Blame! Master Edition Vol. 4

BLAME! #4

by Tsutomu Nihei (Writer)

En un futuro dominado por la tecnología, los humanos representan una raza en peligro de extinción. La devastación asola los inmensos parajes cubiertos de metal. Nunca se sabe con certeza qué hay en niveles superiores y sólo se oyen rumores al respecto.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2015

About the author

See also 弐瓶 勉.

Tsutomu Nihei (弐瓶 勉 Nihei Tsutomu, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist. His cyberpunk-influenced artwork has gained a strong cult following. He has a relatively large community of fans in Germany where his manga Blame!, NOiSE and Biomega were published by Ehapa. Blame! was also published in France and Spain by Glénat, in the US by Tokyopop and in Italy by Panini Comics.

At first he studied architecture and later it is shown up in his manga works with drawing huge structures. This became one of his general theme that makes his manga unique. His works are usually in black and white. He is also an avid fan of the video game series Halo, as he mentions in his commentary section in the Halo Graphic Novel.

Taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_...

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of fighting, where I struggled to understand what was going on. Very stylish artwork, minimalistic plot. Familiar looking images, that I can‘t quite name. I really like the larger panels. Great views, almost 3D. The little plot we get is good.

I was pretty confused for long stretches of this volume. I am oscillating between 3 and 4 stars. Benefit of the doubt?

Here is my chapter-by-chapter-not-a-review...

::LOG.31:: Sanakan and Cibo ::003::

No idea. Fighting.

::LOG.32:: Vibrations ::029::

Yep, more fighting.



::LOG.33:: Collapse ::057::

Um... ok? Very stylish, no substance. Can be nice, but I wouldn‘t mind a little more here or there.

::LOG.34:: Meltdown ::087::

Plot! Survivors having a conversation, yay! This chapter I liked. The disintegrating core reminded me of something, but I can‘t recall what...

::LOG.35:: Annihilated ::119::

Kyrii is not really vital to this volume so far. Cibo is the more central character. I like her, with her augmentations she is more interesting that monosyllabic Kyrii.

::LOG.36:: Beautiful Life ::149::

Just wrote that and a few pages later Kyrii uttered two full sentences! 😝

I like the panels the most where we get vistas of large open spaces with massive structures or long walkways and ladders. Despite the otherwise very two-dimensional sketches, those large panels always have a lot of depth and grip to them.

::LOG.37:: Unofficial Megastructure ::177::

Ok, that was odd. Let‘s call it the travel chapter...

::LOG.38:: The Warehouse ::199::

2 million hours later? That‘s a new one! I was wondering who the heck that was.
Excellent artwork and good story in this one. This was really good. Mysterious new characters.

::LOG.39:: Type 1 Unknown Criticality Weapon ::239::

Started well, but then dissolved into another confusing fight scene.

::LOG.40:: Captured ::269::
::LOG.41:: Anti-Infiltration Electronic Space ::301::

Hm. Fish!? Cibo in action... weird blond guy is interesting. Plot, thank you!

::LOG.42:: Internal Fissures In The Megastructure ::335::

Kyrii is in somewhat yucky circumstances at the beginning of this one.
Otherwise that was a very short chapter with a very interesting ending.

Onwards to volume 5!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.

Okay so again, as I said in my review of Volume 3, this is a really hard story to try and explain. So in the previous volume, Cibo and Sanakan were sharing a body, but they're now separated as Cibo has moved into the body of the Cibo from the middle ground where Kyrii was sent in the forwarding. Sanakan, now free of Cibo, attempts to kill the Central AI and get to the humans who have been saved in this system. The Central AI then attempts to forward the whole of Toha without being able to confirm if it'll work. Mensab leaves them with Seu's genetics and they must move through the infrastructure to find someone who can help them. Of course, it's never that easy and they soon run into more Silicon Life and a mysterious man named Dichtomy.

I'm really enjoying this series, it's very easy to read. I do find myself getting a little confused here and there, especially as Kyrii and Cibo keep getting separated. I feel like the story is getting further and further away from the main plot of finding a human with the Net Terminal Gene and more just survival. I don't mind that though. I like the art, I like the story, I'm happy enough to continue.

[Wombo Combo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga is more focused on style than substance, and it's all the better because of it. I continue to be amazed by how creative this series it

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

why's this series called 'Blame'? I'm 4 volumes in, I feel like there should be something that happened that everyone is blaming on someone.

Anyway, still cool-looking.

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 / 5

Un poco más de lo mismo podría ser el título de esta review.

Killy y Cibo siguen caminando, volando y peleando por la inescrutable e inabarcable megaestructura -que parece no tener fin- en busca de un humano con genes de conexión. Un cuarto volumen que deja menos información que el anterior, pero que presenta una nueva amalgama de criaturas cibernéticas a las que deben parar los pies si quieren proseguir su camino.

Pero ocurre algo nuevo. La pareja consigue el genoma de un antiguo humano que puede contener genes de conexión. ¿El problema? El material ha sido enviado desde el cilindro destruido de Toha Heavy Industries a otro nivel de la megaestructura. Un nuevo paseo repleto de niveles y luchas que nos llevarán nada menos que 256 años en el futuro. Así, en un suspiro.

Nihei sigue expandiendo su universo a la par que deja su sello visual en cada panel. Diseños espectaculares y atractivos se rodean de escenarios y estructuras impresionantes que absorben la retina por completo con sus detalles.

Solo quedan dos ómnibus, y no tengo ni idea de cómo el autor nipón pretende cerrar esta historia.

[Tarot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars ~

0.5/1 for plot
0.5/1 for characters and character development
1/1 for art
1/1 for pace
1/1 for world-building

Following up from Blame! Master Edition volume 3, there's less going on plot-wise in volume 4. Kyrii and Cibo obtain the genome of an ancient human who may have the net terminal gene and are "forwarded" from the destroyed Toha Heavy Industries cylinder to another Stratum. They apparently spend 256 years looking for a lab within the Stratum to analyze the genome. Then they meet Dhomochevsky, who seems to be the same as Kyrii, fighting silicon life that controls this Stratum. It's unclear so far why they've been at a stalemate for so long when there have never been humans for Dhomochevsky to protect in this Stratum.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I'm glad that Cibo is becoming more of an actual character in this installment and, in fact, she may as well just be the protagonist now. I was happy to have a little more backstory and world building to try and mull over.

Unfortunately, as in the previous books, I struggle to know what the hell is even going on, and the action sequences are often difficult to decipher. I don't know if I should applaud the storytellers for their artistically creative vagueness or lambast them for seldom explaining any part of the world or plot.

I will say, though, that the last 50 pages boasted some exceptional architecture shots. So there is that.

[ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I could not care less how confusing this series is, I think it’s amazing. I feel like this is the gist of every review I’ve given for BLAME, but I will keep saying it because this might be the most fun I’ve had reading a manga yet (sure, I haven’t read loads but that is not the point).

[Garrett M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have nothing to say about this one. Truly impressive how little personality the main character has

[Ivan Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuem! Després d'un final espectacular a Industrias Pesadas Toa, continua el viatge. Més escenaris postapocalíptics extraordinàriament ben dibuixats, nous ¿enemics?, i, de cop, descobrim que no només és un món geogràficament vast, sinó que també ho és temporalment. Més del mateix, però encara millor.

[Xavier · Rating 3 out of 5]

The enemy designs are very cool but I'm not convinced this could have a satisfying ending. I'm 4 volumes in and I still don't really know what's going on. The way this one began, I wouldn't have noticed if I skipped vol 3 and went directly from 2 to 4

[Skerdjan Kroje · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a little bit confused on the characters. But i like it

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blame! has been sadly light on plot thus far, and I'd hoped we'd start getting some answers by now. Unfortunately, when the story actually moves forward, it does so through confusingly illustrated action scenes and new characters whose roles and motives are not clearly defined.

Blame! started off with a fantastic premise and an even more unique setting, but a coherent and engaging story still seems to be one of Nihei's weaknesses.

Oh well, I'm still along for the ride.

[Layla Zenin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Min favorit vol hittills, legit så vackert

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nihei makes it seem like drawing sci-fi is easy.

What a crazy world this one is.

A manga series that is a must to read.

[Corbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's going on? No fucking idea but the art's good and the world building is intriguing.

[Marte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.25 ★

At least we're done with Toha Heavy Industries. Hoping this next arc is more like the first ones, but I'm only cautiously optimistic...

[Matthew Ochal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its beautiful and so cool to look at - but i’m really starting to run out of steam on the story (and general lackthereof)

[Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sean DeLauder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a horizontal move.

The series tends to take a one-step-forward, one-step-sideways, two-steps-backwards, and then tries to get back to where it started. I still can't tell predict if this story is going to end on an Everything Is So Immense And Complicated Everything You Want to Accomplish is Futile note.

I will be irritated if that's the case. And with just two omnibus' remaining we're running out of time. If no significant progress is made in #5 my ratings will begin a downward arc.

Blame prequel story NOiSE review
Blame! Master Edition 1 review
Blame! Master Edition 2 review
Blame! Master Edition 3 review
Blame! Master Edition 5 review
Blame! Master Edition 6 review

For a summary opinion, jump right to the review of Master Edition 6.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still suspect there’s no real overarching plot to this series outside the McGuffin of “find the net terminal gene.” Tell me if you’ve heard this before: Cibo and Kyri are attacked by safeguard, they are separated, and…honestly while there are some stunning moments visually here, so often Nihei is overly reliant on these very dark, impossible to parse images of gigantically scaled structures that it really stops meaning anything when it goes on for six 300+ page volumes. I would challenge anyone to meaningfully articulate how any of the characters are evolving or growing or finding motivation in this particular volume. I too am intrigued by how opaque this all is, but at a certain point that’s just not enough to make meaning of either.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nihei's classic work really moves forward in this volume. The artwork and archetecture are superb and you get a bit more story. This will be a volume you want to sit and read in one go due to the action but take the time to pick up on the little story and back story elements.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

oooooh how I adore Nihei's work - and between the clones and the Safeguards, this is nightmare material.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying this series. Not sure I am going to read the rest before watching the anime...

[Amy Peavy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this installment was quite exciting!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time passes by in an elevator.

[El panaadero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pelea entre Shibo y Sanadakan  que termina con Killy y Sanadakan disparandose un tiro al unisono, acabando con la vida de Sanadakan y a su vez con la Ia Central. ahora se viene enfrentamiento entre un ente de silicona poderoso y Seu (que ya recupero su personalidad y que ahora ya no lo pueden curar, por ende lo dara todo seguro), Lo ultimo que hizo la Ia Central, fue que las Industrias Pesadas del Este Asiatico pasen a modo automatico lo que indica que teletransportara a todo Industrias Pesadas fuera de la ciudad o a otra Megaestructura, la pelea de Seu acaba rapido con este saliendl victorioso pero mal herido y ayudando en la derrota del "ente de silicona ultimo modelo" que duro poco con Killy saliendo mal herido tambien y desplomandose.


Los humanos de la 13 cueva logran escapar en unas capsulas con la ayuda/sacrificio de Shibo, ya que esta no escapa de la teletransportacion, una vez mas Shibo demostrando que haria todo para salvar a los humanos muriendo hasta en 3 ocasiones por ellos. 


Se destruye por completo Industrias Pesadas del Este Asiatico, y mensab le da los genes de Seu, con Shibo siendo rescatada por los bichos de la octava cueva, nuestros protagonistas llegan a una mega estructura no oficial, dirigida por un don nadie (no esta con ninguna faccion), los lleva en elevador a una señal antigua de auxilio el cual esta llena de entes de silicona,  antes de que llegaran se ve que alguien parecido a ellas esta mal herido, y esta junto con un ente volador que al parecer muere por los entes de silicona y nuestros protagonistas llegan 2.500.000 horas despues, y se encuentran con bichos que paralizan partes del cuerpo y aparecen los mismos entes de silicona del pasado y el chabon que estaba aparentemente muerto (se lo habian llevado las defensas) aparece ante killy, al parecer dhomochevsky esta trabajando con los entes de silicona, y al parecer el que controlaba toda la mega estructura no oficial, era un ente de silicona disfrazado, Shibo es capturada y le retiran el parasito y le ponen un traje, al final dhomochevsky es un cuerpo de defensa bueno, se ve que la mision de estos 2 cuerpos de defensa es proteger a los humanos en esa mega estructura y que conocen a los entes de silicona de ahi ya que han luchado, hay un ente de silicona que llamado psell que dececta frecuencias, y se ve que el ente de silicon mas nazi que es uno alto re turbina se llama davinel, y el objetivo detras del oor que los entes de silicona quieren genes humanos es para conectarse a la netsphere (red) a traves del deposito, Iko se va con Shibo mientras dhomochevsky les gana tiempo, al final shibo vuelve y con su nuevo traje los mata a todos. Mientras killy estaba haciendose un viajecito: trepando paredes de escombros, trepando por bichos, pasando por tuneles, cruzando pasillos, subiendo escaleras, etc.

Killy se encuentra con un agente del gobierno que se manifiesta con una electricidad en la pared.

[Kyle S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it 3 stars and it't not because of this volume, actually I think that this volume improved upon the complaints I had about volume 3. With that being said, the series as a whole is just losing its charm and magic upon me. Gone are the chapters of following Kryii & Cibo wondering a strange MC Escher cyberpunk-Lovecraftian-brutalist world of The City where the mystery of the world was the forefront of the series, and now the world of Blame! has become more of a backdrop for action set pieces. Blame! was more interesting when it focused less on the conflicts and more on the atmosphere and world building. However, volume 4 did return to some of the weird roots from volumes 1 & 2 that I fell in love with.

There are a few interlude chapters that show the strangeness of The City without any explanation, which was a nice break from pace from the more manga-typical way this series is going, but it also botched some of the strangeness as well. There's an elevator scene in which is takes the characters over 30 days to cross a mega structure, but it was all tell don't show, nothing to show the passage of time. It feels as if the Toha Heavy Industries arc has left a permanent bad after taste upon the series.

I could spend a while lamenting on the changes to the series, but I won't. It wouldn't surprise me if Nihei was pressured by his editors to make the series more appealing to a broader audience, which is why the general weirdness and the rather brutal fights of the first two volumes are no more. I'll still finish the series dammit, because I love this world he built!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still searching for the net terminal gene, Cibo and Kyrii both got forwarded back and forth thru space/time continuum. While Mensab decided to connect to the central AI, as Seu continued to fight with the two silicon life forms then finally dispatched them both. Kyrii was right back to where Mensab and Seu are. He tell the Central AI to reestablish the contract with Netsphere much to no avail. The entire section collapsed thus wiping out almost all of silicon life. Cibo and Kyrii continued their search for the net terminal gene. Climbing upwards, they discovered no humans there, but some clones. And they also met up another android, a safeguard of sorts. He has no love for the silicon life forms that control the spidery safeguards. Cibo and Kyrii got separated again as they usually do in dire situations. What will happen next? Well, just read the next graphic novel, and find out. Story’s well written, contrary to negative opinions, not confusing at all. Still recommended.

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walk through the mega-structure called City continues. We follow Kyrii and Cibo as they try to get to the missing genetic link to this self evolving cyber organism. Again they will meet Mensab and Sau and Silicon Life together with Safeguards will push them to the wall and at one point it will even put them something like 2 million hours apart (! 228 years?!?), while Kyrii moves across the mysterious elevator (for the lack of better words) while Cibo finds herself evolving into something more akin to the Silicon Life.

Art as always is gloomy, beautiful panoramas of the humongous City and epic battles between ever weirder Silicon Life ..... creatures? .... Kyrii and his allies. Entire atmosphere is yet again depressing, full of loneliness and deeply haunting and pages go on without a single word uttered.

Gotta admit I am not sure how this is going to end. For me it has a feeling of horror game and slow progression through it.

Recommended to SF fans.