A young police officer named Susono Musubi patrols a subterranean city that defies all logic, where towering structures stretch endlessly into the dark and silence is the only constant. This is the world of NOiSE, a manga series written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei that serves as a prequel to his sprawling ten-volume epic Blame!. The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic underground metropolis teeming with activity despite its desolate origins, creating a paradoxical atmosphere of life within decay. Musubi, the protagonist, is tasked with investigating a series of child abductions that threaten the fragile order of this hidden civilization. Her investigation leads her to uncover a heavily toned-down, sword-like Gravitational Beam Emitter, an artifact that would later evolve into more complex forms in the original Blame! series. The narrative also introduces the concept of Silicon life, a foundational element that would become central to the broader universe Nihei constructed. The setting itself is a character, with its labyrinthine architecture and oppressive atmosphere setting the stage for a story about survival, mystery, and the origins of a civilization built on the ruins of the past.
Origins of Silicon
The true horror of the subterranean city lies not in its physical structure but in the nature of its inhabitants, who are beginning to evolve into something entirely new. NOiSE offers critical information about the origins of Silicon life, a form of existence that blurs the line between organic and synthetic beings. This evolution is not merely a plot device but a reflection of the city's own transformation, where technology and biology merge in ways that challenge the definition of life itself. The story hints at the early stages of this transformation, showing how the city's inhabitants are adapting to their environment in ways that were previously unimaginable. The narrative explores the implications of this evolution, raising questions about identity, purpose, and the future of humanity in a world where the old rules no longer apply. The city itself seems to be alive, its structures shifting and changing in response to the needs of its inhabitants, creating a dynamic environment that is both beautiful and terrifying. This evolution of Silicon life is a key theme that connects NOiSE to the larger Blame! universe, providing a glimpse into the origins of a civilization that would eventually become the subject of Nihei's most famous work.The Gravitational Beam
At the heart of the story lies a mysterious artifact, a heavily toned-down, sword-like Gravitational Beam Emitter that becomes a focal point of Musubi's investigation. This weapon, which appears in a primitive form in NOiSE, would later evolve into more complex and powerful versions in the Blame! series, serving as a bridge between the two narratives. The Gravitational Beam Emitter is not just a tool for combat but a symbol of the city's technological evolution, representing the transition from simple tools to advanced weaponry capable of reshaping reality. The story explores the implications of this technology, showing how it affects the lives of the city's inhabitants and the balance of power within the underground metropolis. The artifact's presence in the story hints at a larger conflict, one that will eventually lead to the events depicted in Blame!. The Gravitational Beam Emitter is a key element that ties the two series together, providing a tangible connection between the past and the future of Nihei's universe. Its evolution from a simple sword-like object to a powerful weapon mirrors the evolution of the city itself, suggesting that the two are inextricably linked.