Somnia Review – The Dream Makers by MassLunar

Meeting with the artisans of dreams

Original creation for Panini Manga, Somnia – The Dream Makers is a dreamlike and bewitching title concocted by two Italian authors: Liza E.Anzen on the screenplay and Federica Di Meo ( Rabbids: Luminous quest , Oneira…) to the drawing.

It is a dense and complex creation that is Somnia with this first volume of 300 pages which invites us alongside craftsmen specialized in the creation of very specific objects called somnia and which have the particularity of making the dreams of their owners come true… We are starting this beginning of the series with a few new faces who have just arrived in this guild of craftsmen aptly called the Guild of Creators and among them we meet Myra, a girl deprived of emotions who seeks to understand the meaning of dreams and more specifically that of the desire that anime…

Between magic, philosophy, poetry and quite simply the cult of dreams, Somnia takes us into a strange, varied and generous world, a complex plot where each part is focused on a different dream and in a different setting while providing some information on this mysterious Guild of Creators as well as the evolution of its dear members. Somnia does not hold our hand and like Alice in Wonderland, we dive into this dreamlike fantasy title with a great feeling of bewilderment.

I specify that Somnia is not an easy manga, it is not a title that will hold your hand and develop a very simple plot… Due to its density, its many characters and dialogues associated with an important work on the drawing level and cutting, this original creation requires a little investment on the part of the reader, a somewhat slow rhythm punctuated by some lengths and languor that can slow down your reading pleasure. However, Somnia is simply a remarkable experience that makes you want to find these many artisans of dreams as soon as you finish reading. And for an original creation, it’s still a guarantee of quality.

So, Somnia does not avoid drowsiness at times. We regret a few small heavinesses in a scenario totally loaded and filled with characters but for a manga of nearly 300 pages, we can only salute the quality of the work provided by our Italian mangakas who takes us into an original universe which borrows as well from from the slightly absurd fantasy morning of scientific steampunk, to a more traditional shojo romance, to more philosophical and existential themes such as the relationship to dreams or the usefulness of having them…

Clearly, it’s a title that even questions its onirism through the portrait of these creators of dreams, all craftsmen with different personalities starting with our mysterious heroine Myra Rever who, ironically, becomes a creator of dreams , emotions when she herself seems devoid of them or even ChloĆ©e Weiss, the mechanic for whom everything has a rational explanation… The volume progresses and we discover a string of charismatic characters who gradually enrich the universe of Somnia whether on the side of the creators of dreams as on the side of the dreamers. In addition, each dreamer encounter gives rise to a different setting. The first dreamer takes us to a small port town alongside a young man whose dream would be to discover the soul of the sea while another chapter will make us rub shoulders with the arts of circus and illusion in a waltz dizzying around magic… Somnia is a generous title that multiplies the environments and the characters while still keeping a common thread around Myra, her partners as well as the Somnia whose secrets we discover.

Fortunately, screenwriter Liza E.Anzen does not leave us by the wayside and between two creation missions gives us some details on the creation of somnias and the different roles of creators divided into several categories. The screenplay delicately combines science and magic and immerses us both in the detailed and precise description of a somnia and its various cogs and in the absurd spaces of certain dreamers such as the Garden of Eden at the end of the volume. And to best represent this double reverie, we must salute all the talent of Federica Di Meo. The Italian designer has also signed another series this year at Kana with Oneira. Suffice to say that Federica Di Meo is a mangaka to follow especially after this important universe work that she created with Somnia. Her drawing is detailed both at the level of the decorations and at the level of the small objects such as the somnia that she draws in the manner of a jewelry designer with strength and finesse. Her chara-design is very elegant and the designer really adapts her style to this changing atmosphere, whether through softer and more sensual moments than in more preposterous boards. Visually, Somnia is very busy and we want more, despite not always precise cutting and a few small false notes at the level of certain expressions that are a little too smooth. Overall, Federica Di Meo delivers a masterful job. A designer whose work I will follow more closely.

What more can we say about these dream makers ? For an original creation, it’s a real favorite, once again, Somnia isn’t all that simple, but don’t hesitate to immerse yourself in this captivating dreamlike ballad, generous, at the crossroads of genres. It is a hypnotic and seductive first volume.

We would love to say thanks to the author of this article for this incredible material

Somnia Review – The Dream Makers by MassLunar


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