The Tower of Eden: Luluchika, Kunya and the Tower's Labyrinth

The Tower of Eden: Luluchika, Kunya and the Tower's Labyrinth is a fantasy manga series written and illustrated by matoba, originally serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine starting in 2012. The narrative centers on a young boy named Kunya who ventures into a mysterious, vertical labyrinth known as the Tower of Eden to seek a way to return his friend, the enigmatic Luluchika, to her original form. It stands as a notable example of the author's early style, blending adventure elements with character-driven mystery.

The series is characterized by matoba's distinct illustrative style, which leans into intricate creature designs and atmospheric world-building within the confined setting of the tower. During its publication, it was received as a stylistic departure from standard dungeon-crawling tropes, focusing more on the internal dynamics between the two protagonists as they navigate the shifting architecture of the labyrinth. The work remains a niche but appreciated entry in the author's bibliography, reflecting the thematic focus on isolation and companionship that would later become a hallmark of their more well-known works.