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The Country without Humans mangaka Iwatobineko is likely known to most fans through her ongoing series Mr. Invisible and His Future Wife, which was recently announced as an anime adaptation. In the US, the series is published by Seven Seas. German fans can follow the series in a two-in-one volume edition from Egmont Manga.
Her younger sister Akabeko is also active as a mangaka and publishes in the Boys’ Love genre. Her work He Came in Spring has been released in German by Egmont.
The Country without Humans ran in Japan from October 2019 to May 2023 under the original title Ningen no Inai Kuni in the magazine Monthly Action from Futabasha. The series is complete in five volumes.
So how is The Country without Humans?
With The Country without Humans, mangaka Iwatobineko takes us into a post-apocalyptic world populated only by machines. The manga follows the young girl Shii, who awakens without memory in a city where no other humans remain. Only golems, robots created by humans originally intended to assist them in various areas of life, are left. But what happens to machines when their creators are gone?
In a world that has retreated into purposeless routine, Shii becomes the only variable challenging this seemingly rigid system. Her unexpected appearance not only causes confusion but also brings unexpected dangers. She quickly becomes the target of threatening cone-shaped golems, but another golem named Bulb takes her under his wing. What follows is a journey full of questions, discoveries, and a quiet, almost painful melancholy.
The premise of The Country without Humans inevitably brings to mind well-known works like Somali and the Forest Spirit, The Ancient Magus' Bride, or Siúil, a Rún. But The Country without Humans brings its own twist. Instead of mystical creatures or humanoid beings, only machines inhabit this world.
The golems operate according to strict rules that strongly resemble Asimov’s laws of robotics. Their sole purpose is to serve humans. But in the absence of their creators, they have descended into a purposeless existence. They still perform tasks, produce goods for customers who no longer exist, and follow routines that no longer make sense. This gives the city where Shii finds herself a bleak but fascinating atmosphere. It is a world that continues running, but without a soul.
Particularly compelling is how the manga addresses the conflict between functionality and existential purpose. When Bulb realizes that his original master has died, he automatically initiates self-destruction because without a human to serve, he has no reason to exist. But Shii’s appearance gives him a new purpose. She becomes his new "master," but instead of a rigid command hierarchy, a subtle, slowly evolving bond develops between them.
What sets The Country without Humans apart from many similar titles is its world-building. The world remains full of mysteries. What happened to the humans? Why was Shii spared? Are the cone-shaped golems truly hostile, or are they simply following a different protocol?
The city is not a hostile environment in the traditional sense, but it still feels threatening. Besides Bulb, there are other golems desperately trying to "help" Shii, though often in ways that appear questionable or even creepy from a human perspective. One especially intriguing character is Teefa, a golem with a social function who joins the group. But can he really be trusted, or does he have his own agenda?
This subtle threat creates an atmosphere of uncertainty. The golems are not just machines. They are remnants of a bygone civilization, continuing to operate in the absence of their creators and gradually evolving in an unknown direction.
At a time when artificial intelligence, automation, and machine-driven processes are becoming increasingly prevalent, The Country without Humans raises central questions. Can a machine develop its own sense of purpose? What role does humanity play in a world it created, but may have rendered itself obsolete in?
Shii, the only human character, is directly confronted with these questions. The world was made for her, yet she is the only one who does not feel at home in it. The golems exist for her, but instead of comfort, she feels loneliness. It is a subtle but effective contrast that provokes thought and elevates the manga beyond a simple adventure story.
Visually, The Country without Humans shows great potential but also some inconsistencies. The golem designs are diverse and intuitively communicate their functions, while the cityscape has a unique, alien aesthetic. Shii, on the other hand, is sometimes portrayed inconsistently, and her expressions range from exaggerated to blank. Still, there are beautiful, poetic moments such as when the city glows at twilight or when Shii and Bulb take their first steps together as an unlikely duo.
While the relationship between Shii and Bulb is central to the story, it is significantly limited by Bulb’s muteness. Most communication between them is mediated by Muimui, a small flying robot who provides explanations and a bit of levity. Nonetheless, the emotional bond between the main characters does not feel fully developed yet. It is a distance that may be intentional but also makes it harder to connect with them.
Seven Seas released the series in the publisher’s standard paperback format. There are no color pages, but on the inside of the cover, readers can enjoy illustrations of the robots featured in each volume.
Is The Country without Humans worth reading?
The Country without Humans offers a blend of science fiction, philosophical themes, and melancholic storytelling. There are clear parallels to other works, but the purely mechanical world and the exploration of existential purpose give the manga a unique identity.
While the first volume still suffers from some imbalances, especially in the emotional depth of the characters, the core concept is compelling. The story raises enough questions and mysteries to spark curiosity, and the dynamic between Shii and Bulb holds the promise of deeper development over time.
For fans of quiet, contemplative narratives with a dystopian touch, this manga is definitely worth checking out.
The Country Without Humans Vol. 1
€12,99
A hauntingly beautiful tale about the last human in a mechanical world, by the creator of The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife (also from Seven Seas).Shii is the only human left in a city inhabited by nothing but machines.… read more
