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Preview: Wandering Cat’s Cage

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Wandering Cat’s Cage

(W) Akane Torikai (A) Akane Torikai

An elegiac manga about gender, community, family, control, class, love, and what makes life worth living at the end of the world.

In Akane Torikai’s Wandering Cat’s Cage, it is the near future. Only a few women are still able to menstruate, and even fewer men will be born to them. Reproduction is limited to medical intervention controlled from on high, and the structures and lives of the past hold no weight: they are only hinted at through the remaining scraps of a world that no longer exists. Life can be good, though, if you fall in line, and the women of The City live bright, happy, tightly controlled lives. But complete obedience isn’t for everyone. For the women across the river, who live in a rundown shantytown, viewing the opulence of the city from afar each night, life is different. It is humble, and often dangerous, but it is free. It is here that Sanada, a young acupuncturist, lives with the mysterious Reiho, the only male she’s ever met, and who sells himself to the rich women who sneak across the river for something they’ve never experienced …The two form a small “family,” taking in other young women ousted from the city. But a real, living, breathing male might be too precious to leave to the shabby streets. When Reiho is kidnapped at gunpoint and taken to the breeding program in the city, Sanada must join with the other outcasts to try and rescue him, and learn the difficult truths of love, self-actualization, society, community, safety, and the future itself.

Master manga-ka Akane Torikai (Sensei’s Pious Lie) has produced a stunning work of relational SF through a gender-bent looking glass. Torikai pulls no punches examining the deeply messy subjects of our day — sexuality, gender dynamics, romantic love, familial trauma, freedom, and control, through immaculately realized settings and character-rich, emotive body language. Produced in partnership with MSX: Mangasplaining Extra.

Cover illustration for 'Wandering Cat's Cage' by Akane Torikai, featuring three characters: a young woman with long hair, a girl with a hat, and a woman sitting on a ledge, set against an urban background.
Black and white manga panel depicting a girl with long hair holding a baseball bat in an abandoned industrial setting. The first panel shows her preparing to swing, the second provides a view of debris and equipment in the background, and the third features the word 'CRACK' indicating the action of the bat striking something.
Aerial view of densely packed urban rooftops with a speech bubble saying 'HOME RUN!'
A detailed sketch of a densely built urban area, showcasing various rooftops with varying structures and levels. The scene includes rooftop gardens, water tanks, and industrial elements, emphasizing the complexity of city architecture.
A hand reaches for various candies, with a dialogue bubble stating 'HERE Y'ARE. HOME RUN REWARD.'
A black and white manga illustration featuring two characters. The character on the left has long hair and a serious expression, while the character on the right has short hair and is holding a cigarette. Speech bubbles convey dialogue about a rat being stubborn.
A street scene depicting a young woman walking away with long hair, accompanied by a dog, in a busy marketplace. People are gathered at tables eating and drinking, while shops line the streets. The image features a hand-drawn monochrome style with the word 'Honestly' appearing at the top.
A woman with glasses and a headscarf admires another woman's hair while sitting indoors. The other woman, dressed in a casual outfit, appears to be in a vibrant setting with various objects and street elements in the background.
A black and white comic panel depicting several characters engaging in conversation. One character asks another for help with their back, while a third character jokes about buying hair. The scene is set in an informal, bustling environment with detailed backgrounds and expressions.

Fantagraphics and MSX: Mangasplaining Extra Unveil Two New Manga Titles

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Fantagraphics Books Inc. and MSX: Mangasplaining Extra have announced the forthcoming English-language publication of two groundbreaking manga by esteemed creators Atsushi Kaneko and Akane Torikai (respectively). Search and Destroy by Atsushi Kaneko is a three-volume sci-fi punk epic based on Osamu Tezuka’s best selling manga Dororo. Wandering Cat’s Cage by Akane Torikai is a thought-provoking graphic novel exploring a post-apocalyptic matriarchal society. Both works will captivate readers with their unflinching explorations of the human condition.

Starting this summer, both titles will be serialized digitally on MSX: Mangasplaining Extra’s platform. Following the digital serialization, Fantagraphics will release the print editions of these remarkable works in 2024. This partnership expands upon the existing collaboration between Fantagraphics and MSX, which currently features Susumu Higa’s Okinawa, releasing in print on August 22nd, 2023.

Search and Destroy, crafted by the visionary mind of Atsushi Kaneko (known for Bambi and Her Pink Gun), presents a contemporary reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s Eisner Award-winning manga Dororo. Transplanting the vengeful action from feudal Japan into a dystopian future, where mercenary robots known as “creatures” serve the elites and oppress the desperate masses, Kaneko delivers a visually stunning and timely narrative. With a cast of scrappy heroes and chilling monsters set against a high-contrast backdrop, Search and Destroy confronts the timeless question of humanity’s essence. Combining Tezuka’s dark yet playful storytelling with Kaneko’s eclectic influences—from cartoonists like Daniel Clowes and Charles Burns to filmmakers like David Lynch—this sci-fi masterpiece promises a thrilling and visually rich experience.

Search and Destroy is created by Atsushi Kaneko, based on the work Dororo by Osamu Tezuka. The English edition is translated by Ben Applegate, and will be serialized weekly through the MSX Newsletter, commencing in August 2023. The three-volume softcover edition from Fantagraphics will debut in January 2024, allowing fans to delve into the gripping world Kaneko has meticulously crafted.

In Wandering Cat’s Cage, daring manga creator Akane Torikai presents a thought-provoking exploration of dystopia, sexual freedom, and societal fealty. Torikai’s intricate storytelling weaves a series of interconnected stories set in a dystopian world dominated by women. In this society, the body of a man remains an enigma, and a lone man in the slums sells his nights to women for survival. When a runaway human trafficking victim seeks refuge with him, they unwittingly unravel the true nature of their society: the near-extinction of male births. As the matriarchal society grapples with preserving humanity, difficult choices regarding freedom and reproduction emerge. With elements reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale and a gorgeous naturalistic art style, Torikai’s work challenges the notions of forced-birth and control within a society led by women who fiercely resist such measures.

Wandering Cat’s Cage is drawn and illustrated by Akane Torikai, author of Sensei’s Pious Lie (now available from Kodansha). The English edition of Wandering Cat’s Cage is translated by Jocelyne Allen, and will be serialized weekly through the MSX Newsletter, debuting in August 2023. Originally published in two volumes in Japanese, Fantagraphics will release a comprehensive one-volume hardcover graphic novel edition in Fall 2024, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in Torikai’s compelling story.