In a sea of deadly sand, the Mud Whale drifts. A massive island, it’s home to a small population of people. The Marked can wield thymia, a power that allows them to venture small distances from their island to salvage what is needed to survive on their island home. But it can never be used in concert with emotions, and the Marked die before their 30th year.
Chakuro, one of the many Marked orphans, is the Mud Whale’s archivist and he desperately records everything possible, longing to leave a record when he is gone so that future inhabitants can perhaps learn some of the secrets of the island. But everything changes when Chakuro discovers a girl on another island during a salvaging trip. The rebel Marked see her as a sign that there’s a larger world out there; the Unmarked Elders want her kept away from the population and her secrets hidden forever. Chakuro just wants to be her friend. But the mysterious girl’s arrival has revealed more than just her own secrets: there are cracks in the peaceful facade of life on the Mud Whale and hidden secrets that may prove deadly.
The conceit of this story is that it’s retold from a series of ancient manuscripts discovered by the author in an antique shop. The delicate art is stunning, showing a peaceful, agrarian community that ranges across the fields and forests of the Mud Whale, but hides dark secrets within its crumbling facade. Gentle Chakuro shows a sweet innocence in his childlike gaze and stature, but the grief and sorrow of the dying society is constantly shown in his inability to master his emotions. Unlike his friends, who clasp their hands to withhold their emotions when yet another Marked friend dies, Chakuro is often seen weeping, even as he obsessively writes his reports, trying to leave a record of the short-lived Marked. Lykos, the name given to the mysterious girl, has darker skin and scars that hint at her troubled past, and she stands out from the seemingly carefree people of the Mud Whale by her lack of both positive and negative emotion, shown in her blank and unresponsive face. The mayors, selected from among the young Unmarked who are not yet ready to be Elders, exemplify the peace and love of the community in the care they show for the many orphans and growing love for each other. Like the elders, they are portrayed as tall, graceful people with long, flowing robes in contrast to the more energetic and lively Marked children.
This opening to what promises to be a dramatic and engrossing story combines both a faux-historical epic and a dystopian world. There are dark secrets in Chakuro’s world, and a constant thread of grief and tragedy, but there are also joyous moments of quiet reflection. All of this is shattered when Chakuro discovers Lykos and the inhabitants realize just how fragile and isolated their community truly is. Notes from Chakuro, the archivist, and translations from the author of the “manuscripts” are scattered throughout, offering glimpses into the world of the Mud Whale and slowly building a picture of a world with many facets. This will appeal to manga fans who will appreciate the slower start of the series and can handle the tragic cliffhanger; be prepared to follow up with the additional volumes, set to be published soon.
Children of the Whales, vol. 1
by Abi Umeda
ISBN: 9781421597218
Viz Media, 2017
Publisher Age Rating: T+
