One guy fights with the present, to live until tomorrow in this city, deprived of freedom, truth, prosperity and future...
Moscow 2160 is a Cyberpunk manga written by Kumo Kagyu, who is known for Goblin Slayer. It started releasing in December 23, 2022 in Big Gangan magazine.The story takes place in Alternate History where Soviet Union didn't collapse. On the contrary, it still competes in Space Cold War, now with cybernetic technologies. Augmentations became a routine and so is the need to remove unpleasant cyborgs for the party. The main character, Danila Kuragin, works as a "liquidator", killing augmented people for a living. He takes care of his step-brother and two step-sisters and dates a famous ballerina, Miss Moscow called Stasha. Despite her career, Stasha also works at night as an elite prostitute. Feeling unworthy of her, Danila decided to pay ransom for her mother to let Stasha join their family. Now he is in a need of 100 million rubles to make that dream a reality.
Moscow 2160 provides examples of:
- Alternate History: First man on the Moon was delivered by USSR, not US, and Soviet Union didn't collapse, introducing cyberpunk setting instead.
- Break Out the Museum Piece: Danila Kuragin uses PPSH-41, 2 centuries old weapon, in 2160. Downplayed, since his gun was upgraded with super steel that lets him penetrate cyborgs nearby and withstand some blade damage.
- Cyberpunk: Augmented people are very common, the main character works in a life-threatening job with rewards not even remotely close to his goal, the city is covered by a web of cables and ghettos: all of this create a pretty definitive cyberpunk setting.
- Cyborg: Augmented people are very common in Moscow. Even Danila's step-sister, Nora, traded her arm for Fraddy Cryuger-esque claw.
- Eiffel Tower Effect: The main symbol of the setting is an Ostankino Tower. Unlike the real one, this tower became a center of the web of cables that span across Moscow to keep a city alive. Danila Kuragin compares it to a nervous system of a man.
- Everything Is Online: Danila's stepsister Maria helps him in missions by hacking electrical items and delivering necessary info.
- Gratuitous Russian: While many signboard in the manga show accurate russian, there are strange words here and there too.
- The Oldest Profession: Stasha is an elite prostitute, with whom Danila constantly has sex with. He also meets prostitutes on his job.
- Russia Takes Over the World: In 2160, Soviet Union is as strong as ever, beating United States in Moon landing and keeping a Cold War going.
- Surprisingly Good Foreign Language: Many russian signs in the manga are accurate, and there are even some things only those who are interested in Russia could write, such as ХУЙ on the wall.
- State Sec: KGB is here as well, just like other soviet government organisations. They compete with GRU over the budget managed by Elena Tachibana to the point GRU send killing squad to her.
- Wrong Side of the Tracks: Danila encounters a part of the city that was originally build as a living area with cheap houses, but when their exploitation date was up, they weren't demolished but constantly repaired to the point where it's habitants abandoned it and it became a ghetto for prostitutes to work.
