Solanin - Manga Review

"Solanin", a Walt Eisner nominee for 2009, is a manga for the new perception. Not populated by grand characters and extensive high process, this is a story for today's youth in Japan. The universal element is that it very much mirrors the story of American youth. It speaks to the aspect of being connected but isolated at the same time. Think of "Singles" in the 90s for the grunge sect except in the bleakness of today's technical coldness. It follows the aimless life and love of a couple who is without direction living in the big city unemployed from time to time and searching for identity. It is a metaphorical journey but also extremely practical and realistic especially for those in their early 20s. The illustrations don't overcome the stories but highly accentuates it at times without losing sight of the emotions that these people are going up against. Meiko quits her job to spend time with her boyfriend Tenada who is dead end as an illustrator. The miscommunication even in close quarters is very apt and it leads to the unravelling or what seems like the end of the relationship. Instead it becomes a reboot but that essence in itself is struck by tragedy. The perception and interrelation of the charcters make the different strains act differently. The band that was supposed to become big simply fizzled. Meiko feels the needs to connect again which she does by music and playing in front of a live crowd to recapture what it must have felt like for her to love who is taken away by accident. In comparison to an outing like "Orange" which ie more steeped in abstract images to make you feel, this collection gives you time to know the characters using miminal artwork but deliberate and natural shading. The story itself is fairly classic and fairly predictable once it gets going. However it captures the angst whilst at times slipping into melodrama. But its simple context is very universal and poignant. Out of 5, I give it a 3.