ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department, Vol. 1

ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. #1

by Natsume Ono

When political conspiracies abound, preserving the peace is no piece of cake. It's up to one deceptively aloof hero to sniff out corruption in this atmospheric thriller by Natsume Ono (House of Five Leaves, Ristorante Paradiso)!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Mystery, Seinen, Comics, Contemporary

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2013

About the author

Natsume Ono (Japanese name: オノ・ナツメ) made her professional debut in 2003 with the webcomic La Quinta Camera. Her subsequent works not simple, Ristorante Paradiso, and Gente (a continuation of Ristorante Paradiso) met with both critical and popular acclaim. In 2009 Ristorante Paradiso was adapted into a TV anime series. Her current series House of Five Leaves (Saraiya Goyou), also adapted into a TV anime series in 2010, is running in IKKI magazine.

(http://www.sigikki.com/creators/natsu...)

She also writes BL under the pen name of basso.

Reviews

[Lois Bujold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tracked this back, as so often, from the anime adaptation on Crunchyroll, which had suited my current viewing mood enough to watch twice, once to see what happened, and again to try to see how it was all put together. The six volumes of the manga, which complete the story, are just about scene-for-scene the same as the 12-episode anime, or vice versa. The anime has a better art style, but I wanted to see if the manga added more information/enlightenment; not much, although one can take in all the names (which are pretty amusing) and signage better in the manga, since it holds still.

Possibly the most mild-mannered and reserved political intrigue tale ever, much like its chain-smoking protagonist Jean Otus. Interesting world-building, which combined a Europeanoid (and other-oid) 21st C. fantasy country -- so much bread -- with some very, very Japanese social sensibilities. I did wonder, or at least muse, how much of this was unconscious on the part of the artist, and how much was making the interactions more comprehensible for the presumed primary Japanese audience. The combined effect was a trifle brain-bending.

I enjoyed it.

Ta, L.

[Iryna *Book and Sword* · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars

A solid first volume in the series. The art is the biggest thing that drew me in, it's somewhat in the middle between manga and a comic - but it works really well for this story.

I've never read "political manga" (I don't think that's a genre) before and this was very interesting, there's very little action and a lot of conversation, but it's all quite clever.

Volume 1 has a lot of set up - character introductions and such, so hoping volume 2 maybe picks up a little bit.

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[Riley G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooo, I think I'm gonna like this series, because that was a super awesome first volume! I need to go buy the next one.... Or maybe buy the next two and try not to read them all at once without abandoning them (anyone else ever do that? Try and savor a book, and end up not reading it at all for a few days?). Anyway, I hope I can write a good review, sometimes it's hard to when writing it after having finished it a few days before and had other things going on.

This is basically my first manga. As a result, the whole reading back-to-front and panel-by-panel things took some getting used to. I really enjoyed the experience, however, and there were so many panels I just had to stop and admire for a few moments before continuing.

Speaking of that admiration, I need to talk about what drew me to this book: THE ART STYLE! (naturally, right? Leave it to an artist.) But, seriously, I saw that cover on the internet, and knew I needed to get it. That the whole book would have a style that pleases my easily-excitable, aesthetic little heart. And it DID THAT. OOooo, I love it. I showed the cover to my sister, and was trying to explain what Natsume Ono's art style looks like to me... It's super nostalgic somehow. Like, it almost reminds me of those old kids' books, you know, where all the characters are handdrawn, and all that? Like a "Charlie and Lola" or an "Eloise" book. I can't explain it that well, but I love it so much. It fits the overall tone of the book, too, and it's lovely.

The tone is so chill, though. It's supposed to be a thriller, but it's got such chill vibes. Maybe it's Jean's easy-going-day personality, maybe it's the sunny-city setting, or maybe it's Ono's adorable art style. But anyhow, it feels like eating fresh baked goods in a chic, modern cafe overlooking the city at sunset, and soft-rock and bossa nova music is playing in the background... It's funny--this book has a pretty slow pace, like a saunter, really, yet there's questions that are brought up at every page that need answered. You have full attention on the book while keeping your sauntering pace by Jean's side. Thrilling and chilling. XD

This first volume did alot of introducing characters in a sort of episodic fashion, while beginning to build up the main plot. You learn all about Jean's personality, his position, and his reputation through his interactions with the other characters, in different situations, while Jean goes about his everyday business. (I feel like I'm writing myself in circles... This is what I get for staring at a computer screen in a dark room at almost 10 at night. DX) I loved the little episode with the Rookie and his cigarette lighter.

The worldbuilding is so fun, especially in its ability to also build the characters. The whole thing with high tobacco prices in Dowa (the kingdom its set in) is most interesting, because of how it establishes Jean's role in the story. I also loved how everyone loves getting baked goods from different places around the kingdom, and so obviously Dowa is known for its treats and breads. You learn all about the role of the inspection department, headquarters, and its relation to the other departments and the five chief officers... Lots of fun. Natsume Ono definitely put alot of thought into making all the aspects fit together to really SING.

I haven't yet described characters, though I've mentioned the MC, Jean Otus, quite a few times. He's SO COOL. He's easy-going, couldn't care less about what others think about him, and always looks like he's daydreaming, with those sleepy eyelids of his. But he's aloof, very smart, and knows right away when there's a problem. I love the most-unlikely-to-be-genius-but-are trope. I get so attached to them so easily. He's such a fun character to follow, and I can't wait to follow him through the rest of Dowa (*spoiler* even when the government is watching him like a hawk.). Another thing about Jean: he smokes. ALOT. In nearly every panel he has a cigarette in hand or in mouth. He *almost* makes chain-smoking look cool--but remember, children, smoking isn't good for you. In real life, it's icky. It doesn't look as cool as in cartoons. (The smoking thing fits Jean so well, though, I love it.)
Jean's younger sister's name has yet to be revealed, if Ono gave her a name at all, but she's just the cutest thing. She's hardworking, diligent, smart, cares about her brother and her own well-being, she's very good at looking out for another's needs when she knows they may not be able to themselves. She cares for Jean more than anything, especially since she's unsure whether he could take care of himself living alone--she even mentions she couldn't leave her brother even if she got married. (I kinda hope her and Nino get together. They'd be a cute couple, I think. Let's make it a ship. <3) And, while she takes care of Jean, she relies on him alot too. Like to get her bread. She really, really loves toast. I find that super cute about her, fsr.
Ah, the Five Chief Officers. They're all pretty cool, though Grossular's a little sus. I love all their NAMES though: Grossular, Pine, Spade, Lilium, and Pastis. And Pastis and Lilium's designs... I showed my book to my friend, and we were just thoroughly tickled by them. They have unique looks about them, and it's sorta funny. I'm excited to see more of them, as well as more of Director General Mauve. Mauve is so gorgeous! I need to know more about her.
THE ROOKIE! I haven't yet talked about the rookie. He really ticks me off. (To use the same words he uses about Jean.) He's interesting, though, I give him that. I expect we'll see more of him, but I'm curious as to how. He's so annoying, yet somehow I like reading about him. He's not an annoying character where you want to skip every single line of dialogue they utter.
And then Nino--we have much more to see in him, I can tell already, and he plays a big part, I think, in the next book, judging on how this volume ended. He's really cool though, I especially love them shades he wears. He's a fun character so far.

To sum it up, this manga is perfect for when you want to read something mysterious without too much of that work-up that has you squirming and squealing in your seat. It's slower-paced, and super chill, but there are so many questions to answer, and more and more to be asked. The pacing fits the art style and the characters, and it's lovely. If you like a slower-paced thriller with an adorable, nostalgic art style, and chill characters that are all super fun in their own quirky ways, and has intereting worldbuilding that's not crammed down your throat, this is the manga for you. I really enjoyed volume one, and I'm very much looking forward to volume two, and to follow Jean, his sister, Nino, the Rookie, Mauve, and the Five Chief Officers around some more! (Especially Jean, I admit it. ;p)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Natsume Ono could make looming bureaucratic crises this interesting.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems like a weird blend of European and Japanese comic book styles in the storytelling, with allusions to lots of political intrigue but very little concrete actions. There are tons of smoke breaks, sampling of desserts and standing around moodily.

I was also put off by the throwback art (like '60s/'70s manga maybe) with all its androgynous characters. I enjoyed the art in the creator's sedate, slice-of-life Ristorante Paradiso, but it seems to drag down this ostensible thriller.

And really, setting this sci-fi/alternate reality story on an island shaped like an extinct (made up?) bird of peace which shares a name with the title was just too farfetched. More corn than substance.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stylish political suspense. What's our lead's angle? Is he an innocent victim of others' machinations, or is he a major player in a rumored political coup?

[Sarge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this created with me specifically in mind, or am I just that lucky to have been suggested it?

[Mercedez · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75/5)

[Lissibith · Rating 3 out of 5]

House of Five Leaves was an amazing read, so when this book got recommended to me, I was always going to check it out. I find Natsume Ono's floaty art style interesting, and while I can be hit or miss on the talky manga like this, I hoped for good things.

ACCA looks at the Inspection department of a country made up of loosely united territories. they keep track of data in and out and look for any discrepancies, so as to pinpoint issues early. As the alliance has grown older, its leadership are feeling less and less like the inspection department is needed. And out main character, Jean, is near the center of it all. It's like Political Dialogue: The Manga.

Jean is kind of hard to get a handle on as a reader, or at least he was for me. This first book is a lot of setup, and a lot of exposition, and a lot of questions. And as a result, at the end of it I'm not sure if I can trust our protagonist, or even if I like him. I think it's by design, but I have to admit it's not working as well for me. In fact, I didn't really come away from this volume with strong feelings about any of the characters or the main plot. but the end of the book set up enough of a mystery that I'll probably be moving on to Vol. 2.

[shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought it because I liked something else this person wrote, I like the art, and the girls are cute. If you want something action-ey go read something else. This is largely character drama and politics of the Accra world. That said, there’s a lot of worldbuilding in this volume. Idk, I liked it, I hope the person I got it for likes it. If she doesn’t I’ll get her a Yuri manga I like (planning on that for Christmas though...)

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't be objective about this series. Not only am I a huge Natsume Ono fan, the anime adaptation is one of my all-time favorites and I've yet to find anything like it. This is a political thriller set in a fictional country on the cusp of a coup. We follow Jean Otis, who's a total enigma and it's hard to figure out where he stands. While it's just exposition so far, I do enjoy the worldbuilding and the atmosphere.

[Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

ay acca cuanto tiempo !!!! primer tomo algo lentito y muy introductorio pero el final me tiene giggling and kicking my feet. visualmente el anime me parece mucho más chulo, ha habido alguna viñeta que lucía straight up fea pero !!! se vienen cositas jiji !!! emosionado

[Eddie Cichoracki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really Love this manga! It plays to my love of mystery novels, it awakened an interest in conspiracy theories that I didn't know I had, and above all the characters are secretive, very smart yet not afraid to be part of humorous gags throughout the story, it's amazing!
ACCA is an island country composed of 13 Independent Districts unified by one king. The locals call the government ACCA and is not only an administrative legal branch, they also act as police and fill various other governmental jobs.
We conspicuously follow our main character, Jean Otus, around the districts. He is the Vice-Chairman of the ACCA 13 Inspection Department, a compulsive smoker nicknamed: 'Jean the Cigarette Peddler', whose job is to audit the branches of ACCA. He is silent, serious and when necessity dictates speech, very direct and honest. The best at his job, suspecting of everyone, trusting only his judgment.
The plot actually feels very much like a classic detective novel, going from point A to point B gathering clues or info, bringing facts to light and Jean seeming to be stoic throughout the process. Though plot starts to get complex when the 5 ACCA Chief Officers (a group of leaders on top of the important decision making) choose to leave the Inspection Department open after agreeing to close it, Director General Mauve making a very sudden appearance before the 5 with "rumors" of a coup d'etat, and Jean's best friend keeping a tail on him under suspicion of being part of this coup. Drama!
The art is excellent! Very simple, messy lines, elegant, being able to use depth in very effective chunks of negative space. The characters all have an intelligence and androgyny to them, yet the female and male characters are distinguishable, mostly by their eyes, by very unique particularities or trademarks, for example: Jean's chain smoking, ACCA Director General Mauve's curly hair flowing like water and Nino's very, very cool glasses and positive masculinity.
I beseech you to read this entire manga series, the pace is superbly river-like, mysterious, filled with intrigue and interesting decision making.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

友人の勧めで読んで見た。オノナツメはCoppersというシリーズしか読んだ事がなく、独特の絵の感じが好きながらも物語の世界に入りづらくて他に読もうと思った事がなかった。

けれど、この作品は上記Coppersより作者の腕が上がったのか、相変わらずの「余白で語る物語」感も維持しつつも、読みやすい。
他のレビューを見ると、「日本風とヨーロッパ風の融合」的な事が書いてあるけれど、言われてみればそうかも。
物語も舞台となる街はヨーロッパの街並みで、でもお役所の云々は日本的………？なのかな？
(日本語で日本で日本人として読んでるとわからん。)
文字びっしり系(名探偵コナン 1 Meitantei Conan 1 とか)や、あまり中身のないギャグ漫画(おそ松さんシリーズとか)、予備知識が必要な漫画(聖☆おにいさん 1 Saint Onii-san 1 とか)、描き込まれた絵が物語を進める系(乙嫁語り 1 Otoyomegatari 1 )、４コマ(月刊少女野崎くん 1 Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun 1 )、世界観が細かく描かれているファンタジーSF(進撃の巨人 1 Shingeki no Kyojin 1 )とはまた違う部類の漫画。
私は結構好きだが、好みは分かれると思う。

まだ一巻だけしか読んでないのでどのような物語の進め方になるのか分からないけれど、アニメもほぼ漫画と同じらしいのでアニメをちょっと観てみようかと思う。

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched the anime of this a few years back and it's so pleasant to revisit the world via the manga that I may end up watching the anime again. ACCA is such a strange little story, set in a secondary world without any magic, with a protagonist (Jean) who works as an auditor for an independent oversight agency that was established to ensure -- well, something, it's a little bit fuzzy, but it's clear that the agency is meant to make certain that civic power is not concentrated in the hands of the monarchy, it's distributed throughout the 13 states that make up the kingdom. It unfolds from there, interesting politics and hints of deeper personal relationships, with Jean a cypher -- which shouldn't work but it does, because it is hard to tell if he is really as ordinary as he positions himself as being, we never see inside his own head, and meanwhile various other characters are projecting all kinds of things onto him, making wild assumptions, and they *could* be true, the reader can interpret his actions any number of ways, and meanwhile Jean just keeps doing his job because it's job, even though he'd rather be working somewhere else.

[Forthright . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on an (charmingly bird-shaped) island nation—well, it's a kingdom, really—that's divided into thirteen districts, each with their own unique personality. We're introduced to life here by way of its civil servants, the employees of ACCA. They handle all the mundane paperwork, seem to live for their coffee breaks, make do on low salaries, and occasionally bust the bad guys.

Much like Ono's other works (which are favorites of mine), this is very slice-of-life, mostly seen through the eyes of a young man who cultivates a mysterious persona and is nicknamed "Jean the Cigarette Peddler." But internal politics and plottier issues are afoot—arsonists, surprise inspections, and whispers of a coup d'etat.

Did I mention I adore Ono's work? I'll be continuing with (buying up) this manga as it releases in English. (And watching the anime.)

[Linda]

I was able to read the first volume of this series, that also has an anime series. I have read Natsume Ono stories in the past, so to see the typical gentleman, who smokes and basically has a devil may care attitude is in the style of Ono. Jean Otus is a government inspector for an organization known as ACCA. He has lots of eyes looking at him, and rumors are piling up in this first volume, so fans of espionage, political intrigue, corporate secrets and looking beyond the public persona would be fans of this type of series. In this series, a theme I feel is that big brother is watching out for you is themed. Personally I truly enjoy the minimalistic style that Ono employs in drawing her characters. The first volume sets the scene for the rest of the series.

[Linda]

I was able to read the first volume of this series, that also has an anime series. I have read Natsume Ono stories in the past, so to see the typical gentleman, who smokes and basically has a devil may care attitude is in the style of Ono. Jean Otus is a government inspector for an organization known as ACCA. He has lots of eyes looking at him, and rumors are piling up in this first volume, so fans of espionage, political intrigue, corporate secrets and looking beyond the public persona would be fans of this type of series. In this series, a theme I feel is that big brother is watching out for you is themed. Personally I truly enjoy the minimalistic style that Ono employs in drawing her characters. The first volume sets the scene for the rest of the series.

[Rohit Goswami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never really thought of reviewing manga, which is just odd when I think about it. This one is really brilliant. The pacing is leisurely and the setting is really unique. I think the art is gorgeous. Since I, unfortunately, didn't keep track of the volumes as I consumed them I will be posting the same review (more or less) for every one of these. This is a must-read, both in terms of the art and the characters.

In the first volume, there's more action than normal, which makes for a good hook while the characters and setting sink in.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first volume plodded along at a snails pace which annoyed me because I think the manga series has potential however I kept wanting to get to more serious matters or introduced to characters in which the action would pick up as a dystopian story with a place split into thirteen different territories with management overseen by this department.

However no characters or situation seemed intense enough to warrant furious turning of the pages as they figure out how the department can survive, who will lead it, and how it will continue based on politics and loyalties.

[Ares · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the Anime, but the story isn't all that interesting, especially now that I know it. I still prefer the Anime since I didn't like the art style that is used in this. This somehow felt like a drag to get through, and it is just a Manga with a few sentences per page. I am not sure if I want to continue, since I already know what is going on and the art style is not to my taste, it is pointless, but at the same time, it is such a short series, and I want to give it another chance.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story hard to follow, although I didn't have trouble telling the characters apart, for once! Maybe it's a little too mundane for my tastes, or the daily life of an auditor hits too close to home.

[Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I love this, it’s one of the only anime I liked enough to binge. Happy I finally got around to reading the manga, which I bought however many years ago 😌 I lost count 😌 there’s only 6 of them 😌 why am I like this 😌 anyway, Jean’s hot. Lilium is hot. Nino is hot. Thank you and goodnight~

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beginning to a slow-building political mystery. The characters are so charming especially Jean and his sister. Natsume Ono does it again!

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

bureaucracy manga! YES YES YES!

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Very interesting. I'm rarely one for government stories, but that was... interesting. I'll definitely be giving the next volume a try to see where the story is going.

[Andrew Wilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew a story about a border security team could be so interesting?

[Snail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent pacing. I'm so happy to see more of Natsume Ono's work get translated into English; I really love some of the quirks of her art style(s).

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

one of the stories my daughter is reading - thought I'd give it a try. It's somewhat slow moving, but OK. The art is a bit rough/stylized, but the story moves along well.

[Frogzai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd risk it all for Jean.