Wild Adapter: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|"The more human we become...the more animalistic we are."|'''Ryunosuke Akutagawa''', ''Words of a Dwarf'', quoted in chapter two. }} |
{{quote|"The more human we become...the more animalistic we are."|'''Ryunosuke Akutagawa''', ''Words of a Dwarf'', quoted in chapter two. }} |
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A [[Film Noir]] manga series from Kazuya Minekura (the creator of ''[[Saiyuki]]''), ''Wild Adapter'' follows [[Anti |
A [[Film Noir]] manga series from Kazuya Minekura (the creator of ''[[Saiyuki]]''), ''Wild Adapter'' follows [[Anti-Hero]] Kubota Makoto and Tokito Minoru, the amnesic [[Running Gag|stray cat]] he picked up as the two play video games, help people, and investigate a mysterious new drug on the streets: [[Title Drop|Wild Adapter]]. |
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The series ran in ''Chara'' from 2000 to 2008 and went on [[Series Hiatus|hiatus]] after forty-six chapters due to [[Creative Differences]] between the [[Seinen]] tone of the series and the [[Boys Love Genre|shounen-ai]] demographic of the magazine. It was collected into six tankobon volumes (with five chapters remaining uncollected), published in the U.S. by Tokyopop in 2007-8 and in Singapore in English and Chinese by Chuang Yi. In 2011 the rights to the series were [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-08-08/kazuya-minekura-wild-adapter-manga-changes-publishers acquired by Ichijinsha], the publishers of ''[[Saiyuki]]''. |
The series ran in ''Chara'' from 2000 to 2008 and went on [[Series Hiatus|hiatus]] after forty-six chapters due to [[Creative Differences]] between the [[Seinen]] tone of the series and the [[Boys Love Genre|shounen-ai]] demographic of the magazine. It was collected into six tankobon volumes (with five chapters remaining uncollected), published in the U.S. by Tokyopop in 2007-8 and in Singapore in English and Chinese by Chuang Yi. In 2011 the rights to the series were [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-08-08/kazuya-minekura-wild-adapter-manga-changes-publishers acquired by Ichijinsha], the publishers of ''[[Saiyuki]]''. |
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=== This series provides examples of: === |
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* [[Anachronic Order]]: The appearance between the first and second volumes of a [[Time Skip|year's lapse]] and a [[Deuteragonist]] isn't explained until the [[Whole Episode Flashback|fifth volume]], and the events of the sixth volume occur after those of the succeeding chapters. |
* [[Anachronic Order]]: The appearance between the first and second volumes of a [[Time Skip|year's lapse]] and a [[Deuteragonist]] isn't explained until the [[Whole Episode Flashback|fifth volume]], and the events of the sixth volume occur after those of the succeeding chapters. |
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** The effects of W.A. include the growth of hair and claws. |
** The effects of W.A. include the growth of hair and claws. |
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** The dead strays Kubota finds, and identifies with, in the prologue arc. |
** The dead strays Kubota finds, and identifies with, in the prologue arc. |
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** Sanada likens both Kubota and his successor Osamu to [[Pet the Dog|his]] [[Right |
** Sanada likens both Kubota and his successor Osamu to [[Pet the Dog|his]] [[Right-Hand Attack Dog|dog]], [[Awesome McCoolname|Ark]] [[Fluffy the Terrible|Royal]]. Kiba Osamu's family name is a pun on ''kiba'', 'fang'. |
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** The cicadas in the cult arc refer to Fortune's Fang's ethos of "casting off humanity"; cicadas are noted for moulting. |
** The cicadas in the cult arc refer to Fortune's Fang's ethos of "casting off humanity"; cicadas are noted for moulting. |
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** The page quote |
** The page quote |
Revision as of 11:44, 8 January 2014
"The more human we become...the more animalistic we are."
—Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Words of a Dwarf, quoted in chapter two.
|
A Film Noir manga series from Kazuya Minekura (the creator of Saiyuki), Wild Adapter follows Anti-Hero Kubota Makoto and Tokito Minoru, the amnesic stray cat he picked up as the two play video games, help people, and investigate a mysterious new drug on the streets: Wild Adapter.
The series ran in Chara from 2000 to 2008 and went on hiatus after forty-six chapters due to Creative Differences between the Seinen tone of the series and the shounen-ai demographic of the magazine. It was collected into six tankobon volumes (with five chapters remaining uncollected), published in the U.S. by Tokyopop in 2007-8 and in Singapore in English and Chinese by Chuang Yi. In 2011 the rights to the series were acquired by Ichijinsha, the publishers of Saiyuki.
- Anachronic Order: The appearance between the first and second volumes of a year's lapse and a Deuteragonist isn't explained until the fifth volume, and the events of the sixth volume occur after those of the succeeding chapters.
- Animal Motifs: "I picked up a stray cat."
- The effects of W.A. include the growth of hair and claws.
- The dead strays Kubota finds, and identifies with, in the prologue arc.
- Sanada likens both Kubota and his successor Osamu to his dog, Ark Royal. Kiba Osamu's family name is a pun on kiba, 'fang'.
- The cicadas in the cult arc refer to Fortune's Fang's ethos of "casting off humanity"; cicadas are noted for moulting.
- The page quote
- Art Evolution: Take a look at volume one. Now look at volume six. Now back to one. Now back to six. Drawn over eight years, there is a perceptible shift to more realistic detail and proportion (though not as pronounced as Saiyuki); the early images on the character sheets in later volumes are a ready illustration.
- Body Horror: For "wild adapter" read "metamorphoses users into hirsute, beclawed, hyper-aggressive zombies, then makes their organs explode."
Kasai: This is the sixth body we've found that seems to have transformed into a beast - in attitude and appearance - after taking the drug. But he's the only one that died from a gunshot wound. The rest were exploded into gory little pieces. |
- Boys Love Genre: Technically accurate - the series ran in a BL magazine - but Boys Love Tropes are usually averted, when they aren't subverted or parodied.
Kubota: "We're seeking spiritual guidance because we're a gay, sex-addicted couple... who are half-brothers, disowned by our family after the consummation of our forbidden love." How's that? Isn't it perfect? |
- Driving Question: Where does W.A. come from, and what happened to Tokito?
- Expys: Kubota Makoto and Tokito Minoru made their first appearance in Araiso Private High School Student Council Executive Committee, which is otherwise unrelated to Wild Adapter.
- While Araiso was published first, Minekura created Wild Adapter first, so which versions are the originals and which are the expys is open to debate.
- Tokito, Kubota, and Kou appear as Wonder Arm, the mysterious guy, and a good scientist in the Shonen manga that Shouta draws in volume five.
- Fantastic Drug: The mysterious "W.A.", whose source and composition are unknown and side-effects are gross.
- Gangsta Style: Is a rather oft-recurring image of Kubota.
- Grey and Gray Morality: On the cynical end of the scale. While the antagonists shoot first, the protagonists are more dangerous, and both sides are motivated by self-interest. Lampshaded in the kidnapping arc, a Perspective Flip with a Mook Horror Show.
Kubota: If we're monsters... maybe you should have let us be. |
- Heterosexual Life Partners: Kubota and Tokito.
- Ho Yay: Kubota and Tokito. Despite the series' Seinen sensibility and lack of overt romance, it did run in a BL magazine. Komiya, Sanada, and Sekiya have their moments with Kubota, too.
- The Ishmael: Many chapters and entire arcs are narrated by a temporary Supporting Protagonist. To name a few: Komiya; Saori; Takizawa; Anna; Hasebe; Shouta; Osamu.
- Mahjong: How Kubota was recruited into the yakuza, and how he first bonded with his uncle Kasai.
- Multiple Demographic Appeal: I can't believe it's not Seinen! The U.S. editions were not marketed as BL.
- The Nineties: The series begins in May of 1995 and covers roughly three years in six volumes. Volume one ends on January 22, 1996. At 9:05 a.m.
- No Export for You: Due to the Series Hiatus, six chapters were never officially released in English.
- Parental Neglect: Endemic. Kubota was ignored; Komiya is responsible for his mother; Saori's family washes their hands of her; Shouta is a latchkey kid; Yoshirou was abused and disowned.
Kubota: They're around. But that's all they are. |
- Quest for Identity: Tokito and Kubota investigate W.A. for what it can tell them about Tokito's Dark and Troubled Past.
- Running Gag: Tokito is a stray cat that Makoto took in.
Tokito: "Will you stop it with the house pet thing?!" |
- Series Hiatus: Due to illness and contractual obligations after rumoured creative differences with its magazine.
- Ship Tease: Between Kubota and Tokito, both played straight and for laughs at yaoi tropes.
- Story Arc: Each volume consists of a self-contained arc while advancing the greater series plot.
- Sympathetic POV: On Kubota.
- Yakuza: Kubota leads the Izumo youth group during the prologue arc, and continues to cross paths with the Izumo-kai and their rivals the Tojou-gumi throughout the series.