Eden: It's an Endless World

[Tsukishima]

I've recently finished Tezuka's Phoenix and was ready to start Nausicaa, so I went to the public library in my city to borrow it, unfortunately another nigga had already taken the first volumes, so yeah, I was pissed off. But I didn't want to have the feeling I went there for nothing, so I decided to pick another manga. I've never heard about Eden: It's an Endless World, but it had a cool name and for some reason, some covers reminded me a bit of Battle Angel Alita and Akira, so I took 4 volumes.

The story is rather complex, and involve several characters at different period of time, so it's hard to make a brief summary of it.

! From Wikipedia:
! Eden is set in the near future, following a pandemic which killed 15 percent of the world's population, crippled or disfigured many more, and upset the world's political balance greatly.
! The series begins with a long introduction, with the characters Ennoia and Hannah living a peaceful life on a remote island called Eden, with researcher Lane Morris, who is their guardian, a victim of the pandemic. The events that led to this situation are revealed in flashbacks, leading up to the return of Ennoia's father, along with the forces of the Propater Federation.
Following this, the story moves forwards twenty years, and focuses on Ennoia's son, Elijah, and his own conflict with Propater.

I'm not so far in the story, but I 'm already hooked. It's definitely one of the most thought-provoking manga about human nature. There are lots of references and analogy to many mythologies.

I've just finished volume 3, it was violent, brutal, merciless… well, awesome, I'm still shocked.

Has anyone else read it?

[THE SEA]

This series is goddamn classic. Hiroki Endo is a fucking genius.
Nobody is safe. Nobody has plot armor. Less silly cheesy death speech.

[Sniper King]

@Tsukishima:

I've recently finished Tezuka's Phoenix and was ready to start Nausicaa, so I went to the public library in my city to borrow it, unfortunately another nigga had already taken the first volumes, so yeah, I was pissed off. But I didn't want to have the feeling I went there for nothing, so I decided to pick another manga. I've never heard about Eden: It's an Endless World, but it had a cool name and for some reason, some covers reminded me a bit of Battle Angel Alita and Akira, so I took 4 volumes.

The story is rather complex, and involve several characters at different period of time, so it's hard to make a brief summary of it.

! From Wikipedia:
! Eden is set in the near future, following a pandemic which killed 15 percent of the world's population, crippled or disfigured many more, and upset the world's political balance greatly.
! The series begins with a long introduction, with the characters Ennoia and Hannah living a peaceful life on a remote island called Eden, with researcher Lane Morris, who is their guardian, a victim of the pandemic. The events that led to this situation are revealed in flashbacks, leading up to the return of Ennoia's father, along with the forces of the Propater Federation.
Following this, the story moves forwards twenty years, and focuses on Ennoia's son, Elijah, and his own conflict with Propater.

I'm not so far in the story, but I 'm already hooked. It's definitely one of the most thought-provoking manga about human nature. There are lots of references and analogy to many mythologies.

I've just finished volume 3, it was violent, brutal, merciless… well, awesome, I'm still shocked.

Has anyone else read it?

The beginning of your post made me think you lived in my city, and I was the one who took the first volumes.
'Cause I did have them for a while…
But you live in France.

I searched for Eden on my county library's site...but they don't have it.

[Tsukishima]

@Sniper:

The beginning of your post made me think you lived in my city, and I was the one who took the first volumes.
'Cause I did have them for a while…
But you live in France.

If you don't live in France, then it's not you. I don't who this guy is, but I should thank him, I wouldn't have started this manga if it wasn't for him.

@THE:

This series is goddamn classic. Hiroki Endo is a fucking genius.

Yeah, the author seems to have a lot of knowledge in numerous realms, and he sure knows how to use them efficently.

[THE SEA]

You will be shocked and shocked and shocked constantly as you read this manga.
But the thing is it explains philosophy in a straight-forward manner rather than hide under the stories like Nausicaa.

[BigLuffy559]

Do you think Dark Horse will finish publishing this manga? They only put out 2 volumes a year IIRC due to low sales. I want to buy it, but not if there is a chance I won't be able to complete the collection.

[Kondo]

One of the best manga that I've read. An absolute masterpiece. I went into it thinking that it would just be some generic sci-fi seinen, but I ended up reading every chapter in just two days (and that was while savoring it). The arc before the timeskip is one of my top 3 favorite arcs in any manga. And the way Endo illustrates the action is perfect. It is a must read for people who enjoy complex stories.

[BigLuffy559]

Oh, someone bumped this thread :happy:

Then I may as well take this opportunity to let anyone who cares know that Dark Horse is finally releasing volume 14 in March 2014, like 2 years after volume 13…Everyone should go buy it so we don't have to wait as long for volume 15.

[stephen]

Greeeaaaaaaat series! Man, I wanna go back and read it all over again.

[Dryish]

Just read this like a week ago. Definitely one of the best, right up there with things like Nausicaä and Lone Wolf and Cub. Not without its flaws, of course, but what ever is?

[Shipmate]

Endo Hiroki Tanpenshuu is also a great collection of one-shots, for anyone interested. My favorite is "For those of us who don't believe in god".

[MiyamotoMusashi]

@Toraish:

Just read this like a week ago. Definitely one of the best, right up there with things like Nausicaä and Lone Wolf and Cub. Not without its flaws, of course, but what ever is?

Would use the like button for this^^

It definitely has its flaws (since i recently reread it again, i remember some of them) but it is certainly, like you said, one of the best and generally seems to be one that is overlooked.

[pyromonki]

Ah, this manga. The manga where I constantly flipped back pages to make sure what I just saw actually happened. ;_;

[Kondo]

@pyromonki:

Ah, this manga. The manga where I constantly flipped back pages to make sure what I just saw actually happened. ;_;

I did the same thing. But I have to give credit to Endo. The man is an absolute master at storytelling, followed by an incredibly detailed artist.

I agree that it has it's flaws, but Endo's skill dwarf at them to insignificance. Anybody who enjoyed Eden should also check out his collection of short stories.

[Pochipochi]

Endou is a golden mangaka

[stephen]

I'll admit I always liked his sex scenes relative to other authors who use them regularly in non-pornographic settings, and he inserts them at a regular clip in his works. The funny thing is that his current series has virtually no sexual content at all, because it's about MMA and the entire series is basically one long succession of dry humping.

[kouch_lee]

I'm getting increasingly fustrated reading this manga. Basically because I feel like I'm stupid or that my reading comprehension is severely lacking.

But at chapter 28 I'm still not getting a shit ton of stuff. I still don't get most of the context, I don't know who's who in this new world balance, I get lost in the technical stuff, why is everyone trying to cross the Andes?, new people keep appearing outta nowhere and I feel like I should know them but nope, I don't know them,. . .

It's driving me nuts. I'm already at the 1/4 mark, and I feel like I need too much information and background to keep up. I know the author is basically trying to not use the cliché of the over-expository monologues, but, bottom line, I'm getting lost.

[Dryish]

@kouch_lee:

I'm getting increasingly fustrated reading this manga. Basically because I feel like I'm stupid or that my reading comprehension is severely lacking.

But at chapter 28 I'm still not getting a shit ton of stuff. I still don't get most of the context, I don't know who's who in this new world balance, I get lost in the technical stuff, why is everyone trying to cross the Andes?, new people keep appearing outta nowhere and I feel like I should know them but nope, I don't know them,. . .

It's driving me nuts. I'm already at the 1/4 mark, and I feel like I need too much information and background to keep up. I know the author is basically trying to not use the cliché of the over-expository monologues, but, bottom line, I'm getting lost.

This is pretty much what I meant by "not without its flaws". The earlier story is unfathomably confusing with incredibly weird crossing timelines, no flashback markers, multiple short timeskips, huge amounts of important information being simply shoved into the story with very little exposition to go with it…

But it gets a lot better. Read about a ten to twenty more chapters and everything stabilizes a lot and the puzzle pieces actually start moving. If you can get past the bad start that had pretty much everyone reading it backtracking just to check stuff (I did that a lot too), it really pays off. The latter half of the series is nothing short of amazing. You'll do yourself a favour if you keep at it despite the hardships.

[Shipmate]

Even the earlier part becomes really good when you reread it. This is not a story meant to be read once, per se.

[kouch_lee]

@Toraish:

This is pretty much what I meant by "not without its flaws". The earlier story is unfathomably confusing with incredibly weird crossing timelines, no flashback markers, multiple short timeskips, huge amounts of important information being simply shoved into the story with very little exposition to go with it…

But it gets a lot better. Read about a ten to twenty more chapters and everything stabilizes a lot and the puzzle pieces actually start moving. If you can get past the bad start that had pretty much everyone reading it backtracking just to check stuff (I did that a lot too), it really pays off. The latter half of the series is nothing short of amazing. You'll do yourself a favour if you keep at it despite the hardships.

I will. It's still kind of weirdly addictive, the action scenes are intense, and I already experienced a HOLY MOTHER OF SHIII* moment that left me hugely shocked. I like the openmindedness of this manga, with characters from all walks of life, races and cultures openly talking about religion and philosophy.

I can appreciate from the first chapter that this is not your run of the mill manga, there's plenty of quality, adult stuff in here. That's why it frustrates me that so far I haven't been able to enjoy the full experience; hearing that it gets better later on is a relieve.

Thanks for the advice!

[BigLuffy559]

It's been a while since I read, but I don't recall the beginning being confusing at all. It got a little confusing for me when

! people started uploading themselves into that crystal invasion, and the Earth ejaculated all their information into that double blackhole new universe egg….

[Kondo]

@kouch_lee:

I'm getting increasingly fustrated reading this manga. Basically because I feel like I'm stupid or that my reading comprehension is severely lacking.

But at chapter 28 I'm still not getting a shit ton of stuff. I still don't get most of the context, I don't know who's who in this new world balance, I get lost in the technical stuff, why is everyone trying to cross the Andes?, new people keep appearing outta nowhere and I feel like I should know them but nope, I don't know them,. . .

It's driving me nuts. I'm already at the 1/4 mark, and I feel like I need too much information and background to keep up. I know the author is basically trying to not use the cliché of the over-expository monologues, but, bottom line, I'm getting lost.

It becomes easier to understand once the scientists come in (not a spoiler). And not understanding it doesn't equal low reading comprehension. It is a confusing manga, especially if you go into it without being ready to think (like I did).

@BigLuffy559:

It's been a while since I read, but I don't recall the beginning being confusing at all. It got a little confusing for me when

! people started uploading themselves into that crystal invasion, and the Earth ejaculated all their information into that double blackhole new universe egg….

I have no understanding of how it could be confusing to you since you perfectly explained what was going on.

[BigLuffy559]

@Kondo:

I have no understanding of how it could be confusing to you since you perfectly explained what was going on.

Oh! I got the gist of it then? Great! Well, it was more like the details of that stuff, like the spirituality aspect that Maya brought to the table, and the in depth physics/scientific explanations that was like Greek to me and I could never even hope to begin to understand.

–-------
I'm going to do my third reread this Spring when Dark Horse finally releases volume 14. Maybe then I'll recall what people mean when they say the beginning is confusing.

[Kondo]

@BigLuffy559:

Oh! I got the gist of it then? Great! Well, it was more like the details of that stuff, like the spirituality aspect that Maya brought to the table, and the in depth physics/scientific explanations that was like Greek to me and I could never even hope to begin to understand.

–-------
I'm going to do my third reread this Spring when Dark Horse finally releases volume 14. Maybe then I'll recall what people mean when they say the beginning is confusing.

Just take a half dozen college courses in Gnosticism. You'd probably understand just about everything then.

[MiyamotoMusashi]

Or just read up on gnosticism like i did^^

For me, the beginning was not really confusing to be honest. Of course it jumped back and forth sometimes (with a few flashbacks for example) but in general, it was clear to me. Like BigLuffy, i think i got the gist of it but the heavy science around volume 13-16(?) confused me sometimes or rather was too much to understand at once.

[Kondo]

The hole introduction of the closure virus was confusing, but eventually it explained itself through the scientists researching it (and Maya of course).

[kouch_lee]

So after the Prostitutes, Pimps, Drug Abuse and Hardcore Sex saga, it seems we're (finally) back to some Sci-fi stuff. Took it long enough.

I had the feeling while reading this arc that it wasn't that different from our everyday world. Pimps, drug lords, corrupt politicians. . .I didn't get the feeling that this was a new world order at all. Maybe that's the whole point? That even after a huge disaster that could potentially bring the whole world's balance into chaos, eventually everything will go back to square one? Or it's just that the whole virus disaster wasn't all that much in the end, and people kept living their everyday lives, but now with some cybernetic implants to make them look more badass?

Regardless, I just feel like the author just suddenly felt the need to do some hardcore hard boiled police story with lots of explicit sex, and instead of doing it elsewhere, he added it into this futuristic post-apocaliptic manga. It wasn't the most entertaining stuff ever, but it looks like things are going places right at chapter 54, so let's see.

So far, good manga, some really shocking moments, nice society portrait. . .but not terribly engaging. Let's see what else it has in store!

Edit: Ok. Would it really hurt seinen manga's reputation if there was no RAPE involved?

! Specially the "hard boiled protagonist who's background includes being ass raped during childhood" kind?

As advanced and transgressive as this manga is (Japan imperialism and ethnic cleansing politics being critisized in a manga? What kind of sorcery is this???), I feel like it still needs to check all the "hardcore seinen" items on the book. Lots of T&A? check! Lots of gore? check! Extended sex scenes? check! Rape as a backstory? check!

Nausicaa made tons of interesting points, was clearly seinen, and it only used a bit of gore outta that list (which was a thousandth part of what we have in here). That just makes me appreciate that manga even more.

I'm mostly ranting right now and it's not this manga's fault, but I guess I just had to vent it out. It's a perfectly valid and legit way of telling a story, but when it's overused it starts to feel like a formula. And in such a NON formulaic manga as this, I feel it actually downgrades it a bit.

Wathever, let's keep on reading. At last it's much more interesting now narrative and plot wise, and I'm getting some good background bits. Freaking finally.

[Luffyko]

The first time I heard of this manga was last week, thanks to this thread.
And now, exactly one week later, I finished it.
What can I say? It was absolutely amazing.
Great storyline, philosophy, artwork and characters.

[kouch_lee]

And. . .done.

In the end, this manga fucked me up big time. The sci-fi concepts were definitely dense, and I'm not the biggest fan of the narrative style of this manga, but the ending was probably the best sci-fi thingie I've probably experienced.

This manga is definitely in a league of its own, and not only quality wise (I think there are better manga, or at least manga I've enjoyed more, although it is definitely among the strongest titles), but in its open-mindedness and its world views. It's well written, it's thought provoking, it's affecting, it makes lots of points, and it leaves you feeling weird as hell. At least, to me.

I don't think I'm totally satisfied; not only because I have many things to nitpick about the execution (some scenes are obviously shock value for shock value's sake, the gags and facefaults didn't work even a single time, and scenes like semen running down a certain female's thighs were so stupidly gratuitous I rolled my eyes all the way back), but because, at times, this manga is just not engaging, and I got the feeling it was just willingly so, that it tried to push you away from it. Because this manga is bleak as hell.

Also, I hated the main character with a passion. And maybe the author too? Because, during the end climax,

! The "actors" are EVERYONE. . .except Eliah, who doesn't do jackshit. I don't know, don't ask me. I just hated him with everything I got.

I still have many questions, lots of them, not about the sci-fi stuff, but if looking back at the factions and conflicts and etc. . .does it all tie up satisfyingly? It just seems like all the conflicts are petty stuff considering there was a super huge plan in motion that couldn't care less about a world government fighting a drug lord. And a gazillion other things.

In the end, this manga is definitely a triumph even if only by the merit it has in making you think, in its bravery and its openmindedness, and something I encourage everyone (strictly of adult age, this manga is HARDCORE in all aspects) to read. It will leave you thinking about it for a long time, and you'll probably love it too. I still have to think what my final stance on this manga is. I know I should re-read it to fully grasp it and make a final judgement, but there are certain segments I don't wanna re-read again (the pimps & prostitutes arc, mainly. What a freaking bore). Someday, I'll do it.