A small town is shocked by the gruesome murder of a student and a ramen shop owner. Mizuki Aikawa, one of the victims' best friend and classmate, confesses to the brutal crime. However, a local reporter and Mizuki's public defenders are convinced there's more to the story. As the truth unravels, a tale of class, exploitation, and the demands of family is revealed.

Adabana has art and story by Non. English translation is done by Caleb Cook and lettering by Brendon Hull. Published by Dark Horse (September 2, 2025). Rated M.

CONTENT WARNING: Sexual assault and stalking

Rebecca Silverman
Rating:

What could make you kill someone? Creator Non says that's at the heart of this work, but it's clearly not going to be a simple answer. Adabana is a strange, twisting murder mystery that's caught up in seemingly mundane events and relationships gone horribly wrong. Protagonist Mizuki opens the book standing over the dead body of her friend Mako, a hacksaw in hand and blood on her face. Before too long, she's confessing to her murder, but if ever there was an unreliable narrator, it's her. Mizuki has no one clear motive, and even if she did, Mako seems like the last person she killed. So who really murdered Mako? And what is Mizuki's true mental state?

A major part of this book's fascination is the way it outright refuses to play anything straight. The closest it comes is when Mako mentions working harder at her side hustle and reveals that her uncle is a predator who has been exploiting her. He's Mizuki's first (only?) kill, and no jury in the universe would convict her, because his actions are unconscionable – she was left with very little choice but to cut his throat. During her confession, though, Mizuki frames his killing as something cathartic, and that's information we ought to pay attention to. Mizuki's life up to the man's rape attempt has been constrained. Her mother may not abuse her in any textbook sense, but her fixation of her daughter's grades and strictures about studying have clearly taken a toll on Mizuki's mental health. Murdering her rapist may be the first action she's ever taken to save herself. And now that she's learned that she can, well, that genie's out of the lamp.

Between rape, exploitation of minors, and stalking, to say nothing of murder, Adabana is a lot to take. It's grim and relentless, but underneath the blood and mental strain, there's an odd form of liberation taking shape. With a knife in her hand, Mizuki can fight back. With a friend whose mental health is faltering, Mizuki can find a way for her to be at peace. With a prison sentence, Mizuki can escape her mother. None of these is what we'd call “good,” but then, none of us are in Mizuki's shoes. Can freedom be found in what she's done? Adabana may not ever answer that question, but reading more to find out feels imperative.