Night Head Genesis Volume 1
In the first volume of Night Head Genesis, two brothers with psychic abilties are taken from their home to an unnamed institute, becoming human lab rats. Although this theme seems like an open door to abandonment issues, readers will feel less cozy towards it.
The manga should be an instant favorite; the storyline’s foundation consists of an anime series based on a successful live-action J-drama from 1992 that spawned a slew of tie-ins. Unfortunately, the beginning of Night Head Genesis doesn’t make it past the door. The manga format invites readers to pull the welcome mat right from under its ill-paced story.
Within hours of Naoya and Naoto Kirihara’s escape from the unknown institution, a deadly attempt on Naoya’s life causes him to read his attacker’s mind, seeing a future with the crumpled remains of mankind. Though emancipated from the institution, Naoya and Naoto have to face new adventures that may land them closer to a nightmarish graveyard than the homely front yard of their dreams.
Seems like a solid base, but it lacks in adequate pacing, character development, and answering basic questions. Night Head Genesis gives only a brief recount of the brothers’ background, showing that they were given to the institution by their parents willingly and the brothers’ earlier attempts at escape were thwarted.
After a shell of an introduction into their past, the manga delves right into the brothers’ successful escape and subsequent life on the run. During their ventures into freedom—being attacked, trying to save a damsel in distress, and using their psychic powers—Naoto and Naoya’s past is hardly addressed. The institution is acknowledged minimally, only implying the brothers’ subjection to scientific observation. Included in the mysterious role of the institution is Doctor Mikuriya, one of its head scientists whose appearance in the manga also creates questions about his involvement in the Kirihara brothers’ past.
The only aspect of Naoto and Naoya’s relationship clearly established is their personalities. Older brother Naoto is protective of his younger, gentle brother, Naoya. Their respective personalities seem to be on loan from Yu-Gi-Oh!’s Kaiba brothers, right down to their character designs. Naoya wants to belong somewhere even when his ability to read minds shows him more than he wants to see. Naoto is more rigid in his thinking, unwilling to trust anyone in the world, and his telekinetic powers give him all the more reason.
While Night Head Genesis has two characters with concrete personalities, the pacing of the manga does not help the rest of the story. Already stretching suspension of disbelief—what with psychic people and killer conspiracies—the critical moments in the story have the same pacing as trivial moments, not allowing readers to really catch on to anything. The pacing is supposed to support a story’s believability. If a series withsimilar art and fantasy leanings, like Descendants of Darkness, is persuasive enough to gain a solid fan base, Night Head Genesis should have no problem following suit. Unfortunately, the pacing for Night Head Genesis doesn’t pull it off.
If it weren’t for the art, Night Head Genesis would probably be shooed away like a door-to-door salesman. The artwork by You Higuri delivers a wonderfully aesthetic manga reminiscent of her more popular works, Cantarella and Gakuen Heaven. Similar to her boys’ love series, the men in Night Head Genesis have gorgeous looks that could steal anyone’s heart—even the cover features steely Naoto baring his flat tummy. The backgrounds that house these beautiful 2D characters have a similar attention to detail that the story itself lacks.
Besides the art and clear-cut personality types, Night Head Genesis needs major renovations to make it a better series. Readers are best advised to leave it on the doorstep.
Rating: C- Review by: Jd Banks Story by: George Iida Art by: You Higuri Licensed by: Del Rey Manga
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