Eden

    (Dark Horse, 2005-2009, 2011, 2014)
™ and © 1998 Hiroki Endo
Black and whtie series, read right to left.

Teens Elijah and Hannah grow up relatively happily in an oasis that exists in the shadow of a world devastated by a deadly new virus until the paramilitary forces of Propater arrive, interested in harvesting their disease-resistant genes. Then, we leap ahead to find Elijah living alone except for Cherubim, his artificially intelligent combat robot, trying to survive in a mostly empty world.

Eden is a great deal more sophisticated than the average post-apocalyptic adventure, neatly avoiding most of the genre’s clichés. First, there’s the elegantly beautiful art that tells a relatively simple story in a fairly complicated way, cutting back and forth between past and present. (What, exactly, happened to Hannah has yet to be revealed.) Second, it’s full of serious discussion about the nature of God, man, and nature.

Anyone who’s expecting over-the-top Fist of the North Star-type action will disappointed, because, while brutal, Eden’s “villains” aren’t leering moustache twirlers. And, while there’s certainly violence, most of it takes place offstage, giving it all the more impact.

— S. A. Bennett

From the Publisher:

Eden is both a brilliant love song to the post-apocalyptic survival genre and the beginning of a deep exploration on man's role in the natural order. In the near future, a large portion of humanity is wiped out by a brutal, new virus that hardens the skin while dissolving internal organs. Those who aren't immune are either severely crippled or allowed to live with cybernetically enhanced bodies. Taking advantage of a world in chaos, a paramilitary force known as the Propater topples the United Nations and seeks world domination. Elijah, a young survivor searching for his mother, travels towards the Andes Mountains with an artificially intelligent combat robot through a pitiless, futuristic landscape. When he encounters a group of anti-Propater freedom fighters, a maelstrom of unique characters unfolds. Graphic, cyberpunk, and philosophical, Eden is a place where endearing heroes face a constant struggle for survival and violent surprises wait around every corner!
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist