Daisuke Igarashi's series Children of The Sea follows a young girl named Ruka who discovers new friends in the form of Umi and Sora one summer. These two young boys were raised by the sea, and are being studied at the aquarium where her father works. As Ruka spends more time with them, she becomes drawn into the world of the sea and all the mysteries surrounding it. As strange things involving aquatic life are happening around the world, Ruka finds that something similar might be happening in her own town — and closer than she thinks.
Highlights:
The summer begins with Ruka, standoffish and aggressive — so aggressive that her behavior at sports practice gets her banned for the rest of the summer. An impromptu trip to the ocean has Ruka meeting a young boy named Umi in the most unusual way. He reminds Ruka of something she had seen years ago: a ghost at the aquarium. At the same time, the aquarium where Ruka's father works receives reports of fish disappearing out of the blue while in captivity. Sora goes to meet a boy named Umi who is staying in the hospital, and they talk about the fish and possibly leaving — but a man in tattoos named Jim comes in and interrupts. Ruka goes back to school and watches the team practice without her, and feels as if no one cares that she's gone. When she goes to the aquarium, she is astonished to find Sora swimming in one of the fish tanks with no equipment, like one of the fish himself. Jim appears and tells her that both Sora and Umi were raised in the ocean, possibly by the dugongs.
The next day, Ruka sneaks into her own school only to be found by Sora, who takes her to watch a hitodama (a large fireball) appear in the sky. She wonders how Sora knew that a hitodama would appear when it did. Apparently, the hitodama affected the animals as well. The following day, Ruka goes back to the aquarium and hears a whale's song and learns more about Sora's brother Umi. Ruka's father invites her to hang out with the two brothers for the summer and be their friends, seeing as she no longer had practice to go to. While walking on the beach, Ruka meets Umi for the first time. He is a pale-skinned boy who is rude to her and dismissive of her thoughts. Later, when they are avoiding Ruka's mom (who shows up suddenly at the aquarium), she, Umi and Sora go off and steal a boat, driving it across the water until it suddenly stops and won't move. Sora and Umi go swimming to rehydrate, and Ruka follows with her snorkel gear to find giant fish that look like they were made from stars. Meanwhile, Jim receives disturbing news from an official about a recent acquisition.
Later, a giant fish washes up on shore, drawing the attention of both Ruka and Sora. On the way to the aquarium, Sora tells Ruka about a story of an island who sets out chairs for the dead to return to on a special day. Jim offers to teach Ruka how to snorkel after hearing about her adventures on the boat with the boys. Another giant fish washes up on shore, and when Ruka returns from the beach she discovers that someone close to her has gone missing.
Overall:
Viz has been touting its Sig Ikki line as the cream of the crop in terms of quality manga — and they show that they mean business by having Children of the Sea as one of their licenses for the line. Daisuke Igarashi's series is one that mixes the fantastic and the realistic into something new and exciting. From the scenes underwater to those on land, every page is imbued with stellar artwork and a beautiful kind of storytelling that deserves a bigger audience than it has. The art switches between a simple style and something detailed and gorgeous, and it is the masterful flipping between these styles that makes the art of Children of the Sea one of its biggest pull.
And then there is the story. In the first volume, we are being introduced to a colorful cast of characters, from the brash and stubborn Ruka to the mysterious brothers of the sea Umi and Sora, and secondary characters like the tattooed scientist Jim and Ruka's withdrawn but understanding father. They move the story forward with their actions and set the scene for conflict between those of the aquarium and those who live like Umi and Sora, children of the dugongs and of the water's depths. It's a story of two worlds eclipsing, all in the viewpoint of a girl still growing up and trying to find out what she wants to be. This would be incredibly schlocky but Igarashi makes it work and work well. The ending chapter with its emotional cliffhanger has this reviewer looking forward to the second volume with great anticipation. If you're interested in reading a series that is creative and involving without feeling forced, you would not be remiss in picking up this book and taking a step into Ruka's world.
ComicsOnline gives Children of the Sea Volume One 5 out of 5 hitadama in the sky.
