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Soloist in a Cage, a mesmerizing story in which a simultaneously cruel but empathically endearing pursuit of a lost loved one transforms (or becomes) a sad and erratic journey to find a sense of self that we can live with; a journey so personal, so heavily demanding, so uniquely transversal to all humanity.

The author has the ingenious ability of portraying in a small size work, a story so simply profound, where the level of detail assigned to each character or circunstancial scenary has a world of its own. He makes you lightly travel into the psyque of the most central characters to a point where ... you feel it was needed for a better conveying of the story without passing the limit of disproportion.
On the other hand, you have characters that are tremendously relevant to the congruence of the story, but fulfill their purpose in a difuse manner; few or even single appearances are enough to completelly shine through their pathos and ethos. A certain atitude in a certain moment becomes the embodiment of what they perceive their own life to be about.

The imense and superb artistry of the panels and the emotions portrayed on the monologues and dialogues, fuse in one so seemleesly that almost becomes impossible to grasp it happening a different way, making you find yourself inevitably lost and imersed in a fluid medium that you do not know or want to escape of. The way the subjective space in which the characters show themselves to be known is given as one more of their inner characteristics; there is no space objectivity without character objectivity and that is done marvelously.

Sadly, (not sure if concerning the health of the author), the work does lose some impact on the later second half, with an open ending that albeit satisfactory and congruent, lacks the desired density that the story as a whole so highly deserved.

8/10 does NOT make justice to this fabulous piece, but as we know, an ending is not just an ending, it is a confluence of narratives and places and moments, where the full essence of a work has to introduce itself as everything it was for everything it represents. And for that sole reason, i can not give it a higher grade.
Bear in mind tho, the rankings i give are not exclusively to mangá but intregate them in the full art sphere that i had the humble opportunity to contemplate.
In my view, if we were to limit ourselves to just mangá, a solid 9 would not be farfecthed.


To let you and myself go, i will conclude saying:
If you're searching for a condensed piece that does not abuse on superfluous complexity to make itself profound and emotional, where the story is not stretched without reason, and with brilliantly harmonious art, this is for you!!

Heart Gear, simply put, completelly drawing in.

We could simplify the history to, as Zuki_147 said in his/her review, “desolate world where human thoughts are the protagonists. However, these ‘human feelings’ aren't manifested by flesh and blood people (aside from Roue) but they're show up from the Gears (conscious robots), which exposes philosophical conflicts between their sense of “duty” and the “truth”.

In a world where humans seem to be scarce, their feelings are expressed by robots who must have learned from trial and error and repetition, how is it to emulate humans or even become them.

It’s evident that the author borrows the themes of Asimov, looselly ... relating the basilar functions of the Gears to the Asimov’s 3 laws of robotics. And this is where some negative critics could come in. The mangá/anime universe is tied with the gaming universe, and both with technology. So, even for someone who is not the most prolific reader, there is a chance he already read something by Asimov who might give a sense of lack of originality to this story.

In my view that is an erroneos way of looking at it. Pratically everything that was made in mangá, it could be given a book for, with the same topics and insights, but done way before. And that is alright.
We who love mangá, dont start reading something just because it might be a masterpiece.

Nevertheless, the way the author brings to the first plan, the transition of what we could call a fully logical robot way of thinking to an embebed medium where human thoughts and feelings can mold and transform those same robot logical procedures to an hybrid state of existence, is done seemlessly.
Equally well done is the way the author transitions from core theme from one chapter to another, giving you the the delighfull feeling of a journey without casting off the central plot.

You do not need to agree with the ethical/philosophical ideas of the author (if there are any, it can also be me projecting) about what the relationship of humans and robots should be, or even to witch extent should we develop technology just because we can. Shall AI emulate humans, does that gives us more benefits than problems? Or should we limit the AI to problem solving so it facilitates our lives?

No matter where you stand, none of it stops you from being marveled by this story and the simple fact that it might even make you rethink your own standing about what technology should be like and how should it be used, would be enough to call it a must read.


Ah the art… on this one i might be biased but, the sketchy sensation you get from those architecture projects that are not finished but elaborated enough to give you a sense of fullness. That’s what i get from this art style and i absolutelly adore it. Intentionally difuse and drafty but at the same time, detailed to a point where you forget to read the mangá just to look at the panels. Beautifully made!!

If i have any fears, they would be the worldbuilding not keeping up or the mangá falling into a battle shounen cliché which would be highly detrimental to its all around sense of being;
I am confident that won't happen!


For those compelled enough by my words to give it a go, i hope you enjoy it as much as i am.
Let’s also hope for the unravel of this story to be worth our look back with a melancholic albeit satisfied nostalgy.

Stay safe and happy reads! 😊