विवरण
Area 88 is a Japanese manga series by Kaoru Shintani that follows the story of Shin Kazama, a young pilot, and his experiences at a mercenary air force base called Area 88. Shin is bound to Area 88 by a three-year contract that he was tricked into signing by a jealous childhood friend. He must earn $1.5 million to buy his way out and return home, leading him to become a skilled fighter pilot. The series combines action, tragedy, romance, and comedy, and has been praised for its strong character development. Area 88 was one of the first manga series to be translated into English and published in North America. It has been adapted into an OVA, a video game, and a 12-episode anime television series. The story takes place in the fictional Middle Eastern kingdom of Aslan, where the government employs mercenary fighter pilots to fight its war. Deserting Area 88 is punishable by death, and the series follows Shin and his fellow mercenaries as they face the violence of war and question their motivations.