The ZQN are zombie-like creatures featured in the 2009 manga I Am A Hero written by Kengo Hanazawa and the 2016 film adaptation of the same name produced by Sninsuke Sato. Show
OriginAccording to the Manga, the ZQN are implied to be the result of an alien invasion attempting to weed out Humanity without destroying infrastructure. The growing infection assimilates its victims into what eventually becomes a hive-mind, with the end-goal being a merging between Humans and their invaders. (And possible breeding thereof) The 2016 film adaptation of I Am A Hero does not focus on the origins of the virus or its goals, opting instead to portray the infected as more typical (albeit quirk-heavy) zombies. It is unknown if the movie's zombies are a different version of ZQN or if it will be expanded upon at a later date. Transmission and SymptomsThe ZQN virus is transmitted in typical zombie fashion: Biting, contact with ZQN fluids, ETC. Infected victims show few symptoms at first other than a state of panic; Infectees often characterized as growing more paranoid and fearful as they turn. At some point, the veins of the body's neck turn pitch-black and begin to swell (often causing them to ooze blood from orifices in the process) while the eyes change into a sickly red-green hue. The infected then enter a hyper-manic state (Portrayed in the manga VIA the stretching-out and distortion of speech-bubbles) and turn from there as their heartbeat accelerates to a point fatal for most. If their body enters a sudden mutation, it is usually at this point. Some ZQN with enough willpower can delay the eroding of their humanity during the turning process and take final actions. (For example, one of Hideo's co-workers attempts to slash his own throat as he turns in the film adaption) While there is no known cure to the ZQN Virus at this time, there are a select few people who are infected by odd circumstances that prevent them from fully turning. These people have each gained an odd augmentation that benefits them in some way. NatureOnce turned, most ZQN enter an odd mental haze fueled by their urge to eat human flesh. Some are shown to be carefree and whimsical while others immediately go berserk. Once in the presence of food, the urge to eat overwrites most other thoughts and they pursue their prey. Most ZQN are rather durable and cannot be dissuaded by fear, lending further to their aggressive mentality. ZQN retain a fair amount of their intelligence and emotions after turning; Some crying for loved ones as they eat while others mindlessly mimic past habits or routines when idle. (For example, a ZQN salaryman is shown in-film to be hailing a cab that will never arrive, while a ZQN athlete goes on regular jogs and practices his acrobatics) This can even extend to attachments in certain cases. (In the Manga's initial chapters, Hideo's girlfriend Tekko bites a door-frame so she can lose her teeth and be unable to infect him; In the film adaptation, Abe's infected wife Kyouko briefly recognizes him before succumbing to her urges and biting him) MutationsWhile the ZQN have fairly universal zombie traits, the virus also adds mutations into the mix. Many of these mutations are aesthetic and do little more than contort portions of flesh. Some however mutate their host in grotesque ways, allowing them to perform feats of movement few other zombie types can achieve. Such feats include:
Trivia
In the series I Am a Hero by Hanazawa Kengo, the designation for zombies was previously translated as "zombfags," presumably as an adaptation of the word for "normalfag," which if I'm not mistaken is 「リア[充]{じゅう}」. However, the designation is currently translated (though it may have also remained unchanged from the original) as "ZQN," with no explanation given for the sudden change (I'm fairly certain I've come across an amalgamation of the work from at least two different translation groups). My question is, does the designation "ZQN" have roots in Japanese internet slang words, à la 「リア[充]{じゅう}」, or did earlier translations just take artistic liberty given the context?
I Am a Hero (Japanese: アイアムアヒーロー, Hepburn: Ai Amu A Hīrō) is a Japanese zombie manga series written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa. It was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Big Comic Spirits from April 2009 to February 2017, with its chapters compiled in twenty-two tankōbon volumes. In North America the manga has been licensed for English language release by Dark Horse Comics. A live action film adaptation premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in October 2015, before being released commercially in April 2016. There are three spin-off manga, set in the same universe, titled I Am a Hero in Osaka, I Am a Hero in Ibaraki and I Am a Hero in Nagasaki. As of November 2015, the manga had 4 million in circulation. In 2013, I Am a Hero won the 58th Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category. Plot[edit]Stage of the beginning of the story, I Am a Hero[edit]The story begins with Hideo Suzuki, a 35-year-old manga artist assistant, whose life seems to be stuck around his exhausting but low-paying job, unfulfilled dreams, strange hallucinations and unsatisfying relationships. He sees himself as a supporting character in his own life, and has low self-esteem, resulting in frustration. One day, the world as Hideo knows it is shattered by the presence of a disease (nicknamed ZQN) that turns people into homicidal maniacs who resemble and behave like zombies, and whose first instinct is to attack and devour the nearest human. Armed with only his sporting shotgun, he runs for his life, meeting strangers along the way. For a while, he and his companions struggle to stay alive, while questioning their moral choices. In the end, only three of them remain and drive all the way to the top of Mt. Fuji to be saved. I Am a Hero in Osaka[edit]I Am a Hero in Osaka is set at the beginning of the ZQN outbreak in Osaka. This manga is centered around a part-time manager named Tatsuo with a love for motorcycles and his gasoline-fueled journey to rescue his girlfriend Kozue, stranded on an airplane at Kansai International Airport, as well as Kozue's fight for survival in an increasingly hostile environment. Against sinking odds, the couple do their utmost to reunite with the other. I Am a Hero in Ibaraki[edit]I Am a Hero in Ibaraki is set at the beginning of the ZQN outbreak in Ibaraki. The focus of this story is about an isolated high-school student and his dog struggling to survive, not only against the ZQN, but also that of his infected family and childhood friends. I Am a Hero in Nagasaki[edit]I Am a Hero in Nagasaki is set at the beginning of the ZQN outbreak in Nagasaki. The manga consists of the story of Yamada, a high-school dropout turned photographer who suffers from vivid hallucinations brought upon by a form of Anthropophobia and Nirei Aya, a Kyūdō national champion and Yamada's former classmate. The story documents their journey to Hashima Island, a perceived place of safety. However, their journey will not only be threatened by simply the ZQN, but also from their fellow humans. Characters[edit]
Media[edit]Manga[edit]I Am a Hero, written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa, was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits from April 27, 2009 to February 27, 2017.[4][5] Shogakukan has compiled the chapters into twenty-two tankōbon volumes, released from August 28, 2009 to March 30, 2017.[6][7] In North America, Dark Horse Comics announced in May 2015 the license to the manga for English language release, with plans for a 2-in-1 omnibus format release starting in 2016.[8] The first volume was published on April 13, 2016.[9] The eleventh and final volume was published on October 23, 2019.[10] It is also published in Italy by GP Manga,[11] in France by Kana,[12] in Spain by Norma Editorial,[13] in Mexico by Panini Manga,[14] in Germany by Carlsen Manga,[15] and in Indonesia by Level Comics.[16] Volume list[edit]
Spin-offs and other[edit]A spin-off, titled I Am a Hero in Osaka (アイアムアヒーロー in Osaka, Ai Amu A Hīrō in Osaka), written and illustrated by Yuuki Honda, was serialized in Shogakukan's Yawaraka Spirits online magazine from January 26 to December 26, 2015.[3][46] Shogakukan released a compiled tankōbon volume on February 29, 2016.[47] A second spin-off, titled I Am a Hero in Ibaraki (アイアムアヒーロー in Ibaraki, Ai Amu A Hīrō in Ibaraki), written and illustrated by Kazuya Fujisawa, was serialized in Yawaraka Spirits from March 24 to August 25, 2016.[48][49] Shogakukan released a compiled tankōbon volume on February 28, 2017.[50] A third spin-off, titled I Am a Hero in Nagasaki (アイアムアヒーロー in Nagasaki, Ai Amu A Hīrō in Nagasaki), written and illustrated by Kensuke Nishida, was serialized in Yawaraka Spirits from March 28 to October 20, 2016.[51] Shogakukan released a compiled tankōbon volume on February 28, 2017.[52] An anthology series by various manga artists, containing 8 short stories, titled I Am a Hero Official Anthology: 8 Tales of the ZQN (アイアムアヒーロー 公式アンソロジーコミック8 TALES OF THE ZQN, Ai Amu A Hīrō Kōshiki Ansorojī 8 TALES OF THE ZQN), was serialized in Big Comic Spirits from February 15 to April 4, 2016. The stories were written by Etsuko Mizusawa,[53] Junji Ito,[54][55] Masakazu Ishiguro,[56] Tarō Nogizaka,[57] Makoto Ojiro,[58] Mengo Yokoyari,[59] Akane Torikai,[60] and Kōji Yoshimoto.[61] Shogakukan published the compiled volume on April 12, 2016.[62] Live-action film[edit]A live action film adaptation, directed by Shinsuke Sato and starring Yo Oizumi, Kasumi Arimura and Masami Nagasawa, premiered at the Sitges Film Festival on October 13, 2015,[63][64] was released commercially on April 23, 2016.[65][66] The film has been licensed by Funimation, and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 24, 2018.[67] Reception[edit]As of November 2015, the manga had 4 million copies in circulation.[68] It was nominated for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Manga Taishō awards[69][70][71] and won the 58th Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category.[72] In a list of "10 Great Zombie Manga", Anime News Network's Jason Thompson placed I Am a Hero at number 1, considering it "probably the greatest zombie manga ever".[73] References[edit]
External links[edit]
What is Zqn in I Am a Hero?The ZQN are zombie-like creatures featured in the 2009 manga I Am A Hero written by Kengo Hanazawa and the 2016 film adaptation of the same name produced by Sninsuke Sato.
What happened at the end of I Am a Hero?In the final pages, Hideo locates a gun shop and begins making ammo for his rifle, after his crops are eaten by a herd of deer. At some point during this chapter—or perhaps even before—there appears to have been a significant time-skip, as Hideo is shown to be balding when he removes his cap.
What happens to Hiromi in I Am a Hero?In the process, Hiromi is shot with a nail on her head (though she survives) After they succeed, Hideo is forced to join a search party. The search goes awry, and most of the group, including Sango, are killed. Iura becomes infected, and Araki sacrifices himself to protect a young child.
What is Zqn?Queenstown Airport (IATA: ZQN, ICAO: NZQN) is located in Frankton, Otago, New Zealand, and serves the resort town of Queenstown. The airport is 8 km (5.0 mi) from the Queenstown CBD. The airport handled 2.25 million passengers as of 2018 making it the fourth busiest airport in New Zealand by passenger traffic.
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