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Today I propose you to discover the manga “the summit of the Gods” by Jiro Taniguchi. This article is proposed to us by Chrispopof from Oblikon.net the blog of geek culture, a great friend of mine.

The Summit of the Gods is a manga by Jiro Taniguchi, one of the most popular manga in France. This is actually the adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Baku Yumemakura, another Japanese author. Already winner of Best Screenplay at the Festival d’Angouleme 2003 for “a distant neighbourhood”, Jiro Taniguchi was awarded for the design at the same festival in 2005 for The Summit of the gods and fabulous scenery of the mountains of Japan and Nepal. But the summit of the gods, it is not as beautiful designs, it is also a wonderful human story.

The history of the Summit of the Gods

Nepal. In a small shop in Kathmandu, Fukamachi, Japanese photographer, comes across an old camera that could well be one of the famous mountaineer George Mallory, who died in 1924 in full ascent of Everest, no one can know if he and his climbing partner had reached the summit. Did they have an accident going or coming? The photos in this equipment could change the history of mountaineering!

If Jiro Tanuguchi mangaka is one of the most acclaimed in France, it’s not for nothing. He knows human psychology to address a particularly fine intelligent, never forgetting to give much emotion. The summit of gods, the main characters, and Fukamashi Habu, were each marked by difficult events that guide their choices and their lives. For different reasons, they find themselves obsessed with the mountain, and when their paths cross, their lives will be changed forever. In just two or three boards, sometimes with a single image, Tanigushi arrives to inject emotion very important to his history. Even when he describes the past Fukamachi, even when one is too attached to the character, he manages to move the emotions felt by him, the pain he feels in his relationship with a woman. With the character of Habu, it will be several sequences that will mark their emotional power.

The summit of God volume 1

In the summit of  Gods, Jiro Taniguchi confronts his characters with terrible obstacles that will shape their lives and personalities. One is the mountain. A mad passion and faith mortal threat, she will guide the decisions of the two characters on the summits of Japan and Nepal, to the detriment of their private lives. Lovers of mountain hiking and climbing will all certainly want to take a backpack and setting off to the nearest vertex, or why not Everest!

The drawings, in black and white, are beautiful. The characters’ emotions, often highlighted by close-ups, are perfectly clear. Especially, the transcript of the mountain is incredibly powerful. Sometimes through beautiful landscapes and incredible heights, it also seems extremely dangerous in the most agonizing moments.

The summit of the Gods is a must-read manga, whether you are a fan of mountain, Japan or not … Through a story combining adventure, suspense and emotion, Jiro Taniguchi sign a memorable poetry.

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