_LUCIOLE HAS A DREAM_ is a manga by Yuu Morikawa, a mangaka best known for _MR. VILLAIN’S DAY OFF_, a series that not only gained great popularity but also received an ongoing anime adaptation. Luciole Has a Dream was originally serialized in the shojo magazine Asuka starting on May 24, 2021, but its publication is currently on hiatus. The work belongs to the adventure and fantasy genres. An English translation by Yen Press was released on December 17, 2024. At first, I was hesitant to read the manga since I'm not a particularly patient person when it comes to series on hiatus. However, due to my positive experiences with Morikawa’s previous works, I couldn’t pass up Luciole Has a Dream. SO, HOW WAS _LUCIOLE HAS A DREAM_? The story begins with the perspective of a young protagonist, Luciole, who awakens from cryosleep without any memories. This classic premise of an amnesiac protagonist serves as a narrative anchor point, gradually introducing readers to the world. Claude, who calls himself a magician, is an ambiguous mentor figure who shares knowledge while withholding essential information. This technique helps reveal the world and its characters progressively, creating a continuous sense of mystery. A central theme is the tension between memory and identity. Luciole's ignorance of his past mirrors the forgotten history of an entire civilization. The post-apocalyptic setting is not explicitly explained but is subtly revealed through fragmented discoveries like abandoned houses, rusty cans, and remnants of human technology. The fragmented storytelling creates a cognitive challenge for readers, feeding off the gap between what is known and what is guessed. Visually, the manga stands out with its exceptionally detailed portrayal of the environment. Morikawa uses intricate backgrounds and contrasting lighting to create an atmosphere of isolation and nostalgia. Particularly striking are the soft blue tones on the cover and in the color pages, evoking a sense of melancholy and hope. The ruins of the former civilization are more than just a backdrop. They serve as symbols of the past and what has been lost. Nature reclaiming its space hints at a posthumanist discourse, subtly referencing the Anthropocene debate. The portrayal of an overgrown yet silent and poetic wasteland is reminiscent of works like _NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND_ or_ THE GIRL FROM THE OTHER SIDE_. A key visual motif is the design of the characters. While Luciole, with his soft facial features and open eyes, appears naive and optimistic, Claude's covered body language and cryptic hints present him as a more complex figure. The contrast between these characters reflects the dichotomy between innocence and experience and serves as a driving force for the story. The story of Luciole Has a Dream unfolds episodically, with each episode raising more questions while enhancing the dense, almost dreamlike atmosphere. As Luciole and Claude traverse the sunken world in a small boat, Luciole frequently encounters traces of the past: abandoned houses, forgotten objects, and rusty canned goods, which he opens in the hope that they might still be edible. The desolation of these relics gives readers the impression that an entire civilization vanished without warning. Then Luciole makes an unexpected discovery: an untouched cryosleep pod. When Claude opens it, a bearded man named Bruno, a former engineer of these pods, emerges. His only wish is to find the capsule of his pregnant wife. But what if it no longer works? This new dynamic adds depth to the story and heightens the existential tragedy of the situation. Bruno's awakening also raises new questions: How many people could still be surviving in cryosleep capsules? Is the hope of reuniting with other survivors just an illusion? Or is there still a way to uncover the buried past? Luciole is an incredibly lovable protagonist. Despite the uncertainty about his own past and the bleak reality surrounding him, he remains determined to search for other survivors day by day. His naive but hopeful nature makes it all the more painful when he finds no one, yet he does not give up. He clings to small things: the joy of finding a can of food or the possibility of getting answers one day. Claude, on the other hand, is an enigma. He speaks little, answers almost no questions, and seems haunted by ghosts of the past. In flashbacks marked by black panel borders, a mysterious figure with a single braid appears — a detail that resembles both Claude and a potential future version of Luciole. Is this an echo of the past or a hint about the true nature of Luciole's existence? Bruno introduces an additional dynamic by contrasting with Luciole and Claude. While Luciole lives in the present and Claude seems trapped in the past, Bruno is someone actively trying to reclaim his future. A central aspect of Luciole Has a Dream is the mystery of Luciole's identity and the world he finds himself in. Was his memory erased by a faulty cryosleep system? Why did Claude awaken him specifically? And what happened to the rest of humanity? The further the story progresses, the more questions arise, and then, just at a particularly gripping cliffhanger, the volume ends, leaving readers with a series currently on hiatus. This situation makes it even harder to fully immerse oneself in the work, as it is uncertain whether the unanswered questions will ever be resolved. IS IT WORTH READING? Luciole Has a Dream is a bittersweet, beautifully staged post-apocalyptic adventure with an incredibly dense atmosphere. The characters are captivating, the world is full of unsolved mysteries, and the artistic portrayal is simply breathtaking. However, the uncertainty about the series' future leaves readers with mixed feelings. Those who do not mind a hiatus and are open to an unfinished but artfully told work should definitely give this manga a chance. PRODUCT EMBED | LUCIOLE HAS A DREAM GN VOL 01
