Manga Drifters (by Kouta Hirano): Introduction, Impressions, etc.

This article is about "Drifters," the only manga series I currently buy and read in print rather than as an ebook.
The comics are released slowly, but it's a very interesting series that makes you want to know what happens next.
Whether it's "HUNTER×HUNTER" or "Berserk," I wonder why the works I like are always so slow-paced.
However, that makes the joy of a new book release all the more special.
This time, I'll try to write an article that will convey the appeal of "The Drifters" even to people who are unfamiliar with it.

Work Overview

Simply put, it's about historical figures, supposedly real people, being shipwrecked in another world and fighting wars there.
In this work, Shimazu Toyohisa is the protagonist, and the real war begins when he meets Oda Nobunaga and Nasu Yoichi.
They are called "driftwood" and are known to inhabitants of other worlds as beings that frequently appear.
Incidentally, the other world is set in a world that is quite reminiscent of a typical fantasy world, and in addition to humans, there are races such as elves, dwarves, kobolds, and orcs.

So, who are the enemies? Primarily, they are beings who have also been shipwrecked in another world.
It seems that people who harbored strong hatred or resentment in this world appear in another world as "waste" (Ends) (there are various theories).
Unlike the Drifters, the Ends possess supernatural abilities and generally have high combat capabilities.
Furthermore, the enemy leader, "Black King," remains a mystery, and he marches forward leading a large army of Ends, Kobolds, Orcs, and others.

Initially, the story revolves around Shimazu Toyohisa and two others working together to liberate the elves and dwarves who are suffering under oppression, and how they create their own country and army.
From that point on, the story revolves around how the protagonists will repel and defeat the approaching Black King's army.

Highlights

Description of war

The main attraction, without a doubt, is the "war."
While Toyohisa's powerful "battles" are certainly captivating, Nobunaga's strategies, tactics, and military preparations are also incredibly interesting.
It's fun to watch the seasoned Drifters devise a plan from a disadvantageous position, and see it work exactly as planned.
The film features numerous cowardly and inhumane tactics, and its realistic portrayal of the harsh realities of war—that you can't win by idealism alone—is very compelling.

Future technology

Furthermore, since the characters appear from various eras and locations, it's amusing to see ancient figures surprised by futuristic weapons and other advancements.
I'm impressed by how quickly they understood those future weapons and came up with effective ways to use them.
These kinds of collaborations between weapons from different eras are truly exciting.
Guns are powerful after all.

character

Many of the characters are fascinating, and I particularly like the protagonist, Toyohisa.
Although he is a samurai, a group with a way of thinking and view of life and death that is incompatible with modern people, he has a decisive and straightforward personality, which makes him a fitting protagonist.
Even though he may seem like he's not thinking about anything, he possesses exceptional combat sense, allowing him to instantly choose the optimal solution in battle.
He's similar to Guts from "Berserk"—he excels in strength and physical ability, but he doesn't rely solely on that; he also possesses high-level skills, which I find really cool.
In addition, there are many other fascinating characters, both allies and enemies, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how they will come together in the future.
Since many real people appear in the story, you can have a lot of fun researching and learning about them online.

thoughts

The scenario of summoning heroes from various eras to fight was also seen in "Fate," but since this one focuses on group battles, it has a different kind of appeal as a fictional war manga.
What you're doing is something like a "Super Robot Wars" game featuring heroes, but you become increasingly drawn into the world, wondering who will appear next.
Although the characters are heroes from various worlds, they have a strange sense of unity because they are filtered through the perspective of the author, Kouta Hirano.

Another notable feature is the exaggerated, theatrical way in which the lines are delivered.
This tendency was also strong in "Hellsing," and it's still present in this work.
Whether it's an insult or a compliment, there's something theatrical about it, as if they're reading from a script, which gives it a unique atmosphere.

In the comedic parts, the exaggerated characters and overly casual way of speaking make you feel unconsciously relaxed.
Despite the meticulous attention to detail in the dialogue, the comedic parts are hilariously abrupt, with the characters using modern-sounding language.
I think the dramatic ups and downs are also part of this film's appeal.

I've finished reading up to volume 6, and the number of new characters being introduced is starting to decrease, so I feel like the story has reached its halfway point.
"Hellsing" had 10 volumes in total, so Drifters might be aiming for a similar length.
The true identity of the Black King remains a mystery, and there are still many unanswered questions, such as whether Yoshitsune is friend or foe.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it, but as someone who prefers the comic books, I'll be waiting with a faraway look in my eyes for the next volume, which will probably be about a year and a half from now.

Drifters (1) (Young King Comics)

If it were a simulation RPG (spoilers ahead)

When I see war-themed works like this, I can't help but fantasize about what it would be like if it were an SRPG (strategy role-playing game).
I find myself pointlessly thinking about what kind of stats and skills this character might have.
Since I have the opportunity, I think I'll write down a little bit of that fantasy.

: Shimazu Toyohisa
It has high attack power, but not so much defense.
It seems like there might be a skill that increases evasion rate and attack power as HP decreases.
The "Frenzy" skill increases the attack power of surrounding allies and decreases their evasion rate.

: Oda Nobunaga
He's in a strategist position, but his combat abilities aren't particularly impressive.
However, they possess skills such as mounted attack and command skills, and are the type that enhance the combat capabilities of those around them.
It seems like it could grant allies wielding guns a continuous attack skill.

: Nasu Yoichi
Archer.
They have a series of skills and seem to have very high burst damage.
He possesses the "Follow-up Arrow" ability, which guarantees that follow-up attacks will always hit their target.

Olmine
Use the stone wall talisman to create obstacles on the map.
You can make it possible to cross rivers or climb castle walls, but there is a limit to the number of times you can do this per map.
They have virtually no combat ability.
Due to the game's mechanics, he doesn't have it in the original work, but he probably also possesses healing talisman magic.

Hannibal Barca
He's in a strategist position, with absolutely no combat ability.
However, simply deploying them grants a boost to the accuracy, evasion, and other stats of all allies.
It can disrupt the opponent's command effect skills.

: Scipio Africanus
Almost the same abilities as Hannibal.
I want to limit my choices to either Hannibal or Scipio as my allies.
But it would be nice to have a dream collaboration event on some map where the two of them can sortie at the same time.

: Butch Cassidy
As a thief, they possess skills such as lockpicking and robbery.
Guns have limited ammunition, but they are effective at both close and long range and have high offensive power.

The Sundance Kid
A shooter soldier equipped with a Gatling gun, with low speed and mobility but a long-range firing capability.
However, Gatling guns are expensive.

: Naoshi Sugano
Pilot.
It possesses overwhelming mobility and attack power, but becomes immobile for a while if it runs out of fuel.
Furthermore, the operating costs are also high.
If you capture a dragon or a griffon, you can switch to it at will during the preparation screen or when storing it on an aircraft carrier.

: Tamon Yamaguchi
It's an aircraft carrier unit, and it can only move on the sea.
However, it can store allied units and replenish their HP, ammunition, etc.

: Abe no Seimei
A sage-type unit that excels at inflicting status ailments, such as confusing opponents with a certain probability.
It looks like they'll be selling healing talismans on the marching preparation screen.

Count of Saint-Germain
A transport unit with moderate combat capabilities.
If you are adjacent to an item, you can move it in and out of the warehouse.
In the scenario part, I often discuss future plans with Nobunaga.

Joan of Arc
This early-game boss character is troublesome due to its linear area-of-effect fire attack.
I want to use Olmine to strategically place stone walls to evade attacks, and then defeat the enemy with Toyohisa.

: Gilles de Rais
He's a tough boss with high stamina and defense.
Since its hit rate is low, you'll want to chip away at its health with a character that has high evasion.

: Anastasia
Ice-based magic seems powerful.
It seems like its defense is low.
Since there isn't much depiction of combat in the original work, it's still difficult to imagine what it's like.

: Rasputin
They'll probably use some nasty long-range status effect attacks.
But every time I defeat them, they seem like they'll just run away.

: Akechi Mitsuhide
He's generally a shrewd strategist, and the image I get is that of a formidable opponent who will give you a tough fight.
It looks like there will be many conversation events with Nobunaga.

: Toshizo Hijikata
A well-balanced swordsman with unremarkable abilities.
They might become our allies depending on the event.

: Black King
He has charisma.
Each turn, fully heals all units around this unit.
However, your own physical strength will also gradually decrease.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Depending on how the event progresses, they might become allies, or it might leave Yoichi permanently incapacitated.
Despite being a strategist, he also possesses the skills of a swordsman with a focus on speed, much like a sword master.
After dodging the enemy's attack, it looks like you're about to land on top of their weapon.

summary

"Drifters" is a manga in which characters from various countries and eras wage war in another world.
If you're someone who enjoys keywords like "war," "history," and "military," then this manga is definitely something you'll enjoy.
The dialogue style is quite unique, but I think those who like that kind of thing will really get into it.
It will probably take a very long time to complete, but if you're even slightly interested, I highly recommend reading it.

Drifters (1) (Young King Comics)

Rakuten Market: ドリフターズ（1）