Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Unfollow #13

By Hervé St-Louis
November 18, 2016 - 07:19

The origin of Akira is revealed. Akira was part of a samurai cult that wanted to make Japan great again assassinate that country’s prime minister and restore the Emperor to full power. But Akira was aware of the cult’s founder’s first novel and its twisted tale of deception by one of its followers. Akira decided to be that follower and make the story of the early repudiated novel reality. How does that affect the remaining 140 in the present?

This issue brought the concept of the follower who follows and then unfollows full circle by juxtaposing the early Japanese cult’s antic with that of the social media one. It showed Akira’s deception and obsession as a form of him following a path designed by someone else. The only question not answered in this issue is who is the mysterious man watching Akira in the present as he is about to die and kill many on his island?

Akira’s claim to understanding death and to be the first to be able to come back and tell the story seems eerily familiar. Many modern-day cults and pop celebrities make similar outlandish claims. The difference is that in this comic, the wicked plan was executed flawlessly. It’s interesting how Rob Williams linked Japanese cult to a postmodern practice such as social media posturing.

Simon Gane replaces Mike Dowling as the artist this issue. This is odd for a mini-series so intimately tied to its creators. Nevertheless, the switch is seamless enough that it will not affect your reading. In fact to be honest, I barely noticed the change. Gane is more precise and less impressionist. His figures and objects have clear boundaries and details than Dowling.

Rating: 8.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12