in our June selection, artificial intelligence, sci-fi, Japanese folklore, demons and dark fantasy

Our June selection offers you two science fiction stories which question, in particular, artificial intelligence and the place we want to give it in our intimate and professional lives. How far are we prepared to go? Anzu will draw you into a story set against a backdrop of Japanese folklore where self-acceptance and mourning are discussed. Next comes a demon hunt through time in Highlander style and a manga inspired by the video game Dark Souls where mystery and danger coexist.

“Pino, the emotional AI”, by Takashi Murakami, at Pika

An intimate and touching SF story which focuses on the question of feelings among robots. Could they act according to their emotions rather than according to the program that was implanted in them? What would be their role in personal care?

Pino, the world’s first artificial intelligence to achieve technological singularity, is the generic name for the mass-produced, AI-equipped humanoid robot “pino”. Pino is therefore the pioneer of truly thinking, autonomous robots with an intelligence that far exceeds the level of human beings. Hana works in a pharmaceutical company and collaborates remotely with a Pino who works in a laboratory hundreds of kilometers away. The little robot is in charge of the proper treatment of the animals used to test the company’s new drugs. However, the day he learns that his laboratory must be closed, a drastic change will take place in Pino…

The story is simple but very effective and takes us into a universe inspired by sci-fi while remaining realistic. The author skillfully plays with our emotions, notably by giving Pino the appearance of a little boy. Depending on the version, the robot is a deminer in a poor country, a child’s private teacher, a gardener, and also takes the place of a deceased child whose mother has lost her mind and thinks he is still alive. These different facets give rise to so many stories and with Pino, a sick guard, we discover that these robots can mutate, surprise us, and not completely do what we expect of them

A very beautiful, touching manga, which makes us think about the part of humanity that we could transmit to robots, our relationships with others and what we wish to delegate or not, whether on a professional or personal level.

“Live Memorium”, by Miki Makasu (screenplay) and Benoît Bourget (drawing), at Glénat

This cyberpunk thriller questions our relationship to new technologies, but also to loneliness, emotional distress and the border between dreams and reality. When the digital dream turns into a nightmare…

Single and uncomfortable, Tomasu is an accountant in a company that manufactures sex dolls. Manipulated by his crooked boss, despised by his colleagues, he suffers setbacks in the heart of a gigantic megalopolis where loneliness weighs on him. The day his mother dies, his life changes. Upset by this tragedy and pushed by his friend Usaji, he decides to test “Live Memorium”, an illegal technology which offers its users the possibility of diving back into their childhood memories and acting on them. This machine will allow Tomasu to see his mother again, and to modify the course of certain events causing deep trauma. From live to live, Tomasu will assert himself and reconnect with Aika, his childhood sweetheart, but also lose his grip on reality. It’s the beginning of a self-destructive spiral, where the virtual world and the real world become one…

With this title, in line with the great SF seinens, halfway between Domû, children’s dreams And Black Mirror, Miki Makasu does not leave us indifferent. Very dark, violent, bordering on unhealthy at times, it is sometimes disturbingly realistic, particularly thanks to the drawings. At a time when artificial intelligence is taking up more and more space in our society, this story questions dehumanization, the search for comfort at any cost, and the place we want to give to technologies. A thought-provoking and spine-chilling manga of anticipation.

“Anzu and the Kingdom of Darkness”, by Mai Nguyen, at Kinaye

Search for identity, self-confidence, mourning, school bullying, friendship, respect for traditions, all these themes are addressed in this story against a backdrop of Japanese folklore and which is reminiscent of certain Ghibli universes.

Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time when families celebrate their ancestors and cherish their memories. But, since the death of his grandmother, Obon has lost his magic and Anzu no longer wants to celebrate it.
While avoiding family festivities, she meets a lost dog in the street. While chasing him, Anzu slips and falls down a hill where she loses consciousness. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the underworld known as Yomi, a place she heard about in her grandmother’s stories…
The stray dog, who turns out to be the guardian of Yomi’s door, warns her that she must return to the human world before sunrise, otherwise she will be Yomi’s prisoner forever…

A very rhythmic, gripping adventure that offers several reading levels. It can therefore please a child as much as an adult or a teenager. Alongside Anzu, we discover spirits and traditions through which we immerse ourselves in a part of Japanese culture. A glossary is provided so as not to be lost with the terms used.

“Thank you, Anzu. You helped me remember who I am.“
Through her story, the author highlights the importance of origins and cultural differences that should not be denied but cultivated. It also shows that loving yourself and having confidence in yourself allows you to fight against many things and be stronger. Finally, it addresses death and how mourning allows us to accept it.

“Sword of the Demon Hunter”, by Yû Satomi (screenplay) and Motoo Nakanishi (drawing), by Panini

Demon hunting through time, Highlander style! In 2011, Motoo Nakanishi imagined the light novel which is the origin of this manga. A novel is still being published (eleven volumes in Japan)

Nearly two centuries ago, towards the end of the Edo era, a small isolated village in the mountains was the regular target of demon attacks. The inhabitants entrust Jinta, a young wandering swordsman accompanied by a strange little sister, with the task of defending the priestess of their sanctuary. One day, Jinta goes into the forest to hunt a demon. He then finds himself facing an adversary who speaks to him of a distant future… For the demon hunter in search of answers, this encounter marks the beginning of a wandering through the ages, guided by the edge of his sword.

A captivating manga with lively lines. A scenario without downtime which has many surprises in store for us in these first two volumes, and which promises many twists and turns for the future. Yu Satomi’s line evolves as the story progresses and fits the story perfectly.
The release of the first two volumes gives a taste of its anime adaptation which is arriving this summer on ADN.

“Dark Souls Redemption”, by Julien Blondel (screenplay) and Shonen (drawing), at Mana Books

Welcome to a dark fantasy universe where mystery and danger coexist. This manga is inspired by the video game Dark Soulsbut you don’t need to know the license to appreciate it.

The dying ashes of a campfire light up a devastated world. A woman, brought back to life by a mysterious mark, emerges from a deep sleep with no memory of her past.
In this unrecognizable universe, she is relentlessly pursued by the fearsome Guild of Scale Guardians. However, she is offered an unexpected salvation by an imposing individual who fiercely guards the secret of his own past…

The manga takes the time to set up the story, but that’s not why it’s boring. On the contrary, the mysteries and moments of action keep us in suspense and make us wonder about what could have happened. Graphically, Shonen’s drawings are still as beautiful and remind us of Kentaro Miura, the author of Berserk.

Since this is an original story, fans won’t get what was in the video game, even if there are some details. But Julien Blondel and Shonen immerse us in a universe with multiple story possibilities and manage to create their own adventure of its own.