A manga style graphic novel
Love is not a truce of honour.. It’s a constant war to be the entirest you can be.
With all my dignity, I crawl in the dirt in front of your feet.
I adore you with everything I have, it is all I can do from here.
I am not beautiful, you will not bend down for me anymore.. I know, and honestly I don’t want you to see what I have become.
But I adore you with everything I have,
it is all I can do from here.
Summary
1996 – RedRain is a dark story about love, murder and the fine lining in between.
The two young men Kaname and Shien met in a dark wire of fate in the year 1996.
Kaname, a noble offsping of the city’s head politician, at first doesn’t feel much empathy for the subclass truant Shien, who obviously has a ton of mental issues, including a murderous split personality.
But – in a way, Kaname can’t help but be fascinated and almost obsessed with Shien after he involuntarily witnessed the aftermath of Shien’s first and gruesome killing.
Shien, too, begins to open up after a series of dreams showing him past reincarnations – finding and losing who he believes is Kaname again and again until the end of time.
As they get closer and closer in the upcoming years, both of them fall deeply for each other, though Kaname is fully aware, the odd feeling that there is something grim inside Shien never fades – like in the depths of his soul there lurks something dark and ghastly.
And just as Kaname was pushed by his father, a head politician of the city, to break up with Shien, his inner demon starts to awaken again.
The prequel “1996” was firstly published by Nanaブックス April 24th, 2008 in Japan.
Since then, I was desperately haunted going on telling this story.
“1996″ is more than a graphic novel, it is even more than just a story…
I saw the characters, their stories and their scrimmages in my dreams since I was a young teen – that is why I am putting so much of myself into it to make it come from another world into this reality.
After the first publication of the prequel to “1996 – RedRain” in Japan, I pitched it to a German publisher who said this story wouldn’t stand a chance in the market.
They said the story and characters were too weird and the main character Shien is not sympathetic enough to be beloved by the readers.
It hurt me a lot to hear that from a kind of authority back then, and I was still young, because there was nothing to be changed about it. I would -never- edit the way my characters just are. It would feel like betraying my dreams and visions. Sixteen years have passed since this story got rejected so bad by the publisher, and I as an adult I just understand how narrow-minded they were.
I will find a way to express “1996” by any means for those who need it.
Shien is perfect the way he is, even if he is not perceived as sympathetic.
And personalities like his have a right to be.
It is alright to be different.
I want to express in my stories that it is alright to be weird. Just be loving, just be caring.
Soft Cover Edition
The books are printed in English language, with high-quality emblem stamping on the cover!
The poetic artwork is done with stylish black and white manga aesthetics, illustrating the importance of the story. All mangapages and illustrations are heartfully hand-drawn and of delicate style.
Light Novels
I have self-published five volumes of the prequel series 1996 – Rising Evil as English light novels. These books dive deep into the characters, exploring their backgrounds, relationships, and growth, including how Kaname and Shien first met and how their relationship began, as well as the stories of other key characters.
The main story continues in 1996 – RedRain, a graphic novel (manga) that takes place after the events of Rising Evil. While RedRain can be read on its own, it offers an even richer experience for those familiar with the prequel series.