Void: No. Nine, Vol. 1

by Shima Shinya

Three hundred years ago, God destroyed the world. All that remains of humanity lives deep underground, far from the blasted surface—and far from The Emissaries, remnant soldiers of the divine war against mankind. Most live quite lives in the tunnel cities, but the few daring or desperate enough to risk death work as scavengers, collecting relics of the old world...

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2024

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

You just can't beat Shima Shinya for diverse, fascinating stories that are never quite what they seem to be. While Lost Lad London is still my favorite, Void: No. Nine is off to a good start in its own right. Set in a nebulous post-apocalyptic world, it follows groups of people scavenging for remnants of what I assume to be our civilization. It's a dangerous, terrible job taken by desperate people, and it looks like Shinya is going to use the story to explore youth incarceration at least a little. It's largely unlike any other manga being translated into English (and many bonus points for characters mentioning and congratulating someone on their top surgery), and I can't wait for volume two.

[Dan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off strong but quickly veers away from atmospheric sci-fi mystery into heavy-handed interpersonal drama, which is simply less interesting. With better pacing it could probably tackle both elements, but I think I've learned my lesson with Shima Shinya's manga

[Unto Koskinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first encounter with Shima Shinya's work, and I must admit that the art style isn't quite to my taste... Maybe it will grow on me. However, the setting and drama pique my interest, so will check the next book to see where it goes!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.

Scavengers sift through tunnels for relics of human civilization, and their reward, aside from hopefully surviing the mission, is a decent finder's fee. Masterful storyteller Shinya delves into the backstory of several characters in this first volume, exploring the desperation or savagery that would drive someone to such dangerous surroundings. Shinya's unique illustrations are always something to look forward to.

This review was made possible with a digital reader copy from the publisher through Edelweiss.

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12