Hen Kai Pan

by Eldo Yoshimizu

Dismayed by the havoc wreaked on Earth by humankind, its five guardian spirits decide to act. But as they argue amongst themselves on what the judgement should be, one enraged spirit, Nila, becomes determined to take matters into her own hands, forcing the remaining four to unite in a desperate final battle to prevent her from wiping not just humans, but all life from the face of the planet.

This is a highly personal and timely book that features some of Eldo’s most beautiful artwork to date. With its central themes of ecology and philosophy and spirituality, Hen Kai Pan is a kinetic, emotionally charged work that delivers a powerful message that will resonate not just with manga fans, but all readers.

“Hen Kai Pan” translates as “One and All” and is the motto of Cosmotheism.

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Comics Manga, Japanese Literature, Graphic Novels Comics

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2022

Reviews

[Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alguien que ha sido escultor toda su vida, un artista de éxito, y de repente un día dice "me quiero hacer mangaka"... ya merece todo mi respeto. Es precisamente lo que hizo Eldo Yoshimizu a sus cincueta tacos, publicando una serie de historias empapadas del estilo gekiga pero con un look totalmente nuevo. En Hen Kai Pan se sale por la tangente con un cómic sobre el fin del mundo cargado de referencias: sobre el tapete, temas como el ecologismo o la idea de que todos los seres vivos forman parte de una entidad superior. En la narrativa es donde Eldo flojea, creando a partir de imágenes en su cabeza (imagino que por herencia profesional) para unir después en una sucesión frenética, muy loca, que a veces se escapa entre los dedos pero que resulta satisfactoria por lo trepidante de la acción y el impacto de su estética. Como persona, el hombre me parece un auténtico crack. En definitiva, la obra distinta de un artista distinto. Muy agradable leerle y seguirle.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five Earth spirits get into a disagreement about how to best wipe out humanity and manipulate a sixth spirit as a pawn in their genocidal civil war. It's dumb, but it looks good and it reads quick, what with half the book being full-page panels or two-page spreads.

But I rarely like any book that ends with one -- or occasionally both -- of the two laziest cliches I know of in speculative fiction: nuclear armageddon and/or a new Adam & Eve restart scenario. That's just bad writing. Ugh.

I didn't realize until the end that this is the same creator who did Ryuko, Volume 1. This is at least a little better than that mess.

[Ian Morando · Rating 3 out of 5]

El concepto que plantea el autor me parece interesante, pero la secuencia narrativa a veces se sentía tosca. Avanzaba demasiado rápido. Se nota sobre todo en la personalidad de Asura, pareciera carecer de identidad y sigue órdenes de distintos dioses sin importar cuán diferentes sean sus opiniones. Lo que si me gustó, fue que la protagonista recalca su indecisión por el juicio final, un sentimiento que considero entendible y en el cuál me sentí identificado.
En cuánto al dibujo, me pareció muy ameno a la historia y es un estilo que observo hace ya un tiempo en otros artistas. Eso sí, es watercolor en escala de grises y trazos en píncel. Si solo leés mangas y tu estilo es el japonés con full plumas como las G-pen o Maru pen y el uso de reglas en las perspectivas de los fondos, no te recomiendo este unitario.
En resumen, fue un 50-50. Podría haber sido mucho mejor de lo que mostró el resultado final, más si se le daba profundidad a Asura, aunque para eso, probablemente tendría que ser una serie de dos volúmenes y no fue la idea del autor. Aún así, me quedo con algunas frases y un dibujo que me gusta mucho a pesar de ser atípico en la historieta japonesa.

[Met · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bellissimo il tratto di Yoshimizu, come sempre.
Peccato che la Storia si esaurisca nella sua stessa premessa, torse sarebbe stato bello dare più corpo alle divinità. Comunque il messaggio dell'autore è forte e chiaro.

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Really great art, but quite a flat basic story. It really could be described as a fable, but the moral is not that deeply meaningful, if at all existent.

So yep, the premise is much more interesting and intriguing than the final product.

[Zachery O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars really.

The art is great, to the point I wish the printing/paper stock used was of better quality to help it flourish more. Plenty of 2 page spreads that are really pleasant to take in. Particularly towards the end, there’s plenty of pretty striking and just visually interesting art.

Shame this isn’t carried over into the story. It essentially plays out like most type of, “humanity’s judgement,” type scenarios and no interesting questions are really asked. 90% of the characters are one dimensional omnipotent beings, with the main character having a sliver of personality more than the rest. It’s a short book, so naturally you can only fit so much into the narrative but I definitely was left very unsatisfied by the story.

[Ravi Nkengfack · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was ok, I think it could’ve delved in more into what it wanted to say, it felt very surface level but hey, at least the art is really amazing.

[Jeremy J. Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the imaginative and spacious illustrations, very surreal in a lot of ways. The story had an original appeal to it, too, I thought. Overall, the feel of the Manga, how everything looked, didn't have that same look as most Manga (text heavy, tight crisp lines), "Hen Kai Pan" had a more fine arts, looser feel. It even looked like some of the artwork was done in watercolor, which was great! These are the reasons why I picked up this Manga - I hope there's going to be more.

[Debo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's more of a Yoshimizu-sensei problem than I thought :D Because now having read two of his four works, I am starting to suspect that they always look STUNNING, but have horseshit plots that aren't really fleshed out and end in complete shambles... Oh well, it was a very quick read, so.

CNs for gun violence, eco-terrorism and some kind of apocalypse

[Vanny (reading.halfling) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich verstehe, was mir der Manga sagen wollte, was die Message hinter der Geschichte ist ... Aber dennoch habe ich das Gefühl, hier irgendwas verpasst zu haben. Wahrscheinlich bin ich einfach eine Manga-Erzählweise nicht gewohnt und komme da auch nicht ganz klar mit, sonst hätte ich mich am Ende wohl kaum gefragt: "Das war es jetzt? Das kann doch unmöglich alles gewesen sein?"
Es war ganz cool, aber eben auch irgendwie sehr wenig. Die Botschaft dahinter wird deutlich, die ist wichtig und gut eingebracht, aber die Charaktere dagegen bleiben irgendwie komplett nichtssagend. Da hat mir doch noch etwas gefehlt, damit es mir mehr als durchschnittlich und "kann man mal lesen" vorkommt.

[Tristan Severs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good art but the translation is really rough.

[La Gran Biblioteca de David · Rating 5 out of 5]

El Día del Juicio se aproxima y los Espíritus de la Tierra tienen que dar su veredicto. ¿La humanidad será salvada o condenada? Nila se rebela frente a la maestra Pemaju y decide hacer su propio juicio, usando para ello a Asura, su discípula y el espíritu de la guerra. Cuando comienza su trama para desestabilizar a la humanidad, los demás espíritus se enfrentan a Nila. Asura comenzará a tener debates internos y a ver el lado bueno de la humanidad. ¿Podrá cambiar la decisión de los Espíritus?

La trama del libro presenta otra forma del Día del Juicio con una perspectiva diferente. Aquí se nos va planteando si los humanos tienen derecho o no a ser salvados o a ser condenados. Los distintos Espíritus tendrán que reunirse para, con sus propias vivencias (pues llevan conviviendo con ellos desde hace mucho), dar su veredicto. Además de esto está la trama de la sublevación de Nila, la cual usa a Asura como peón. Y será una batalla dura y muy larga.

Los personajes son muy curiosos, aunque Asura será la que tenga mayor protagonismo. Cada Espíritu tiene un aspecto diferente y vive con los humanos en zonas muy remotas. Asura es el personaje que más va a evolucionar, no solo físicamente en cuanto a poderes, sino internamente. Es un espíritu que se cuestiona todo constantemente, teniendo unos interesantes debates internos. Al mismo tiempo, consigue ver belleza y esperanzas donde otros no la ven.

El guión cuenta con unas conversaciones muy intensas, cargadas en parte con filosofía y debates sobre el bien y el mal, sobre la extinción o evolución. Además, el ritmo es también muy bueno y acelerado en muchas ocasiones. Sobre el arte, el dibujo de Yoshimizu me ha llamado poderosamente la atención. Es un dibujo salvaje y violento, que muestra mucho la trama de esta historia. Es un dibujo con muchos detalles y con mucho movimiento. Un arte cargado de personalidad y fuerza.

https://lagranbibliotecadedavid.blogs...

[Oswaldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia muy corta sobre el fin del mundo, o más bien el fin de la humanidad, y qué deberíamos hacer con ello. Y siendo sinceros, creó que el mangaka trata de recurrir en imágenes y simbolismos religiosos para contar cosas que no cuenta directamente, cosa que puede gustar a conocedores pero perder a desconocidos del tema, un poco mi caso la verdad.

El tema central de darle una segunda oportunidad a la humanidad creó que es algo que puedo comprender, pero no justificar a estás alturas, particularmente el día que estoy terminando este manga, mi visión es completamente lo opuesto al mensaje final por lo que mi desconexión emocional es muy notoria. Si gustas una gran historia filosófica sobre qué somos como especie y si quiera si merecemos una segunda oportunidad, Hen Kai Pan deja mucho que deber.

Las ilustraciones es cierto que si sorprenden y apantallan, mezclando una especie de brocha de acuarela con líneas simples de dibujo cuasi boceto. La verdad es que la mezcla me encantó, y su uso tanto narrativo como forma de dar una estética particular le queda como anillo al dedo, un poco fallando en lo narrativo pero tampoco tanto.

Ahora, la edición que conseguí es de Mishin Ediciones, una naciente editorial en México y para ellxs no tengo más que alabanzas. Me encanta la edición, la sobrecubierta y la portada y contraportada interior. El gramaje de las hojas excelente y sin problema alguno con la edición, mis respetos.

Tal vez está obra podría involucrarse conmigo en otro momento, pero hoy no comparto lo hippie de éste manga. Suerte para la próxima.

---Edit---
Quiero subirle una estrellita al manga porque han pasado 4 días y sigo pensando más en este manga que en muchas otras cosas. Y es que su final me molesta porque me da esperanzas en un momento donde tengo muy pocas. Yo sé que los personajes no son lo importante en está obra y el concepto y los simbolismos son realmente lo trascendental, pero creó que se merece una gran recomendación por negarse a darme un escapismo y obligarme a afrontar el mundo. Seguiré pensando en este manga.

[Travis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up because its art (and the cover in particular) felt intriguing, but I finished it only because it was short.

I could say quite a bit, but it isn't really worth my time. Lazy hack writing and plotting featuring characters who have no real depth, interest, or (interesting) motivation; an attempt to be philosophical and edgy worthy of a college freshman or highschooler; and art which isn't really all that great, though that could be down to the low-quality printing and paper in the book--better printing, with color might have served it better, but not enough to redeem the book as a whole.

One final thought: the back of book summary starts with "'Hen Kai Pan' translates as 'One and All', and is the motto of Cosmotheism." Does this have any relevance to the book, except as an explanation of the title? If it is important, shouldn't it be addressed in the book proper? And what version of cosmotheism? There is an organization implied in that statement (how else could it have a motto?) but from what I could find, aside from being roughly equivalent to the idea of pantheism, the term has been mostly co-opted by ultranationalists, and it is hard to see if there is any decent organization that is using this name.

[Lillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

Okay, so I picked this up not realizing that it was by the same author of Ryuko Vol.1 that I read last month and really didn't get along with.

To be fair, I feel like this is a stronger graphic novel than Ryuko, the art is well done and you can actually tell what's going on visually. One of my issues with Ryuko was that I could never tell what was happening in the action scenes because everything was so dark it was difficult to discern what was going on.

That being said, the narrative of Hen Kai Pan is more interesting than Ryuko - but still pretty convoluted and difficult to follow.

The concept of the plot is interesting and innovative, but there is no context given to the characters - really who they are and what their motivations could be. The graphic novel begins and it feels like the reader is dropped in after the story is already started, and has missed a huge chunk of context as to what the setup is and what the stakes are. It felt like this graphic novel could have worked in tandem with something else, perhaps another art piece or visual creation, but by itself it didn't feel like it could stand on its own legs.

[Federico Ricci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I disegni di questo fumetto valgono 10 stelle su 5. Non avevo mai letto niente di Eldo Yoshimizu e sono rimasto estremamente colpito. I temi moderni della natura e degli effetti dell'uomo su di essa vengono paradossalmente (e piacevolmente) trattati con concetti antichi come spiriti ancestrali e giorno del giudizio. Non do 5 stelle solo per la brevità dell'opera (tempo di lettura 30 minuti). Tutto il preludio all'atto finale sarebbe potuto essere ampliato maggiormente. Rimane comunque un'opera che consiglio

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated manga with a disturbing apocalypse premise about the judgment of humanity — and even life on earth itself — by “earth spirits,” which disagree about the ultimate sentence. The mass extinction of humanity by some form of intelligence has a genocidal feel, though perhaps it’s the same allegory attributable to the Biblical Flood. Humanity is to be annihilated in some apocalypse or natural disaster — through humanity’s folly — but are any to be spared. Climate change may be the post Christian apocalypse and this manga may be an artistic expression of this narrative.

[Santiago Bueno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un tomo que hace mucho quería leer, aunque no tenía tantas expectativas. Me gustó bastante por suerte. Fue un poco tosca la narración, podria haberse pulido un poco mas, pero la trama fue lo suficientemente entretenida e interesante como para que no fuese un problema grande. El concepto ya de por si, es muy interesante y autor logra sacarle mucho jugo. El arte me perdió un poco. No es el tipo de arte que me gusta, se me hacía dificil de seguir por momentos. Pero eso se debe mas que nada a que estoy muy acostumbrato a otro estilo, no es tanto una falla del manga.

[Gryphon · Rating 4 out of 5]

rated highly simply because this is my personal revenge fantasy and also there’s a panel that describes a tattoo i have— basically humanity should be eradicated and if possible their life force should be reconfigured into other life forms (animals, plants) as life must go on infinitely. the artwork is truly sublime.
however— not super well written. feels too brief; could have been great if given the proper chance.

[Zélie Crl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les grands esprits, s’ils n’ont pas encore décidés du destin de la planète terre, ont au moins tous pris leur décision concernant les humains : ils ont outrepassé leur temps, et doivent disparaître. Mais de quelle façon ? Violence, pardon ou changements, leur destin se joue sans qu’ils n’aient aucun moyen de pression, si ce n’est un jeune esprit qui pourrait tout changer …
Un one-shot au trait fébrile, changeant, où la nature n’a pas dit son dernier mot.

[Nicolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

An apocalyptic story where the guardian gods of the earth are passing judgment on humankind, and it doesn't look good for the humans.

The art is gorgeous, but the English publisher printed it in grayscale, which is a pity because this book had illustrations that looked like they done in color.

I'm confident that the English translations are accurate, but it's not done in a more literate way. This book could have been better if it had a better translator.

[David the Ñoldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read prior to reading Hell’s Paradise. Honestly, the artwork is what makes this. The story isn’t awful but just nothing super special given its pacing. The paneling at times is confusing too as there will be horizontal panels across two pages with speech bubbles but the order of the speech doesn’t flow with it

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One and All", Cosmotheism.
The Earth's five guardian spirits take action as they face the destruction to the planet caused by humans.

How will this story end?

There is some mildly explicit themes, but the artwork... Man the artwork is so freaking good. The story and the setting is the whole Earth, but the artwork that accompanies the story impresses.

Highly, recommended.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced meditation on humanity's destruction of the earth, and a possible solution to said devastation. I like the art and the story, though the work could have been longer providing some much needed world building.

[Peyton Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous art. Really impressed by the development of the characters. It felt like reading the epic conclusion to a much longer story, with all the scale and tension of a series. Testimony to the power of this artist and storyteller

[The Jaded Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Low plot, low characterization but decent illustrations. Felt like a mash-up of Good Omens and American Gods with a touch of Junji Ito's whole vibe.

Overall, just a very meh book for me though I find the cover stunning and the ending satisfying enough.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le premesse erano buone, i disegni molto belli. Peccato che a livello di storia non fosse ben sviluppato. Forse ci sarebbero voluti più volumi attraverso i quali raccontare questa storia per farmi appassionare un po' di più.

[Gleebus Schlorphin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art and story are beautiful. it would be really interesting to see this in a movie format, however i think the stillness of the physical art does a beautiful job at conveying the story. If it was a novel I would’ve enjoyed it more, but thats just personal preference.

[Django · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't recall experiencing much worse writing in my life, Besides that great art.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the Forward and the final chapter (Chapter 7). Everything else…not so much.