Wild Adapter Volume 1

Wild Adapter #1

by Kazuya Minekura

Makoto Kubota wandered through life, not taking things too seriously or looking too deep within himself. His job as the head of the Izumo Group's youth gang kept him pleasantly occupied with yakuza wars, mahjong and assassinations...Until the day he stumbled upon a strange drug called Wild Adapter that produces bizarre side-effects--including death. Forever changed, Kubota becomes entangled with a drifter named Minoru Tokito, and the two form an unlikely companionship that draws them deeper into the mystery of Wild Adapter... From the creator of Saiyuki comes a manga in the film noir tradition, full of intense action, wild assassins and mysterious, amnesiac strays.

Genres: Manga, Crime, Graphic Novels, Action, Comics, Josei, Yaoi

168 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Kazuya Minekura (峰倉かずや Minekura Kazuya, born March 23, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist most known for the Saiyuki series. Her other manga series include Wild Adapter, Shiritsu Araiso Koto Gakko Seitokai Shikkobu (Araiso Private School Student Council Executive Committee), and Stigma. Stigma is notable for being a full-color work, unusual as manga is generally drawn in black and white.

She had an illness that affected her writing from 2004–2007, which caused her to have a hysterectomy. On 28 September 2010, she went on Hiatus to undergo surgery for ameloblastoma on the right half of her upper jawbone. On 31 December 2010, she reported her surgery was successful after removing the tumor on her right upper jawbone and is currently resting and being fitted with artificial prosthetics to reconstruct the area where her bones were removed.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adult manga which deals with drugs, violence, yakuza and brothels. Excellent story. Very mysterious but so satisfying! I cannot help but see Ukoku (Ni) in Kubota. Kubota is supposed to be a high school student but he appears much older. His gaming talents come to the attention of a yakuza who puts him in charge of his younger staff members. His side kick is Komiya who always has bandages on his face. I wanted to know why. The story is a gritty look into life in the underworld with a drug that has strange side effects. The author, Kazuya Minwkura is among my favorites.

[Tyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The full review was published in Animonster. This review has been abridged.

Semua berawal dari keinginan Minekura Kazuya, manga-ka yang melahirkan Gensoumaden Saiyuuki, untuk membuat sebuah kisah action yang ‘hard-boiled'. Ia merancang 2 orang karakter utama, namun tiba-tiba saja ia menjadi ingin untuk menampilkan kedua karakter tersebut dalam kisah yang lebih ringan yang berhubungan dengan kehidupan sekolah. Minekura-sensei pun banting setir, dan terciptalah Shiritsu Araiso. Namun ia tak melupakan ide awalnya, dan setelah pemuatan Shiritsu Araiso secara bersambung di majalah Chara selesai, ia melanjutkan kerjanya dengan menulis Wild Adapter. Dua cerita dengan karakter-karakter utama yang sama, tetapi berbeda sama sekali. Banyak yang awalnya mengira Wild Adapter adalah prekuel Shiritsu Araiso yang dibuat belakangan, namun sebenarnya mereka merupakan dua serial yang terpisah. Yang jelas, kedua serial tersebut sekali lagi menunjukkan kepiawaian Minekura-sensei dalam menulis cerita dan juga art-nya yang khas dan berkualitas.

Shiritsu Araiso pertama kali dimuat di Chara terbitan Tokuma Shoten dalam wujud cerita-cerita pendek pada tahun 1996, kemudian dimuat sebagai serial bersambung secara lebih serius antara tahun 1998 hingga 1999. Selanjutnya, mulai tahun 2000 posisinya digantikan oleh Wild Adapter.

Inilah ‘hard-boiled action’ yang diidamkan Minekura-sensei. Wild Adapter mengangkat tema yang jauh lebih serius dan berat daripada Shiritsu Araiso. Visualisasi Minekura-sensei untuk keduanya pun jauh berbeda. Jika Shiritsu Araiso penuh keceriaan dan humor, maka Wild Adapter tampil lebih kelam. Dan jika kekerasan yang muncul dalam Shiritsu Araiso hanya mencapai level perkelahian antar anak sekolah, maka tingkat kekerasan di Wild Adapter lebih tinggi lagi. Dunia Wild Adapter ber-setting di Yokohama, tahun 1995; dunia perselisihan antar geng yakuza dan obat bius misterius bernama Wild Adapter. Wild Adapter memiliki efek samping yang sangat mengerikan, yaitu mengubah wujud pemakainya menjadi menyeramkan sebelum akhirnya tubuh mereka meledak. Dalam dunia yang penuh kekejaman itulah Kubota dan Tokitou dipertemukan.

Kubota adalah seorang anak tidak sah yang tidak dipedulikan oleh orangtuanya. Ia tumbuh sebagai seorang pemain mahyong andal yang tak segan berbuat kejam. Ia terlibat dengan para yakuza, meskipun pamannya, Kasai, adalah seorang polisi. Kubota diajak untuk bergabung dengan geng yakuza Izumo, namun ia menolak karena sama sekali tidak tertarik. Kubota hidup seolah-olah hanya menunggu hari kematiannya – sampai suatu hari ia bertemu Tokitou. Tokitou adalah salah seorang korban Wild Adapter yang kehilangan ingatan. Kubota menolongnya dan membawanya ke rumahnya, dan sejak saat itu mereka hidup bersama. Untuk pertama kalinya, Kubota pun menemukan seseorang untuk berbagi.

Dan meskipun Kubota tetap merasa bahwa hari akhirnya akan segera datang, setidaknya ia memiliki Tokitou untuk menemaninya sampai hari itu tiba...

Pesona karya Minekura-sensei yang paling besar terasa sekali pada caranya menggambarkan hubungan antara Kubota dan Tokitou dalam Wild Adapter. Hubungan timbal-balik mereka timbul tanpa disadari pada awalnya, dan memperkuat diri mereka yang sebenarnya rapuh. Hubungan itu tidak berjalan satu arah dari Tokitou kepada Kubota yang lebih kuat darinya, tetapi Kubota pun merasa terdukung oleh kehadiran Tokitou yang sanggup mengisi ruang kosong di hatinya yang dingin. Tema yang diusung Wild Adapter – tentang lost generation Jepang yang mengalami keterasingan dan hidup dalam kekerasan – merupakan tema yang cukup banyak disorot akhir-akhir ini. Tema semacam ini seolah menohok pemikiran bahwa uang dan teknologi tinggi dapat memberikan seluruh kebahagiaan – yang ternyata tidak selalu benar. Dan di antara bangunan-bangunan beton dan besi yang tak berbelas kasih, dua orang anak manusia berusaha menjalani hidup mereka tanpa hari esok yang jelas – sebagai manusia.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite having an almost identical artwork style, this is about as far from Saiyuki as you can possibly get, gone is the humour, Budhist philosophy and the lyrical setting - here we have an ultra violent urban story about a sociopathic teenager who joins the yakuza. It's like the path Cho Hakki could have taken if he were born in the real world.

The art is stunning, the characters are individualised and for some reason the protagonist is sympathetic, despite being a monster. Film Noir style is not my genre at all and yet Wild Adapter drew me in all the same. Storywise I believe this volume is something of a prologue for the main story - As such the death of one of the main characters at the end shouldn't have been as shocking as it was - Yet it totally took me by surprise.

Recommended.

[Trip · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Kazuya Minekura, all right: all honor and male bonding and the rich creamy DOOM.

[Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I am a huge Saiyuki fan. The characters look a lot alike but the stories are both very different. This one is off to a good start.

[Kye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great first volume. Especially since it is all prologue and does not dive into the story yet. I am a HUGE fan of Kazuya Minekura as I have been in love with Saiyuki since high school. This volume does not disappoint and captivated me as much. Even though it is a MUCH darker series both literally an figuratively. Every page has a black border instead of a white one which can make it hard to read in some places. If you like Saiyuki, while these are absolutely nothing a like you will like this volume.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate 5 stars because I cant make it a 4.5 but anyways AN AWESOME BL MANGA. MY FAVORITE BL MANGA EVER! The only reason I rate a 4.5 is because it gets Really confusing at parts. I LOVE IT THOUGH. MY favorite type of bl relationship ever. SO SAD THAT IT HASNT UPDATED IN YEARS. THAT MAKES ME SO MAD CUZ IT DESERVES TO CONTINUEE

[TT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn in by the art on this one when i picked it up several years ago but it was more focused on story than relationship and probably was shonen-ai or implied relationship more than yaoi. I didn't get past volume one if I recall.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this series when I read it back in high school, even more so than Saiyuki. I loved how dark the story got, how complicated the characters were, and the dynamic between the two leads. One reason I was sad that Tokyopop went under. Hope another publisher picks it up someday.

[Viridian5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed by Wild Adapter vol. 1, though I'm told it gets better in later volumes not available from Tokyopop yet. Kubota is Sociopath Stu, and everything thus far is basically to show what a wicked-cool, unstoppable, yet lust-worthy and fuzzy-feelings-worthy badass he is. Poor Komiya was sweet (as sweet as Yakuza can be), but he was basically there to show support in how wicked-great and charismatic Kubota is. And most of the characters look like Gojyo-Kenren or Banri--Komiya almost is Gojyo in personality as well--except for Kubota who looks like Hakkai. I'm told that's Minekura's style, and I know, but it wasn't this bad in Bus Gamers. Also, Minekura says in an endnote that volume 1 is actually the prologue to the actual story, and it feels like it.

The rating is as positive as it for Komiya.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in a seinen series with boy's love elements. Makoto Kubota is a boy without much direction in life. He is smart, and brutal which are good traits when he heads the yakuza organization Izumo Group's youth gang. Then he encounters a drug called W.A. or Wild Adapter. W.A. makes the people who take it grow fangs, claws, fur, and gives them incredible strength. At least until their internal organs explode.

Then finds a "stray cat" on the street. A boy with a furry, clawed hand, that has amnesia. The two start living together, as they try figure out more about W.A.

The characters are very well developed. Be warned, there is lots of violence, and there is some nudity too. The boy's love aspect is mostly suggestive and emotional, and is most predominate in the cover art.

[Reader17 Der · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this volume. I actually went out to pickup volume 2. This story is dark and it is about people murdering and hurting other people so far. Makoto Kubota he is the head of a youth gang dealing with the yakuza wars. He stumbles upon a strange drug called "wild adapter" that produces bizzare side effects. Kubota meets up with a stranger Minoru Tokito. In this volume they have just meet. I want to learn more about Kubota why he acts the way he does, and since Tokito was just introduced I want to find out more about him. I'm finding this story very interesting and want to know more.

[Álex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este manga ha sido toda una sorpresa, sobre todo al empezarlo sin tener ni la más mínima idea de que iba. Este primer volumen funciona como prólogo a la verdadera historia que comienza a desarrollarse en el segundo tomo. Aquí nos presentan al protagonista, un joven misterioso, violento y desconcertante, cuya fascinante personalidad nos atrapa en su paso por los yakuzas y el descubrimiento de la nueva droga W.A. En cierto modo puede verse casi como una historia autoconclusiva cuya última página supone el pistoletazo de salida de la trama.

[Miss Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

huh. devoting an entire volume to prologue is an interesting choice. honestly i was kinda confused, i vaguely remembered that the ship for this series involved two black haired dudes but i was totally getting a komiya/kubota vibe. kind of a shame that got jossed with his death, komiya seemed sweet for a yakuza thug.

idk how to rate this since apparently it's not even the main story but i'm going to go with: 3 stars

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While watching/reading (more watching) Saiyuki, I wondered what Minekura would do if she were to downscale her stories and focus on tighter plots, and I think Wild Adapter is a good example of what she's capable when she narrows her focus to a couple of characters instead of a whole cast. It's dark and gritty, and I'm very eager to see where it goes from the first two or three volumes.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a weird, weird manga. So violent and raw, there are no good guys in this, only Yakuza members, murderers and arms and drug dealers. The main hero is Makoto Kubota, who's in this all for himself - but at the same time, he's strangely selfless. I wonder what's up with his aversion to sex in general, het or gay. Quite intriguing. And did I mention how weird it is?

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a feeling that as this series goes on, the ratings will go up... I mean, its Kazuya Minekura. But as for this volume, it was essentially the prologue (she said so herself at the end) so this was, by all standards, an introductory volume. But, I think the series is going to get real interesting real soon! Haha!

[Tifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading this series for the first time in years, and it's even better than I remembered. It's hard not to think of it as some kind of Saiyuki modern yakuza AU because the art is so similar to Saiyuki's characters. But that's okay. The art is still great and the story is interesting. I'm excited to read the series again.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interestingly dark so far, though I am thrown by the fact that Minekura appears to have a total of five different character designs in her repertoire. The art is Minekura's best, by the way, and Tpop has kindly included the gorgeous color pages.

[Sarah]

The first volume of this series was surprisingly good, especially considering that all the action of the first half is prequel for a dangerous gay romance with hints of werewolves. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with this manga. There was an adequate balance between plot concerning W.A. and Kubota's personal life, and none of it was too dramatic or explosive. Event he violent bits weren't overdone. I can't wait to read what happens next!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit that was good.

Definitely a pleasure to be back in Kazuya Minekura's art again, though my only complaint is that characters are drawn similar to Saiyuki characters. Eh eh, it could be worse.

Can't wait for more!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be mistaken... that isnot hakkai......
A yukuza story...

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://community.livejournal.com/book...

[Robin]

On recommendation, going to give this series a try! Woo. New cracktastic manga.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this is going to be good....

[Amanda Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the mangaka would actually finish this series after all these years! I will read anything by Kazuya Minekura! Her health, however, prevents her nowadays from working consistently.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a major fan of Kazuya Minekura. This series doesn't disappoint!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kazuya Minekura's art style. This volume gets 4 stars because the entire thing is a prologue, and it moves a little slow. The second volume is much better.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series. It ended early when the publisherwent out of business.I hope some one picks it back up in the future.