This is less a full review, since the series in question has only had two chapters released, and more of a quick, first impressions statement on the new series Husk Eden, written by Kisaragi Yoshinori. It is set in the abandoned capital of the world government, which was given up due to rebel activity. Now, the only people who live there are the soldiers, most of whom are very young, teenagers or below, who protect the huge tower in the centre.
Only two chapters have been released so far, and I highly recommend you track them down and read them before continuing below the break.
Husk Eden is listed as a tragedy, and it feels like one. It feels like something bad is going to happen, it feels like nothing can be done to stop it. The manga opens on a deserted city, protected by soldiers for reasons they don't know. The strange, moving wall which gets fortified by corpses, the abandoned buildings, the constant talk of death, they all lend the manga a sad air, even when nothing is really happening in it. The first chapter is a masterpiece of emotional manipulation, setting up the person who appears to be the main character and being mostly focused on him and how he is trying to improve his lot.
Then he gets shot in front of the actual main character because they accidentally messed with the wrong man. Yeah.
The main character herself isn't so much interesting for what she is currently like (she has declared that other than her duty to the city she has no reason to live, and seems to avoid social interaction) and more how she may develop, but the subject of child/teenaged soldiers can always be taken in tragic ways.
The opening chapters also set up a strong mystery that, at the moment, is mainly influencing the antagonist's side, in the form of the tower at the centre of the city. Something is in there, something horrible, and I can't wait to see what it is, which is exactly what you want in the opening chapters.
It is probably too early for comparisons yet, but it does remind me a lot of Full Metal Alchemist, with the style of the uniforms, the constant talk of death, and some of the elements like the wall that feeds on corpses, although it lacks that series' comedic bits like Ed's overreactions.
While I'm saying this is going to be 100% one of the greatest mangas of all time, it is showing enough potential that I do advise people to keep an eye on it. I think we have a good one here.
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