Coming to a theater near you on Valentine's Day is the James Cameron-produced film, Alita: Battle Angel, based on the classic manga. If you haven't read the source material, and want to know just what the world of Alita is all about, here is the best place to start. 

In a nutshell, Alita's story takes place in a dystopian universe, where she resides in the Scrapyard. The Scrapyard is situated under an aerial city known as Tiphares, and the only purpose of the Scrapyard's residents is to process waste, and provide Tiphares with resources.

In this world, cyberphysician Dr. Daisuke Ido finds Alita in a dump, and brings her back to life. While Alita doesn't have the bulk of her memories from her past life, as the story progresses, more of her backstory is unearthed. All in all, it's a great story, with a great protagonist, and I'm a big fan of the dystopian genre in which Alita's story exists.

If you're also a fan of Alita: Battle Angel, or are inspired to find other dystopian manga to read, here are some recommended titles available at the New York Public Library: 

Dystopian Manga Recommendations

The Promised Neverland

I had to put this one first! Arguably this anime season's hottest title, once you dive into The Promised Neverland, there's no coming out! Emma and the rest of the children of Grace Field House live happily with their "mother," Isabella. They take their daily IQ examination, and then it's fun and games all day long! That is, until Emma and a few of her best friends discover the Grace Field House is really a children farm, where kids are going to be shipped out and eaten by demons beyond the walls of Grace Field! Needless to say, this is not the merry fairy tale life that Emma was anticipating.

Intelligently written and fast-paced, The Promised Neverland is an absolute winner. If you haven't hopped aboard the hype train yet, there's no better time to start than now!
 

Deadman Wonderland

Please heed this warning: Deadman Wonderland is NOT for the faint of heart.  But that doesn't mean it's not a fun read! Our main character, Ganta, is in the midst of what was supposed to be an ordinary day at school. Next thing you know,  a "Red Man" (read to find out more!) violently breaks into the classroom, massacring all, except for Ganta.

As a result, Ganta is wrongfully found guilty of killing his classmates, and is sentenced to Deadman Wonderland, a place that's both a prison and an amusement park, where people can pay their way in to see prisoners (many who are wrongly convicted) compete in dangerous sporting events that could claim their lives. Prisoners are also forced to wear a poison-filled collar, used in the event they don't comply with DW staff. It's a frightening time for poor Ganta! You'll have to read to find out his fate! 

Attack on Titan

We couldn't have a dystopian manga list without this guy! Attack on Titan has become an absolute worldwide phenomenon, and for good reason: it's awesome! It's believed that AOT's author, Hajime Isayama, is currently working on the title's final story arc. So while Attack on Titan won't be around forever (like some titles seemingly are), there's plenty of time to catch on up.

Attack on Titan takes place in a universe where humans live on the cusp of extinction, behind gigantic walls meant to keep them safe from the immensely tall titans that have ravaged the human race. When the mother of main character, Eren, falls victim during a surprise titan invasion, Eren decides to pour everything he's got into being the greatest titan killer the world has ever seen, vowing to rid the world of titans once and for all! 

Psycho Pass

Let's enter the dystopia of a futuristic Japan! In Psycho Pass, the Public Safety Bureau manages crime. They are organized by the Sibyl System, who provide the PSB with technology and software to better deal with criminals of the time.

Sibyl has developed a Crime Coefficient. Once a person reaches certain crime levels, law enforcers take the advised action, be it arrest, paralysis, or execution. However, too much technology can be a very frightening thing in Psycho Pass. When innocent civilians are killed, and criminals of the highest order are allowed to do as they please due to incorrect Crime Coefficient readings, it's obvious that there's an issue with the system. Now, how to fix it? That's what our protagonists need to figure out! (Note: The manga above is not the main Psycho Pass story; it is a spinoff story featuring Psycho Pass characters). 

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction

An absolutely fascinating story by veteran mangaka Inio Asano. It starts with a slow (albeit somewhat melodic) pace, but the heart of the story has tons of intrigue. Once the action gets going, you'll want the next volume (and volume after that) to find out what happens.

Dead Dead follows a group of five female protagonists, all high school students in Tokyo. They're going through the motions of their daily lives, going to school, prepping for college entry exams, playing games, reading manga, hanging out, and goofing off. Sounds aimless? Maybe, but I've left out the best part: There's been a gigantic alien mothership hanging over Tokyo for the past three years. It never moves, everyone knows it is there (how could you not?), and people still have to go about their daily lives. Soon, when aliens begin to place themselves amongst the humans, we have an interesting story! If you want to read about a world where humanity is on the brink of dededededestruction day after day, dive into this series! 

Discover the latest selections online from the New York Public Library graphic novel department.