Eden: It’s an Endless World! vol. 13

Longtime readers will know that I’m very passionate about this series.  I’d rather not get into a discussion about how it compares to the likes of “Blade of the Immortal,” “20th Century Boys,” or “The Walking Dead,” but a lot of that passion comes from two things.  One, it’s hands-down the best science-fiction comic being serialized today.  Two, unlike those other series there continues to be a very real chance that we’ll not see how this one ends due to its abysmal sales.  The commercial performance of this volume could represent the last chance it has for that to happen.  Fortunately for us fans, it’s a damn good volume.

Unlike fellow hiatus-returnee “Ghost Talker’s Daydream,”  “Eden” doesn’t sideline its main character(s) or plot here.  After hooking up with Peruvian cop Miriam in the last volume, professional troublemaker/amateur drug abuser Elijah Ballard and A.I. in a cyborg body Lethia Alethia travel to Australia to track down reclusive scientist Jonathan Fineman.  As the developer of the nanomachines that the Propater Federation is using to assassinate key political figures and to keep Elijah’s sister Mana under their thumb, his help is key to finding a countermeasure.  However, Propater still has their eye on the man and Elijah has enlisted some very dubious local assets to “convince” him to join his cause.  Meanwhile, the disclosure virus mutates further and some familiar characters are brought back for their talents in combat and hacking.

I could, and have filled an entire podcast with what I like about this series, but I want to focus on how it balances and even blends its human drama with its high science-fiction concepts.  The volume doesn’t even open with any action as we’re treated to a few pages of Elijah’s father, Ennoia, continuing the physical and mental rehabilitation of his wife, Hannah, after she was shot way back at the end of vol. 5.  There’s a disarming tenderness to Ennoia’s actions, when you consider that his actions indirectly led her to being shot, along with the glimpses of fear in his eyes that her memory of him might slip away at any moment.  Then you’ve got the burgeoning romance at the end of the volume that features one of the few times I’ve seen sex well-integrated into the story and not used as mere titillation.  It’ll be even more affecting for readers who remember Elijah’s first time with his old girlfriend, Helena, and seeing how he uses that as a touchstone for this encounter.

We also find out that people who have been turned into crystal by the disclosure virus are making contact with their loved ones in dreams.  This heralds the next evolution of the virus and some interesting thoughts on its nature are posed in the final chapter.  However, it’s the mission to recruit Fineman that yields the most interesting concepts as we see the lengths one man will go to preserve the memory of those that he loves.  Androids and A.I.s are involved, but to say more would risk ruining the expertly crafted twists in this part of the story.

It’s not all thoughtful character development and scientific pontification, as mangaka Hiroki Endo also has a talent for exciting and well-orchestrated action scenes.  We’re treated to two in this volume as Fineman’s extraction goes predictably awry and the bullets and explosives start flying.  Miriam also finds out the limits of her police training and trusty revolver as well.  Later on, Propater’s assassins show up on the scene and Miriam and her uncle find themselves taking the brunt of the attack without the support of Elijah and his connections.  These scenes are as good as anything else we’ve seen in the series as the twists they present keep you in constant suspense as to who will make it out of them alive.  They also look fantastic too as Endo’s Katsuhiro Otomo-influenced style has only gotten deeper and more varied with time.  Some might take issue with how the wackiness of his character expressions contrasts sharply with the realistic tone of the series, but they’re used solely for purposes of comic relief and are timed in such a way as to not interfere with the story’s momentum.  That being said, Elijah’s “naked apron” antics reach a new level of depravity here.  Consider yourself warned!

About the worst thing I can say here is that this volume isn’t the one for first-time readers to start with, but you could probably already guess that from the sharply-focused ongoing story being developed.  That said, it’s now thirteen volumes in and still excellent — an impressive achievement for any series.  I imagine a lot of you are tired of me trying to sell you on the merits of this series, but I’m going to keep doing it until we get the final volume.  “Eden” is worth that much.