[Manga Musings on Mondays] Opus – Review

Created by: Satoshi Kon

Chapters: 19

 

Hello everyone and welcome back! Today, we resume usual serialization of Manga Musings by talking about probably the most metafictional manga I have ever read in Satoshi Kon’s Opus. As a fan of most of his works (I still maintain that the final third of Paranoia Agent is bonkers for bonkers’ sake), I went into this completely blind but with relatively high expectations. Does the story hold up to Kon’s high standards or does it fall woefully short? Let’s find out.

 

THE PREMISE:

A manga author gets sucked into the lives of his characters (literally) and realizes that not everything is entirely in his control in either world.

 

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT:

If forced to choose between the two, I’d always pick a depressing ending over a happy ending to a story.

Ever since I was little, I found myself relating to sad stories more often than ones with silver linings. To an extent, that is something which still hasn’t changed. Maybe it was because I could see parts of my own life mirrored in such stories that made me like them more because after all, in real life, there are only far too few happy endings we are able to find. Or maybe it was the fact that I found comfort in watching fictional characters trying and failing at fighting against the path laid out in front of them, yet still managing to take every blow on the chin and move on. Whatever the reason, I believe it’s fair to say that I got more enjoyment out of such stories. Out of sad endings. Out of a person’s suffering. Sure there were times when I thought that maybe some character didn’t deserve their fate but at the back of my mind, I would always have this notion that the story was better this way. That It seemed more fitting.

In his highly regarded yet gravely under-read manga Opus, Satoshi Kon places the reader in this very conundrum. Who are we to decide someone’s fate? Who are we to comment on the kind of ending they deserve? Are characters in a story forever doomed to be just that or does there ever come a point when they become something more?

 

Opus is a story that involves psychics and a maniacal cult-leader trying to become the god of a world he controls and a manga author just trying to meet his deadline yet more than anything, it’s a story about something we as human beings keep wrestling with for all our lives: the concept of free will. Whether such a thing as destiny does exist and if it does, what is the purpose of trying to fight against it? Why bother trying to strive for a better future? Why have any ambitions or dreams? Why even get up in the morning?

Kon forces the reader to get into the characters’ shoes, to look not only across the pages of this story but also inwards. Through the protagonist Satoko’s trials and tribulations, we are forced to confront our own fears and while most of this make for some very depressing and uncomfortable reading, it’s still well worth taking a trip inside Kon’s (and our own) minds.

I know it may seem like I’m only scratching the surface of the plot and not even talking about the characters or anything, but really it’s best to go into this knowing only the bare minimum at most. The final thirty pages alone make it worth it. I get why the story had to end that way but in a way, it enhances the whole experience and is something best experienced unspoiled.

 

 

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T READ IT:

While the manga doesn’t have any glaring negatives, its appeal is not as universal. If you don’t like reality bending thrillers that mess with your head, you won’t like this. If you aren’t familiar with Kon’s other works, this is probably not the right place to start. If you are familiar with his other works, this is not nearly as refined. And most of all, the one thing which I can’t help but point out is how this manga made me feel while reading it. While I was at all times admiring the storytelling craft at display, I didn’t really enjoy myself. All the side characters fell a little flat for me and no matter how fitting I thought the ending to the story was, I do have my issues with it. So, if you do decide to give this a read, please keep all these factors in mind.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

While heavily drawing on the works of Katsuhiro Otomo, Satoshi Kon brings his own narrative style and ideas to turn a story you may have seen before into something you rarely find in manga. If you are able to look past its minor faults and pacing issues, it does make for a really interesting read.

 

FINAL RATING: 7.4 / 10

 

 

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With that, we conclude this week’s coverage. Next week, I will be reviewing the manga chosen through the votes of last week’s poll, Shuuzou Oshimi’s Chi no Wadachi. To have your favorite manga get reviewed the week after, be sure to vote in this week’s poll here!

And feel free to leave the titles of any manga you think needs more attention down in the comments below and I will be sure to include it in later polls.

As always, thank you for reading and see ya next Monday! ^^