Manga Review: The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse Volume 2
Since I enjoyed the first volume of The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse so much, I was eager to see if the story would hold up after the first volume. Like the previous one did, this volume exceeded my expectations and has now solidified itself as a series I will continue to read.
Official Summary
A girl walks alone in a world without humans. Her mission—to search for survivors and cleanse the land. But is anyone still out there in the lonely, beautiful ruins, waiting to be found?
Quick Information
Mangaka: Haruo Iwamune
Publisher: Yen Press
Published: June 24, 2025
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Post Apocalyptic
Tropes: Sole Survivor, Dead World, Action Girl
Rating: OT (Older Teen)
Series Status: Ongoing
Review
Saya, a provisional inspector with the Ushimitsu Technical Research Institute, is on a mission to find survivors and cleanse the land of the poisonous crystallosis pathogen that kills any human who breathes it in. However, after the events of the first volume, she now has lost motivation for that mission until an unlikely visitor shows up at her door.
Right away I was hooked on the continuation of the first volume and how instead of just ignoring everything that happened, Saya is affected by those events, even if she's processing things at a different pace. The first few chapters have been my favorite that I’ve read of the series so far. Like the previous volume, the stories are immensely moving by both what we see and don’t see on the page.
Despite the apocalyptic setting and the grim reality the characters find themselves in, there is a strong theme of hope throughout each of these pages. Most stories in this genre have the reader feeling as though they are in a constant state of depression as there really is no realistic ultimate goal to work towards. The Color of the End explores the motivation each character has for moving forward in the way of goals. I think this part was particularly moving because it puts in perspective how someone can keep living after so much tragedy.
Shoutout to my fellow beepboop robot fans, as there is plenty here to warm your circuits.
The art really sells the contrast between the characters eking out a living amidst the ruins of a war torn world around them. The dark detailed backgrounds of destruction contrast with the lighter drawn characters and really hone in on the devastation of what has been lost.
A picture can say a thousand words, and The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse is a perfect example of the power of visual storytelling. I enjoyed this volume even more than the first, and I cannot wait to see more of Saya’s journey through the ruins of a world that is gone but not without leaving important messages behind. If you are looking for a beautiful, melancholic story about the deep connections we can make, take a trip with The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse.
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