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Gamma Draconis
Aiko, étudiante japonaise à la Sorbonne, découvre qu'une mystérieuse entité électronique surgie du web s'attaque à ses proches. Son destin l'amène alors à affronter le chef d'une organisation internationale ayant marié savoir hermétique et transhumanisme.
252 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2020
6 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Benoist Simmat
39 books20 followersBenoist Simmat, né en 1973, est journaliste économique. Ancien du Nouvel Economiste, de L'Agefi et du Journal du Dimanche, il collabore ou a collaboré dans nombre de pages "éco" de la presse nationale, comme celles de L'Express, Libération, Management, La Revue du vin de France, etc. Menant parallèlement une carrière dans l'édition, il est également essayiste et scénariste des nouvelles "BD-enquêtes".
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 14, 2022
De nuevo un manga creado por Eldo Yoshimizu, de quien ya disfrutara con
Hen Kai Pan
y que en esta ocasión trabaja junto a un guionista (Benoist Simmat), lo cual se agradece en el desarrollo de la trama. Sin llegar a la explosión artística de aquella, publicada posteriormente, se trata de una historia bastante pulpera que incluye sociedades secretas, ocultismo, invocaciones demoníacas, espectaculares tiroteos y mucha acción. Se lee en un suspiro y me lo pasé genial con ella, a ver si Héroes de Papel o alguien se anima a publicarla en España. Le doy tres estrellas y media.
February 2, 2025
Considering how much shelf space in the big box bookstores is dedicated to manga, I always feel like I'm neglecting the genre. I've sampled enough to have a good feel for the format, but have yet to find any manga that I can obsess about, rate five stars, and recommend without reservation. I do know that if I'm going to find that gem it will probably be within the crime, horror, or science-fiction genres. So, when I read the description of this being a blend of crime and occultism, it immediately appealed to me.
While there is much to like in this French (script) and Japanese (art) collaboration, the storyline was pretty formulaic and contained way too much exposition and not enough show. That's a shame because the black-and-white art here is dark and atmospheric and the street scenes and panoramic landscapes are really detailed and expressive.
An art student with training in martial arts as well as an interest in the occult. A savvy female French police inspector working a special detail on financial crimes. Their paths cross when several experts in art and occult know to both are being attacked. The trail leads to a ageless sinister global organization
now being influenced by a corrupt financial exec who wants to cross into the fourth dimension, unleash a demonic entity, and gain immense power as a result. The art student, Niko Moriyama, learns that both her mother and grandmother have ties to the cult, and she has a personal connection to the corrupt leader.
The story and action flows from Japan to France to England and back, ending with a showdown at a monastery. The best way to enjoy this is to read quickly, just go with it, and don't dwell on the details too much.
While there is much to like in this French (script) and Japanese (art) collaboration, the storyline was pretty formulaic and contained way too much exposition and not enough show. That's a shame because the black-and-white art here is dark and atmospheric and the street scenes and panoramic landscapes are really detailed and expressive.
An art student with training in martial arts as well as an interest in the occult. A savvy female French police inspector working a special detail on financial crimes. Their paths cross when several experts in art and occult know to both are being attacked. The trail leads to a ageless sinister global organization
now being influenced by a corrupt financial exec who wants to cross into the fourth dimension, unleash a demonic entity, and gain immense power as a result. The art student, Niko Moriyama, learns that both her mother and grandmother have ties to the cult, and she has a personal connection to the corrupt leader.
The story and action flows from Japan to France to England and back, ending with a showdown at a monastery. The best way to enjoy this is to read quickly, just go with it, and don't dwell on the details too much.
July 3, 2022
I'm relatively new to manga so don't quite know how to review it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story and bought a copy for my brother too.
The art style was really pleasant; as a novice I tend to speed through the text like it's a book but the art forced me to slow down and look for context clues to the mystery being solved in the story.
The plot may not have been particularly groundbreaking but combined with the art it is very enjoyable - the ending allows for a follow up book but I liked that this could be read as a single story without having to commit yourself to buying lots of issues.
The art style was really pleasant; as a novice I tend to speed through the text like it's a book but the art forced me to slow down and look for context clues to the mystery being solved in the story.
The plot may not have been particularly groundbreaking but combined with the art it is very enjoyable - the ending allows for a follow up book but I liked that this could be read as a single story without having to commit yourself to buying lots of issues.
March 2, 2021
L'idée d'un manga 'de fusion' avec un scenario français et illustré par un dessinateur japonais suscite la curiosité. Quand à côté de ceci, s'y croise les thèmes de la grande finance, de l'ésotérisme et du transhumanisme, on a les ingrédients parfaits pour mes genres favorits en science fiction - dystopie dominé par le capitalisme "big tech" des FAAMG, magie et mondes parallèles.
L' action et l'aventure sont très bien rendus par le dessin fins et dynamique de Yoshimizu.
L'histoire si dense en thèmes d'interet est par contre trop légère dans son conte rendu final. Peut-être du au format de livre unique. Cette histoire et ses intrigues méritent une continuité et le modèle de série serait très pertinent. J'éspère que le Lézard Noir et ses auteurs poursuivront le project dans un avenir proche.
La fin est ouverte donc il y de l'espoir....et j'y mettrai une étoile supplémentaire.
L' action et l'aventure sont très bien rendus par le dessin fins et dynamique de Yoshimizu.
L'histoire si dense en thèmes d'interet est par contre trop légère dans son conte rendu final. Peut-être du au format de livre unique. Cette histoire et ses intrigues méritent une continuité et le modèle de série serait très pertinent. J'éspère que le Lézard Noir et ses auteurs poursuivront le project dans un avenir proche.
La fin est ouverte donc il y de l'espoir....et j'y mettrai une étoile supplémentaire.
December 6, 2024
A group of dark wizard/high financiers get their hands on an especially powerful artifact and begin using it to kill the people who get in their way. The only people trying to stop them are a Japanese college student and a French police officer. The two women face off against magic-enhanced cyborgs, machine gun-toting thugs, and the most powerful spellcasters on Earth, yet somehow prevail. One of the two women does have a magic charm, but other than that, it is never explained how they avoid getting shot, split by a sword, and/or blasted.
Not particularly well-written or drawn. It's the sort of lazy manga, in which the text explains much of the action, as the visuals do not tell the story without ample description.
There's nothing more to this than a good premise.
Not particularly well-written or drawn. It's the sort of lazy manga, in which the text explains much of the action, as the visuals do not tell the story without ample description.
There's nothing more to this than a good premise.
October 18, 2021
This is going to sound weird, but if this same story had been presented as a generic graphic novel, I might have only given it three stars. The formatting as a dark, gritty manga, though, is what earned it a fourth, in my opinion.
The story, a blend of crime fiction and high tech with ancient forms of magic from both Europe and Japan, was a little chaotic at first, but once the creators got going, it rolled smoothly.
The structure wasn't perfect, but it was very interesting, and I'd be glad to stumble across more stories taking place in this weird world of mystical intrigue.
The story, a blend of crime fiction and high tech with ancient forms of magic from both Europe and Japan, was a little chaotic at first, but once the creators got going, it rolled smoothly.
The structure wasn't perfect, but it was very interesting, and I'd be glad to stumble across more stories taking place in this weird world of mystical intrigue.
April 6, 2022
Much like Yoshimizu's previous work this features realistic setting pieces, cool international intruige and karateka ladies of great power doing amazing martial exploits.
Unlike Yoshimizu's previous work this is an occult intrigue story that draws on pulp fiction's dalliances with superscience and melds it with a very overtly powerful version of hermetic magic and secret societies embedded in academia, corporate boardrooms and religious orders.
This work feels like it keeps setting up the next thing, leading me to hope for a sequel.
Unlike Yoshimizu's previous work this is an occult intrigue story that draws on pulp fiction's dalliances with superscience and melds it with a very overtly powerful version of hermetic magic and secret societies embedded in academia, corporate boardrooms and religious orders.
This work feels like it keeps setting up the next thing, leading me to hope for a sequel.
December 2, 2021
I loved it so so much! This is the crime-action-thriller manga I've been craving since discovering Hard-Boiled Stories from the Cat Bar. It's set in France, England, and Japan, and also has a nice dose of the occult to make things extra interesting.
July 3, 2022
A occult crime story that some how manages to make crime and occult rituals boring. This story looked great and was an exciting premise, but the story lacked compelling characters and a story that felt original. There were some plot points that were just abandoned and some issues with what I think was translation. I’m not too upset since this book was half off when I got it, but it wasn’t my favorite.
August 6, 2024
I’ll be brutally honest: the art style is amazing, but the plot is horseshit :D very half baked, the occultism feels like it wasn’t thought through (Dan Brown wrote Occultism better and that is just embarrassing), the ending sucks ass in the bad way, character developments are pretty much zero, the villains are cardboard cut outs and no pretty humanoid robots are gonna make up for that.
CNs: violence, death
CNs: violence, death
March 9, 2022
This gritty and fast-paced supernatural action manga stitches in thin slices of British, French, and Japanese occultism to patch together a jarring but fun jet-setting mashup. ***Minor spoiler***: Please give us a Nashima and Mia spin-off series.
May 14, 2022
Aiko finds herself enmeshed in a strange intrigue of good-vs-evil in the occult, discovering that she might be a connection between both sides. Good thing she has friends in the right places.
Lots of black ink used on these pages.
Lots of black ink used on these pages.
May 18, 2023
Occult storyline. Transhumanism. Interdimensional doorways. Evil FAANG corporations. French-Japanese noir. Jet set detectives. Antiquities heists. Vintage late 80s Japanese manga aesthetics. All I can say is, yes, all of it, please.
January 1, 2024
Quick and easy read. Not the most interesting story but I guess I think occult stories are a bit overdone and this story doesn’t add anything interesting to the genre. Still, beautiful art and I did enjoy it.
June 1, 2024
A young woman gets in over her head as her research leads her down a dark occult trail in this crime thriller manga. A quick read, but a fun one with some cool splash pages that help set the supernatural feel of the overall plot.
January 12, 2025
Pretty good. Bought it in hopes of a different type of manga than I've read in the past, which it is. I believe it's a one-shot, but it could easily be a part of a series. Left something to be desired, but the art is nice and the story is okay.
July 24, 2021
Loved the story; would love a sequel and expansion of this world. The tone is great as is the potential (?) love story forming between Janne and Aiko. Great beach or weekend read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
Even though I absolutely love Eldo Yoshimizu's art, His storytelling felt disconnected in this book. The story also didn't work at all for me. Kind of disappointed by this one.
April 30, 2023
A cool action thriller that's heavy on the magic and occult. The amazing artwork makes up for the slightly generic story. Would make a great anime OVA.
September 7, 2023
Den var väl ok. Storyn är spännande men berättandet kändes som upphackat. Lite hafsigt på sina ställen. Svår att komma in i. Men slutet gav puls.
February 16, 2024
Who knew a book about businessmen summoning demons, hitmen and swordfighters could be so boring?
May 13, 2025
I think something is missing but maybe it only needs a part 2 given the reveal at the end??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
Very nice mix of oriental and occidental mysticism - with attendant sword play and international travel.
December 20, 2025
Les dessins sont très beaux, mais d'un point de vue narratif j'ai trouvé que le genre action prenait trop le pas sur le genre SF. J'ai trouvé l'intrigue bâclée, dommage.
January 3, 2022
"The cursed path of binding magic with technology… a new kind of alchemist."
Julian Bedford is a rich financier in London who is secretly stealing artifacts with purported magical powers in an attempt to summon a demon that will provide him with omnipotence and eternal life…
Aiko Moriyama is a Japanese graduate student studying at Sorbonne in Paris. Ostensibly, she is researching her thesis on how Eastern and Western cultures viewed occult powers during the Middle Ages. In reality, she is preparing to be initiated into an secret society whose aim is to safeguard ancient magic from being manipulated for nefarious purposes…
This is Hard Case Crime's second foray into manga action comics. However, I would consider this more of a sci-fi/ fantasy/ horror comic than crime. The art by Eldo Yoshimizu is more pedestrian than the previous series Ryuko, but the story by Benoist Simmat is more fun and coherent.
In the spirit of a Robert Langdon thriller, Aiko visits real-world libraries and abbeys to piece together Julian's fantastic schemes based on historical clues. In this manner, the book weaves in references to several well-known occult and alchemical texts such as the Tabula Smaragdina (Emerald Tablet), the Utsuro-bune, and the writings and relics of John Dee from the 16th century. In fact, my favorite parts are the scenes in England and France before the action moves to the more traditional manga setting of Kobe, Japan.
The back half of the book layers many science fiction tropes into the mix -- nanotechnology, the multiverse, and genetically engineered mutants. Over the top but entertaining, nonetheless.
Julian Bedford is a rich financier in London who is secretly stealing artifacts with purported magical powers in an attempt to summon a demon that will provide him with omnipotence and eternal life…
Aiko Moriyama is a Japanese graduate student studying at Sorbonne in Paris. Ostensibly, she is researching her thesis on how Eastern and Western cultures viewed occult powers during the Middle Ages. In reality, she is preparing to be initiated into an secret society whose aim is to safeguard ancient magic from being manipulated for nefarious purposes…
This is Hard Case Crime's second foray into manga action comics. However, I would consider this more of a sci-fi/ fantasy/ horror comic than crime. The art by Eldo Yoshimizu is more pedestrian than the previous series Ryuko, but the story by Benoist Simmat is more fun and coherent.
In the spirit of a Robert Langdon thriller, Aiko visits real-world libraries and abbeys to piece together Julian's fantastic schemes based on historical clues. In this manner, the book weaves in references to several well-known occult and alchemical texts such as the Tabula Smaragdina (Emerald Tablet), the Utsuro-bune, and the writings and relics of John Dee from the 16th century. In fact, my favorite parts are the scenes in England and France before the action moves to the more traditional manga setting of Kobe, Japan.
The back half of the book layers many science fiction tropes into the mix -- nanotechnology, the multiverse, and genetically engineered mutants. Over the top but entertaining, nonetheless.
November 13, 2020
C’était prometteur mais en fait c’était bof
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews