vai despertando seu gênio-magnânimo; a reta final de Eden é uma — quase — odisseia no espaço.
Você tem que estar disposto a mais do que apenas ler ''passando os olhos'', a obra deve ser observada com muita atenção, pois há muito mais detalhes que enriquecem a leitura. Eden eventualmente lida com praticamente todos os aspectos da civilização humana e, ocasionalmente, pula até de gêneros para um melhor foco em diferentes tópicos. Em um arco, temos uma narrativa com molde de romance de formação, em outro um drama, ou uma narrativa policial, uma guerra às drogas, e até uma comédia sexual com uma prostituta. À margem das explicações, muitas das mensagens e conexões ficam a cargo do leitor para serem interpretadas. É uma leitura completa, para se investir com algum tempo e sentir aquela imersão romanesca.
II. Volume 1
O primeiro capítulo de Eden começa contando a vida do jovem casal Enoah e Hanna — uns dos primeiros a serem descobertos como imunes à epidemia —, a maneira como vivem, como lidam com aquele “apocalipse”, como se sentem em relação ao destino incerto da humanidade. Começa quase como fosse um slice-of-lice, mas já percebemos algo de diferente quando o vírus é utilizado como uma doença que causa segregação, semelhante ao lepra ou o HIV.
Uma das partes mais interessantes no prólogo, se não a parte mais interessante, são as personagens. Um gostinho do que virá a ser a obra. Eles são construídos apenas para, no fim do capítulo, que é quase uma one-shot (conto), serem totalmente desconstruídos. Inverte-se os valores quando cada uma das motivações internas vão sendo reveladas. O paraíso se desfaz tanto para os protagonistas quanto para nós.
Por exemplo, há o Layne. Um cadeirante, homossexual que amava o melhor amigo, pai de uma das duas crianças que hoje ele cuida. Ou, o Chris, um militar que está do lado de fora “fazendo o bem” e tentando salvar o mundo. Ou, o Ennoia, o filho do Chris, que seria o protagonista bondoso hipotético do prólogo, que deseja semear vida naquele mundo morto.
Apesar das aparentes boas intenções destes três, o primeiro se revela um falso cordeiro, o segundo um falso herói e o próprio Ennoia, o mocinho, o personagem com quem deveríamos nos apegar, demonstra um embotamento de empatia quando ordena um massacre no final. Age tão frio quanto o robô que comanda no fim do prólogo.
A história do primeiro volume muda, então, de foco. Se acostume, que isso será comum. Um salto no tempo e somos apresentados ao filho de Hannah e Enoah, Elijah. Fora do Eden, anda pelo mundo sendo pela visão dele que somos pela primeira vez apresentados ao mundo além do Eden (Centro de Pesquisa) do prólogo; apresenta-nos a Própatria e os Nômades.
Elijah é acompanhado pelo robô, do pai, que reconstruiu, e mundo que ele percorre é um mundo em que civilização foi sendo tomada pela natureza, com a parte da humanidade afetada pelo vírus já há mortos há tempos mas ainda ali, como cascas vazias, é o efeito do Closer. A viagem de Ellijah o faz fazer diversos questionamentos sobre o mundo. São pequenas cenas de sobrevivência, com ele procurando por roupas e alimentos. Ele é um garoto inteligente, conhece o mundo em que vive, mas ainda muito ingênuo, ingenuidade que não vai durar muito, visto que logo precisará viver entre guerrilhas armadas, mercenários, prostituição, tráfico de drogas e muita morte.
Durante a passagem do tempo do prólogo para o segundo capítulo, Enoah, seu pai, virou o grande cabeça por trás de todo o tráfico de drogas na América do Sul. Mais uma virada na personagem inicialmente apresentada no prólogo.
Enoah é raptado, e somos apresentados ao grupo de guerrilheiros, personagens que conosco percorrerão alguns arcos. Sophia, uma super hacker com o corpo completamente mecânico e modos maternais, Kenji, um quieto e tímido soldado (que rende as melhores cenas de ação no mangá), e alguns outros. Eles estavam tentando cruzar a fronteira dos países da Gnostia e Propatia sorrateiramente. Nesse cenário, Elijah, que antes era só um garoto mimado pelo pai, agora uma mistura de narco-traficante com mafioso-chefe de estado, troca a lente pela qual costumava observar o mundo. Ele é mal tratado, linchado e sofre todas as consequências de ser o filho do praticamente chefe do crime organizado na América do Sul, e o primeiro volume, com seus altos e baixos, com sua frequente mudança de foco, acaba com os pés no primeiro arco do mangá: Conflitos militares na travessia dos Andes.
January 16, 2025
Legal que não entrega tudo mastigadinho. E o uso de flashbacks é interessante.
September 11, 2024
ladna kreska ale to tyle :(
October 20, 2016
Une merveille du genre manga post-apocalyptique !!!
May 9, 2021
Es perfecta, es mas el primer capitulo de esta obra es excepcional.
May 22, 2023
I still remember this shit and for bad reasons.
March 28, 2018
Pour ceux qui ne le savent pas, je suis un gros fan de science fiction en général. Que ce soit de l’opéra spacial, du cyberpunk, du futur dystopien, du futur post-apocalyptique ou même du Hard Science Fiction (que j’aime moins soit dit en passant), je suis toujours intéressé à lire plus sur le sujet. Dans le domaine du manga il n’en existe pas tant que ça des manga de science fiction, du moins il en existe peu qui sont de qualité ou qui mérite réellement de prendre le temps de collectionner la série. Dans mes séries fétish j’ai Gantz, Akira (que je ne possède pas), Arms, Pluto et bien sur mon préféré Gunm (l’original). Lors de ma relecture l’an passé de Gunm j’ai eu envie d’en avoir plus dans le même thème. Par contre j’ai eu beau chercher, ce manga est unique et a part Last Order (que je n’apprécie guère) il existe rien qui s’apparente à Gunm sauf peut être Eden de Hiroki Endo. Du moins c’est ce que les Board de manga me disaient. Tu aime Gunm tu dois lire Eden. Le problème, cette série est presque rendu inexistante. La version anglaise est stoppé au volume 14 et les version française est presque introuvable ou en réimpression pas de date (vive panini). Comme j’ai trouvé les 2 premier volume a très bas prix j’ai pris le risque de commencer la série tout de même et après 1 an et demi de magasinage, de colère, de déception et de volume acheter trop cher; j’ai enfin réussi à ramasser la série entière. Malgré un effort presque dantesque pour me procurer la série, je vais vous faire le topo de comment j’ai trouvé le tout en tenant compte de la difficulté a se procurer la série.
Tout d’abors l’histoire. C’est presque impossible à résumer ou du moins à décrire sans décrie trop de détail du début de la série. Alors pour faire simple je vais vous la décrire ainsi: Un virus frappe la terre et menace la vie humaine l’amenant aux portes de l’extinction. Suite a la découverte d’un vaccin le monde s’en remet mais devient par le même fait changé et c’est au travers de personnages multiples que l’on découvrira comment la terre aura évoluer suite à ce virus et comment elle survivra aux prochains problème qu’elle fera face.
Je pourrais dire que l’historie tourne aurout de la famille Ballade qui est au centre d’à peu près 90% des événements, mais sa serait faux. La famille Ballade est un prétexte, c’est comme la caméra vivante qui nous fait vivre et voir l’histoire, car l’histoire de ce manga fitte à 100% avec son titre. It’s an Endless World (c’est un monde sans fin). On bondi d’un endroit à l’autre, d’une époque à l’autre, d’un personnage à l’autre et le tout dans le but de nous faire découvrir le monde qu’à imaginé Hiroki Endo. Donc si vous penser suivre les aventure d’un jeune garçon et de le voir devenir un homme; détrompé vous. Oui ça arrive, mais ce n’est pas le but de l’histoire, c’est une résultante, c’est un facteur mais en aucun cas ça sera le centre de l’histoire. L’histoire est celle d’une humanité au bord de la catastrophe et de comment elle y survivra à cette catastrophe.
Je dois mettre en gardes les possibles lecteur, ce manga est réellement à thème ultra mature, ultra réaliste et surtout présenté de manière ultra froide/pragmatique. L’auteur a clairement voulu nous faire croire que ce qui se passe pourrait arriver, il a endui son récit de réalisme à un tel poins que j’en ai grincé des dents par moment. Il y a des scènes dans ce manga que je n’oublierai jamais, elles sont imprégé dans mon esprit. Les scènes d’action sont violentes, dynamiques et graphique au maximum. Cependant, l’auteur ne semble pas en abuser et quand elle arrivent elle sont bien dosés. Par contre, si vous avez écouter ou lu Game of Thrones sachez que ce manga fait pareille. Il tue des personnages qui semblent important de manière totalement gratuite et sans aucune pitié. Encore une fois à mon avis un moyen pour l’auteur de nous faire comprendre le réalisme de l’histoire. Il n’y a pas de personnage secondaire trop important pour qu’il ne meure pas. Tenez vous le pour dit, ce manga n’est pas pour les enfants ou les personnes n’ayant pas le coeur solide. L’auteur traite de religions, de drogue, de prostitution, de guerre, de terrorisme, de meurtre, de vengance, de maladie, d’infenticide, de génocide, de crime organisé, de politique et j’en passe. Une vrai critique de notre société et une que peu de gens pourront apprécié. Même moi je suis pas encore sûr si j’ai apprécié ce trop plein d’humanité.
Un dernier point que je veux parler de l’histoire avant de passer aux dessins, c’est un point que j’ai déjà traité dans une autre critique, celle du “tu comprend rien avant la fin”. Au fil des volumes, les révélations se font vraiment rare et elles sont jamais complète. Pire encore, souvent on ne comprend pas ce que ça veut dire. Comme pour le manga Pendora Heart, on avance dans l’histoire mais on se demande où peut bien vouloir en venir l’auteur. Je crois qu’il faut vraiment lire ce manga sans s’attendre à un fil conducteur central, mais plus un fil conducteur en périphérie. Le virus amène un monde a découvrire, le virus évolue, le monde évolue, l’histoire fini et voici a quoi ressemble le monde maintenant. Faudrait presque croire que le personnage central de ce manga est vraiment la Terre ou pour être plus précis, l’humanité. Sa aurait été trop culoté de faire un manga sans personnages plus centraux que l’on pourrait reconnaître d’un chapitre à l’autre, donc l’auteur nous a concocter des personnages récurents, mais en bout de ligne il faut admettre que les personnages plus centraux ne font rien de très important et s’en retouve à être témoins d’un monde difficile où l’espoire semble devenir un luxe que peu peuvent se permettre. Ça fai donc d’Eden un manga pessimiste où on voit l’humanité dépérir à petit feu, une sorte de documentaire sur le XXII ième siècle sur comment l’humanité à survécu à un virus qui aurait peu détruire l’humanité.
J’en viens donc aux dessins. Bien qu’au début ils semblait vieillo et peu rafiné, l’auteur améliore son trait à très grande vitesse et en vient à nous donner une oeuvre de très grande qualité. Que ce soit pour les personnages, les scènes d’action ou pour les décors; tout est merveilleusement présenté. D’autant plus que le personnage principale de cette série c’est le monde où les personnages vivent, il est important qu’il soit présenté de manière impécable. Sur ce point j’ai que très peut de fautes à donner à l’auteur autre que trop de personnages se ressemble, que certain gars ressemble à des filles et qu’au début certaines scène d’actions étaient un peu confuses. Cependant, rien de grave, l’auteur a su doser son action et son histoire pour que le dessin reste fluide et surtout réaliste. C’est aussi ce qui ajoute à la dureté de cette oeuvre, les dessin son d’un graphique très explicite (dans tous les sens du terme) et surtout d’un précision à faire faire des cauchemards. On se fait carrément dessiné la vie en pleine face et ce pour le meilleur ou pour le pire.
Au niveau du monde et de l’ambiance je suis obliger de donner un sans fautes. L’auteur nous crée et nous fait vire dans un monde que personne n’aimerait vivre dedans. On se le fait présenter en détails et de manière à ce que l’on pourrait y croire. Que ce soit la guerre, le désespoire, l’oppression, l’injustice et même la pure vie cruelle; l’auteur nous embarque (qu’on le veuille ou non) dans son monde et nous fait vivre l’expérience vécu par les personnages. Si vous voulez vivre dans un monde dégeulasse et où l’humanité approche de son pire, ce manga va vous donner le poul ça je peux vous le garantir.
Donc pour faire simple ce manga est culoté, différent, dure, complettement original, indubitablement unique mais surtout il se doit d’être classé dans une classe à part. Est-ce que tout ceci fait de ce manga un chef d’oeuvre, une seinen incontournable ou voir même un must à possédé? Pour ma part la réponse est non. L’histoire difficile à suivre, les élucubration scientifiques, le manque de points centraux forts, la violence trop réelle et surtout le pessimisme de l’oeuvre m’ont carrément gâché mon plaisir de lecture. Il faut être dans un moment de sa vie où on veut voir c’est quoi la grosse vie sale pour pouvoir vraiment apprécié une histoire comme celle là. Plus de la moitié de la série doit être considéré comme déprimante, dénué de tout sens positif et personne ayant besoin des se faire remonter le morale devrait toucher à cette oeuvre. Aucun des personnages n’est un modèle pour notre société et je dis bien aucun. Bon sa ajoute au réalisme, mais quand même faut pas pousser. Pas un personnage n’a la moindre virtue, ils sont tous trop humain et même peut-être beaucoup trop. C’est pas impossible d’avoir un brin de noblesse et d’honneur dans la vie, c’est même réaliste. Dans ce manga ça semble être une virtue qui a disparue de la race humaine et j,ai pour mon dire que peu importe la catastrophe, j’aime plus croire en une humanité unie qu’en un monde d’auto-destruction.
Alors, après mure réflexion je vais donner 4 étoiles à ce manga. Oui c’est vrai que l’histoire est pesante, oui c’est vrai que j’ai souvent arrêter de lire parce que j’en avait ma claque de feeler dépressif à cause de l’histoire, oui c’est vrai que j’en ai fait des cauchemard (certaines scène colle aux rétines, litérallements) mais je suis forcé d’admettre que dans son genre ce manga est une réussite totale. L’auteur s’en est tenu à son thème et à son style jusqu’à la fin. Il ne déroge jamais de son fil conducteur et il réussi en plus à conclure son histoire de manière totalement satisfaisante (si on peut trouve quoi que ce soit de satisfaisant dans ce manga). J’aurais vraiment aimer pouvoir dire que ce manga soit un chef d’oeuvre (surout avec la misère que j’ai eu à me le procurer) mais ce n’en est pas un. Beaucoup de monde abandonneront l’histoire bien avant la fin. Si j’avais ramassé la série au compte goûte je ne peux même pas garantir que j’aurais pas abandonné en cours de route (bon ok si j’ai pas abandonné shaman king surment que celui là non plus). Ce manga est clairement pas pour tout le monde, donc, il ne peut être un incontournable. Comme il traite de sujet difficiles je ne peux le mettre dans les must à lire dans une vie, trop de gens me dirais que c’est pour un lecteur averti seulement. Alors voici la raison pourquoi je ne peux donner un meilleur note à ce manga. Il restera tout de même un trophé sur ma bibliothèque pour son côté unique, mais malheureusement il ne fera pas partie de mes séries préférés car quand je lis c’est pour me détendre, m’amuser et surtout pour oublier le monde pourri qui nous entoure. Dans Eden on se fait un peu trop rappeler que notre monde pourrait être pire et c’est pas un sujet que j’affectionne tant que ça, surtout quand c’est trop réaliste. Un manga de science ficiton unique mais pas pour publique averti seulement.
Tout d’abors l’histoire. C’est presque impossible à résumer ou du moins à décrire sans décrie trop de détail du début de la série. Alors pour faire simple je vais vous la décrire ainsi: Un virus frappe la terre et menace la vie humaine l’amenant aux portes de l’extinction. Suite a la découverte d’un vaccin le monde s’en remet mais devient par le même fait changé et c’est au travers de personnages multiples que l’on découvrira comment la terre aura évoluer suite à ce virus et comment elle survivra aux prochains problème qu’elle fera face.
Je pourrais dire que l’historie tourne aurout de la famille Ballade qui est au centre d’à peu près 90% des événements, mais sa serait faux. La famille Ballade est un prétexte, c’est comme la caméra vivante qui nous fait vivre et voir l’histoire, car l’histoire de ce manga fitte à 100% avec son titre. It’s an Endless World (c’est un monde sans fin). On bondi d’un endroit à l’autre, d’une époque à l’autre, d’un personnage à l’autre et le tout dans le but de nous faire découvrir le monde qu’à imaginé Hiroki Endo. Donc si vous penser suivre les aventure d’un jeune garçon et de le voir devenir un homme; détrompé vous. Oui ça arrive, mais ce n’est pas le but de l’histoire, c’est une résultante, c’est un facteur mais en aucun cas ça sera le centre de l’histoire. L’histoire est celle d’une humanité au bord de la catastrophe et de comment elle y survivra à cette catastrophe.
Je dois mettre en gardes les possibles lecteur, ce manga est réellement à thème ultra mature, ultra réaliste et surtout présenté de manière ultra froide/pragmatique. L’auteur a clairement voulu nous faire croire que ce qui se passe pourrait arriver, il a endui son récit de réalisme à un tel poins que j’en ai grincé des dents par moment. Il y a des scènes dans ce manga que je n’oublierai jamais, elles sont imprégé dans mon esprit. Les scènes d’action sont violentes, dynamiques et graphique au maximum. Cependant, l’auteur ne semble pas en abuser et quand elle arrivent elle sont bien dosés. Par contre, si vous avez écouter ou lu Game of Thrones sachez que ce manga fait pareille. Il tue des personnages qui semblent important de manière totalement gratuite et sans aucune pitié. Encore une fois à mon avis un moyen pour l’auteur de nous faire comprendre le réalisme de l’histoire. Il n’y a pas de personnage secondaire trop important pour qu’il ne meure pas. Tenez vous le pour dit, ce manga n’est pas pour les enfants ou les personnes n’ayant pas le coeur solide. L’auteur traite de religions, de drogue, de prostitution, de guerre, de terrorisme, de meurtre, de vengance, de maladie, d’infenticide, de génocide, de crime organisé, de politique et j’en passe. Une vrai critique de notre société et une que peu de gens pourront apprécié. Même moi je suis pas encore sûr si j’ai apprécié ce trop plein d’humanité.
Un dernier point que je veux parler de l’histoire avant de passer aux dessins, c’est un point que j’ai déjà traité dans une autre critique, celle du “tu comprend rien avant la fin”. Au fil des volumes, les révélations se font vraiment rare et elles sont jamais complète. Pire encore, souvent on ne comprend pas ce que ça veut dire. Comme pour le manga Pendora Heart, on avance dans l’histoire mais on se demande où peut bien vouloir en venir l’auteur. Je crois qu’il faut vraiment lire ce manga sans s’attendre à un fil conducteur central, mais plus un fil conducteur en périphérie. Le virus amène un monde a découvrire, le virus évolue, le monde évolue, l’histoire fini et voici a quoi ressemble le monde maintenant. Faudrait presque croire que le personnage central de ce manga est vraiment la Terre ou pour être plus précis, l’humanité. Sa aurait été trop culoté de faire un manga sans personnages plus centraux que l’on pourrait reconnaître d’un chapitre à l’autre, donc l’auteur nous a concocter des personnages récurents, mais en bout de ligne il faut admettre que les personnages plus centraux ne font rien de très important et s’en retouve à être témoins d’un monde difficile où l’espoire semble devenir un luxe que peu peuvent se permettre. Ça fai donc d’Eden un manga pessimiste où on voit l’humanité dépérir à petit feu, une sorte de documentaire sur le XXII ième siècle sur comment l’humanité à survécu à un virus qui aurait peu détruire l’humanité.
J’en viens donc aux dessins. Bien qu’au début ils semblait vieillo et peu rafiné, l’auteur améliore son trait à très grande vitesse et en vient à nous donner une oeuvre de très grande qualité. Que ce soit pour les personnages, les scènes d’action ou pour les décors; tout est merveilleusement présenté. D’autant plus que le personnage principale de cette série c’est le monde où les personnages vivent, il est important qu’il soit présenté de manière impécable. Sur ce point j’ai que très peut de fautes à donner à l’auteur autre que trop de personnages se ressemble, que certain gars ressemble à des filles et qu’au début certaines scène d’actions étaient un peu confuses. Cependant, rien de grave, l’auteur a su doser son action et son histoire pour que le dessin reste fluide et surtout réaliste. C’est aussi ce qui ajoute à la dureté de cette oeuvre, les dessin son d’un graphique très explicite (dans tous les sens du terme) et surtout d’un précision à faire faire des cauchemards. On se fait carrément dessiné la vie en pleine face et ce pour le meilleur ou pour le pire.
Au niveau du monde et de l’ambiance je suis obliger de donner un sans fautes. L’auteur nous crée et nous fait vire dans un monde que personne n’aimerait vivre dedans. On se le fait présenter en détails et de manière à ce que l’on pourrait y croire. Que ce soit la guerre, le désespoire, l’oppression, l’injustice et même la pure vie cruelle; l’auteur nous embarque (qu’on le veuille ou non) dans son monde et nous fait vivre l’expérience vécu par les personnages. Si vous voulez vivre dans un monde dégeulasse et où l’humanité approche de son pire, ce manga va vous donner le poul ça je peux vous le garantir.
Donc pour faire simple ce manga est culoté, différent, dure, complettement original, indubitablement unique mais surtout il se doit d’être classé dans une classe à part. Est-ce que tout ceci fait de ce manga un chef d’oeuvre, une seinen incontournable ou voir même un must à possédé? Pour ma part la réponse est non. L’histoire difficile à suivre, les élucubration scientifiques, le manque de points centraux forts, la violence trop réelle et surtout le pessimisme de l’oeuvre m’ont carrément gâché mon plaisir de lecture. Il faut être dans un moment de sa vie où on veut voir c’est quoi la grosse vie sale pour pouvoir vraiment apprécié une histoire comme celle là. Plus de la moitié de la série doit être considéré comme déprimante, dénué de tout sens positif et personne ayant besoin des se faire remonter le morale devrait toucher à cette oeuvre. Aucun des personnages n’est un modèle pour notre société et je dis bien aucun. Bon sa ajoute au réalisme, mais quand même faut pas pousser. Pas un personnage n’a la moindre virtue, ils sont tous trop humain et même peut-être beaucoup trop. C’est pas impossible d’avoir un brin de noblesse et d’honneur dans la vie, c’est même réaliste. Dans ce manga ça semble être une virtue qui a disparue de la race humaine et j,ai pour mon dire que peu importe la catastrophe, j’aime plus croire en une humanité unie qu’en un monde d’auto-destruction.
Alors, après mure réflexion je vais donner 4 étoiles à ce manga. Oui c’est vrai que l’histoire est pesante, oui c’est vrai que j’ai souvent arrêter de lire parce que j’en avait ma claque de feeler dépressif à cause de l’histoire, oui c’est vrai que j’en ai fait des cauchemard (certaines scène colle aux rétines, litérallements) mais je suis forcé d’admettre que dans son genre ce manga est une réussite totale. L’auteur s’en est tenu à son thème et à son style jusqu’à la fin. Il ne déroge jamais de son fil conducteur et il réussi en plus à conclure son histoire de manière totalement satisfaisante (si on peut trouve quoi que ce soit de satisfaisant dans ce manga). J’aurais vraiment aimer pouvoir dire que ce manga soit un chef d’oeuvre (surout avec la misère que j’ai eu à me le procurer) mais ce n’en est pas un. Beaucoup de monde abandonneront l’histoire bien avant la fin. Si j’avais ramassé la série au compte goûte je ne peux même pas garantir que j’aurais pas abandonné en cours de route (bon ok si j’ai pas abandonné shaman king surment que celui là non plus). Ce manga est clairement pas pour tout le monde, donc, il ne peut être un incontournable. Comme il traite de sujet difficiles je ne peux le mettre dans les must à lire dans une vie, trop de gens me dirais que c’est pour un lecteur averti seulement. Alors voici la raison pourquoi je ne peux donner un meilleur note à ce manga. Il restera tout de même un trophé sur ma bibliothèque pour son côté unique, mais malheureusement il ne fera pas partie de mes séries préférés car quand je lis c’est pour me détendre, m’amuser et surtout pour oublier le monde pourri qui nous entoure. Dans Eden on se fait un peu trop rappeler que notre monde pourrait être pire et c’est pas un sujet que j’affectionne tant que ça, surtout quand c’est trop réaliste. Un manga de science ficiton unique mais pas pour publique averti seulement.
June 29, 2017
Awkward.
I probably won't bother to continue reading this series.
I probably won't bother to continue reading this series.
September 25, 2022
Really enjoyed around the first 5 volumes and was hooked into the world that was left after the "closure virus". The setting and idea that Enoah and Hanna were the last remnants in their own "Eden" was something that stood out to me and made perfect sense to be a post apocalypse story. The symbolism went great together with the raw scenes and felt like it was a true apocalypse.
The art portrayed the scenes well and it contributed to the cruel world that it takes place in,
After the first 5 volumes, the story did not feel relevant anymore to its original idea, most people survived and it felt more like the apocalypse never happened. It felt more like a sci-fi military story rather than a story about survival. it got less interesting to read due to most of the characters just die and are quickly replaced by new ones until the same thing happens again. I would personally wish Enoah and Hanna could have felt more important or relevant, since the story started with them, until the time skip, where we were introduced to Elijah. I personally never really felt that Enoah was portrayed as the drug king he was, didn't feel that the story showed it a lot.
The second virus wasn't really interesting, the idea was but it was very boring in the end compared to the first virus. The ending felt like nothing really happened and everything up until that point was unnecessary.
the manga had a good start, but eventually lost my interest.
The art portrayed the scenes well and it contributed to the cruel world that it takes place in,
After the first 5 volumes, the story did not feel relevant anymore to its original idea, most people survived and it felt more like the apocalypse never happened. It felt more like a sci-fi military story rather than a story about survival. it got less interesting to read due to most of the characters just die and are quickly replaced by new ones until the same thing happens again. I would personally wish Enoah and Hanna could have felt more important or relevant, since the story started with them, until the time skip, where we were introduced to Elijah. I personally never really felt that Enoah was portrayed as the drug king he was, didn't feel that the story showed it a lot.
The second virus wasn't really interesting, the idea was but it was very boring in the end compared to the first virus. The ending felt like nothing really happened and everything up until that point was unnecessary.
the manga had a good start, but eventually lost my interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2020
Eden is a post-apocalyptic manga, set in a self-contained, air-tight commune, where humanity has huddled together in its dying breaths. The story foretells mankind’s near extinction and explains how, due to our arrogance and idiocy, a simple virus could easily decimate our population to almost zero.
Reading this during the coronavirus and seeing the parallels between this world and how our global super-powers responded to our own threat was quite eye-opening. I can definitely see the truth in Endo’s words – we are our own worst enemy.
Anyway, my review...
Eden is everything I love. I got into anime in the late 90’s, and it was this sort of story that first captivated my attention. I love the post-apocalyptic backdrop of derelict buildings overrun by plants and streets deserted bar a few abandoned vehicles. My imagination runs wild when I think of the idea of humanity having to revert to its basest instincts to survive – hunting wild animals and rummaging for scraps of food. This may not be a world I would want to live in, but it’s incredibly fun to read about.
To some, this may be just a cartoon, but trust me, this is not children. Eden is smart and sophisticated, and has a lot of harsh truths to share with our race. We may like to think of ourselves as saints, but we are not, and this book is happy to wave that fact in your face, almost to the point of lecturing the reader. Society, religion, race and sexuality – all the major talking points are examined by the author, and are handled in an intellectual, adult manner.
I have nothing bad to say about this manga. The art is beautifully detailed, with a slightly retro feel to it, and the author’s voice is philosophical and often unforgiving. I may not know where this tale is leading just yet, but I can’t wait to find out! 5/5.
Reading this during the coronavirus and seeing the parallels between this world and how our global super-powers responded to our own threat was quite eye-opening. I can definitely see the truth in Endo’s words – we are our own worst enemy.
Anyway, my review...
Eden is everything I love. I got into anime in the late 90’s, and it was this sort of story that first captivated my attention. I love the post-apocalyptic backdrop of derelict buildings overrun by plants and streets deserted bar a few abandoned vehicles. My imagination runs wild when I think of the idea of humanity having to revert to its basest instincts to survive – hunting wild animals and rummaging for scraps of food. This may not be a world I would want to live in, but it’s incredibly fun to read about.
To some, this may be just a cartoon, but trust me, this is not children. Eden is smart and sophisticated, and has a lot of harsh truths to share with our race. We may like to think of ourselves as saints, but we are not, and this book is happy to wave that fact in your face, almost to the point of lecturing the reader. Society, religion, race and sexuality – all the major talking points are examined by the author, and are handled in an intellectual, adult manner.
I have nothing bad to say about this manga. The art is beautifully detailed, with a slightly retro feel to it, and the author’s voice is philosophical and often unforgiving. I may not know where this tale is leading just yet, but I can’t wait to find out! 5/5.
April 24, 2020
I finally began reading 'Eden' and so far it lives up to my high expectations. Surprisingly topical (reading this during the first months of the Corona-pandemic).
July 13, 2014
I have a lot of the same issues as other reviewers with this manga so I won't beat a dead horse. One thing that was not mentioned that irritated me though was the out of nowhere character/time shift a little over halfway through the book. Really? You spent half the book getting us emotionally invested in these characters and then hit us with "20 years later..." and then switch perspectives to a character you haven't introduced yet? To say I was annoyed would be an understatement. The art work is good, not the best, but passable. The only reason I'll finish the series is because my roommate owns all of them and what else is there to do on a lazy sunday. Also I'm at a loss to explain why this is rated 18+. There is no nudity, sex, and minimal violence. Maybe it's just me, but if I'm reading a manga that has an 18+ rating I want it to have earned that rating...perhaps in future installments.
September 11, 2008
This is one of those graphical stories that I wish I had seen in a different language, since while the pictures are interesting to follow, the dialog is just terrible.
Plot: The world is devastated by a virus that hardens the skin until you cannot move, and the story follows the world of the survivors.
The author slams political and religious rhetoric down your throat, which makes the conversations between the characters unrealistic and uninteresting. You know the gay character is gay because everytime he appears in the scene, being gay somehow plays into the conversation. We did not forget he was gay when we turned the page! You do not need to keep reminding us that he happens to be gay! We get it!
Plot: The world is devastated by a virus that hardens the skin until you cannot move, and the story follows the world of the survivors.
The author slams political and religious rhetoric down your throat, which makes the conversations between the characters unrealistic and uninteresting. You know the gay character is gay because everytime he appears in the scene, being gay somehow plays into the conversation. We did not forget he was gay when we turned the page! You do not need to keep reminding us that he happens to be gay! We get it!
May 7, 2009
Multidimensional. That word is what coming to mind first after reading almost ten books in that series. There is no just a story of some boy/girl who done this and that.
Sometimes it's simple and cruel, sometimes twisted and confusing. There is some strange forms of love, there is not really explainable hatred, and of course there is many things that strike reader right in the eye seemingly without skipping a beat in the rhythm of storytelling. There is world that I can't really call crazy and in the same time can't comprehend at all. Too many backstage gears, too many plot lines, too many time holes.
All in all that series is the one that closest to its own tagline: "it's an endless world".
Sometimes it's simple and cruel, sometimes twisted and confusing. There is some strange forms of love, there is not really explainable hatred, and of course there is many things that strike reader right in the eye seemingly without skipping a beat in the rhythm of storytelling. There is world that I can't really call crazy and in the same time can't comprehend at all. Too many backstage gears, too many plot lines, too many time holes.
All in all that series is the one that closest to its own tagline: "it's an endless world".
November 20, 2016
***This is a review of the whole series***
It should've been only 1 star but I gave it 2 for the artwork which was very good. However the story (at least for me) was either complex beyond my understanding or an utter failure, what does the plot have to do with a virus, drug trade and wars, siblings fighting their way to be reunited and to top it all religious and ethnic conflicts? I think too much was being crammed together in story ruining it at the end, like being in an open buffet and you make a plate of all the dishes.. what will you get? indigestion....
MiM
It should've been only 1 star but I gave it 2 for the artwork which was very good. However the story (at least for me) was either complex beyond my understanding or an utter failure, what does the plot have to do with a virus, drug trade and wars, siblings fighting their way to be reunited and to top it all religious and ethnic conflicts? I think too much was being crammed together in story ruining it at the end, like being in an open buffet and you make a plate of all the dishes.. what will you get? indigestion....
MiM
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2017
Excellent art - the detail is wonderful - but the story is slow, and the massive timeskip halfway through really killed my interest. Why spend so much time getting me attached to these characters, only to throw them aside for their kid twenty years down the road? There wasn't enough to keep me tagging along for the chance I'd learn more about what happened in those twenty years.
May 23, 2021
I am a bit lost reading this, there seems to be time skips and not everything is being told to us as the narration goes on. Its pretty bleak and I can see some religious context plus philosophical approaches to a virus like end of the world story. The art is good, nothing wow happens as of yet but I'm interested in reading volume 2 to see where all of this is leading to.
March 13, 2023
Bei disegni, alcune tavole erano proprio delle opere d'arte.
Storia abbastanza contorta, per essere il primo volume son stati inseriti troppi filoni narrativi causando abbastanza confusione: virus che sta portando l'umanità all'estinzione, cyborg, hacker, terrorismo, corruzione politica, distruzione e povertà.
In generale lo consiglio.
Storia abbastanza contorta, per essere il primo volume son stati inseriti troppi filoni narrativi causando abbastanza confusione: virus che sta portando l'umanità all'estinzione, cyborg, hacker, terrorismo, corruzione politica, distruzione e povertà.
In generale lo consiglio.
September 13, 2022
loved this!
August 18, 2025
Rating for whole series!
126 chapters | 18 volumes
It's a little insane to me that this manga was released in the late 90s and ended in 2008, because it captures a lot of the popular cyberpunk/post-apocalyptic feelings of the tech 90s, but reading the series now feels much more current to me vs. similar stories of technology/humanity (like Ghost in a Shell or NGE, though don't get me wrong, those series are great too!) I think part of this is because a lot of the story revolves around the power of drug trafficking/cartel and gang wars in the Global South, and because while there's a heavy cyberpunk element, the main focus of the series is finding humanity despite massive loss and world-crushing disasters. The series can be a little hard to get into because the first couple of chapters are really not enough to assess what this series is like - it's just the beginning point, but I was pleasantly surprised by how everything came back full circle. There are various time jumps and a huge array of names and characters (not to mention political factions) which can get confusing, as well as various story arcs (focusing on gang warfare, political espionage, scientific and molecular development, but also smaller lighter moments of sexual discovery and loss of youth), and I do wish that the ending arc got a little more breathing room/felt a little rushed, but overall I feel like it's a really solid sci-fi rendering that places the focus on choosing to live, despite everything. (though personally, I'd probably end up in the colloid lmao)
There should be a massive TW for violence, because the author doesn't stray away from usage of violence and people are very often shot to death; it's both a good and bad thing that he's not hesitant about making characters that you'll start to feel for and killing them off rather quickly. And the characters aren't fully good or bad - morals are very gray and characters are cognizant of their choices, however flawed they may be. Maybe one example that really stuck with me is that the daughter of an addicted prostitute is on the sidelines of a scheme to get the mother out of view of a gang leader and into a rehabilitation center, and there's a lot of discussion over the difficult realities and desperations of drug use, but moreover, the young daughter says matter-of-factly: I'll be okay, because I'll be a prostitute when I grow up, too. But it's okay, I won't ever do drugs! The author also doesn't shy away from explicit sexuality, which can be a mixed bag; I think most of the portrayal is done in a realistic matter-of-fact way, but reading some of his notes about fixating on masturbation or first sexual encounters and lusting over girls gave me a weird taste in my mouth, and obviously some of the age-gap dynamics and overt masculinity tropes/"I'm a man so I have to keep pushing for marriage and sex but it's cute because I'm a guy and it's okay that the girl keeps saying no because she's just playing hard to get" are not my cup of tea either.
Idk. It's amazing to me that this series isn't more mainstream because it feels like it should be part of the sci-fi/seinen canon. It really nails the current slow-motion dread of today where we're trying to cling to being human during an outright geopolitical apocalypse livestreamed. Though maybe a little depressing that this series hinges a lot on a virus (and its evolution) being the thing to bring together mankind, when COVID kind of did and then any kind of unity or progress because of it feels like it fell apart :') Overall an enjoyable read that gave me a lot to think about, a lot of great moments of humanity despite everything, and cyberpunk art that I personally really enjoyed.
126 chapters | 18 volumes
It's a little insane to me that this manga was released in the late 90s and ended in 2008, because it captures a lot of the popular cyberpunk/post-apocalyptic feelings of the tech 90s, but reading the series now feels much more current to me vs. similar stories of technology/humanity (like Ghost in a Shell or NGE, though don't get me wrong, those series are great too!) I think part of this is because a lot of the story revolves around the power of drug trafficking/cartel and gang wars in the Global South, and because while there's a heavy cyberpunk element, the main focus of the series is finding humanity despite massive loss and world-crushing disasters. The series can be a little hard to get into because the first couple of chapters are really not enough to assess what this series is like - it's just the beginning point, but I was pleasantly surprised by how everything came back full circle. There are various time jumps and a huge array of names and characters (not to mention political factions) which can get confusing, as well as various story arcs (focusing on gang warfare, political espionage, scientific and molecular development, but also smaller lighter moments of sexual discovery and loss of youth), and I do wish that the ending arc got a little more breathing room/felt a little rushed, but overall I feel like it's a really solid sci-fi rendering that places the focus on choosing to live, despite everything. (though personally, I'd probably end up in the colloid lmao)
There should be a massive TW for violence, because the author doesn't stray away from usage of violence and people are very often shot to death; it's both a good and bad thing that he's not hesitant about making characters that you'll start to feel for and killing them off rather quickly. And the characters aren't fully good or bad - morals are very gray and characters are cognizant of their choices, however flawed they may be. Maybe one example that really stuck with me is that the daughter of an addicted prostitute is on the sidelines of a scheme to get the mother out of view of a gang leader and into a rehabilitation center, and there's a lot of discussion over the difficult realities and desperations of drug use, but moreover, the young daughter says matter-of-factly: I'll be okay, because I'll be a prostitute when I grow up, too. But it's okay, I won't ever do drugs! The author also doesn't shy away from explicit sexuality, which can be a mixed bag; I think most of the portrayal is done in a realistic matter-of-fact way, but reading some of his notes about fixating on masturbation or first sexual encounters and lusting over girls gave me a weird taste in my mouth, and obviously some of the age-gap dynamics and overt masculinity tropes/"I'm a man so I have to keep pushing for marriage and sex but it's cute because I'm a guy and it's okay that the girl keeps saying no because she's just playing hard to get" are not my cup of tea either.
Idk. It's amazing to me that this series isn't more mainstream because it feels like it should be part of the sci-fi/seinen canon. It really nails the current slow-motion dread of today where we're trying to cling to being human during an outright geopolitical apocalypse livestreamed. Though maybe a little depressing that this series hinges a lot on a virus (and its evolution) being the thing to bring together mankind, when COVID kind of did and then any kind of unity or progress because of it feels like it fell apart :') Overall an enjoyable read that gave me a lot to think about, a lot of great moments of humanity despite everything, and cyberpunk art that I personally really enjoyed.
November 8, 2025
This is easily one of the best manga I’ve ever read. Hiroki Endo’s Eden: It’s an Endless World! Vol 1 feels like standing in the same cathedral of craftsmanship as Akira — that same breathtaking blend of precision, scale, and atmosphere that makes every panel feel like it could hang in a gallery.
The art direction is insane. We’re talking draftsmanship-level architecture — the kind of hyper-detailed cityscapes, crumbling overpasses, and industrial pipework that seem to breathe and hum off the page. Endo’s use of reference (and yes, even tracing, if it’s there) doesn’t detract from the artistry; it enhances it. The realism is so meticulous that you can smell the concrete dust and ozone. There’s a mechanical poetry to it — wires draping over ruined buildings, machinery half-swallowed by time, the world itself becoming a character.
In that sense, Eden sits comfortably beside Akira and Blame! — manga where the architecture tells the story as much as the dialogue. Like Nihei’s Blame!, Endo’s environments aren’t just backdrops; they’re emotional landscapes. But while Nihei gives us cold silence, Endo fills his ruins with humanity — sweat, dirt, vulnerability, and hope.
And the story? Chef’s kiss. Pure post-apocalyptic brilliance. Boy and Robot surviving the world after the collapse? love it. Endo balances philosophical questions about survival, morality, and evolution with brutal, intimate moments that remind you this world still has people in it — not archetypes, but human beings trying to endure. His pacing feels cinematic but unhurried; he gives moments space to breathe, letting a single glance or gesture speak louder than an entire monologue.
What I love most is the clarity. The lines are clean, confident, and deliberate — not sterile, but alive. Each panel is so carefully constructed that you can trace the logic of every movement in a fight or the emotional tension in a conversation. It’s that perfect meeting point between realism and rhythm.
If Akira is the standard for cinematic manga and Vagabond is the gold for anatomy and motion, Eden is the perfect hybrid: post-apocalyptic world-building grounded in human fragility. Every panel, every street corner, every shift in the light feels intentional. It’s visual storytelling at its finest — the kind that makes you stop, stare, and whisper, “Human hands drew all of this?”
The art direction is insane. We’re talking draftsmanship-level architecture — the kind of hyper-detailed cityscapes, crumbling overpasses, and industrial pipework that seem to breathe and hum off the page. Endo’s use of reference (and yes, even tracing, if it’s there) doesn’t detract from the artistry; it enhances it. The realism is so meticulous that you can smell the concrete dust and ozone. There’s a mechanical poetry to it — wires draping over ruined buildings, machinery half-swallowed by time, the world itself becoming a character.
In that sense, Eden sits comfortably beside Akira and Blame! — manga where the architecture tells the story as much as the dialogue. Like Nihei’s Blame!, Endo’s environments aren’t just backdrops; they’re emotional landscapes. But while Nihei gives us cold silence, Endo fills his ruins with humanity — sweat, dirt, vulnerability, and hope.
And the story? Chef’s kiss. Pure post-apocalyptic brilliance. Boy and Robot surviving the world after the collapse? love it. Endo balances philosophical questions about survival, morality, and evolution with brutal, intimate moments that remind you this world still has people in it — not archetypes, but human beings trying to endure. His pacing feels cinematic but unhurried; he gives moments space to breathe, letting a single glance or gesture speak louder than an entire monologue.
What I love most is the clarity. The lines are clean, confident, and deliberate — not sterile, but alive. Each panel is so carefully constructed that you can trace the logic of every movement in a fight or the emotional tension in a conversation. It’s that perfect meeting point between realism and rhythm.
If Akira is the standard for cinematic manga and Vagabond is the gold for anatomy and motion, Eden is the perfect hybrid: post-apocalyptic world-building grounded in human fragility. Every panel, every street corner, every shift in the light feels intentional. It’s visual storytelling at its finest — the kind that makes you stop, stare, and whisper, “Human hands drew all of this?”
January 29, 2024
Endo has always excelled in the short story format, and the opening prologue is arguably the best of that lot. He already displays an expert level of panel composition and pacing, combined with fantastically detailed artwork, innovative sci-fi concepts, and heavy thematic concerns about the existential survival of humanity and what it means to be human. This is an insanely good opening that is good enough to sustain several volumes of interest on the potential alone. The following two chapters, while largely ephemeral to the main plot, provide a nice bit of survivalist genre work that allows Endo to underline his thematic concerns with the setting. The closing entry sets up the first arc proper, introducing the major players, providing broad strokes the present-day setting details, and establishing some of the posthumanism themes it wants to play with. I remembered the last three chapters being a distinct drop in quality, so it was actually a present surprise how they turned out. This is an extremely strong introduction to the series, and if you’re not willing to pursue his short story collections, a good introduction to Endo as a whole.
June 12, 2024
I've currently been on the hunt for a good sci-fi manga, and this was recommended widely.
The first volume is...alright? There are some intriguing concepts going on: a post-apocalyptic setting due to a world-wide virus, kids struggling to survive in the new world, and some murderous robots.
However, the manga beats you over the head with the meaning it wants to have instead of just letting the story and characters be. Did you know the guy that is raising the kids is gay? He's gay and couldn't have kids of his own, but now he does! Literally every scene the guy is in, it's mentioned that he's gay. Do you know that the two young teenagers are like Adam and Eve? They need to help repopulate the world. On and on. I get it. The quieter scenes in the time skip do a better job, but still the moralistic hand wringing is too much.
The artwork is fine, nothing to special but gets the job done. I don't think I'll continue with this series.
The first volume is...alright? There are some intriguing concepts going on: a post-apocalyptic setting due to a world-wide virus, kids struggling to survive in the new world, and some murderous robots.
However, the manga beats you over the head with the meaning it wants to have instead of just letting the story and characters be. Did you know the guy that is raising the kids is gay? He's gay and couldn't have kids of his own, but now he does! Literally every scene the guy is in, it's mentioned that he's gay. Do you know that the two young teenagers are like Adam and Eve? They need to help repopulate the world. On and on. I get it. The quieter scenes in the time skip do a better job, but still the moralistic hand wringing is too much.
The artwork is fine, nothing to special but gets the job done. I don't think I'll continue with this series.
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