Alive: The Final Evolution


Alive: The Final Evolution is a Japanese manga series written by Tadashi Kawashima and illustrated by Adachitoka. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine from April 2003 to February 2010; it was Kawashima's last work before his death in June of that same year. Its chapters were collected in 21 volumes. In North America, Del Rey Manga licensed series for an English localization and released eight volumes. In July 2016, Kodansha USA took over North American release of the series digitally only.
An anime adaptation for the series was planned and to be produced by Gonzo and co-produced by Anime International Company, but the adaptation was canceled due to Gonzo being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Plot

The series follows Taisuke Kanou, a teenage student in Japan who lives a normal life with his sister Yoko Kanou and his friend Hirose. The story begins when an alien being flies towards Earth after sensing life emanating from there. It is learned that the being, Akuro, is composed of souls who were granted immortality but preferred to die but could not do so without a body. These beings separate from each other and enter the bodies of humans in order to pursue death. As a result, a large number of people begin to commit suicide worldwide and the incident became known as Nightmare Week. The humans who resist Akuro's influence gain powers from their possession and become known as "Comrades."
When Taisuke's friend, Yuichi Hirose, discovers his powers he kidnaps his friend Megumi Ochiai and heads north to the heart of Akuro. Taisuke, obtaining his own powers, follows in an attempt to bring Hirose and Megumi back home. On his adventures, he is accompanied by comrades Yuta Takizawa and Nami Kusunoki. He tracks down Hirose to a lake where the latter absorbs Akuro's heart. Taisuke defeats Hirose by triggering a volcanic eruption, which apparently kills them both and destroys the heart.
Two years later Yuta and Nami learn from Aoi Tezuka and Jun Tezuka that Taisuke is alive. They meet Taisuke, who has been living with amnesia since his battle with Hirose. After regaining his memories, they learn from Yukie Tezuka that the army is holding the dormant Hirose. Together they set out to destroy him along with the heart. After several attempts at infiltrating the military compound, Hirose awakens and flees from the military base. Deducing Hirose's return to Japan, Taisuke and his friends prepare for the upcoming battle.
Eventually Hirose is defeated by Taisuke who is empowered by the piece of Akuro's heart. Akuro's consciences, Mitama, uses the Akuro heart pieces to gather and recompile Akuro. Hirose, acknowledging his crimes, has his soul accompany Akuro into space. As all the pieces of Akuro leave their hosts, comrades are rendered powerless once again and the world returns to peace.

Characters

Protagonists

;Taisuke Kano
;Yuta Takizawa
;Nami Kusunoki

The Tezuka Family

;Yukie Tezuka
;Rei Tezuka

Antagonists

;Yuichi Hirose
;Shigeki Katsumata
;Akuro

Katsumata's Comrades

Katsumata had recruited six other Comrades to journey with him on the expedition to Akuro's heart.
  • Takumi Yura is an artist who loves drawing people he knows with the aim of knowing them better. His ability is to create pressurized bubbles which he can detonate at any time. After Taisuke and Hirose's apparent deaths, he defects from Katsumata's rankings. He later joins the Tezuka family in order to search for the heart. Yura is later killed by Hirose.
  • Kenichirou Morio is a Comrade with the ability to create wind blades to cut objects. He was tasked with murdering Taisuke by Katsumata, but ultimately fails. He commits suicide after giving in to Akuro's influences when Hirose absorbs a piece of Akuro's heart.
  • Gou Okada is an obese otaku with an inferiority complex. Okada's power is Shinigami's Contract, allowing him to create promises with others and when the promise is broken, results in their deaths. He also committed suicide after Hirose absorbs the Heart.
  • Kanon Mitachi is a selfish girl who goes through all lengths to have what she wants. She killed Nami's brother out of annoyance with her ability which allows her to detonate metallic objects. She dies after failing to absorb Akuro's heart.
  • Hideo Asou is a Catholic priest whose ability allows him to petrify anything he touches. After petrifying a child he attempted to save during Nightmare Week, Asou begins to suffer from his mistake and is brainwashed by Katsumata to do his bidding. He commits suicide after Hirose's fusion with the Heart.
  • Ron Hasegawa was a young boy at Asou's church who became a Comrade with the ability to liquify himself. After Asou's death, he joins Kyouko Amamiya and Masashi Oda on their journey as reporters.
After Taisuke and Hirose's apparent deaths, Katsumata had brainwashed three other comrades to assist him and Mitama to find the other two pieces of Akuro's heart.
  • Han is a Comrade with the ability to enter and take over another person's body, killing them in the process. Under Katsumata's orders she infiltrates the American military to get closer to the heart, but is eventually killed by D2 and McPhearson after entering the body of his subordinate, D3.
  • Michael is a muscular man who does menial tasks for Katsumata. He is able to control gravity. He is killed by Hirose after being ordered to take his piece of Akuro's heart.
  • Ludger is a mysterious man who is searching for the meaning of life. He has the ability to copy and retain another Comrade's power. After confronting Katsumata on his goals, his fate is left unknown.

Military

;James McPherson
;Daniel Friedkin

Other characters

;Megumi Ochiai
;Ryou Fukiishi
;Kyouko Amamiya Masashi Oda

Publication

Written by Tadashi Kawashima and illustrated by Adachitoka, Alive: The Final Evolution started in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine on April 6, 2003. The series finished on February 6, 2010; Kawashima finished the series on his sickbed and died months later in June. Kodansha collected its chapters in 21 volumes, released from November 17, 2003, to May 17, 2010.
In North America, Del Rey Manga licensed the series for an English release. Eight volumes were released from July 31, 2007, to November 24, 2009. Kodansha USA acquired the license and began releasing Alive: The Final Evolution volumes digitally in July 2016, with previously unpublished Volume 9 releasing in October 2016. The last volume was released in August 2017.

Reception

The first volume was generally well received by reviewers. Manga Life's Dan Polley praised the plot for being different from normal science fiction but still retained the core that appeals to fans of that genre. He also commented on how Adachitoka's art style suited the manga. Katherine Dacey of Pop Culture Shock also commended the plot for not showing the cause of the mass suicide which helps create a "deliciously creepy atmosphere". She described the first volume as "...a suspenseful, entertaining read that mixed teen angst and X-Files paranoia to good effect". Deb Aoki from About.com also praised the mixture of science fiction and high-school life but criticized the overused "shonen manga stereotypes". In his appendix to Manga: The Complete Guide, Jason Thompson commended the art style for being "...an attractive example of the Shonen Magazine house style, with photorealistic environments" and concluded the series to be "An above average “realistic superheroes” story.". Greg McElhatton from Read About Comics panned the volume for its muddled plot and how shock treatments appearing in quick succession lessen the shock effect of each event and stated the volume overall as a disappointment.
Carlo Santos of Anime News Network regards the series' plot pacing to be slow and commented on how the art style is too ordinary making most characters not stand out. He commended the psychological battle in volume 5 and praised Hirose's character transformation. Comics Worth Reading's Ed Sizemore review of the first eight volumes of the series was highly positive. He praised the slow-build storytelling by Tadashi Kawashima for being interesting and suspenseful and commends Taisuke Kano's to be an extremely believable character. He originally considered the art style unimpressive, but as the series continues, he notes that Adachitoka's art style improves immensely and compares it to Takeshi Obata's style. The improved art style is later praised for the character's emotion and body language and the fluid fight scenes.