Drugs, Death, and Revenge: The Best New Manga, Manshuu Ahen Squad
History and manga weave consistently to create accurate stories and timelessness. It’s also one of their most celebrated genres, mainly by adults, who often crave some realism with a healthy mix of fiction. It’s a killer combo when done right, and this is the case for Manshuu Ahen Squad.
Manshuu Ahen Squad takes place in 1937, in the Northeast Chinese region of Manchuria. The area is desolate and depressing, overtaken by enemies, druglords, and starved people. Isamu Hijikita once was a soldier in the Kwantung Army, fighting on behalf of the Japanese Emperor, but is forced to leave his position when he loses an eye on the battlefight. Humiliated and stranded, Isamu worries for his sick mother as his purpose in China was to send money back home to cure her and secure a better life for his younger brothers.
The main character is sent to work on a field to provide food for the army, and he stumbles upon a field of poppy flowers, which sparks a fire within him. The country is ravaged by opium, and Isamu figures he could make a profit out of this substance. Though unaware of the violence and power of the black market, Isamu sneaks himself in, and his vulnerability and inexperience stick out like a sore thumb.
Written by Tsukasa Monma, this 2020 manga is beautifully illustrated by Shikako, which captures the mercilessness of war, hunger, death, and the cruelty of drug addictions. This historical drama does not shy away from showing the intense damage caused by opium, and neither does it from slick side characters.
Manshuu Ahen Squad is most definitely overlooked as a manga, and the engulfing story and art sets the tone for the success of this new series.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
