Adabana Volume 1

by NoN, Caleb Cook (Translator)

A horrifying double murder and a shocking confession uncovers a dark secret in this suspenseful criminal drama manga.

A small town is shocked by the gruesome murder of a student and a ramen shop owner. Mizuki Aikawa, one of the victims’ best friend and classmate, confesses to the brutal crime. However, a local reporter and Mizuki’s public defenders are convinced there’s more to the story. As the truth unravels, a tale of class, exploitation, and the demands of family is revealed.

For mature audiences.

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Horror, Comics

Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

NoN (ノン) is a Japanese Mangaka.
For non personal profiles, please change the name.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fucking wild. The opening sequence alone is one of the most immediate and shocking hooks in manga. Picture this: A high school student, Mizuki Aikawa, is going through the motions of getting ready for school, her mother is nagging her about grades, she gets dressed, and heads out. But instead of the classroom, she ends up in a police station, drops a knife on the floor, and calmly tells them she cut off her best friend’s head. That sequence, setting the stage for a horrifying confession and a gruesome double murder, takes place in the first 15 pages or so and immediately seizes your attention.

The central mystery is established right away. Mizuki's best friend, Mako Igarashi, is dead, and the confessed killer is her only intimate connection. The rest of the volume operates as a dark, psychological flashback, driven by the testimonies of the confessed killer and the later conflicting evidence gathered by the defense team. As we dive into Mizuki’s past, the story meticulously unravels the grim circumstances the two girls faced. This is a story rooted in dark, current-day themes of exploitation and intense domestic pressure, from Mizuki's oppressive, academic-obsessed mother to Mako's impoverished life and her horrific abuse at the hands of her creepy uncle.

This manga is a great murder mystery, but it's far more than a simple whodunit. It's a suspenseful criminal drama that focuses on the human cost of neglect, where two high school girls, lacking any adult support, become each other's sole lifeline against a cruel world. The narrative brilliantly introduces elements that complicate Mizuki’s confession, from the role of a menacing stalker to the growing suspicion of her defense attorney, Yutaka Tsuji, who is convinced Mizuki is not telling the whole truth. This layering of secrets and the hint that Mizuki is a false narrator makes the case compellingly dark. This is absolutely not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy visceral dark themes, psychological suspense, and complex murder mysteries, you need to check this out.

[leyendoconand · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️


🔏: Nos encontramos ante un thriller con tintes bastante oscuros. Una adolescente, Mako, aparece 💀 mu3rta y, sorprendentemente, su mejor amiga se entrega en comisaría. Ya os aviso que tiene escenas bastante duras (agresi0n s€xual, descu4rtizar…). Tiene buen ritmo y momentos inesperados.

Aparece un personaje que te hace plantearte otras posibilidades (la verdad que no tengo ni idea de quién puede ser el culpable o cuál el motivo), e intuyo que se descubrirán en las siguientes entregas, ya que el abogado de Mizuki comienza a investigar al no cuadrarle el asunto.

Me ha parecido muy entretenido y adictivo, eso sí, teniendo en cuenta que aparecen temas MUY sensibles con escenas peliagudas. Tengo mil ganas de leer los siguientes y hacerme mis teorías 🤣

[Danielle (Danni) Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adabana is a Japanese psychological crime thriller manga series. The story is excellent, and the artwork is stunning. The artist and writer, NON, uses delicate line work to bring the main protagonists to life. I loved this graphic novel and look forward to volume 2.

[Alessandra Ignacia Zacci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sí, los rumores eran ciertos, este manga es muy crudo ❤️‍🩹

[celia⋆.˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the art style

[Elaja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geez, one thing after the next. I really need to know what happened though.

[Summer Reardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, I really liked this manga! I actually came across this series completely by chance at a bookstore and decided to give it a shot because of the art and the blurb—which turned out to be a great choice, because the mangaka’s art is SUPERB. I especially love how she draws expressions 😍 And so far, the series handles some pretty heavy topics—like sexual assault, misogyny, stalking, and police negligence—surprisingly well. Also, I’m a sucker for any story focusing on girls’ close relationships (of any kind), so it’s nice to see the manga focus on that as it progresses.

That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, particularly around how certain characters are introduced or developed. And while the story leans on some tropes that feel a little tired (even for a thriller manga), alas... I’m weak for almost everything I just mentioned, so I’ll definitely be checking out Volume 2 when it’s translated/released!

[Raoul642 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Súper intrigante y oscuro de cojones

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Dan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice art, but wish it was in service of a better story. The kind of thriller that mistakes brutality for depth.

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This murder manga is so twisted and dark. Also unpredictable. By the time I read this issue I had no idea who was the murderer, and I wasn’t even sure the victim was innocent. The art draws you right in in and at some moment you feel sorry for characters the next you’re pretty sure they’re sadists. The only thing for sure is a classmate is dead and her friend confessed. Every new person introduced adds another confusing layer. Is the girl’s shared love interest a suspect? The true killer? Is he being framed? You almost have to red it twice to catch it all. I cannot wait to see where these twist lead

[kesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

no idea what i just read but in a sick way, i need to read more to figure out if this is messed up or a masterpiece

i been reading my stuff online bcs of the state of the economy and also bcs im scared the rain is coming for my precious. i have been pulling a jaden smith and thinking about the geopolitical and economic state of the world - therefore i must allow myself to participate in healthy consumerism (i'm catching up on my roster don't hold me back)

i will say check the tws if you decide to pick this one up

3 stars.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

73%

I’m interested in the mystery, but damn if this wasn’t tough to read at times. Basically every guy in this besides maybe the defence attorney is a scumbag, so I really just felt awful for Mako and Mizuki the whole time. The girls just wanna live their life and go to Disneyland, goddamnit!

Anyway, this series is only three volumes, so I’m intrigued by how the mystery is going to unfold in the next two volumes. The art was also really good, too! Reminded me of Boichi’s art but without the far apart eyes, lol.

[Mario Fuentes Herrero · Rating 1 out of 5]

No me ha gustado nada, esta es la review de la trilogía completa. La historia me ha enganchado por intentar entender las motivaciones de los personajes pero me parecen absurdas.

Ninguna amiga actuaría así en esta situación ni tomaría estas decisiones. Hay escenas especialmente gráficas de manera innecesaria y hace una sexualizacion excesiva y totalmente a propósito que no aporta nada.

No recomiendo la obra y estoy tan decepcionado que las he vendido según he acabado de leerla.

[Aya 🥀 The Invisible Witness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo he leído en menos de media hora y cada vez me daban más ganas de avanzar y avanzar. Para los ratitos entre estudio que tengo al día, es estimulante. Tengo muchas ganas de ir a por el siguiente volumen. A las que os gustan los thrillers, o todo lo relacionado con el mundo legal, penal, psicológico, os va a encantar. Lectura muy muy muy ligera y visualmente buena.

[Beatrizmallow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my journey into trying manga.

*2.5*

Not sure how I feel about this one. It’s a very disturbing plot and it really makes you wonder what’s going on and what’s going to happen next. But I’m very confused about they way they drew and discussed women. I think I will finish the series.

[Marley Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a WILD start to a story, honestly a perfect score for me. The way NON starts the story and just domino affects it from there is awesome. It really hooked me in and I have to know more. The art is amazing as well, the style is both beautiful and horrifying.

[Katie 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I have to wait until January for Vol. 2. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Carver Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

so glad to finally have this in English!!

[Sarah’s Book Nook Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this one up on a whim, never heard of it before.
However, it was really good, and now I must have a new manga obsession. 5 stars ⭐️

[Sylvanas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5, une bonne surprise !

[Liam Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) This manga's mystery really pulled me in, but the characters left me wanting more. Showing the 17 year old naked is also a little weird for me as an American.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting start to a mystery manga.

[iria ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

yo queria una lecturita para distraerme d estudiar derecho penal y efectivamente esta no s la mejor opcion

[Elytra · Rating 3 out of 5]

ouf ok ça m’excite même si les dessins sont pas oufs, j’espère que le plot twist en vaudra le coup

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very dark and sad but interesting. I love that I don't know what the MC is hiding or what is going to happen. Trigger warnings: rape, sexual exploitation of minors

[bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

fue un poco traumatico lo violento que es pero estoy enganchada de saber quien fue el asesino o el motivo

[Marcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Person.

[RATA !!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

my rating covers the complete series.

[Lizard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adabana vol 1 had me hooked from the start. Dark, depressing crime drama.