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Blame! [ブラム!] #2
Blame!, Volume 02
Tsutomu Nihei usa a ficção científica como referência para sua obra Blame!. Com um ambiente claustrofóbico e um aventureiro solitário, a história acompanha Killy em busca da salvação para a raça humana.
A trama se passa dentro da Megaestrutura, uma construção vertical repleta de inúmeros andares, escadarias, paredes de aço e cavernas. Killy passa seus dias enfrentando criaturas sanguinárias, mutantes e ciborgues assassinos. Embarque também nessa aventura em busca da sobrevivência da humanidade.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 1998
About the author
Tsutomu Nihei
218 books789 followersSee 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_...
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_...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
January 20, 2020
Finally some of the answers are forthcoming that turn a stylish manga into one that can actually be understood. Just when I was about to draw a chart of all the information that was scattered across the first volume and the beginning of this second one.
Killy is still trying to make his way up through the megastructure, encountering other people and machines and something in between from time to time. Usually it doesn't lead to friendly conversations. There's lots of action.
He's still in search of someone that possesses the Net Terminal Genes, but seemingly without knowing exactly what they are for. Pretty soon, though, Killy (and the reader) will learn of the motivation of at least one faction for finding them. And this manga starts to make sense.
I'm going back to reading the Master Editions now and am actually looking forward to the second one of those.
3.5 stars for this volume, which contains the last three chapters of the first Master Edition and the first two chapters of the second Master Edition. Confusing, I know. But it's the same story, just collected differently. I still recommend the Master Editions, because of the refined artwork, which makes it easier to identify things.
Killy is still trying to make his way up through the megastructure, encountering other people and machines and something in between from time to time. Usually it doesn't lead to friendly conversations. There's lots of action.
He's still in search of someone that possesses the Net Terminal Genes, but seemingly without knowing exactly what they are for. Pretty soon, though, Killy (and the reader) will learn of the motivation of at least one faction for finding them. And this manga starts to make sense.
I'm going back to reading the Master Editions now and am actually looking forward to the second one of those.
3.5 stars for this volume, which contains the last three chapters of the first Master Edition and the first two chapters of the second Master Edition. Confusing, I know. But it's the same story, just collected differently. I still recommend the Master Editions, because of the refined artwork, which makes it easier to identify things.
July 20, 2021
“We have downloaded this representative entity into the base reality in order to deliver a message to the seeker named Kyrii.”
I call this genre "reverse cosmic horror” as instead of humans being tiny, insignificant beings who discover they are not alone within an infinite universe, we are normal humans who make beings that tower over us and make us tiny and insignificant in the process.
“To stop the growth of the city, it is essential to find the net terminal gene.” This story is truly I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream presented at a larger scale. The city is like AM while Kyrii and Cibo are like the four humans trapped in the super computer's programme.
People don't die from old diseases anymore, they die from new ones, but that's progress, isn't it? Isn't it!? - Harlan Ellison, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
I enjoyed the diversity of culture as Cibo and Kyrii descend to find the terminal gene. A thing to note is, you require a net terminal gene to live…anywhere. Thus, humans and their descendants are hunted by robots called safeguards. But in this volume we discover that
Lastly, some lovely colour sketching:
I call this genre "reverse cosmic horror” as instead of humans being tiny, insignificant beings who discover they are not alone within an infinite universe, we are normal humans who make beings that tower over us and make us tiny and insignificant in the process.
“To stop the growth of the city, it is essential to find the net terminal gene.” This story is truly I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream presented at a larger scale. The city is like AM while Kyrii and Cibo are like the four humans trapped in the super computer's programme.
People don't die from old diseases anymore, they die from new ones, but that's progress, isn't it? Isn't it!? - Harlan Ellison, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
I enjoyed the diversity of culture as Cibo and Kyrii descend to find the terminal gene. A thing to note is, you require a net terminal gene to live…anywhere. Thus, humans and their descendants are hunted by robots called safeguards. But in this volume we discover that
Lastly, some lovely colour sketching:
May 13, 2026
Where the first mostly just had atmosphere, this one is giving us some real plot guts and I'm vibing it.
Super high-tech cyberpunk far future SF more strange than anything we usually get now. Its imagination is wild.
Let's go beyond uploads and downloads of minds and just hit full layered Geiger realities, gravitational guns, networked genes, wooooo!
I miss this unhinged stuff. Truly.
Super high-tech cyberpunk far future SF more strange than anything we usually get now. Its imagination is wild.
Let's go beyond uploads and downloads of minds and just hit full layered Geiger realities, gravitational guns, networked genes, wooooo!
I miss this unhinged stuff. Truly.
July 3, 2022
no idea what is going on but I'm admiring the art :)
July 16, 2026
Kyrii moving through these ancient, sprawling, biomechanical cyber-ruins. A never-ending fungal megacity that keeps replicating its technological grotesquerie. God... I love this!
Really cool visuals and story. I liked this volume so much more than the first one, which seemed more like a puzzle than a narrative. It's interesting to see the story slowly build because I'm very intrigued by the setup so far.
Really cool visuals and story. I liked this volume so much more than the first one, which seemed more like a puzzle than a narrative. It's interesting to see the story slowly build because I'm very intrigued by the setup so far.
December 9, 2024
The author keeps pulling me in with these phenomenal chapters. I have to admit that oftentimes I have merely a limited grasp on the things that are taking place, however, as the events unfold, so does the mystery unravel itself.
I can't wait for more!
I can't wait for more!
December 23, 2016
This series so far speaks my language with its themes and aesthetics. For the first volume, I felt I had to take that into consideration by not rating it too highly in light of the sometimes clumsy execution, but a (more) clear purpose for the protagonist is established in these issues, complemented by more confident artwork and dialogue.
Where volume 1 was a bare-bones introduction to the narrative tone and setting, volume 2 seems more like a proper start to the story. A few full color pages at the beginning give you a better sense of what the world Killy walks through looks like, and a consistent improvement in line quality throughout addresses the problem I had following the first volume's more sketchy action sequences. There's more exposition here, but Tsutomu Nihei again devotes a generous amount of panel space to architecture that fills the silence with questions.
Where volume 1 was a bare-bones introduction to the narrative tone and setting, volume 2 seems more like a proper start to the story. A few full color pages at the beginning give you a better sense of what the world Killy walks through looks like, and a consistent improvement in line quality throughout addresses the problem I had following the first volume's more sketchy action sequences. There's more exposition here, but Tsutomu Nihei again devotes a generous amount of panel space to architecture that fills the silence with questions.
January 21, 2011
This dark, gritty, alienating, violent cyberpunk manga is really good. The artist Nihei is really gifted to draw buildings and he creates an empty world left with never ending growing buildings, metallic structures, and deadly creatures out to get you. The structures and the Safeguards who were once protecting the population, are now out of control and kill everyone on sight, due to a virus the population was exposed to. Killy is set to find a person whose genes (Net Terminal Genes) are uncorrupted by the virus in order to get back the control over the structures and the Safeguards since only such a person can access the control center. During that time the Silicones, the official bad guys, keep causing troubles and want to stop Killy. Thankfully, Killy is a powerful cyborg and makes friend along the way with Cibo a scientist.
The manga has barely any dialogue, Blame! is the kind of manga where you really have to pay attention to each image and even reread a few times the manga in order to really understand what is going on. I think it is worth it.
This is my review for the whole manga.
The manga has barely any dialogue, Blame! is the kind of manga where you really have to pay attention to each image and even reread a few times the manga in order to really understand what is going on. I think it is worth it.
This is my review for the whole manga.
May 31, 2017
This is just as good, if not better than the first volume and the story is actually starting to make sense! I loved the art in volume one and in this volume Tsutomu Nihei has managed to improve even further and I really admire the style and tone of this series, it's very bold and confident.
January 23, 2024
Artwork Ist still great, but what scores with the art is missing in the story line and dialogues. Also I think it's either weird or sad, that wherever Killy goes distraction follows. I am sticking for the artwork and the vibe, because it's great.
October 12, 2022
Slightly better than the first volume.
Althoug the art is pleasing my eyes, I found the plot very repetitive and shallow.
Althoug the art is pleasing my eyes, I found the plot very repetitive and shallow.
January 10, 2023
Первый том вряд ли может удивить сюжетом и интересными диалогами. Одинокий парень Кили с крутой пушкой в кармане бредет по туннелям и коридорам в поисках неизвестно чего. Периодически ему на пути попадаются разные создания, иногда напоминающие людей, иногда монстров. Но я остался в полном восторге от картинок. У художника безумная фантазия, которую он кропотливо передал на страницах своего произведения. Было очень интересно, какое же будет продолжение. Такое же мрачное и непонятное? Может так оно и было задумано - как молчаливая манга о путешествии по загибающемуся будущему?
Благо, второй том оказался гораздо более "разговорчивым" и динамичным. Мы наконец-то понимаем, что Кили ищет терминальные гены, которые сокрыты на одном из уровней Мегаструктуры. Во втором томе множество экшена - перестрелки, прятки, всякие разные кошмарные твари от мала до велика. Не знаешь, кто друг, кто враг. Многое шокирует. Например, как ходячий труп сумел себя восстановить до уровня хорошенькой милой девушки-ученого. Blame - изумительный пример манги, удивляющей каждой страницей. Радует, что впереди еще 8 томов кристально чистого футуристического постапокалиптического научного-фантастического киберпанка.
Благо, второй том оказался гораздо более "разговорчивым" и динамичным. Мы наконец-то понимаем, что Кили ищет терминальные гены, которые сокрыты на одном из уровней Мегаструктуры. Во втором томе множество экшена - перестрелки, прятки, всякие разные кошмарные твари от мала до велика. Не знаешь, кто друг, кто враг. Многое шокирует. Например, как ходячий труп сумел себя восстановить до уровня хорошенькой милой девушки-ученого. Blame - изумительный пример манги, удивляющей каждой страницей. Радует, что впереди еще 8 томов кристально чистого футуристического постапокалиптического научного-фантастического киберпанка.
July 28, 2018
In Akima, Killy learns that Cluster Town is a place inhabited by thousands of people. Dodging security the whole way, he finds a former scientist who helps Killy to search for net terminal genes among the worker records. During the fight with security forces the scientist is killed and Killy is saved by a clone of head scientist Cibo who has decided to betray the facility.
May 9, 2024
Volume 2 is much better than the first, with there finally being a semblance of a story, even if it's still rather vague. I personally like things that start in media res and require the reader to piece things together.
Our protagonist Killy continues his journey upwards, encountering more horrible machines and robots bent on his destruction, and he continues to blast them to Kingdom Come with his OP gun. This volume introduces us to a lot more people though! People who are all seemingly pretty different from Killy, which I found fascinating. Were these people genetically altered? The scientist character is a breath of fresh air too, as she talks! And seemingly knows a lot of stuff!
The artwork is a little better this time I feel, at least with the people. I still struggle to tell characters apart, but the artist is making their faces more unique when before I felt it was just the same faces with different hair.
Continuing on to Volume 4...
Our protagonist Killy continues his journey upwards, encountering more horrible machines and robots bent on his destruction, and he continues to blast them to Kingdom Come with his OP gun. This volume introduces us to a lot more people though! People who are all seemingly pretty different from Killy, which I found fascinating. Were these people genetically altered? The scientist character is a breath of fresh air too, as she talks! And seemingly knows a lot of stuff!
The artwork is a little better this time I feel, at least with the people. I still struggle to tell characters apart, but the artist is making their faces more unique when before I felt it was just the same faces with different hair.
Continuing on to Volume 4...
February 28, 2020
In this volume Killy continues his search and encounters a group of humans who are endangered by the protective tech creatures. Really dark and creepy moments in this manga. Im looking forward to see where it is going.
April 1, 2026
As with other Nihei works, I feel the second volume raises the bar considerably, really trapping you in the world and story. This one has amazing and thrilling action sequences and really creepy creatures and imagery. Giving you a claustrophobic feel as Killy explores the desolate mega-structure.
Everything is amazing in this volume!
Everything is amazing in this volume!
November 12, 2019
Killy is searching for network genes & makes an ally named Shibo, a scientist.
August 14, 2026
Este me ha gustado bastante mas que el primero y gracias a dios hay bastantes mas dialogos
February 27, 2019
Hmmm... Less talk more action. Hmmm I don't hate it.
February 16, 2023
This is strangely enjoyable...
March 5, 2024
RUN! HE’S GOT A GRAVITON BEAM EMITTER! = RUN! HE’S GOT THE HALO ONE PISTOL!
The narrative is formulating. I’ll miss being enraptured by the mystery of this place. It’s still not completely cohesive. This is a world where I’m not even sure the inhabitants know what’s going on. There’s a life in the city, the life of the vagabond and the life of whatever the synthetic looking beings are. Our main toon is just doing what he needs and doesn’t give a flying flip about the rest of it.
We’ve glimpsed a deeper importance into Killy’s goal of finding a human with net terminal genes. I wonder what started him on this path and why it’s of the utmost importance, even before his own life. The architecture and design melt conceptual understanding of what’s what. These plates are gargantuan. A lot of these panoramic views can only be compared with the nearest window seat on an airplane. Not only the scenic views, but the rest of what’s happening is so gooooood. It’s a lot of show and not a lot of telling and I’m eating it all up.
Volume 3 incoming!
The narrative is formulating. I’ll miss being enraptured by the mystery of this place. It’s still not completely cohesive. This is a world where I’m not even sure the inhabitants know what’s going on. There’s a life in the city, the life of the vagabond and the life of whatever the synthetic looking beings are. Our main toon is just doing what he needs and doesn’t give a flying flip about the rest of it.
We’ve glimpsed a deeper importance into Killy’s goal of finding a human with net terminal genes. I wonder what started him on this path and why it’s of the utmost importance, even before his own life. The architecture and design melt conceptual understanding of what’s what. These plates are gargantuan. A lot of these panoramic views can only be compared with the nearest window seat on an airplane. Not only the scenic views, but the rest of what’s happening is so gooooood. It’s a lot of show and not a lot of telling and I’m eating it all up.
Volume 3 incoming!
January 4, 2021
El viaje por el artificioso y descomunal mundo de "Blame!" se empieza a consolidar más fuertemente con el silencio propio del viajero solitario. Los paisajes desdibujados por la lejanía y la inmensidad cada vez están más seguros en su consistencia de silicio y hierro.
¿Pero de qué sirve un gran número de paisajes si están todos vacíos? Pues para recrearse visualmente, sin embargo, en este tomo se empieza a formalizar sociedades y organismos que germinan en las viñetas y pueblan los espacios entre las paredes frías. Esta aparición de seres extraños invitan a la imaginación a buscarle un sentido a la anatomía dispar, a las mecánicas de poder y gobierno y demás elementos imprescindibles en los núcleos sociales.
El urbanismo, la destrucción y la inclusión de la que será una de las figuras protagonistas en que lo queda de manga hacen de volumen un avance cuantitativo y cualitativo en la historia.
¿Pero de qué sirve un gran número de paisajes si están todos vacíos? Pues para recrearse visualmente, sin embargo, en este tomo se empieza a formalizar sociedades y organismos que germinan en las viñetas y pueblan los espacios entre las paredes frías. Esta aparición de seres extraños invitan a la imaginación a buscarle un sentido a la anatomía dispar, a las mecánicas de poder y gobierno y demás elementos imprescindibles en los núcleos sociales.
El urbanismo, la destrucción y la inclusión de la que será una de las figuras protagonistas en que lo queda de manga hacen de volumen un avance cuantitativo y cualitativo en la historia.
March 3, 2021
Oh wow, characters are interacting with each other now! It must be a nightmare for the author being pushed to actually try. Don't get too excited though, the dialogues are needed for exposition, something about the "authorities" he struggles to explain despite there not being much else going on. You have to actually know storytelling before playing around like this, even a little bit would do, and if your characters barely fit the criteria of being such, you would probably do better with a more humble approach.
I like the influences of artist such as Giger being all over the place, but I'm not a fan of the rest of it. The art is sadly not even impressive enough to justify a reading. I could be mean and give it 1 star, but I'm seeing a direction now, so I'm assuming it gets better. However, I'll not continue with the series.
I like the influences of artist such as Giger being all over the place, but I'm not a fan of the rest of it. The art is sadly not even impressive enough to justify a reading. I could be mean and give it 1 star, but I'm seeing a direction now, so I'm assuming it gets better. However, I'll not continue with the series.
February 9, 2013
The story line starts making a bit of sense, but continues with a level of weirdness that just punches my buttons. The artwork is gorgeous, like a blend of H.R. Giger, Escher, and the artist the did Priest. The character is still absurdly powerful, being able to take massive amounts of damage, apparently having some kind of Wolverine-like healing factor, able to fall absurd distances without breaking any bones, and of course can dodge bullets some of the time. The creature in this book make me want to steal them to use in my D&D campaign.
In noticed one reviewer whining about the level of violence in this book, but that is one of the things that I find appealing. It is not for those with a weak stomach.
In noticed one reviewer whining about the level of violence in this book, but that is one of the things that I find appealing. It is not for those with a weak stomach.
August 18, 2015
Volume 2 offers more or less the same mess than the first volume. A lot of images of conflicts and stuff, with people doing unclear things. If this continues, volume 3 may be the last.
September 30, 2017
I'm gonna do my usual rambling about this next week
May 24, 2018
A bit interesting!
More dialogue than the last time.
New level, a purpose and new creatures.
Still dark and gritty lots of gore and violence!
A unique story till now!
More dialogue than the last time.
New level, a purpose and new creatures.
Still dark and gritty lots of gore and violence!
A unique story till now!
April 30, 2020
Estoy confundida pero no me puedo enojar. Es increíble. Tiene muchos términos científicos y me encanta, lo amo, lo adoro.
February 29, 2020
The “Blame!” Series is pretty good, lots of cool action and interesting art but can’t give a 5⭐️because it lacks in the story👍😁❤️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews