Anemone Manga Chapter 1: Paradise

Gaku Hachiue is on a ship heading towards the Galapagos Islands or as Charles Darwin called it the “Natural Laboratory of Evolution.” On the Island every animal has evolved independently due to environmental isolation. The crew arrive at this Island for one specific reason, to gather intel on a tragedy that occurred a decade prior. There were “spontaneous explosions,” which spread a toxic substance and an unknown virus. The woman at the head of the expedition claims that the virus has “diffused,” and the risk to humans is “negligible.”

Japan sent a group of biologists and military a year ago but they have all gone missing. The new crew must rescue them and are given a month to do so. Things quickly turn tragic as one of the missing crew members appears behind Gaku. He says nothing but turns into a chameleon like monstrosity and decapitates one of the crew. Another crew member rushes when they hear the sounds of a person calling for help. To her horror it’s a bird look creature that imitates human speech. She fires her gun. However, the creature is unharmed.

All the carnage reminds Gaku of his time in high school when he was being bullied. A self proclaimed “coward,” Gaku was defended by Kotaro Yoshio. We learn that Kotaro went to Island with the previous crew that went missing. Rescuing him is the primary reason Gaku joined the expedition. However, Gaku is grabbed by the bird creature and is being choked. As he coughs up blood appearing to cause the Anemone flowers below him to evolve into creature that resembles a woman in the face.

Anemone Chapter 1: Paradise introduces to an intriguing world that takes the real Galapagos Island an makes it a home of grotesque evolutions. It clear from the first page that the main theme of this series is going to be evolution. Through the main character Gaku, we are introduced to theme surrounding changing oneself. Gaku considers himself to be a coward, but it’s Kotaro that inspires him to change. Gaku decides he will by risking his life to save his friend.

Anemone has set an intriguing world, with a lot of unanswered questions. What happen to the Island a decade ago, where did the crew year ago, and why is this government sacrificing innocent citizens? The art is hit or miss? The main issue is the heads of the characters can look smushed down or misshaped. However, the animals and environment are very detailed and well done. Rin Matsui will likely improve his art. Regardless, it’s not that big of a deal.