Geekscape Reviews: Satoru Noda’s ‘Golden Kamuy’ Vol.1

Satoru Noda’s Golden Kamuy reminded me of one of those old American Westerns. The main character, Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto is a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war,  trying to find a cache of gold that was hidden by a mysterious outlaw. He is joined by the young girl, Asirpa, a member of Japan’s indigenous Ainu people. The pair’s dynamic is fun to observe and brings a lot to the flavor of the manga.

There is a plenty of action contained within these pages, much of which includes projectile weapons of some variety. Noda does a great job of mixing up the battle scenarios so each skirmish feels unique.

One of the highlights for me was the focus on Ainu culture. Over the course of the first volume, Asirpa teaches Saichi about the equipment used for hunting, survival skills, and even cooking. The segment with Asirpa and Saichi cooking squirrel was particularly amusing. There is also use of Ainu words in some of the dialogue. It added a sense of authenticity to Asirpa’s character.

The story so far is mostly set in the snowy mountains of Hokkaido and, after reading, I got the sense that the author must have had some experience surviving outdoor cold weather conditions. It wasn’t just the characters’ expressions (although those were fantastic – I got cold just looking at them!) but also the methods they used in various situations, like building an emergency fire for warmth. I don’t want to spoil how they went about starting the fire because it was brilliant.

The character art is relatively simple, with a clean look that is pleasing to the eye. It is in the landscapes and portrayal of animals that this artist really shines. The mother bear and cub that Saichi encounters early on are a perfect example of that.

I give volume one of Golden Kamuy a solid 5 out of 5. The story and setting are one that aren’t usually touched upon in this entertainment form and Satoru Noda does a phenomenal job keeping the reader engaged. If you are looking for a great shōnen manga that doesn’t involve ninjas or alien warriors, I highly recommend you give Golden Kamuy a look.

[This review is based on a sample provided by VIZ Media. All opinions are my own.]