Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale Volume 1

Review Date: 2018 April 29 12:39

Reviewed by: Joe

Released by: Seven Seas Entertainment

Publishing Country: UK

Author: Kikori Morino

Age Rating: Teen

Page Count: 180

ISBN-13: 9781626927544

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Summary

A young girl named Nagi and a giant spider make an unusual pair in this post-apocalyptic story, but living in the mountains is lonely, and they've managed to find each other. Join them in their strangely sweet domestic bliss as they spend their days sharing tea and throwing picnics, proving that love (and delicious food) can bring together even the most unlikely of friends.

Review

Seven Seas have really been picking up the more eccentric titles recently. I imagine the writer and artist Kikori Morino writing down a load of ideas on paper throwing them in a bag and pulling them out to make this concept. Post apocalyptic slice of life manga with a giant spider! Yeah, let's run with that. The idea sounds strange at first, but it really works. Nagi is a young girl who lives by herself in a log cabin in the forests. Every now and again she forages for food and one day encounters a giant spider like creature. The spider is quite friendly and follows Nagi home. She then cooks food for the spider and it forms the start of a friendship.

The recipes used are real recipes, you can make them yourself, so it's actually a post apocalyptic slice of life cooking manga with a giant spider! I've leant this manga out to friends and they've admitted to nabbing the recipes to try out of curiosity. In the first volume, you're treated to Nagi making pumpkin dumplins along with Japanese style ratatouille with miso paste. It all sounds appetising and adds to that slice of life element you'd expect.

The post apocalyptic word created isn't really an anarchy laden waste land, but more of a world with reduced population after some sort of (as of yet unexplained) catastrophe. Law and order appears to be in place, as does some sort of world trade as Nagi is able to get coffee beans. She isn't really in much danger in volume 1, after all it's really a regular slice of life title.

Morino's artwork is good with Nagi and the spider appearing realistic and the world she occupies is detailed. The artwork is of a consist high standard , it's well paced, the panel layout just flows. It's a well put together manga.

The only trouble reading Giant Spider and Me is at the end you'll want more. It's quirky original concept really works and surprisingly so. Morino has started to build an interesting world with an unlikely but likeable duo. That and I want more fun recipes. If you like a nice slice of life manga and are looking for a bit of fun you can't wrong with Giant Spider and Me.

Rating: 8/10

Links

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