Biomega (manga)

Biomega
First volume cover of the original Italian release of Biomega in 2007
バイオメガ (Baiomega)
Genre	Cyberpunk, Action
Manga
Written by	Tsutomu Nihei
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Ultra Jump
Original run	2004 – 2009
Volumes	6

Biomega (バイオメガ, Baiomega^?) is a cyberpunk action manga by Tsutomu Nihei.

Biomega contains references to Blame!, Nihei's previous work. This is a standalone storyline and does not have direct connections to his other works such as Blame!, NSE and NOiSE (though, throughout Blame!, TOA Heavy Industries is mentioned several times).

Set in the future, the plot follows Zoichi Kanoe and his AI companion Fuyu Kanoe, whose luminous form is integrated into the system of his motorcycle. They are agents sent by TOA Heavy Industries to retrieve humans with the ability to resist and transmute the N5S infection, which is spreading across the world, turning humans into "Drones"; disfigured, zombie-like beings.

The art in Biomega is similar to Blame!, with its complicated concrete sprawl and extremely vast, empty spaces. In this manga, there is emphasis on the swiftness of the attacks made by Zoichi, such as the gun being holstered just before the enemies fall to the ground. Speed is crucial in this manga, unlike in Blame!, and the plot develops quickly.

TOA Heavy Industries (東亜重工, Tō-A Jūkō^?, "East-Asia Industries") is the main rival to the DRF. They are the creators of synthetic humans and have made it their priority to collect those who have adapted to the N5S virus before the DRF does. On February 26, 3006 A.D. TOA Heavy Industries' headquarters self-destructs, leaving the synthetic humans on their own.