Skip to content

Prophecy, Part 1

Prophecy, Part 1

MangaThriller
Pages
208
Published
2014
Language
English

Synopsis

A masked man who calls himself Paperboy posts a video to the internet, calmly reading out a crime he intends to commit — and then commits it, exactly as promised. His targets are people the public already despises, so each fulfilled "prophecy" only wins him a larger, cheering online audience. Tasked with stopping him, Inspector Erika Yoshinaga of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's newly formed Cyber Crime Division races to identify a criminal who lives entirely in the anonymous spaces of the net.

The first part of Tetsuya Tsutsui's Prophecy (Yokokuhan), a taut techno-thriller about internet vigilantism, anonymity and public rage. Published in English by Vertical Comics.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

DarkTenseThought-ProvokingGrittyMysterious
Secret IdentityMorally GreyAnti-HeroRevenge

Genres

Manga Thriller Techno-Thriller Crime Mystery Graphic Novels Police Procedural

About the author

T
Tetsuya Tsutsui

Tetsuya Tsutsui (筒井哲也, born November 17, 1974) is a Japanese manga artist known for tense, socially charged thrillers. He debuted in 2002 with Duds Hunt, then serialized Manhole and Reset in Square Enix's Young Gangan. His breakthrough was Prophecy (Yokokuhan), run in Shueisha's Jump X from 2011 to 2013, which follows a police cybercrime unit hunting a masked man who posts videos foretelling his crimes; it was adapted into both a live-action film and a television drama in 2015. After discove...

Characters

Erika YoshinagaProtagonist

An elite inspector heading the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's Cyber Crime Division, leading the hunt for Paperboy.

PaperboyAntagonist

A man in a newspaper mask who posts videos announcing crimes against those he deems to have escaped justice, then carries them out — winning a growing online following.

All characters in Prophecy, Part 1

Frequently asked questions

  • Are there any adaptations of this manga?

    This work has been adapted into both a live-action theatrical film and a five-episode television drama, both of which premiered in 2015.

  • Is there a sequel or related series?

    A spin-off series titled Yokokuhan: The Copycat exists, which was illustrated by Fumio Obata and features a story connected to the original events.

  • Has this series received any notable recognition?

    The series was honored with the Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Excellence Prize and was a laureate of the Prix Asie de la Critique ACBD.

  • Has Prophecy been adapted into live-action?

    Yes. In 2015 the manga was adapted into a Japanese live-action film directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura, and a five-episode television drama spin-off followed the same year.