Biomega (バイオメガ) is a Japanese science fiction manga written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei. It was first serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine in 2004, and later in Shueisha's Ultra Jump from 2006 to 2009; its chapters were collected in six tankōbon volumes.

Plot

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 originating from Mars, which is spreading across the world fast, turning humans into "Drones"; disfigured, zombie-like beings.

Organizations and characters

TOA Heavy Industries

TOA Heavy Industries (東亜重工) 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's headquarters self-destructs, leaving the synthetic humans on their own.

Data Recovery Foundation

The Data Recovery Foundation (技術文化遺産復興財団), also known as the "DRF", was founded in 2272 under the name "Microvolt Corporation" and houses the main antagonists of the manga. They are trying to find all existing humans who have adapted to the N5S virus to use them to create their own immortals. They believe that all humans should be infected with the N5S virus, believing that it will remake some of them into the "new human race" and kill off the rest. They call this process "the baptism". After the destruction of TOA Heavy Industries's headquarters, they proclaim themselves the new world government.

Public Health Department

The Public Health Service (公衆衛生局), also known as the "PHS", is a subsidiary of the DRF. Their headquarters is a monadnock. The PHS later turns against the DRF due to Niardi's outrageous intentions, but is quickly overrun by DRF forces.

Immortals

The immortals are humans who have adapted to the N5S virus on a genetic level (having 24 pairs of chromosomes after infection), integrating it into their cell structure and giving them inhuman abilities: advanced regeneration and longevity. Called accommodators in US version.

Others

Publication

Biomega, written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei, was first serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from June 14 to September 6, 2004. Kodansha only released one tankōbon volume on November 5, 2004. The manga was later transferred to Shueisha's Ultra Jump, where it ran from May 19, 2006, to January 19, 2009. Shueisha collected its chapters in six tankōbon volumes, released from January 19, 2007, to March 19, 2009. Kodansha published a three-volume deluxe edition from April 30 to August 9, 2021. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media. The six volumes were released from February 2, 2010, to May 17, 2011.

Volumes

Reception

In a list of "10 Great Zombie Manga", Anime News Network's Jason Thompson placed Biomega in third place, calling it "the greatest science-fiction virus zombie manga ever".