Terra Formars: Volume 6 manga review

Manga
Terra Formars: Volume 6 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
May 19, 2015 - 19:51

Viz Media
Writer(s): Yu Sasuga, John Werry
Penciller(s): Ken-ichi Tachibana
Letterer(s): Annaliese Christman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7159-1
$12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK, 208pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: M (Mature)

Terra Formars Volume 6 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

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Rated “M” for “Mature”

By the late 26th century, the overpopulation of the Earth reached the breaking point, so humanity had to find new frontiers and a new home. Knowing that this time would come, Earth had been in a centuries-long terraforming process of Mars, introducing moss and cockroaches to hasten the transformation. Two missions, Bugs 1 and Bugs 2, traveled to Mars to see the results of that terraforming, and what they discovered was the horror called Terra Formars, giant humanoid cockroaches.

The new mission to Mars, Annex 1, is launched. It is crucial to finding a cure for the A.E. Virus currently plaguing Earth. A safe strain of the virus must be discovered, or the mission must bring back a bunch of possible carriers. However, during the trip to Mars, the crew discovers that Terraformars have infiltrated the Annex 1. Captain Akari Hizamaru initiates “Emergency Plan Delta,” dividing the humans into six divisions.

Terra Formars, Vol. 6 (Chapters 42 to 52) opens, 24-year-old Keiji Onizuka uses his “Peacock Mantis Shrimp” abilities that were grafted onto his body. Alex Kandori Stewart, 18-years-old, uses her Harpy Eagle powers. Plus, it's a game of pitching the old baseball to fight the Terraformars.

Also, the United States and Japan teams reunite. A surprising discovery is made in the pyramids of Mars. Are there really human traitors and manipulators, and who are they?

THE LOWDOWN: The Terra Formars manga has taken a turn these last three volumes. It is still a strange science fiction and horror manga. However, the tide of battle has turned because of genetically-altered humans whose bodies have been altered with animal and insect-like abilities.

Now, humans are a match for the buff, muscular roach-like Terraformars, so the human cause doesn't seem so hopeless as it did in the beginning of the series. Terra Formars Volume 6 introduces more conspiracy into the series. Now, this peculiar battle manga will offer more mystery. I am curious about the direction of this series, and I wonder if it can maintain its weirdness while dealing with human conniving.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Fans of seinen manga and of weird fiction will want to try the VIZ Signature title, Terra Formars.