Children of the Whales: Volume 5 manga review

Children of the Whales Graphic Novel Volume 5 cover image

It is the year 93 of the Sand Exile for the denizens of the “Mud Whale.” This is an island city of clay and magic floating atop an endless sea of sand.  On that island, an isolated community of exiled criminals clings to life.  Chakuro is the archivist for the Mud Whale, and he diligently chronicles the lives and deaths of his people, who are cut off from their own history.

As Children of the Whales, Vol. 5 (Chapters 17 to 20) opens, another group of new arrivals lands on the Mud Whale.  They are from the country of the United Kingdom of Suidelasia, and the leader of these visitors is Sir Rochalizo Anastenagmos Neiye-Imisukin Emarika Antipatros Apo Amonlogia.  This son of a duke, however, is about to find out that on the Mud Whale, the people are ready to be friends rather than defer to nobility.  Plus, Chakuro continues to unlock the secrets of the Mud Whale.

[This volume includes an afterword, “The Ballad of the Archivist” and “A Note on Names.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  An imaginative fantasy series, the Children of the Whales manga is one of the best manga and graphic novel series of 2018, just as it was one of the best debuts of last year.  I personally would like to see it gain a larger readership.

Children of the Whales Graphic Novel Volume 5 moves the story forward by expanding the setting.  Without dropping spoilers, I will say that the people of the Mud Whale discover new things about their world.  It makes me believe that creator Abi Umeda will continue to offer new ideas, plots, settings, and characters.  Some of it is bound to amaze and delight readers.

This series is beautifully drawn, and the story is a adventure in ingenious storytelling.  It is easy to recommend Children of the Whales because it is a superb graphic novel series.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for unique graphic novels for young readers and teens will want the VIZ Signature title, Children of the Whales.

A
9 out of 10