6000 Leagues Under the Sea...Sorts Of: Manga Reccomendation/Review

Growing up, I've always had a fascination with the horror genre. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that my mother constantly forbid me from viewing anything remotely encompassing the genre. It didn't help that my uncle would secretly expose me to a bunch of horror films and comics behind her back. Anyways, even though I was scared quite easily as a child, I like to believe I developed a fairly high tolerance for horror by the age of 13. Realistic violence, murder, gore, and the grotesque began to not phase me; allowing me to appreciate what directors, writers, and creators within the genre were trying to create for audiences.

When it comes to horror anime and manga, there are very few entries I can list off-hand that I personally enjoyed. Perhaps it is a cultural issue, as I find that Japanese horror tends to gravitate towards awkward depictions of the supernatural and overtly grotesque imagery. It's hard to buy into horror when it's simply trying to gross you out. But every once in a while I find something that I feel ought to be put in the spotlight for horror aficionados to enjoy. Reading a recent article stating that a live-action adaptation was being created for a horror manga that had a huge cult-following behind it, I found myself reading a short 22 chapter manga that is well worth horror fans' times. Today I wish to talk about 6000: Rokusen.

(This review/recommendation will be 95% spoiler free)

 

Story:

Brainchild of mangaka Nokuto Koike, 6000: Rokusen (or 6000: The Deep Sea of Madness) is a mystery, horror, seinen manga that serves as a quick read and a good story. It tells the tale of a crew of scientists and cadres who are sent 6000 meters below the ocean's surface to work at an underwater submarine platform. This in itself already sets up a clever setting for the events of this manga. Being 6000 meters underwater at the bottom of the ocean, completely in the dark is fucking terrifying. Koike expertly makes readers feels a sense of unease as characters traverse through the dark and tight corridors of the underwater base. It's equal parts chilling and sardonic, functioning as a fantastic backdrop to the spooky events that are to come. 

Anyways, the characters in the manga are trying to figure out exactly why they are here at this base as a slew of unexplained accidents and events have occurred here. Particularly, a massive event that occurred 3 years ago at the base that was completely covered up by the government in which many people disappeared. The slew of mysteries spout classical horror that is only bolstered by a great setting and eventually fully realized by nifty implementations of culture/religion and the deterioration of the human psyche. (I'm trying very hard not to give anything away here lol). 6000's  story is expertly paced and successfully manages to chill reader's bones as much as the characters in he story itself. *It's also worth nothing that this is (so far) the only manga every created by Nokuto Koike, so he definitely put a lot of effort into making it.*

Lastly, I think it's really cool that Koike refrains from utilizing any form of sexuality that could of easily been utilized within this manga's plot. Given the setting and some of the characters, it could've been way too easy to default to! Yet, Koike instead opts for a genuinely scary experience with no semblance of major, positive human interaction and that is something I can appreciate in the genre. 

Art:

Koike's artwork is great for this style of manga. His backgrounds and portrayals of the darkness at the bottom of the ocean are phenomenal. The artwork definitely sells the horror experience for readers. Employing dark edges and shadows to his advantage, I would truly love to see Koike's artwork again in another manga. 

Characters: (Due to being potentially spoilerly for the plot, I can't go too in depth with the characters)

-Kengo Kadokura 

-Main character

-Enthralled with discovering the truth behind all the incidents at the submarine platform.

-Serves to challenge the authority at the base.   

-Miwa Kusakabe

-One of the head engineers at the base.

-Does not take well to individuals who are not professional in regards to their job.

-Sakura Amakasu

-The head doctor/psychologist at the underwater base. 

-Chan Guo Wein

-The head authority at the underwater base.

-Is Chinese, lending to some the interesting blends of culture in the manga.

-Involved in dragging our main character into this story. 

Final Thoughts/Conclusion:

If you are a horror fan than this manga is right up your alley. A creepy tale in a fairly unique setting that never fails to make you feel uneasy. I truly can't wait to see how a live action adaptation of this story will look. As a manga, it has every successful element that makes it a great stand-alone piece. Minus a few issues I have with its ending, I give 6000: The Deep Sea of Mandess a solid 8/10. You won't go wrong with this one at only 22 chapters/4 volumes. Koike is a promising mangaka with some talent that will hopefully be tapped into again in the future. 

I'm Nights Off and as always, have a wonderful day! 

-Nights Off