The Climber, Vol. 4

孤高の人 [Kokō no Hito] #7-8

by Shin'ichi Sakamoto (Illustrator), Jirō Nitta (Creator), Yoshio Nabeta

Mori and the 14 Mountain assault team are more than a week into their complete traverse of the Japanese Alps, but bad weather and worse personalities are making the training seem harder than ascending K2 itself. After Mori is singled out for praise by the expedition leader, he finds himself pushed to the edges of the group as the team is beset by a series of increasingly terrible misfortunes. As conditions worsen, can the team pull together, or will it be each man for himself against the cold mercy of the mountains?

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels Manga, Sports

424 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Sakamoto Shin'ichi (坂本眞一) is a Japanese mangaka.
He is mostly famous for his series Innocent and Innocent Rouge.
He is currently working on #DRCL midnight children based on the classic by Bram Stoker.

Reviews

[Mersi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series never stops devastating me at every turn. I can't stop reading it though. No matter how much I cry or feel pain for these guys, I have to know.

[Brenda Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was too painful. I was already fighting for my life reading this while I was at work, so by the time I got home and finished the last chapter, I was wailing. I knew I wasn’t ready, but each time and without fail, I am eager to continue.

[Thomass G.R. Bürger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really gets into the nitty-gritty. It gets very dark, especially near the second half of the book. I still have so many questions. And I wonder about so many of the earlier characters. I am eager to see if we will be seeing more of them later on in the story make an appearance or if their time on Mori's journey was limited. There is also alot of questions regarding Mori's passed which I often wonder about..

This one has a few flashbacks, but still alot of mystery surrounding it. Also, I thought Mori's whole persona was about being alone but... it seems like he doesn't want to be alone no matter what.

Anyway, no idea where this is headed and really looking forward to the turn of events.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mori's struggle in this volume is intense. What happens up on the mountain almost solidifies his position for the K2 mission. I know things weren't meant to happen the way they did but it feels like he was set up from the beginning. The meeting with Aoi at first seemed innocent enough until we found out later it wasn't so. I do think the sections of nudity at the beginning with Aoi were unnecessary to the story and I can't figure why they added them. Though the picture when she had blinding wings was extremely well done. This story continues to impress all around though and to watch Mori's struggles and his triumphs are inspiring.

[Noah Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The nighthawk is actually an ugly bird.
Its face was splotchy like it had miso on it.
The other birds couldn't stand the sight of it."

"Sun, sun...
Take me to where you are.
I don't care if I burn up and die.
Even an ugly form like mine will give off a little light, so take me with you."

"Amidst light so bright it faltered.
The nighthawk flew like an arrow.
But fly as it might, the sun never grew any closer."

"Nighthawks aren't actually related to hawks
The nighthawk lost its strength.
Folded it's wings, and plummeted toward the earth."

"But the moment before it's weak feet touched the ground.
The night hawk shot up into the sky like a signal fire."

"Like and eagle attacking a bear
it shook it's body and reached upward
And it's cry
was like the shriek of a hawk."

[Nathaniel R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the book series I have begun to buy because its narrative and message has been very impactful to me. Struggling to exist among others, while being a socially awkward loner (me) while also introducing is to the world of climbing and the people and risks you meet among a journey.

Pretty sure this isn't gonna end well for our protagonist.