What's up, guys?
Kristin from Anime Collective.
I hope you all are having a good week.
So I just got in a series I am really excited about
and it is Colorless by Kent.
You guys probably already know
by now that I love sci fi manga and this is one of my favorites
released within quite some time and I'm excited to show you guys it.
Colorless by Kent is a stunning new noir-punk manga
with a unique style and world, and it's releasing for the first time
with the English translation by Seven Seas.
If you're someone like me who also collects anime statues
you may already be familiar
with Kent from his work as a concept artist for Prime 1 Studio,
but Colorless is the first manga to ever be published by Kent.
Colorless is one of my most anticipated new manga releases of 2022,
and after reading the first volume, I actually think it's one of the best
manga releases of the year, as well as one of the best Sci-Fi manga
to release as of late.
Colorless' first volume has one of the most
aesthetically pleasing designs I've ever seen.
The artwork on the front cover of Avi
and Chie is amazing, and I love the graphic look of it.
The cover itself is matte, but the details are glossy.
They have a clean but also bold look to them, and they are high quality
too. They are actually very similar to the quality and feel the Dai Dark volumes
if you have them in hand.
When you open up the volume, you have a few red color pages
which foreshadow the events to come, but then it flashes
back to the start of the story.
Colorless is set in a world where a giant solar flare called Mercy
Pulse wiped the world of its color and mutated the human race.
Avidia aka Avi, a lone wolf investigator, takes on a number of different jobs.
His main goal, though, is to uncover the mystery of the Iodopsy Cult, who
worships the lost
color as their deity, and to track down the remaining remnants of color.
To those on the outside, the cult's main goal is to revive the once vivid world.
But color is a powerful new energy source that holds unlimited potential
in society, a power they wish to have to themselves.
A job leads him into a chance encounter with a special girl
that may hold the secret to bringing back what the world has lost.
To summarize, we have cults, we have a dystopian society, advanced tech
and a cool setting.
Colorless has everything I could ever want in a manga and then some.
It's cyberpunk, but it's also noir, so it's full of action and intrigue,
but it's full of danger and has a cynical nature as well.
This series may be called Colorless, but this story, the world
it's set in and the characters that are in it are so colorful and vibrant.
The way the characters act and interact remind me a lot of Dorohedoro,
especially since both are set in dark worlds, yet are still so full of life
and it's very much in the vein of cyberpunk manga
like No Guns Life so if you enjoyed any of these series, you'll enjoy Colorless.
In some ways, it also reminds me a lot of The Dark Knight.
It's still unlike anything I've read before,
but I wanted to mention these similarities in hopes that it may connect with you
on some level.
I also wanted to mention how cool it was a Hideo Kojima who's known for Death
Stranding, Metal Gear Solid and more posted on Twitter that he picked up
the first few volumes of Colorless because he liked the art style.
This is definitely one of the main reasons I decided to pick it up too.
Kent's art style is similar to two of my all time
favorite manga creators Q Hayashida, the creator of Dorohedoro and Dai Dark
and Tsutomu Nihei, the creator of Blame!, Knights of Sidonia, Biomega and more,
but it's also very unique and distinctive as well
in a lot of ways too his art is very reminiscent
of what's seen in some American comics and graphic novels.
The art is monochromatic, but there are hints of color
that are added throughout because of this it's
one of the most visually striking series I've ever read.
Color is a big thing in this world
and something that I often don't think to be grateful for.
So when these pops of color appear in the panels,
I find myself appreciating them even more in Colorless than I would
While reading other manga they have color in them.
Everything from the mechanical designs to organic elements are drawn
with detail and care.
The moody landscapes and the technology in this series further hone
in the futuristic setting, and they add believability to this world.
The outfit and character designs are incredible too.
I'm big into techwear so while reading cyberpunk
series like these I always catch myself thinking I'd love to own
certain outfits or pieces I see various characters wearing.
Kent did a phenomenal job with the overall designs,
especially in regards to the clothing which looks functional but also stylish.
Items like Kaneda's jacket in Akira, for instance, are iconic and details
like these matter a lot more in sci fi manga,
especially when they're set in dystopian societies.
That being said, I really appreciate all of the added details, Kent included,
because they bring the world in Colorless even further to life.
Worldbuilding is one of Colorless' biggest strong suits,
so if you enjoy rich and well-thought-out worlds, you'll enjoy this one.
The story in Colorless is full of mystery,
which makes it intriguing, but it's also action packed as well.
We follow Avi on his journey to uncover the secrets behind the cult
and the events that brought about this new world.
But it's the interactions
between the characters that make this one a truly special read,
you can feel a bond between them, especially Avi and Chie,
even though it's just forming, and I'm looking forward
to seeing how their relationship develops in the volumes to come.
Also, make sure you stick around for the side stories
at the end of each volume.
They are more lighthearted entries like those seen at the end of Dorohedoro
and they are fun reads.
Some sketches and concept illustrations of Avi's gun and the ASP-90,
which are the fighting machines used by
the order, were also included in the back too.
These add more context so these are great editions also.
All in all, Colorless is one of the most exciting manga
as well as one of the best sci fi manga I've read as of late
and I am looking forward to picking up more volumes.
Also, Seven Seas has really been killing it lately
with their licenses from Dai Dark to the Darling in the Franxx omnibuses,
which I also reviewed on the channel, if you like to check it out!
and now Colorless.
In addition to Colorless, Kent created a one-shot titled Destronaut
that's set in outer space that you may want to check out as well.
If you haven't already done so, you can pick up Colorless now
at one of the following retailers I have listed in the description below.
Also, thanks so much to Seven Seas for sending this volume over for review!
What about you guys?
Have you been enjoying Colorless so far? Let me know.
Thanks as always for watching and I hope you're having a good week!