NIPPOMANIA #12 : Coppelion

Opinions are divided on Tomonori Inoue's post-apocalyptic fable, but that doesn't diminish the entertainment value provided by the whimsical premise of COPPELION. Completed in 26 volumes in Japan, the series has even been adapted into an animated format by GoHands, but it has received very negative reviews from the audience. Is COPPELION a bad manga? Probably not, but I still recommend getting your hands on it if you're looking to form a solid opinion.





In the year 2016, a nuclear catastrophe similar to the Chernobyl disaster occurs in Tokyo. As a result, the Japanese metropolis is quarantined and becomes a ghost city. Many people fled, but some individuals are still trapped in the ruins of the City of 808 Villages.
It is only 20 years later, in 2036, that the special self-defense forces of the Land of the Rising Sun create the COPPELION squad, a group of three genetically modified young women who are not affected by atomic radiation. Their goal? To roam the sinister and dilapidated streets of the "City of Death" with the sole objective of locating potential survivors who failed to escape the aftermath of the disaster that occurred two decades earlier. However, Ibara, Aoi, and Takeo are unaware of the origin of their abnormal condition, to such an extent that they begin to question their humanity and their contribution to society.





Interestingly, the animated adaptation of COPPELION was originally announced for 2011 but was put on hold following the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident in March of that same year.
As mentioned, the series has received mixed reviews, primarily due to the anime adaptation, which is considered rushed and, in some opinions, downright terrible. I would not recommend judging the work based on its television representation, as it is likely to be disliked and may discourage you from reading the source material. That being said, the manga itself is not a masterpiece of seinen genre, but the premise is interesting enough, almost whimsical, to make the reading enjoyable. The different situations create an attachment to the three heroines, who are well-developed characters with complex psychological depth that keeps the reader engaged. The exploration of their beliefs and determination to save the survivors of the cataclysm is a strong aspect of the narrative that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout its 226 chapters.
However, COPPELION is not without its flaws. Some story arcs drag on for far too long, to the point where the storytelling becomes one-dimensional, as if the author was unsure of the direction to take in advancing the plot. The artwork is not exceptional either, but it is sufficiently effective for the tone adopted by the author.
In summary, despite its controversial nature, COPPELION is an enjoyable read for those who are not looking for a mind-bending experience!