ビリーバーズ

BELIEVERS

MANGA

STATUS
COMPLETE
VOLUMES
2
RELEASE
November 1, 1999
CHAPTERS
22

DESCRIPTION

On a small island somewhere near Japan, three cult members have devoted themselves to the "Deserted Island Program". Calling each other by rank, these people - two men and one woman - have been chosen by their superiors to throw off the corrupt influence of modern society and "purify" themselves. But as time passes two of the members begin to give into human desire...

(Source: Anime News Network)

CAST

Hishiko
Chairman
Operator

CHAPTERS

REVIEWS

Joms
95/100
A close read on cult members shows a struggle between religious dogma and personal desire...
A close read on cult members shows a struggle between religious dogma and personal desire, where the rigidity of dogma curtails the id, or what we could say at least the primal instinct. The development of this struggle develops through the chapters, until the climactic free-sex, as the outsiders would imagine for the isolated trio, the complete renunciation of the sanctity of the superego.

What makes this manga interesting is the exposition of this struggle. It's explosive, erotic, and evocative. We thought of the cult members as prudent, as they tend to be, especially with the real modern day cult counterparts. Aum Shinrikyo, which is derived from dharmic philosophy, as well as its apparent millenarianism, can be seen as parallel with the manga's cult. While the manga's fictional cult is called Smiley Face Center, which is a weird way to name a cult, because the first thing you should do as a cult is to purport your legitimacy as religious truth, not to identify yourself with something which sells products...

The story excels on depicting the real desolated island, the Second Sea Fortress, where it was modeled to. The debris of The Second World War materiel is seen within the island, where it was utterly destroyed by the earthquake, rendering it unusable. It introduces the reader to a definitely inhabitable island, which firsts makes them question the purpose of such isolation, which the characters also ponder as well, and then they were given half-answers which are not proven whether they are actually the answer. Cults have this similar characteristic when it comes to isolation, one example is the Unification Church, a cult founded by Sun Myung Moon.

An actual anecdote by one of my friend tells the process of cult brainwashing, and one requirement is to induce isolation from society. It could be a vacation to a far away province, or complete isolation to a small island, like in the manga. In my friend's case, they were taking vacations, for a week, along with their "organization", to do something like "workshops". What's worse is, they were forced to sell some goods for a higher price, they call it "fundraising", purported to go to scholarships or feeding programs, but any sane man would know it is only to fund this cult itself.

The process of isolation is effective because it clears you from contradictions, being in an echo-chamber where you can only hear an absolute narrative is definitely brainwashing. You wouldn't have any time (and the space) to argue with non-cult members, and everything will be explained with the cult's doctrine, further immersing yourself to the cult's reality, symbolic order.

Believers excels in the way it makes you believe on its fictional cult by creating this compelling system of thought, with a great deal of terminology which the characters make up of, and the familiar hermeneutic practice religious people usually do, come a certain perplexing situation.

In a way, Believers is short, but surprisingly satisfying. There is a potential for a longer narrative, but the pacing fits its explosive exposition. The conflict comes chapter by chapters, with steady development, and the ending is resolved properly. It's an enjoyable read, especially if you enjoy good art and erotica.
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