Feb 2, 2014
It’s interesting when the sci-fi within this manga are more appropriate for other mediums than to be expected from Dengeki Daioh, a shounen publishing magazine. However this setup really fits the tone presented in Qualia which seeks thrill wherever paths of normalcy lie, before being walked halfheartedly or disposed midway.
Full disclosure: This is among my favourite manga at this time of writing
Story: 8
After a quick peek at mid-field, Qualia takes off in a classroom – which it feels most comfortable – dragging only the biggest books wherever it goes and stopping its progression for cultural enrichment as
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does a nicotine addict for his. This introduces a quality where it tries to stay pegged to existing theories borne of ‘bigger-picture’ scientific philosophy; E.G. multiverse, wave-particle duality, and quantum (and wave) mechanics. That is to say, it tries and usually succeeds to sate curiosity of how an event transpired or even explain a character’s circumstances.
But enough of that instead take notice of how the setting is closely tied to the psychological state of the main character, gaku; who, with cell-phone in-hand (excuse the pun) keeps personal goals in check (forcibly) even when she doubts herself. Tragedy changes gaku but it pervades the work as well, apprehension is everywhere and no one is safe – even if they are saved. There are villains and they are many, but there is also gaku who struggles against the odds and becomes something unimaginable for normal people in the process.
Art: 7
The art is not one extreme or another it is simply a contemporary format designed to flow the story along and give a much detail as setting permits. It is also a key that helps sugar coat the sci-fi terms into easier to understand figures, as a textbook would. The art is not to be exhibited or ridiculed, but somewhere in the middle where it’s just right for this type of work.
Characters: 7
Other than Gaku there is a sense of individuality firmly placed in all characters, but every one of these characters deal with concepts outside of their reach. According to the plot so far, it’s a consequence that every character sees differently –is through which differences arise. Not even the lurking secret organisation, which hides and enlists extrasensory individuals’ escapes splintering into different ideals and causes.
Enjoyment: 9
The story has progressed far enough to find many off-putting points of the story, like wishing for restraint with those tiring lectures. Many people quickly found the story indigestible to marathons and instead recommended reading chapters slowly, and with salt. Even more importantly is the fact that for some people the views expressed here in this fiction could be the first they ever heard of it. Admittedly I haven’t read the series as a whole but I do believe I was sold insofar as the manga had taken me. The series is not perfect and I do have my complaints, but Qualia is memorable and worth the ride a second time, it does provoke some couch philosophy within its audience and that’s where the fun is at. In closing I would recommend this to just about anyone who is interested in seeing a different writing style in their reading lists.
Overall I gave this series an 8, and thank you for reading my review!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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