Exploitation, rage, and sci-fi cyberpunk violence come together in the newly translated release of Search and Destroy. A manga released in 2018 and based on Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo, Atsushi Kaneko blends together science fiction sensibilities with a revenge tale like no other. In a world still reeling from a civil war where robots have the rights of people but also steal human organs, Hyaku will defy all odds to bring justice to the city.
Search and Destroy is the kind of manga that slowly creeps up on you. At first, you’ll feel a bit confused as the main character is more of a mystery than a deep character. By the second half, however, the story opens up, revealing who she is and why she’s killing robots known as Kreech. I dare you not to feel excited for what’s to come, as this opening volume is a near-perfect example of how to hook a reader.
Search and Destroy Volume 1 opens with a man carrying a baby through a blizzard. Wolves are after him and he’s in distress. Soon, he sees a building ahead, and this scene comes to a close. It’s a nice bud of an answer as to where this story is going.
The story then cuts to a man running through a blizzard from a shadowy, furry-looking figure. We then see he’s been cut open to reveal robot parts and a human organ inside. Odd.
This Kreech is a special kind of scary.
Credit: Fantagraphics
These two opening scenes give readers a hint at what our main character is after and where the story goes from here. You might feel totally in the dark like I did, though, until the second half of the manga kicks into gear.
Much of the first half of this first volume is devoted to Hyaku attacking two different gangster robots. She’s super fast, carries sharp weapons, and has very little to say. She’s filled with rage but soon befriends a young girl who may help her bring out her humanity.
The action in the first half is intense and well-drawn. You’ll be on the edge of your seat during one sequence on the roof of a moving car or the play of light as Hyaku fights in the shadows. The action is always good and well-choreographed.
The young girl adds a bit of a younger-set element. She’s a bit goofy with a sidekick vibe that’s cheerier than most of the rest of the book. She also serves as a nice bridge between the first and second half.
Answers are a big element in the second half, which explores Hyaku’s backstory. There are mysteries to further explore introduced here, including who the mayor of the city is. You’ll want to keep reading.
Speaking of the city, Kaneko does a fabulous job creating a city that feels run down yet somehow upscale enough for the rich. Poor people line the streets, yet flashing strip club lights shine through the snow. Given the giant statues, one might liken this place to Russia or an oligarch hellscape. Either way, Kaneko makes you believe this place needs a vigilante hero.
The translation by Ben Applegate is perfection, with nothing reading clunky or forced. Lettering by Phil Christie is quite clean with good emphasis where needed.
Search and Destroy feels like a landmark sci-fi story. Your next favorite manga is John Wick meets Blade Runner. The first volume reads so well it’s almost a crime the second volume won’t arrive until March 4, 2025. Do yourself a favor and check out Search and Destroy.
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