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Line
When popular high school student Chiko finds a cell phone, the voice on the other end tells her where she can witness a suicide! The phone doesn't stop ringing, and soon Chiko and her classmate Bando will have to race against time to save these lost souls. Tokyo has never seemed so big as in this first thrilling adventure of Line Volume 1!
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews
February 25, 2023
At first, I believed that this manga storyline had promise; it could have gone all out philosophical thriller, questioning the worth of life and whether it is worthwhile to endure suffering, but instead, it was just mediocre.
However, there are a lot of unanswered issues.
I desire to read a manga with such ideas because it's almost grating to see such untapped potential.
However, there are a lot of unanswered issues.
I desire to read a manga with such ideas because it's almost grating to see such untapped potential.
November 30, 2020
I am back to reading one-shot visual novels on my free time and the first one in my list is Line by Yua Kotegawa.
Line follows the story of a popular high school student named Chiko, who finds a cellphone out of nowhere when she was on her way home. Much to her surprise, this cellphone tells her the locations of different and seemingly unconnected people who are planning to commit a suicide. Now, it is up to Chiko and her classmate, Bando, to save these poor souls before it's too late.
I am rating this two stars, simply because I couldn't find myself to care for the main characters, Chiko and Bando. I felt too detached from them that I find it hard to see if their dynamic as partners-in-crime worked. The way this novel ended without any explanations at all did not do it any favor to boost my rating.
On the brighter side of things, the art is exceptionally good and the story had the potential only if it was executed well. Maybe it would be executed well if it was longer...? If Kotegawa-sensei decides to make more volumes to expand the storyline, maybe I would give it a shot to see if it'll turn better.
Line follows the story of a popular high school student named Chiko, who finds a cellphone out of nowhere when she was on her way home. Much to her surprise, this cellphone tells her the locations of different and seemingly unconnected people who are planning to commit a suicide. Now, it is up to Chiko and her classmate, Bando, to save these poor souls before it's too late.
I am rating this two stars, simply because I couldn't find myself to care for the main characters, Chiko and Bando. I felt too detached from them that I find it hard to see if their dynamic as partners-in-crime worked. The way this novel ended without any explanations at all did not do it any favor to boost my rating.
On the brighter side of things, the art is exceptionally good and the story had the potential only if it was executed well. Maybe it would be executed well if it was longer...? If Kotegawa-sensei decides to make more volumes to expand the storyline, maybe I would give it a shot to see if it'll turn better.
June 19, 2019
Rilettura a dir poco stupenda.
Se trovaste un cellulare abbandonato cosa fate? Lo prendete o lo lasciate li? Se decidete di prenderlo e questo inizia a suonare cosa fate? Rispondete o no? E se rispondete e una persona dall'altra parte vi dice che voi siete l'unica salvezza per dei suicidi cosa fate? Ignorate o ascoltate e cominciate a correre per impedire questi suicidi? A voi la scelta.
Line è sicuramente breve ma adrenalinico al punto giusto da tenervi incollati alle pagine.
Se trovaste un cellulare abbandonato cosa fate? Lo prendete o lo lasciate li? Se decidete di prenderlo e questo inizia a suonare cosa fate? Rispondete o no? E se rispondete e una persona dall'altra parte vi dice che voi siete l'unica salvezza per dei suicidi cosa fate? Ignorate o ascoltate e cominciate a correre per impedire questi suicidi? A voi la scelta.
Line è sicuramente breve ma adrenalinico al punto giusto da tenervi incollati alle pagine.
March 15, 2019
Line is a manga written by Yua Kotegawa and following school student Chiko as she finds a cellphone. Tormented by someone on the end of the line, Chiko is sent on a mission around her city to save people from committing suicide.
This is a really intriguing manga with a solid concept. It's unique and I've never stumbled across anything like this before. The story was executed perfectly across its four chapters and I'm glad that it was as short as it was. Extending this manga would have caused repetition throughout it and Kotegawa managed to toe the line between repetition and plot point perfectly. Everything that happened, happened for a solid reason. The story moved on its own and had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath here and there - it creates a tension that is not easily shaken off until the ending scenes of chapter four.
I wish the characters had felt more developed than they were. There were a lot of moments in this that felt entirely unnecessary such as the lesbian focus on one of the characters that was dropped almost immediately after it mentioned. It felt out of place and didn't feel right at all. It was as though it was being used for filler which I don't particularly care for as an LGBT community member. If the characters had been calmer about it rather than making an object about it, I would have been fine with it, however, they did not and it was a little disappointing for a manga with such high quality content.
However, overall, this is a really good manga. It's the right length for what it is, it's unique and intriguing, horrifying to a degree and tense. Kotegawa has created a small gem in the jisatsu genre and I'm looking forward to reading more from them in the future.
This is a really intriguing manga with a solid concept. It's unique and I've never stumbled across anything like this before. The story was executed perfectly across its four chapters and I'm glad that it was as short as it was. Extending this manga would have caused repetition throughout it and Kotegawa managed to toe the line between repetition and plot point perfectly. Everything that happened, happened for a solid reason. The story moved on its own and had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath here and there - it creates a tension that is not easily shaken off until the ending scenes of chapter four.
I wish the characters had felt more developed than they were. There were a lot of moments in this that felt entirely unnecessary such as the lesbian focus on one of the characters that was dropped almost immediately after it mentioned. It felt out of place and didn't feel right at all. It was as though it was being used for filler which I don't particularly care for as an LGBT community member. If the characters had been calmer about it rather than making an object about it, I would have been fine with it, however, they did not and it was a little disappointing for a manga with such high quality content.
However, overall, this is a really good manga. It's the right length for what it is, it's unique and intriguing, horrifying to a degree and tense. Kotegawa has created a small gem in the jisatsu genre and I'm looking forward to reading more from them in the future.
March 25, 2017
Quick read but pretty gruesome. Chiko's life is pretty normal:she's the pretty girl with the nice rack. She's fakes being bad at sports to make people laugh and is harassed by boys to give them hand jobs. Tough life of the popular girl. It all changes when she picks up this strangers phone. And it rings. The voice on the other end tells her to hurry. But she doesn't know why. Suddenly she is hurrying with classmate Bando, the nerd, the quiet one, the suspected lesbian. Together, they have one night to stop a series of gruesome deaths before they happen. Their only clues? The voice on the other line.
This was seriously fast paced and quick but packed quite the punch. There was the stereotypical high school jeering and sexual innuendos, the nerds, the nicks and those who fall by the wayside. But the horrific deaths? Seem meaningless and I think I missed the point-or rather, I think the author forgot to put one in. So what could have been a four star is only a three. The graphics were good, pretty typical for a manga so it's not rated too high there. All in all, decent.
This was seriously fast paced and quick but packed quite the punch. There was the stereotypical high school jeering and sexual innuendos, the nerds, the nicks and those who fall by the wayside. But the horrific deaths? Seem meaningless and I think I missed the point-or rather, I think the author forgot to put one in. So what could have been a four star is only a three. The graphics were good, pretty typical for a manga so it's not rated too high there. All in all, decent.
October 22, 2016
This was a pretty good manga. I wasn't sure what to think of Chiko at first but she really showed a different side in this one. It was still a very sad, and at times disturbing manga.
I wasn't sure what to expect of this one. The cover looked quite normal, and the manga started off pretty normal as well. Until the moment that Chiko's found phone suddenly starts ringing and people start to drop dead. Yes. Drop dead. Apparently someone, wants her to save people. If she isn't on time? They will commit suicide as planned.
As first you can imagine that Chiko is angry, in shock, sad, afraid. But later on you see a shift and she runs for her, and others, life to save them. She turns out to be indeed the right one to be chosen to save these people.
It was kind of weird that the suiciders didn't put up much of a struggle. If someone is really dedicated to suicide, just one person won't be able to stop them generally. But I read somewhere else that someone also had that problem/found it weird, and someone else replied on that something about cult or a suicide group pact. That they could step out of life if no one tried, but if someone tried they had to promise to give it another try.
It is quite interesting.
As I said at the start of the review, in the beginning I didn't know what to think of Chiko. At points she seemed like she cared about not only popularity but also others (as she did distract those bullies), but on the other hand she seemed to thrive and bask in the popularity. But then when all this happens you see that she truly cares about people. But she also learns a lesson. To be kinder, to be more herself, and not hiding behind some persona.
Bando was the problem however. I also saw other people saying this, but Bando was just creepy. She actually LIKED the whole suicide stuff. She actually wanted to participate in the saving. She was wayyyyy to eager about it. Sorry, but what?
Then we also find out stuff about Bando (though none of it is a big surprise) but that never gets expanded/explained beyond the one: She is lesbian and has the hots for you. I did think this was a shame. Of course while they were saving I don't expect them to suddenly explore some yuri stuff, but afterwards? It would have been interesting. Now it just felt weird that they mentioned it.
The ending? I am still not entirely sure if I like it, considering all the saving and what happens then. But it was an interesting one. I wouldn't have minded seeing an alternative ending though.
The art was pretty decent.
All in all, a pretty good book, but oh so messed up and at times disturbing as hell.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
I wasn't sure what to expect of this one. The cover looked quite normal, and the manga started off pretty normal as well. Until the moment that Chiko's found phone suddenly starts ringing and people start to drop dead. Yes. Drop dead. Apparently someone, wants her to save people. If she isn't on time? They will commit suicide as planned.
As first you can imagine that Chiko is angry, in shock, sad, afraid. But later on you see a shift and she runs for her, and others, life to save them. She turns out to be indeed the right one to be chosen to save these people.
It was kind of weird that the suiciders didn't put up much of a struggle. If someone is really dedicated to suicide, just one person won't be able to stop them generally. But I read somewhere else that someone also had that problem/found it weird, and someone else replied on that something about cult or a suicide group pact. That they could step out of life if no one tried, but if someone tried they had to promise to give it another try.
It is quite interesting.
As I said at the start of the review, in the beginning I didn't know what to think of Chiko. At points she seemed like she cared about not only popularity but also others (as she did distract those bullies), but on the other hand she seemed to thrive and bask in the popularity. But then when all this happens you see that she truly cares about people. But she also learns a lesson. To be kinder, to be more herself, and not hiding behind some persona.
Bando was the problem however. I also saw other people saying this, but Bando was just creepy. She actually LIKED the whole suicide stuff. She actually wanted to participate in the saving. She was wayyyyy to eager about it. Sorry, but what?
Then we also find out stuff about Bando (though none of it is a big surprise) but that never gets expanded/explained beyond the one: She is lesbian and has the hots for you. I did think this was a shame. Of course while they were saving I don't expect them to suddenly explore some yuri stuff, but afterwards? It would have been interesting. Now it just felt weird that they mentioned it.
The ending? I am still not entirely sure if I like it, considering all the saving and what happens then. But it was an interesting one. I wouldn't have minded seeing an alternative ending though.
The art was pretty decent.
All in all, a pretty good book, but oh so messed up and at times disturbing as hell.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
October 8, 2021
Jika Anda menemukan ponsel yang ditinggalkan, apa yang Anda lakukan? Apakah Anda mengambilnya atau meninggalkannya di sana? Jika Anda memutuskan untuk mengambilnya dan itu mulai berdering, apa yang Anda lakukan? Apakah Anda menjawab atau tidak? Dan jika Anda menjawab dan seseorang di sisi lain memberi tahu Anda bahwa Anda adalah satu-satunya penyelamat untuk bunuh diri, apa yang Anda lakukan? Abaikan atau dengarkan dan mulailah berlari untuk mencegah bunuh diri ini?
Garis besar plotnya memang pendek tetapi cukup memacu adrenalin pada titik yang tepat untuk membuat pembaca dapat terpaku pada halaman-halamannya. Meskipun intriknya terkesan dangkal dan penyelesaiannya pun bisa bias.
Artwork Kotegawa sensei cukup sederhana, saking sederhananya saya teringat dengan komik2 karya anak bangsa pada tahun 2000an dengan artwork khas seperti ini hhe.
Bacaan yg lumayan untuk menyelingi waktu senggang.
Garis besar plotnya memang pendek tetapi cukup memacu adrenalin pada titik yang tepat untuk membuat pembaca dapat terpaku pada halaman-halamannya. Meskipun intriknya terkesan dangkal dan penyelesaiannya pun bisa bias.
Artwork Kotegawa sensei cukup sederhana, saking sederhananya saya teringat dengan komik2 karya anak bangsa pada tahun 2000an dengan artwork khas seperti ini hhe.
Bacaan yg lumayan untuk menyelingi waktu senggang.
July 20, 2025
Line was a bit of a bumpy ride.
I loved the J-Horror premise, which reminded me of movies like One Missed Call. However, the opening introduction to the characters left a lot to be desired. I really wasn't expecting all the crude teenage 'banter'.
But once the story settled down, I really started getting into the main characters and their relationship. I also found the overall mystery quite interesting, and couldn't wait to find out what was going on.
But, just as things were building nicely, things sort of fell flat on their face. In fact, it was at exactly page 143 that the story began to slide. It was almost like the manga had been cancelled & the author had been given 25 pages to finish their story. Suddenly, the artwork became less detailed and the ending got rushed through like it didn't really matter. We never even really got to find out what became of the 2 MCs.
I thought this rushed ending was particularly disappointing. If it had been done right, then this could've been a real classic. But instead Line is destined to be forgotten, it's many copies lost to bargain bins across the globe.
The writer tried to philosophise about the meaning of life, but in the end, I don't think they were good enough to get that message across. In fact, I'm not even sure they knew what point they wanted to make. Although I think some good advice for the future would be - have your main character wear more than just a bra when you are trying to be deep and meaningful. But hey, maybe that's just me. 3/5.
I loved the J-Horror premise, which reminded me of movies like One Missed Call. However, the opening introduction to the characters left a lot to be desired. I really wasn't expecting all the crude teenage 'banter'.
But once the story settled down, I really started getting into the main characters and their relationship. I also found the overall mystery quite interesting, and couldn't wait to find out what was going on.
But, just as things were building nicely, things sort of fell flat on their face. In fact, it was at exactly page 143 that the story began to slide. It was almost like the manga had been cancelled & the author had been given 25 pages to finish their story. Suddenly, the artwork became less detailed and the ending got rushed through like it didn't really matter. We never even really got to find out what became of the 2 MCs.
I thought this rushed ending was particularly disappointing. If it had been done right, then this could've been a real classic. But instead Line is destined to be forgotten, it's many copies lost to bargain bins across the globe.
The writer tried to philosophise about the meaning of life, but in the end, I don't think they were good enough to get that message across. In fact, I'm not even sure they knew what point they wanted to make. Although I think some good advice for the future would be - have your main character wear more than just a bra when you are trying to be deep and meaningful. But hey, maybe that's just me. 3/5.
February 16, 2020
2.5 stars
A teenage girl, Chiko found a phone lying on a chair at the train station so she picked it up on the intention to send it to the police station but before she could do that, someone called and put her running all over the city. And other people's lives are in her hands.
I totally understand what the author tried to do with this manga but it seems like the idea was thrown in without much depth. The protagonist is a popular girl Not much of back story to back it up. We're not explained of the weird action of Bando too. It could have been better!
December 10, 2023
Sebuah ponsel yang tergeletak di tepi jalan dipungut oleh seorang anak populer. Ponsel itu berbunyi dan ketika diangkat, muncul suara penelepon yang memberi tahu bahwa sebentar lagi di tempat-tempat tertentu akan ada orang yang bunuh diri. Gadis populer itu pun pontang-panting berusaha menyelamatkan orang-orang itu satu demi satu.
Tapi siapa penelepon itu dan bagaimana dia bisa tahu ada orang yang mau bunuh diri tidak dijelaskan sampai akhir. Fokus ceritanya adalah ketegangan yang dirasakan para tokoh untuk menyelamatkan orang-orang yang mau bunuh diri. Di tengah kondisi sosial masyarakat Jepang yang begitu individualistis, kepedulian yang ditunjukkan tokoh utama ini terasa begitu langka dan menyentuh hati.
Tapi siapa penelepon itu dan bagaimana dia bisa tahu ada orang yang mau bunuh diri tidak dijelaskan sampai akhir. Fokus ceritanya adalah ketegangan yang dirasakan para tokoh untuk menyelamatkan orang-orang yang mau bunuh diri. Di tengah kondisi sosial masyarakat Jepang yang begitu individualistis, kepedulian yang ditunjukkan tokoh utama ini terasa begitu langka dan menyentuh hati.
November 27, 2022
Puh also.. ich weiß gar nicht so genau, was ich sagen soll.
Die Story ist extrem chaotisch, die Charaktere werden einfach so reingeworfen und die Zeichnungen sind auch eher durchschnittlich, werden zum Schluss hin aber besser.
Es gibt zwar so etwas wie einen roten Faden, aber es ergibt irgendwie wenig Sinn und wurde mit vielen Fragen zurückgelassen.
An sich hätte man aus der Idee was Interessantes machen können, aber dafür ist ein OneShot definitiv zu kurz.
Leider absolut keine Empfehlung von mir.
Die Story ist extrem chaotisch, die Charaktere werden einfach so reingeworfen und die Zeichnungen sind auch eher durchschnittlich, werden zum Schluss hin aber besser.
Es gibt zwar so etwas wie einen roten Faden, aber es ergibt irgendwie wenig Sinn und wurde mit vielen Fragen zurückgelassen.
An sich hätte man aus der Idee was Interessantes machen können, aber dafür ist ein OneShot definitiv zu kurz.
Leider absolut keine Empfehlung von mir.
June 19, 2024
a kind of mediocre manga with compelling component parts. it asks some interesting questions--what differentiates those who cannot cope with the world and those who can? how do different types of people respond to tragedy?--but the characters are just not super deep or real-feeling, and can't support the work's lofty aims. so, it falls a little flat, despite best efforts. i can understand those who thought more poorly of this work, or just found it disappointing, but for me it was enough to have overall "enjoyed" the read.
December 6, 2019
2,5 stars
November 10, 2021
Fast paced, but too fast. The story is rushed and you don't get a lot of development of anything.
July 27, 2013
The artwork is simple enough to pass by my standards, but there's something about Chiko's head that made me annoyed (maybe that's just me though). It made me so confused that at one point, I was staring at the picture below and saying "wtf is wrong with her head? It seems kinda off to me. It doesn't fit with the body for some reason?" But like I said, maybe that's just me and my perfectionism.
http://mamaa.files.wordpress.com/2011..."
I felt that the cover could have been of two girls running or of a cell phone. Two girls in their uniforms just doesn't seem to fit this story. I wanted more of a "thiller" feel.
**SPOILERS BELOW**
I liked the plotline, but felt like it could have been done better if there were only a few people rather than ~13 to save even though I did like how the first few people died (is that horrible?) because it added a sense of "oh sh!t this is real!" to the story and not just some random person helping save these people in the suicide pact thingy that might not be real. It added tension.
However, I what I didn't like was how the people who died were just glanced over, or at least that's what it felt like to me. At the end, everyone was all happy and cheery, but I would be messed up mentally. Most people would have to go to therapy just to get over being the cause of someone's death because you couldn't save them in time. Or is that just me?
At the end, her friends acted like they had no clue what Chiko went through. How was this not frontline news? How was everyone still bullying even though there was a person in the classroom that just went through hell because of the bullies causing people to want to die. I know, it was for that whole "we're a better person now" but still... wtf?
And what was the deal when Chiko backed out of saving people? That made absolutely no sense to me. And of course, Chiko knows exactly where to find Bando again AND still have time to save the next person (because of course the guy on the telephone knows the exact moment that Chiko will have a moment of weakness and leave). I found it kinda annoying, because she could have just gone across the street to have her moment and come back. Same affect. Did she really have to go all the way to her friend's hangout spot? No.
I also felt like there was no real reason for Bando to be a lesbian. Sure, that was cool and all and gave a reason for her being an outsider, but I didn't see any other reason for it than to have accidental-falling-hugging-then-blushing-awkward scenes. And I didn't know what their relationship was at the end. Were they together? Were they just friends? I sort of wanted to know for closure.
And is Bando a sociopath? Seriously, I don't talk to a lot of my friends and I read a lot of books and I'm a loner, but I wouldn't laugh all the time while I'm trying to save people's lives. I would understand ONE OR TWO laughs, a kind of laugh like "holy crap, I'm with my crush and we're saving people. My life has really changed in literally a moment". But to laugh multiple times and not seem at all inspired or scared for the people dying? She seems a little emotionally disconnected in my opinion.
It did keep me reading, I'll give it that. I was okay with the ending since I always like the "quiet kids being mastermind" kind of thing (But it seemed abrupt. Like "here's your guy, oops, he's dead, now here's your ending.")
But because of all this, I could only give it 3 stars (I'm feeling really generous). I'm still glad I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone really. It had a lot more potential but it did the best it could.
http://mamaa.files.wordpress.com/2011..."
I felt that the cover could have been of two girls running or of a cell phone. Two girls in their uniforms just doesn't seem to fit this story. I wanted more of a "thiller" feel.
**SPOILERS BELOW**
I liked the plotline, but felt like it could have been done better if there were only a few people rather than ~13 to save even though I did like how the first few people died (is that horrible?) because it added a sense of "oh sh!t this is real!" to the story and not just some random person helping save these people in the suicide pact thingy that might not be real. It added tension.
However, I what I didn't like was how the people who died were just glanced over, or at least that's what it felt like to me. At the end, everyone was all happy and cheery, but I would be messed up mentally. Most people would have to go to therapy just to get over being the cause of someone's death because you couldn't save them in time. Or is that just me?
At the end, her friends acted like they had no clue what Chiko went through. How was this not frontline news? How was everyone still bullying even though there was a person in the classroom that just went through hell because of the bullies causing people to want to die. I know, it was for that whole "we're a better person now" but still... wtf?
And what was the deal when Chiko backed out of saving people? That made absolutely no sense to me. And of course, Chiko knows exactly where to find Bando again AND still have time to save the next person (because of course the guy on the telephone knows the exact moment that Chiko will have a moment of weakness and leave). I found it kinda annoying, because she could have just gone across the street to have her moment and come back. Same affect. Did she really have to go all the way to her friend's hangout spot? No.
I also felt like there was no real reason for Bando to be a lesbian. Sure, that was cool and all and gave a reason for her being an outsider, but I didn't see any other reason for it than to have accidental-falling-hugging-then-blushing-awkward scenes. And I didn't know what their relationship was at the end. Were they together? Were they just friends? I sort of wanted to know for closure.
And is Bando a sociopath? Seriously, I don't talk to a lot of my friends and I read a lot of books and I'm a loner, but I wouldn't laugh all the time while I'm trying to save people's lives. I would understand ONE OR TWO laughs, a kind of laugh like "holy crap, I'm with my crush and we're saving people. My life has really changed in literally a moment". But to laugh multiple times and not seem at all inspired or scared for the people dying? She seems a little emotionally disconnected in my opinion.
It did keep me reading, I'll give it that. I was okay with the ending since I always like the "quiet kids being mastermind" kind of thing (But it seemed abrupt. Like "here's your guy, oops, he's dead, now here's your ending.")
But because of all this, I could only give it 3 stars (I'm feeling really generous). I'm still glad I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone really. It had a lot more potential but it did the best it could.
October 22, 2016
Short, sweet, and to the point, Line has more potential than it has actual content. That doesn't make it bad though.
[Read more…]
On the contrary, Line's potential is such that I can't help but feel the 1-volume series was quite good, based more on that potential than the content. It had the right idea going, a good sense of suspense building, and managed to do it all in a few short chapters.
Chiko's a pretty typical party girl. A little shallow, sure, but she knows subtle ways to deter bullying and is good at self-deprecating humor. When she finds a lost cell phone and decides to turn it in, her life changes. The phone rings and on the other end is someone who starts telling her locations where people are about to die and that she's the only one who can stop them. With the assistance of a classmate, Bando, she starts racing around Tokyo trying to prevent people from killing themselves.
I think what I liked most was that she didn't always succeed. Sometimes she simply didn't get there in time, no matter how hard she tried. For awhile she simply gave up in frustration. She questioned why any of this mattered to her, they were strangers. And yet she realized that it would make her just like the people who saw someone about to jump and yet did nothing to try to stop them. She didn't want to be someone who could just look away and pretend not to see things.
The other thing I liked was that she never learned who Task was, and didn't know that he presumably killed himself at the end (based on an undescribed image.) Perhaps he thought she could find him and rescue him as well, perhaps not. But at least she didn't have that hanging over her as well.
I really think this could have been stretched into a longer series with character development. Slowing the pacing of the suicides, giving Chiko and Bando a chance to form a relationship and for Chiko to come to terms with her position would have been wonderful. Still, even in its condensed form I found this to be a worthwhile read. For all the darkness, it was still bittersweetly uplifting in the end.
[Read more…]
On the contrary, Line's potential is such that I can't help but feel the 1-volume series was quite good, based more on that potential than the content. It had the right idea going, a good sense of suspense building, and managed to do it all in a few short chapters.
Chiko's a pretty typical party girl. A little shallow, sure, but she knows subtle ways to deter bullying and is good at self-deprecating humor. When she finds a lost cell phone and decides to turn it in, her life changes. The phone rings and on the other end is someone who starts telling her locations where people are about to die and that she's the only one who can stop them. With the assistance of a classmate, Bando, she starts racing around Tokyo trying to prevent people from killing themselves.
I think what I liked most was that she didn't always succeed. Sometimes she simply didn't get there in time, no matter how hard she tried. For awhile she simply gave up in frustration. She questioned why any of this mattered to her, they were strangers. And yet she realized that it would make her just like the people who saw someone about to jump and yet did nothing to try to stop them. She didn't want to be someone who could just look away and pretend not to see things.
The other thing I liked was that she never learned who Task was, and didn't know that he presumably killed himself at the end (based on an undescribed image.) Perhaps he thought she could find him and rescue him as well, perhaps not. But at least she didn't have that hanging over her as well.
I really think this could have been stretched into a longer series with character development. Slowing the pacing of the suicides, giving Chiko and Bando a chance to form a relationship and for Chiko to come to terms with her position would have been wonderful. Still, even in its condensed form I found this to be a worthwhile read. For all the darkness, it was still bittersweetly uplifting in the end.
August 16, 2014
A high school girl named Chiko picks up a cell phone she assumes someone lost. Before she can drop it off with the police or try to return it she gets a call from someone who says they can see the future. In fifteen minutes, someone will die, and only Chiko can save them...
Line is a stand alone volume containing the complete story. Chiko and her classmate Bando get pulled into a tense race to save a stranger. And that's only the beginning. The story builds well and remains gripping throughout. Chiko and Bando seem two-dimensional when we meet them (albeit in different ways), but that's part of the point. These are normal students thrown into an extremely abnormal situation.
I've seen two major complaints out of other readers(that still like it): that it needed to be longer (which I would've been fine with but don't feel is necessary) and that it ends poorly. I disagree with that last - the setup has a ton of potential and certainly could've been used to build a different story, but I felt Line was well constructed and made sense both plotwise and in terms of the characters' actions, up through and including the ending. I bring up the differing opinion because it seems readers are split on this and figured it was worth mentioning.
The art is solid. It's not particularly elaborate but is well done none the less and works for the story. The author/artist also uses some unique framing, layouts and angles which give the manga a nice style and really accentuates certain moments.
A dark tale of danger, choices and strangers, Line is a well executed, compelling read.
11/2102
Edit 3/1/14: Reread this (again) for some reading challenges. It might not be what people will expect from the premise, but I adore it. It's holding up well on rereads and I still agree with everything in my review above.
Line is a stand alone volume containing the complete story. Chiko and her classmate Bando get pulled into a tense race to save a stranger. And that's only the beginning. The story builds well and remains gripping throughout. Chiko and Bando seem two-dimensional when we meet them (albeit in different ways), but that's part of the point. These are normal students thrown into an extremely abnormal situation.
I've seen two major complaints out of other readers(that still like it): that it needed to be longer (which I would've been fine with but don't feel is necessary) and that it ends poorly. I disagree with that last - the setup has a ton of potential and certainly could've been used to build a different story, but I felt Line was well constructed and made sense both plotwise and in terms of the characters' actions, up through and including the ending. I bring up the differing opinion because it seems readers are split on this and figured it was worth mentioning.
The art is solid. It's not particularly elaborate but is well done none the less and works for the story. The author/artist also uses some unique framing, layouts and angles which give the manga a nice style and really accentuates certain moments.
A dark tale of danger, choices and strangers, Line is a well executed, compelling read.
11/2102
Edit 3/1/14: Reread this (again) for some reading challenges. It might not be what people will expect from the premise, but I adore it. It's holding up well on rereads and I still agree with everything in my review above.
February 15, 2016
Debe ser difícil resumir una historia completa en un único tomo de manga. La ciudad al atardecer. El país de los cerezos es la única vez en que yo he leído un manga en un único tomo y me ha dado la sensación de que la historia está completa y no necesita nada más. No es el caso con Line.
La premisa me pareció interesante, una chica se encuentra un móvil y hacen una llamada. Ella contesta y le avisan de que va a haber un suicidio delante de la estación. La protagonista tiene que decidir qué hacer con esa información.
Pero a la hora de desarrollar el argumento, la autora quiere contar demasiadas cosas y el espacio que tiene no da para tanto. La historia debería centrarse en un único suicidio y no en tratar de resolver diez y además añadir subtramas del pasado de la protagonista, temáticas yuri, moraleja y todo. En consecuencia el tomo va tan rápido que es difícil de seguir. No nos da tiempo a tener cariño por los personajes ni entendemos para nada la relación entre ellos. En realidad es un 2 estrellas, pero le doy 3 porque la premisa me gusta mucho.
La premisa me pareció interesante, una chica se encuentra un móvil y hacen una llamada. Ella contesta y le avisan de que va a haber un suicidio delante de la estación. La protagonista tiene que decidir qué hacer con esa información.
Pero a la hora de desarrollar el argumento, la autora quiere contar demasiadas cosas y el espacio que tiene no da para tanto. La historia debería centrarse en un único suicidio y no en tratar de resolver diez y además añadir subtramas del pasado de la protagonista, temáticas yuri, moraleja y todo. En consecuencia el tomo va tan rápido que es difícil de seguir. No nos da tiempo a tener cariño por los personajes ni entendemos para nada la relación entre ellos. En realidad es un 2 estrellas, pero le doy 3 porque la premisa me gusta mucho.
February 29, 2012
I think this story was supposed to be in the "psychological thriller" category, but it was not thrilling and the psychological aspect was weak. the plot revolves around a teenage girl who picks up a seemingly lost cell phone and when it rings, answers the call. On the other end is someone stating that the girl with the phone has a short amount of time to stop someone from dying, and the girl is told where to go. Thus starts a multi-day chase across Tokyo to keep people from dying. Who is making these calls? Why are the people dying a part of this?
Before I was even a third of the way through this story, my answer to the above questions was "I don't care." Seriously, this story completely failed to pull me in and I had a hard time taking it seriously. The characters are more caricatures than fleshed-out characters, the art is pretty uninspired, and there just isn't much of anything here to recommend this story over others.
Before I was even a third of the way through this story, my answer to the above questions was "I don't care." Seriously, this story completely failed to pull me in and I had a hard time taking it seriously. The characters are more caricatures than fleshed-out characters, the art is pretty uninspired, and there just isn't much of anything here to recommend this story over others.
October 13, 2012
It's honestly not a bad read. Sure, it's disappointing. You expect a lot due to how the summary was written. You'd expect an evil organization or a dangerous plot of sorts behind it. But all you get was a simple, quiet kid who has a twisted mind and happens to be really smart. For me, that's what makes it cool. I mean, it makes you realize that not all is what seems, you know? It makes you think whether you really know those antisocial people in class. It makes you want to befriend them. The theme was good too. It's to appreciate life. The heroine, Chiko, was likeable and realistic. I didn't really care much about Bando though. Still, Line was fun and it helped pass the time.
November 28, 2019
6 June 2017:
The art is a little unpolished and the set-up kind of basic, but still, somehow, I got really into it towards the middle.
Recommended for people who are just starting out with manga and want to start small. Long-time fans of the medium: you've probably read something like this before.
__
28 November 2019:
I've read this manga a couple of times throughout the years. I always forget that I own it, and I always forget the precise story, but I just read it again and it was just a good old nostalgia-goggley time. Still a pretty basic plot, though.
The art is a little unpolished and the set-up kind of basic, but still, somehow, I got really into it towards the middle.
Recommended for people who are just starting out with manga and want to start small. Long-time fans of the medium: you've probably read something like this before.
__
28 November 2019:
I've read this manga a couple of times throughout the years. I always forget that I own it, and I always forget the precise story, but I just read it again and it was just a good old nostalgia-goggley time. Still a pretty basic plot, though.
December 30, 2014
The art style is nice like in Anne Freaks, and the story is definitely shorter. Short of it is that a girl picks up a cell phone and becomes the unlikely savior of suicidal teens. In the process she learns that we've all got something tying us together- and sometimes we just need to be reminded of it.
Read it twice, and probably will read it again next year, its just a great story.
Read it twice, and probably will read it again next year, its just a great story.
January 30, 2014
It tries to be a thriller "Suicide Club" in reverse or something, but there aren't enough pages (or story-telling skill really) to get that across
So you end up with slightly off art and random running around instead
So you end up with slightly off art and random running around instead
March 22, 2008
life is always a fight but fighting is the best part for it. without the struggle, there is no meaning.
August 30, 2009
(C/C-)
May 7, 2012
most expensive 15 mins I'll never get back haha
September 14, 2012
A gripping read but not as horrifying as advertised.
August 11, 2009
Go go action yuri!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews