kaina of the great snow sea 2

SF/Fantasy visionary Tsutomu Nihei’s most accessible and exciting series yet! With a strong influence from classics like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Castle in the Sky, Kaina tells the story of two worlds - above and below, both of which look to one another for salvation. Part of coming-of-age, part adventure, part high fantasy, this is bound to be a classic. Nihei’s character designs are brought to vivid and engaging life by Itoe Takemoto (known for series including The Beast Player). With a very well-received anime adaptation currently on Crunchyroll, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea is perfectly set up to be a smash hit.

Kaina is the only youth in the last remaining village that clings to life on the Canopy, high above the surface of the world. When Liliha, a princess from the surface, makes her way to the Canopy, each realize that there is more to their world than they knew. Kaina agrees to help Liliha return to the Great Snow Sea far below, where her kingdom is imperiled by the rapacious neighboring kingdom of Bargia. The trip is arduous, and foes lie in wait at the end of their descent. With Liliha taken prisoner and her father the king too caught up in politics to rescue her, Kaina has no choice but to set off with only the young prince in tow, braving the dangers of the great snow sea to rescue Liliha from Bargia’s clutches...

Prize-winning author of cyberpunk and sci-fi classics Blame! and Knights of Sidonia. Known for his elaborate backgrounds and worlds (thanks to his background in architecture and design), has also penned comics for Marvel.