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vigneswara_prabhu 's review for:
I'm Standing on a Million Lives Vol. 1
by Akinari Nao, Naoki Yamakawa
'Hyaku-Man no Inochi no Ue ni Ore wa Tatteiru' as goes the Japanese title starts off with the usual isekai vibes of individuals being summoned to another world to be heroes.
Then as the story arcs progress it sets itself apart by not being your usual tale of power fantasy and wish fulfilment. It shows our protagonists not only struggle to fulfill their roles as 'heroes', but also the consequences of their actions and failures. As well as how that affects this world they are temperorality inhabiting.
One thing I like about the story arcs is that, the heroes do everything in their power to complete their 'quest', and believe they've changed the lives of people for the better. Only for the world to intervene, and make them realize there is no end. If they overcame one disaster, all they've done is bought some respite until the next ones.
These individuals are travellers, who stay in this alternate world for short durations of time that their quest stipulates. Each time they return, decades would've passed, and all the friendships and relations they'd build up would be swept away in the tides to time and life.
Narrative wise it is not restricted to one overpowered protagonist. On each new 'quest' a new member joins the party, and brings with their their own worldview, baggage and something new to the group. But despite all this the heroes cannot die, unless by quest failure. So there is always that feeling of alienness when they keep respawning from mortal battles while for their allies this was the only change.
And the foreboding knowledge of the immensity of time, that even their most earnest actions are but specs in the large scheme of things. Will the never ending challenges wear down our heroes mentally? Or will they find the acceptance of their roles and purpose. Find out next time on.....
Then as the story arcs progress it sets itself apart by not being your usual tale of power fantasy and wish fulfilment. It shows our protagonists not only struggle to fulfill their roles as 'heroes', but also the consequences of their actions and failures. As well as how that affects this world they are temperorality inhabiting.
One thing I like about the story arcs is that, the heroes do everything in their power to complete their 'quest', and believe they've changed the lives of people for the better. Only for the world to intervene, and make them realize there is no end. If they overcame one disaster, all they've done is bought some respite until the next ones.
These individuals are travellers, who stay in this alternate world for short durations of time that their quest stipulates. Each time they return, decades would've passed, and all the friendships and relations they'd build up would be swept away in the tides to time and life.
Narrative wise it is not restricted to one overpowered protagonist. On each new 'quest' a new member joins the party, and brings with their their own worldview, baggage and something new to the group. But despite all this the heroes cannot die, unless by quest failure. So there is always that feeling of alienness when they keep respawning from mortal battles while for their allies this was the only change.
And the foreboding knowledge of the immensity of time, that even their most earnest actions are but specs in the large scheme of things. Will the never ending challenges wear down our heroes mentally? Or will they find the acceptance of their roles and purpose. Find out next time on.....