Line

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Line is a manga written by Yua Kotegawa and following school student Chiko as she finds a cellphone. Tormented by someone on the end of the line, Chiko is sent on a mission around her city to save people from committing suicide.

This is a really intriguing manga with a solid concept. It's unique and I've never stumbled across anything like this before. The story was executed perfectly across its four chapters and I'm glad that it was as short as it was. Extending this manga would have caused repetition throughout it and Kotegawa managed to toe the line between repetition and plot point perfectly. Everything ... that happened, happened for a solid reason. The story moved on its own and had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath here and there - it creates a tension that is not easily shaken off until the ending scenes of chapter four.

I wish the characters had felt more developed than they were. There were a lot of moments in this that felt entirely unnecessary such as the lesbian focus on one of the characters that was dropped almost immediately after it mentioned. It felt out of place and didn't feel right at all. It was as though it was being used for filler which I don't particularly care for as an LGBT community member. If the characters had been calmer about it rather than making an object about it, I would have been fine with it, however, they did not and it was a little disappointing for a manga with such high quality content.

However, overall, this is a really good manga. It's the right length for what it is, it's unique and intriguing, horrifying to a degree and tense. Kotegawa has created a small gem in the jisatsu genre and I'm looking forward to reading more from them in the future.

Line is a short manga, with a simple but fascinating idea.
A bunch of suicidial persons putting their life in the hand of a normal schoolgirl. The only connection between the girl and the guy who guides her is a cellphone.

The story is deep, but not very complex. You barely learn something about the protagonists, and the reasons for the people who want to suicide are never told. But this is part the manga's appeal. Instead of trying to get tears out of the readers by telling tragic stories,you get to see the plot how you would have seen it in real life. Simply following the ... the happenings, without much looking back.

The manga is fascinating and since it is a short read I would recommend it to everyone. I am sure you won't regret reading it.

At first I thought this manga plot had a potential, it could have taken a full-on philosophical thriller route questioning about the value of life and if it is worth living in suffering, but nope it fell flat out average.
Yet there are so many unexplained questions.
It's almost irritating to see such wasted potential, I wish to read a manga with such ideas.

Story: 5/10
As I mentioned earlier, it was flat.

Art: 6/10
Artwork was decent, surprisingly no gore.

... Character: 6/10
If you removed Bando (female character) from the story, it wouldn't make any difference, ironically "She is not needed". The story could have continued with Chiko getting blackmailed and desperately trying to save everyone.

Enjoyment: 5/10
It was short, so yeah its fine, had it been long would have dropped it.

Overall: 5/10
Check it out, you have nothing to lose.