The
September issue of Good! Kodansha's Afternoon has
published the final chapter of manga The Pool, the
latest work by mangaka Gamon Sakurai. The series, which launched in
January 2024, has come to its conclusion after just over half a year of
serialization.
Set in a
future with military and science fiction overtones, The Pool narrated
the missions of a space squadron and its commander, who faced terrifying
creatures in the darkest corners of the universe. Despite its short
duration, the work stood out for its intense atmosphere and striking
visual style.
Sakura's
legacy after Ajin's success
Gamon
Sakurai is recognized worldwide for being the author of Ajin:
Demi-Human, a manga that debuted in 2012 and concluded in May 2021 with
a total of 17 compilation volumes. The series was an international phenomenon,
with simultaneous publication in English through Vertical Comics and Kodansha
USA Publishing, as well as being available on Crunchyroll while
being published in Japan.
Ajin was also adapted into multiple
audiovisual formats. Its television anime debuted in January
2015 with 13 episodes, followed by a second season in October 2016. Both
seasons were broadcast by Netflix, which also released a
trilogy of 3D CG films between 2015 and 2016, in addition to three
OVAs included in special editions of the manga.
The work
even made it to the big screen in live-action format, with a
film being released in Japan in September 2017, cementing Ajin as
one of the most influential supernatural thrillers of the decade.
What's
next for Gamon Sakurai?
The end
of The Pool leaves open the question about Sakurai's creative
future. Although this new story had a brief run, its more introspective
approach and its setting in space showed a different facet of the author. Fans
are now keeping an eye on his next steps, waiting for a new work that,
like Ajin, will once again make its mark on the manga industry.
