Trace 1.5

Trace 1.5 is a supplemental volume created by the Chinese artist Nasty Cat, serving as a bridge and companion piece to the long-running manhua series Trace. Published in the early 2010s, it emerged during a period of significant growth for the Chinese webcomic scene, designed to provide fans with deeper insight into the lore of the series' superhuman characters. The volume functions as an anthology of sorts, fleshing out narrative gaps and offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at the world-building that established the series as a staple of contemporary Asian digital comics.

The aesthetic of the volume maintains Nasty Cat's signature style, which balances gritty action sequences with nuanced character-driven drama. Much of the design work focuses on expanded concept art and character profiles that were previously unavailable to the public. Upon its release, the volume was well-received by the existing readership for its commitment to expanding the scope of the original narrative without sacrificing the tone that made the original Trace series a success.