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Cells at Work! CODE BLACK (はたらく細胞!BLACK Hataraku Saibō! Burakku?, known also as Cells at Work! BLACK) is a spin-off written by Shigemitsu Harada, illustrated by Ikuta Hatsuya, and supervised by the author of the original, Akane Shimizu.

It was first announced on the Kodansha's Morning magazine official website on May 18, 2018 that the manga will launch in the magazine and in the Weekly D Morning digital manga magazine on June 7.[1] It continues to be published in the magazine weekly until its 10th chapter, which was published on August 9, reaching its climax. Then, the manga was continued on the 47th issue, published on October 25 with the 11th chapter and released biweekly. The manga ended with Volume 8 on February 22, 2021.

An anime adaptation, Cells at Work! CODE BLACK, premiered on January 9, 2021.

Plot

Similar to the original, the series is set in a world of anthropomorphic cells working in a body. It follows a the life of a rookie Erythrocyte, AA2153, and a Neutrophil, U-1196, as they work in a poorly maintained, middle-aged body burdened by issues such as stress, smoking, drinking and the like, causing complications in the cells' work and living environment. Chapters usually consist of the cells having to face an ailment, vice or symptom of an unhealthy lifestyle, and overcoming it with the help of medications or surgical procedures. The series tackles darker content than the original, thus the name 'BLACK'.

The narrative has provided seven distinct story arcs for this manga, including:

  1. Black Company Arc ( Ch. 1 - 10)
  2. The Second Host Arc (Ch. 11 - 12)
  3. Diabetes Arc (Ch. 13 - 29)
  4. Depression Arc (Ch. 30 - 36)
  5. Cancer Arc (Ch. 37 - 41)
  6. Reconstruction Arc (Ch. 42 - 48)

Beginning with the 11th chapter, the setting transitioned from the first body to a second one in even worse condition, with AA2153 and U-1196 being transported to the new body via a blood transfusion. A third significant character, the Neutrophil J-1178, was also introduced.

Volume List

Volume 1: The Content of Adults

No Title Japan release date English release date
01 "Smoking, Germs, the Beginning of an End" (喫煙、細菌、終わりの始まり Kitsuen, Saikin, Owarinohajimari?) July 9, 2018 September 3, 2019
02 "Liver, Alcohol, Pride" (肝臓、アルコール、誇り Kanzō, Arukōru, Hokori?)
03 "Erection, Ejaculation, Emptiness" (勃起、射精、虚無 Bokki, Shasei, Kyomu?)
04 "Gonococcus, Invasion" (淋菌、襲来 Rinkin, Shūrai?)
05 "Overwork, Confusion, Hair Loss" (過重労働、錯乱、脱毛 Ka jūrōdō, Sakuran, Datsumō?)

Volume 2: Grown-up Problems

No Title Japan release date English release date
06 "Calamity, Athlete's Foot, Meaning of Work" (異変、水虫、働く意味 Ihen, Mizumushi, Hataraku imi?) September 21, 2018 November 5, 2019
07 "Stomach Ulcer, Friendship, Loss" (胃潰瘍、友情、喪失 Ikaiyō, Yūjō, Sōshitsu?)
08 "Desperation, Gout, Rebellion" (自暴自棄、痛風、反乱 Jibōjiki, Tsūfū, Hanran?)
09 "Return, Heart, Demise" (復帰、心臓、終焉 Fukki, Shinzō, Shūen?)
10 "Cardiac Arrest, Revival, Change" (心筋梗塞、蘇生、変化 Shinkinkōsoku, Sosei, Henka?)

Volume 3: Changing Careers

No Title Japan release date English release date
11 "Peace, Polyp, Cataclysm" (平和、ポリープ、天変地異 Heiwa, Porīpu, Tenpenchii?) February 22, 2019 January 21, 2020
12 "Energy Drinks, Nose Bleeds, Quotas" (エナジードリンク、鼻血、ノルマ Enajīdorinku, Hanadji, Noruma?)
13 "Kidneys, Kidney Stones, Passing Blood" (腎臓、尿路結石、血尿 Jinzō, Nyōrokesseki, Ketsunyō?)
14 "Urinary Tract Infection, Silence, Tears" (尿路感染、沈黙、涙 Nyōrokansen, Chinmoku, Namida?)
15 "Sebum, Old-People Smell, Final Job" (皮脂、加齢臭、最後の仕事 Hishi, Kareishū, Saigo no Shigoto?)
16 "Calves, Work Harassment, Nightmare Returned" (ふくらはぎ、パワハラ、悪夢再び Fuku-ra hagi, Pawahara, Akumufutatabi?)
17 "Pulmonary Embolism, Quick Thinking, Reunion" (肺血栓、機転、再会 Haikessen, Kiten, Saikai?)

Volume 4: Sugar, Sugar

No Title Japan release date English release date
18 "Pancreas, Insulin, Collapse" (膵臓、インスリン、決壊 Suizō, Insurin, Kekkai?) June 21, 2019 March 24, 2020
19 "Exhaustion, Glycation, Excuse" (疲弊、糖化、言い訳 Hihei, Tōka, Iiwake?)
20 "AGA, Semen, Disappearing Jobs" (AGA、精液、無くなる仕事 Ēga, Seieki, Nakunaru Shigoto?)
21 "Return to Work, Responsibility, Hemorrhoids" (復帰、責任、痔 Fukki, Sekinin, Ji?)
22 "Anal Fistula, Fault, Results" (痔瘻、責任、手柄 Jirō, Sekinin, Tegara?)
23 "Shingles, Duty, Teammates" (帯状疱疹、使命、仲間 Taijōhōshin, Shimei, Nakama?)
24 "Sugar, Blood Vessels, Catastrophe" (糖分、血管、破局 Tōbun, Kekkan, Hakyoku?)
Sp. Ch. 1 "First Job, Canker Sore, Realization" (初仕事、口内炎、確信 Hatsu shigoto, Kōnaien, Kakushin?)

Volume 5: Killing with Sweetness

No Title Japan release date English release date
25 "Inferno, Gangrene, Hard Worker" (炎上、懐疽、働き者 Enjō, Futokoroso, Hatarakimono?) August 29, 2019 August 11, 2020
26 "Incineration, Amputation, Merciful Rain" (焼却、切断、慈雨 Shōkyaku, Setsudan, Jiu?)
27 "Apnea, Sentimentality, Reality" (無呼吸、感傷、現実 Mukokyū, Kanshō, Genjitsu?)
28 "Pancreas, Deceit, Inferno" (膵臓、欺瞞、炎上 Suizō, Giman, Enjō?)
29 "Implementation, Fasting, Unemployment" (遂行、絶食、失職 Suikō, Zesshoku, Shisshoku?)
30 "Periodontitis, Roots, Miscalculation" (歯周病、牙城、誤算 Shishūbyō, Gajō, Gosan?)
31 "Sleeping Pills, Alcohol, Requiem" (睡眠薬、アルコール、鎮魂歌(レクイエム) Suimin'yaku, Arukōru, Rekuiemu?)
Sp. Ch. 2 "Bacteria, Gargling, Unexpected Meeting" (バクテリア、うがい、予期せぬ会議 Bakuteria, U gai, Yoki senu kaigi?)

Volume 6: Code Bleak

No Title Japan release date English release date
32 "Gastric Lavage, Tears, Tears" (胃洗浄、涙、涙 I senjō, Namida, Namida?) October 17, 2019 October 27, 2020
33 "The Brain, Vitality, Atrophy" (脳、活力、萎縮 Nō, Katsuryoku, Ishuku?) November 21, 2019
34 "Depression, Resolve, No Way Out" (うつ、覚悟、万事休す Utsu, Kakugo, Banjikyūsu?) January 9, 2020
35 "Drugs, Quitting Smoking, Fear" (薬、禁煙、恐怖 Kusuri, Kin'en, Kyōfu?) February 13, 2020
36 "Wandering, Drug Efficacy, Mission" (迷走、薬効、使命 Meisō, Yakkō, Shimei?) March 19, 2020

Volume 7: Before First Light

No Title Japan release date English release date
37 "Undefeated, Rejection, Calamity" (無敗、否定、凶変 Muhai, Hitei, Kyōhen?) April 23, 2020 May 11, 2021
38 "Atrocity, One Loss, Self-Sacrifice" (無残、一敗、挺身 Muzan, ichi-pai, teishin?) June 11, 2020
39 "Wrong Way, Excision, Strength" (逆走、切除、強さ Gyakusō, Setsujo, Tsuyo-sa?) July 23, 2020
40 "Metastasis, Radiation, Anti-Cancer Drugs" (転移、放射線、抗がん剤 Ten'i, Hōshasen, Kō gan-zai?) July 30, 2020
41 "Immunotherapy, Existence, Entrustment" (免疫療法、存在、託されたもの Men'eki ryōhō, Sonzai, Takusa reta mono?) August 8, 2020

Volume 8

No Title Japan release date English release date
42 "Restoration, Future, Ruthless Declaration" (復興、未来、非情な宣告 Fukkō, Mirai, Hijōna senkoku?) November 26, 2020 August 30, 2022
43 "Hemostasis, Trust, Sempai" (止血、信頼、先輩 Shiketsu, Shinrai, Senpai?) December 3, 2020
44 "Hero, Education, Strike" (英雄、教育、出撃 Eiyū, Kyōiku, Shutsugeki?) December 10, 2020
45 "Ruffian, Vibrancy, Good Bacteria" (暴徒、活気、善玉菌 Bōto, Kakki, Zendama kin?) December 24, 2020
46 "Differentiation, Era, Mutual Support" (分化、時代、支え合い Bunka, Jidai, Sasae ai?) January 7, 2021
47 "Recovery, Peace, Returning Home" (回復、平和、ただいま Kaifuku, Heiwa, Tadaima?) January 14, 2021
48 "Brain Metastasis, Will, Work" (脳転移、意思、仕事 Nō ten'i, Ishi, Shigoto?) January 21, 2021

Special Edition

No Title Japan release date
1 "Get a Breast Cancer Screening!" (乳がん検診を受けよう! Nyūgan kenshin o ukeyou!?) March 13, 2020
2 "Cancer, Screening, Prevention" (がん、検診、予防 Gan, Kenshin, Yobō?) February 4, 2021


References

  1. Jennifer Sherman - "Cells at Work! Gets BLACK Spinoff Manga in June" (May 19, 2018)

External link

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