Title: Cells at Work! (Volume 1)
Author: Akane Shimizu
ISBN: 9781632363565
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Copyright Date: 2016
Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction
Format: Manga
Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 9-12, Ages 13+
Awards or Honors: None
Plot Summary
Red Blood Cell is one of the trillions like her living in the human body, delivering oxygen to various parts of the body and carrying away carbon dioxide. The only problem? She has no sense of direction, and is constantly getting lost! When RBC is on her way to one of her deliveries, she comes across the Pneumococcus bacterium who has infiltrated the human body and is looking to make a new home there. Luckily for RBC, she has lots of friends in the body to rely on, especially White Blood Cell U-1146, who happens to turn up at just the right time and destroy the bacterium. Among the list of helpful cells in the body, Red Blood Cell meets the adorable platelets, who stop blood flow when a vessel is damaged; the aggressive Killer T Cells who destroy foreign materials in the body; the enthusiastic B cell who creates antibodies; and the ethereal Macraphage, who catches and kills foreign bodies and collects intel to create immune responses.
The Pneumococcus bacterium isn’t the only intruder the body has to deal with. Red Blood Cell seems to always be at the wrong place at the wrong time, coming across Cedar Pollen, which instigates an allergic reaction that can only be cured by histamine; the Influenza virus that takes the form of zombie cells; and a scrape wound that the platelets need help repairing. Though there are millions of cells in the body, Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell U-1146 always seem to be at the center of the action and do what they can to help their fellow cells in protecting the body.
Author Background
Akane Shimizu is the Japanese writer and illustrator of the manga Cells at Work. Her manga has been adapted into an anime series of the same name, as well as a spinoff manga and anime series, Cells at Work: Code Black, which follows the inner workings of the body under the effects of alcohol, drug use, and stress.
Critical Evaluation
What sounds like kind of a crazy concept (human personifications of the body’s cells living in a city that represents the body?) is probably one of the most delightful and informative works I have ever read. This is my first manga and the bar has been set so, so high. The art is incredibly detailed and the flow of movement is easy to track across the panels. As readers, we are walked through every action of the body by following a rookie red blood cell in a way that teaches you about each cell and its job without being boring or repetitive. Red Blood Cell is such a relatable character, always getting lost on the job but eternally optimistic and pushing forward. She is balanced out by White Blood Cell, a workaholic who is great at his job and is always ready to do his part. I found myself absolutely in love with these two and always excited when they meet up again (is it weird to ship a romance between two blood cells?). Reading this manga did inspire me to watch the anime and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the volumes as well.
I think teens will love that this manga draws on what they might be learning in school, or learned in the past, but delivers it in such a fun way that it’s not even close to homework. It’s fascinating how the different foreign bodies and viruses are represented in this manga and how the actions of the cells are turned into a cohesive storyline. The representations of the cells as humans are matched perfectly and each one is given a unique personality along with their job.
Creative Use for a Library Program
Stage a relay race in teams, with each person designated as a cell. Each person must complete their task before the next person can move on to their task, with each step inspired by ideas from the manga.
Speed-Round Book Talk
Red Blood Cell has one job to do: deliver oxygen to the body. But even that is difficult when you have no idea where you’re going! Follow RBC, who may have no sense of direction but is charming enough to make up for it, along with the cast of fellow cells who have her back - especially the quiet but intense White Blood Cell, who is at the ready to destroy any germs he comes across.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
As such an educational and fun material, it is hard to imagine any challenges, and to date, it doesn’t appear there are any. To really try and speculate, there is some violence and blood in the manga that might be an issue for some readers, but since it is black and white, it isn’t graphic at all.
Reason for Inclusion
This manga is a great example of how art and literature can be informative and entertaining at the same time. It is accessible to teens who may not be big fans of biology but also appeals to those who are well-versed in the subject. This work is all-around of the highest quality and sets the standard for excellent manga.
Curious about if the biology holds up? Check out the below video of a doctor reacting to the first episode of the anime!
References
App1eNeko. (2018, July 11). [Fanart] cells at work! [Image]. Deviant Art. https://www.deviantart.com/app1eneko/art/Fanart-Cells-at-Work-753977817
Doctor Mike. (2020, January 12). Real doctor reacts to cells at work (hataraku saigon) [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv0Ye-lIywQ
Justanothermultifan. (2019, July 9). Moodboard for the directionally challenged (honestly so relatable) red blood cell from cells at work! [Image]. Tumblr. https://justanothermultifan.tumblr.com/post/186166400137/mooboard-for-the-directionally-challenged
Kilinkar. (n.d.). How many lolis are there in your organism? (translated from Spanish) [Image]. Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350928995975839991/
Mery. [@mery__S2_]. (2018, August 14). White red [Image]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/mery__S2_/status/1029395308311064576
Shimizu, A. (2016). Cells at work: Volume 1 [Cover Image]. Kodansha Comics. Retrieved from https://kodansha.us/volume/cells-at-work-1/
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