Gachiakuta Manga Review

​​Title: Gachiakuta
Author: Kei Urana
Demographic: Shonen
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Published: 2022 – present 
English-translated Volumes: 7 and ongoing
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.98
Rating: 9/10

Rudo is a teenager with an obsession for trash. Living on the poor side of town with his adoptive father, his days often include dumpster diving to find worthwhile items to bring home and repair. One day after returning home, he finds that his adoptive father has been murdered. And in this unjust society, Rudo is blamed and convicted for the murder. His downtrodden life somehow manages to get worse because criminals are banished to the Ground… a toxic wasteland. With a desire for revenge fueling his determination to live, he discovers what the Ground is really like and what he must do to survive. 

Pros
Interesting world and strong worldbuilding
First, let’s discuss the world itself. The story begins on the Sphere which is a floating island that moves around the globe. The Sphere’s society is split into the haves and have-nots where high walls physically separate the wealthy from the poor. The surface of the planet is known as the Ground or Pit where criminals and literal trash are sent from the Sphere. It is a toxic, polluted wasteland with pockets of civilization for those who survive the fall from the Sphere to the Ground. 

In this story, Gachiakuta explores dark themes from inequality and injustice to environmentalism and respect. On the Sphere, law enforcement embraces a perverse idea of justice when it comes to the poor side of society. Fair trials have been replaced with show trials where there is little care or concern for finding the truth. They are quick to banish you to the Ground along with the trash. It’s a simple philosophy: out of sight, out of mind. Any potential quality of life on the Ground is of little concern to those on the Sphere. This destructive mentality results in an environmentalist’s nightmare where trash is unmanageable and outcasts struggle to survive. 

Heartwarming power system
Gachiakuta has a lovely concept for its power or magic system. In this world, there is a mysterious power source known as Thought. Thought can accumulate in objects over time and can turn into energy known as Anima. Certain people known as Givers have the ability to turn objects with enough Anima into vital instruments. A vital instrument is usually a sentimental item that has been loved and cared for by its owner and has developed a strong amount of Anima. So for example, our main character has a pair of gloves that he has cherished throughout his life. He takes time and effort to maintain his gloves and because of this, his gloves have become a vital instrument that give him special abilities. 

These vital instruments are essential on the Ground because they are the only things capable of defeating trash beasts. Trash beasts are, as the name suggests, made of up the trash that’s been tossed down from the Sphere and have accumulated enough Anima to turn into monsters that want to destroy people. But you need a vital instrument to defeat a monster made from Anima. Thus we get amazing battles where random vital instruments (umbrella, scissors, gloves, etc…) are used against a variety of trash monsters. 

Characters
Gachiakuta really captured my attention once we reached the Ground and met more characters. The reader is quickly introduced to a variety of unique individuals including Enjin, Zanka, Riyo, and Gris. Suddenly, our story of a loner transforms into a story of brotherhood and personal growth. With each character interaction, Rudo learns the value of friendship, self-acceptance, and trust. 

Good pacing and storytelling 
Sometimes, shonen manga can feel like a race from one battle to the next. Luckily, Gachiakuta does not suffer from this. The author does a great job of balancing action scenes and day-to-day moments for character development and worldbuilding. Kei Urana also beautifully balances transparency and opacity. Some parts of the story are immediately explained while others are left as a mystery to pique your curiosity.  

Cons
Plot convenience
There’s been more than one instance of plot convenience in the story so far. From a lucky rescue to a quick search, there are times when the author pushes the story along in ways that are just too convenient. I get that it could be boring or tedious to play out the story in a bit more of a realistic way… but I wish some effort was put in to explain how some of these things happened in a way that would make sense instead of seeming like complete luck. 

Overall…
It is very early in this manga series but so far, I’m hooked! From worldbuilding to character development, I am excited to see what future volumes bring to the table.