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Astral Project #1
Astral Project, Vol. 1
姉の死、突然の体外離脱、謎のCD…。幽体となり翔ぶ、静謐で壮大な夜空のロマンと、リアルに浮き彫りになる現代の病理がからみ合い、鋭利なメッセージを突きつける、体外離脱ミステリー！
- GenresMangaGraphic Novels
200 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 1, 2026
This is the weirdest manga I've ever read. I'm not complaining.
Truthfully, I picked up this series because it had been sitting in my closet for literal years. I got the whole series secondhand from a library sale and had not touched it. I decided I had to do a little book-purge (since there's literal piles of books in my closet), but wanted to give it a chance beforehand. And turns out, it's a bit of a hidden gem.
This manga is like if a manga were an abstract painting, with all these different fractals jutting out--the picture becomes clearer as you step back. I have a feeling this story is not supposed to make sense--not yet, at least. You kind've just have to jump in for the ride and trust the author.
One thing I really appreciated here was the escalation of the primary supernatural element: the 'out-of-body' experience. Basically, it's set up that Masahiko--a downbeat twenty-something working an illicit job--can project his soul out of his body and view the world as a spirit would: flying in the air, without limits. I know what you're thinking--there's bound to be a million different plot holes that could arise with this. Indeed. But I've chosen not to think too hard about it for now. See where the author takes us.
To up the ante, Marginal introduces some other characters and aspects of the 'out-of-body' experience, culminating into something really creepy at the end. If this story is handled as well as, say, another manga in the same vein (that is, a macabre-hypothetical-scenario-turned-real), such as Death Note (a well thought-out series considering its premise), then there's certainly potential. However, considering Astral Project is only crammed into four volumes, I'm apprehensive it may lean more toward Tokyo Ghoul, which, to me, was unsatisfying and rushed. I'm certainly curious as to where it will go.
Truthfully, I picked up this series because it had been sitting in my closet for literal years. I got the whole series secondhand from a library sale and had not touched it. I decided I had to do a little book-purge (since there's literal piles of books in my closet), but wanted to give it a chance beforehand. And turns out, it's a bit of a hidden gem.
This manga is like if a manga were an abstract painting, with all these different fractals jutting out--the picture becomes clearer as you step back. I have a feeling this story is not supposed to make sense--not yet, at least. You kind've just have to jump in for the ride and trust the author.
One thing I really appreciated here was the escalation of the primary supernatural element: the 'out-of-body' experience. Basically, it's set up that Masahiko--a downbeat twenty-something working an illicit job--can project his soul out of his body and view the world as a spirit would: flying in the air, without limits. I know what you're thinking--there's bound to be a million different plot holes that could arise with this. Indeed. But I've chosen not to think too hard about it for now. See where the author takes us.
To up the ante, Marginal introduces some other characters and aspects of the 'out-of-body' experience, culminating into something really creepy at the end. If this story is handled as well as, say, another manga in the same vein (that is, a macabre-hypothetical-scenario-turned-real), such as Death Note (a well thought-out series considering its premise), then there's certainly potential. However, considering Astral Project is only crammed into four volumes, I'm apprehensive it may lean more toward Tokyo Ghoul, which, to me, was unsatisfying and rushed. I'm certainly curious as to where it will go.
May 11, 2024
Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2021/...
Extrait :
Astral project est une série terminée en 4 tomes, édités aux éditions Casterman. Ayant été publié en 2007, les tomes de la série ne sont trouvable qu’en occasion, mais ne sont pas pour autant « recherché » comme certaines séries qui voient alors leur prix de vente augmenter (sans pour autant valoir la somme définie).
Malgré que je ne sois pas très convaincue par l’histoire pour le moment et par les dessins (je n’aime pas trop les yeux et lèvres, mais c’est un avis personnel), une ambiance forte se dégage de ce premier tome. Notre personnage principal, apprend qu’il peut détacher son âme de son corps, suite à l’acquisition d’un souvenir de sa sœur juste décédée, d’un CD de Jazz. Le mystère autour de cette capacité, ainsi que les risques sont découverts petit à petit par notre héros, mais le doute plane toujours en fin de tome, et au final… Il ne s’est pas passé grand chose d’autres, il faut l’avouer…
Pas mal d’éléments restent donc en suspens pour nous donner envie de lire la suite, mais j’avoue que malgré ça je ressens comme un vide… J’ai lu ce tome et je l’ai trouvé très intéressant… mais je n’ai rien ressenti, si ce n’est un petit rire au moment de la découverte du travail de notre héros. Mais c’est vraiment tout, et bien dommage.
[...]
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2021/...
Extrait :
Astral project est une série terminée en 4 tomes, édités aux éditions Casterman. Ayant été publié en 2007, les tomes de la série ne sont trouvable qu’en occasion, mais ne sont pas pour autant « recherché » comme certaines séries qui voient alors leur prix de vente augmenter (sans pour autant valoir la somme définie).
Malgré que je ne sois pas très convaincue par l’histoire pour le moment et par les dessins (je n’aime pas trop les yeux et lèvres, mais c’est un avis personnel), une ambiance forte se dégage de ce premier tome. Notre personnage principal, apprend qu’il peut détacher son âme de son corps, suite à l’acquisition d’un souvenir de sa sœur juste décédée, d’un CD de Jazz. Le mystère autour de cette capacité, ainsi que les risques sont découverts petit à petit par notre héros, mais le doute plane toujours en fin de tome, et au final… Il ne s’est pas passé grand chose d’autres, il faut l’avouer…
Pas mal d’éléments restent donc en suspens pour nous donner envie de lire la suite, mais j’avoue que malgré ça je ressens comme un vide… J’ai lu ce tome et je l’ai trouvé très intéressant… mais je n’ai rien ressenti, si ce n’est un petit rire au moment de la découverte du travail de notre héros. Mais c’est vraiment tout, et bien dommage.
[...]
January 30, 2020
Genial comienzo de esta obra, es una historia única que avanza en su justa medida dejando con ganas de leer más.
July 19, 2021
¡Lo saqué de la biblioteca por casualidad y me encantó!
February 3, 2015
Masahiko's sister dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving him with a lot of unanswered questions and one small item: a CD of jazz music she left for him. It's not just any CD, though; through trial and error, Masahiko slowly comes to realize that when he listens to the music and concentrates deeply, he can astrally project himself all over the city. Now he's convinced his sister's death wasn't a fluke, and he's determined to find out just what the hell is going on. Interesting premise, and I love the noir-y edges, but there's a little too much noir, and not enough action, for me, to go on to volume 2. Recommended for manga fans who prefer a slow pace and a focus on characterization over plot.
September 6, 2010
Very interesting manga with a supernatural theme. Starts kinda slow but the art is good, the format of the book is bigger than the usual manga book and the paper quality is also good, considering it's CMX. A pleasant surprise!
August 7, 2010
I'm by no means a Deathnote fan but isn't this book just a little derivative? It's a CD instead of a notebook.
January 17, 2015
No esperaba que fuera a gustarme tanto (de momento, aún quedan 3 tomos más), pero desde la primera página me ha enganchado. Ahora quiero resolver el misterio cuanto antes...
January 12, 2009
It's like a murder mystery on the astral plane, only freakier, and with occasional yakuza.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews