I really enjoyed “World Trigger” and Daisuke Ashihara has managed to create a manga series that is exciting, action-packed and hilarious! “World Trigger” vol. 1 is highly recommended!
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MANGA TITLE: World Trigger Vol. 1
STORY AND ART BY: Daisuke Ashihara
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shonen Jump Manga
RATED: T for Older Teen
RELEASE DATE: October 7, 2014
Destroy thy Neighbor! A gate to another dimension has burst open, and invincible monsters called Neighbors invade Earth. Upstanding Osamu always does the right thing, whether it means pitching in to save Earth after school or turning the other cheek to bullies. But when he meets a feisty humanoid Neighbor named Yuma, everything that he thinks is right is turned on its head. Can the two natural enemies ever become friends?
In 2013, Daisuke Ashihara’s “World Trigger” began its serialization in the pages of “Weekly Shonen Jump”. With a total of seven tankobon (graphic novel) published in Japan and an anime series beginning in October 2014, “World Trigger” will now be released in the United States courtesy of Viz Media.
“World Trigger” is set in Mikado City where a gate to another world/dimension had opened in the city.
Invaders from the gate, which are called “Neighbors” began attacking everything around Mikado City, spreading terror and all weapons to combat them, have been ineffective.
But a mysterious group known as the Border Defense Agency a.k.a. “Border” showed up to fight against the Neighbor and built a huge base to combat them.
Fast forward four years later and while gates still open around the city, humanity has their faith in Border.
At the local high school, Osamu Mikumo is a student that is often bullied. Called “Four Eyes” by his bullies, no one knows he is actually a Border agent in training. A C-class trainee with a low Trion level.
One day, he becomes friends with his new classmate, Yuma Kuga. A unusual young boy who surprisingly is unaware of human customs? Is he a foreigner?
The truth is that Yuma is actually from the Neighbor world and Osamu learns after battling a neighbor (in which Yuma saves Osamu’s life) that Yuma has great power thanks to his “trigger”.
But sensing that Yuma is not a grave threat and wanting to protect Yuma from unwanted attention, the two make a deal, Osamu will teach Yuma about human culture but he must not try to fight or show his power in public, or else he will be caught and killed by Border.
Yuma agrees to Osamu’s deal but what happens when a gate opens at the high school and humongous neighbors begin attacking Osamu’s classmates?
At first, I wasn’t too sure if “World Trigger” was a manga for young children. With Daisuke Ashihara’s style, it’s not the most detailed but because of it’s violence, you eventually start to realize, this manga is not for children at all.
And despite its simplicity in character design, what captivates you is its story about a Border Agent who’s main goal is to fight against the enemy, the Neighbors…but instead befriends one and the two end up fighting together to take on the huge monsters from the other dimension.
And because of Yuma Kuga being naive to human culture, it sets up the comedy of “World Trigger” as bullies try to pick on him (learning quickly, they shouldn’t) or the chemistry between Yuma and Osamu, as Osamu is a person who wants to protect people but Yuma trying to explain to him that he is not powerful enough to fight them.
So, in a way, both work well together, despite being having this odd friendship considering Osamu is from Border and Yuma is a Neighbor. Can these two opposites work together to protect the people from attacks? And what happens when Yuma does the job, but Osamu gets all the credit? Leaving the A-class Border Agents wondering if Osamu is some genius on the battlefield.
Suffice to say, there is more to the storyline by the second half, introducing us to new characters (experienced Border Agents) and easily leading us to another major event that will take place in vol. 2.
I really enjoyed “World Trigger” and Daisuke Ashihara has managed to create a manga series that is exciting, action-packed and hilarious!
“World Trigger” vol. 1 is highly recommended!