Here is a possible concise summary of the text:
The text is a transcript of an episode of MYTHOlogics, a show that explores the artworks that create a singular and mythological world. The episode focuses on Blame, a science-fiction manga by Tsutomu Nihei, that depicts a dark and dystopian future where a lone hero, Killy, wanders in a gigantic and ever-expanding cyber city. The text analyzes the themes, influences, aesthetics and symbolism of the manga, and how it subverts and transcends the cyberpunk genre. The text also reveals some biographical details about the author, who was an architect before becoming a mangaka, and how his personal vision and style shaped his creation. The text concludes by praising Blame as a deeply human and fascinating work that invites the reader to explore the landscapes of the mind.
1. Blame is a science-fiction manga drawn and written by Tsutomu Nihei.
2. It was released in the monthly magazine Afternoon and later published in ten volumes between 1998 and 2003.
3. The manga follows Killy's journey through a futuristic and frightening megastructure.
4. The megastructure was once controlled by humans but is now managed and protected by independent deadly robots.
5. Killy's quest is to retrieve the Net Terminal Gene, which is said to be the only way to end the city's uncontrollable expansion.
6. The manga is part of the cyberpunk genre, which was popularized by William Gibson's novel Neuromancer in 1984.
7. Cyberpunk is a science fiction derivative that shows dystopian and nightmarish worlds based on industrial societies.
8. Nihei was influenced by European artists, including Enki Bilal and H.R. Giger.
9. The manga's use of black and white is a deliberate choice to create a sense of confusion and uncertainty.
10. The author's style is constantly changing, with some lines and architectures looking almost like sketches.
11. Nihei's inspiration for Blame came from his own dreams and imagination.
12. He wanted to create a world that was bigger than what was possible in reality.
13. The manga is not just about Killy's journey but also about Nihei's own exploration of his imagination.
14. The author's goal was to create a monster that would surpass himself and take on a life of its own.
15. Nihei's work has been influenced by other artists, including Piranesi and Escher.
16. The manga has been praised for its unique blend of science fiction and horror elements.
17. Blame has been compared to other works in the science fiction genre, including the movie Alien and the video game series Deus Ex.
18. The manga's themes of technology and humanity have been interpreted in various ways by readers and critics.
19. Nihei's use of symbolism and metaphors adds depth and complexity to the story.
20. The manga's ending is intentionally ambiguous, leaving readers to interpret the meaning and symbolism for themselves.