Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest (Manga) – The Adventure Beyond

When an end arrives, emotions from the corners of the extremes meld together into an ineffable moment. Whether it be joy, sorrow, relief, disappointment, satisfaction, numbness or indifference. It is a moment where the many feelings one holds for that experience cascades together. A story is no different. Upon its end, you come to characterise the meaning of the experience within emotion. If a story is particularly enjoyable and resonant with ones heart, a fascination for what lies beyond emerges. Such is the case with Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest for me. I can’t help but feel privileged and grateful that such a joyous and enjoyable story has a continuation. A story that now sees Fairy Tail target the 100 Years Quest that no other mage guild has managed to complete is over a century. Let the new adventure commence!

Edens Zero (Manga) – A Space-Magi-Techno-Fantasy Adventure

Space is such a vast canvas to work on and when Hiro Mashima amalgamates elements of fantasy, science fiction and adventure onto that canvas you get a wondrous experience complimented by lovable and relatable characters progressing through uplifting and extraordinary stories. It is a journey filled with spectacle, wonder, mystery, darkness, heart and excitement.

Edens Zero follows the adventure of Shiki and his crew in search of a existence known as Mother located somewhere within the vast cosmos able to grant any wish to any who find her. Not only do our protagonist have to overcome the quest of finding the location of Mother in the endless reaches of space but they have to combat the dangers residing within the unknown and compete against powers also in search for Mother.

Fairy Tail (Manga) – The Fairy Within Our Hearts

Fairy Tail may not delve into themes as deep as identity and existentialism or analysis the philosophy of freedom and responsibility against the constructs of religion and society and it may not challenge the darker themes it does begin to voyage into but what Fairy Tail does have is heart, and a lot of it. It’s emotionally powerful scenes drive the story, the character development and the characters themselves. The encouraging touch of its embrace resonances deep within the reader, inspiring connections with the characters alive in its story and struggling through its world to be formed. And central to that evocation is the heart of the story; the guild Fairy Tail.

The heart is a miraculous existence that allows us to connect to others, to share our emotions with them and to have emotions shared with us. And yet, along with the joy it is able to conjure, the shadows of its rhythm also awakens a darker beat of love. A realm of negativity in which the echoes of optimism and bonds of relation can be submerged and lost within. Such concepts are the navigating expressions embodying the adventures and journeys within Fairy Tail. Characters lose themselves within their pain, torment and heart yet through their shared connection with others, they are able to accept the debilitating thoughts within their mind and embrace the warmth of their imperfections.

Kaiju No. 8 (Manga)

In a world tormented by destructive Kaiju; terror, ruin and the fear of death permeate the fibers of reality. Against such infernal beasts, humanity has consolidated their hope in a heroic few who act to defend the world from such a hopeless state of actuality. But beyond the focus of the world, there exist an uncelebrated role overlooked by the society that relies of their efforts in order to function after the devastation left by a Kaiju incident. Whether it is procuring parts for research purposes, surveying the scene to prevent further damage, or clearing up the aftermath so that society can return, what is critical after the “heroes” arrive to defeat a Kaiju is precisely, cleanly, efficiently and within a specified deadline dismantling the corpse of the Kaiju. The very structure, process, and danger present in the task is one invisible to the world. But fortunately for the readers looking into such a horrific and despairing setting, hope has been born in the form of a passionate Kaiju dismantler who seeks to expand his skill-set by becoming a defender of the people. Unfortunately the road to dreams is paved by forest of uncertainty and rivers of detours. Our hero finds himself caught in a scenario against the very direction he wishes to travel but when the future remains unknown, the freedom to choose exist all the while stumbling towards the end.

Boku No Hero Academia (Manga)

The path to grow isn’t one decorated in fortune and luck, it is one supported by the struggles, pains, and lessons endured

What is a hero? What do they embody? What do they signify? As cliché as it sounds, as childish as it sounds, as absurd as it sounds, there is something so deeply empowering about that word. Understanding your goal and having a path which you are centered on. Striving forward with full knowledge of who you are. Unconcerned about the fear of uncertainty and trying. Recognising where you stand and the person who you aspire to be. Continuously. With clarity. The word “hero” resonates with it a freedom and expressiveness we all wish to experience. Boku no Hero Academia delves into that concept and through its character and the story unfolding around them, we as readers find ourselves inspired and compelled by their pursuit towards becoming heroes.

Fairy Tail Zero (Manga) – Where Do Fairies Live?

The beginning…

Do fairies really have tails? Do fairies even exist? An eternal mystery. An eternal adventure. The beginning of the spectacular journey known as Fairy Tail starts with the hearts of fourfive individuals (Zera…) looking to birth a guild that values peace and family. A guild where friendship is a relationship formed through more than just words alone. A guild where friends share their hearts. Where they believe in each other unconditionally. Where they have no fear in relying on each other. Where they all have a place to return to. A guild to connect the hearts of one another. Fairy Tail. This is its origin story. A beautiful sad beginning to the wonderful adventures destined to be journeyed.

Nanatsu No Taizai (Manga)

In a world on the brink of collapse, seven heroes must gather and save it – colour by Hitotsumami

Nanatsu no Taizai (by Suzuki Nakaba) also known as The Seven Deadly Sins tells the story of a group of criminals whom ten years prior to the start of the story had been accused of plotting to overthrow the Kingdom. Shortly after the Kingdoms enforcement division, the Holy Knights, launched an offensive against the group of criminals, known as the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’, that group disintegrated and went their separate ways. Now ten years later and the start of the story, a girl appears suddenly seeking to reunite the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ together to help combat the Holy Knights whom have deviated from their path of protection, order and peace.

Zetman (Manga)

What colour is the sky reflected in Zet?

Questions without answers and only consequences.

When faced with a question or problem without a “right” solution, with each decision carrying a consequential wrong, what answer should one arrive at? How does one determine in such a situation, what is “right” and what is “wrong”?

Zetman tells the tale of man-made creatures called “players” which embody a threat to human existence and mans attempts to correct their mistakes through the creation of a being called “Zet”. It is a story told from two perspectives; from a boy, Kouga Amagi,  looking to become a super human to uphold his perceptions of “justice” and another, Jin Kanzaki, who is trying to escape the “beast” he was intended to be in favour of becoming the human he desires to be.

Shokugeki no Soma (Manga)

The cast of Shokugeki no Soma (left to right): Takumi, Ikumi, Isami, Alice, Erina, Megumi, Souma

And so the endless wilderness known as cooking enters the stage ready to explore its reach towards its limits.

Shokugeki no Soma is a story of a boy pursuing the path of cooking and challenging himself so that one day he can surpass his father and continue on the family business – a special-of-the-day shop. Within that simplistic reason the real worth of Shokugeki no Soma is revealed, the story within the story where the curtain rises on the new possibilities of cooking and the pleasures, flavours and textures brought along with it.

Nisekoi (Manga) – A Story Of A False Love

Love can take many forms…

Nisekoi is a story about a fake love which originates from two conflicting gangs on the edge of war. The leaders of the two gangs decide to resolve their feud and prevent unnecessary conflict by having their children pair up with one another for the next three years which they spent in High School. This setting is tied together with a massive mystery overarching the story effectively driving the plot and the character interactions. The mystery is of events which occurred ten years in the past and a promise which the main character made with a certain girl.