No\Nameis a manga recently released in MANGA Plus, the digital reading app of the world-famousWeekly Shonen Jump Magazine. Created by Rafal Jaki, the mind behind the popular seriesCyberpunk: Edgerunners, and illustrated by MACHINE GAMU, the manga is the first work by a Western author duo to be serialized under theShonen Jumpimprint, after it received the Golden Award inMANGA Plus' new Creators initiative.
The manga follows the special agents named Ralf and Ursula. They are members of the respected Nordic Naming Bureau, an organization responsible for handling any cases relating to people’s names. In this world,a name is assigned to all newborns by the government, as each of them is associated with a special abilitycalled Name Power. When an ordinary disappearance case turns into an all-out investigation, the duo is forced to embark on a journey that could risk their lives and their country.
No\Name Has A Fascinating Premise
The Series Blends Police Drama, Mystery, and Comedy To Create an Entertaining Story
The story ofNo\Namebegins with Ralf and Ursula interviewing a famous TV presenter whose wife left him and took their still unnamed child. While somewhat slow, this first scene serves as a perfect introduction to the world of the series. The idea of Name Powers, abilities a human obtains after accepting the label given to them, is shown in a swift but powerful manner. This concept gets explored further in chapters 1 and 2, by allowing readers to witness the brilliant and imaginative powers Jaki gave to each name.
Nonetheless,theNo\Namemanga shines thanks to its story, which focuses on a mysterious group of individuals causing havoc around the city. They seem to have found a way to detach themselves from the name assigned to them and are looking for ways to bring down the government. Ralf and Ursula get caught in the middle of the mysterious group’s mission during one of their cases. They will be forced to find a way to bring these chaotic beings to justice while discovering that the system they uphold may not be as perfect as it seems.
No\Name Depict The Flaws Of Any Society
The Manga Also Contains A Powerful Social Critique
DespiteNo\Nameonly having four chapters so far,the topics of systemic injustices, corruption, and wealth inequality have already cemented themselves as the basis of the story. Our heroes’ first mission involves a power-hungry man who wishes to control his wife and turn her into an unwilling servant. Despite the police being aware of this, the man is never punished for his actions, and the baby that his wife fought so hard to protect is given to him once again. While tangential to the main plot, this introductory arc shows the many flaws of the manga’s political system.
As the story advances, it becomes clear that Ralf and Ursula are not facing a simple cult or a radical group, as the mysterious association seems to be connected to many important governmental officials. While the story will most likely keep focusing on the action-packed adventure of the protagonists, there is no doubt that it will also contain manytopics that will give audiences much to think about.
No\Nameis a manga series that manga fans all around the world are sure to enjoy. With its intriguing power system and captivating story, Jaki’s series has the potential to become a hit amongShonen Jumpreaders in the future. Since it is still in its early stages, it is the perfect time for manga fans enticed by its premise to give it a chance.
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jumpis one of Japan’s most successful manga anthology franchises, published by Shueisha. Launched in 1968, it is the source of some of the most beloved and popular anime and manga series, such asOne Piece,Dragon Ball, andNaruto. The franchise has extended into multiple adaptations across various media, including anime, films, video games, and merchandise.
