Shin'ichi Sakamoto - Innocent Omnibus Manga

Set in 18th-century France on the eve of the French Revolution, Innocent fictionalizes the brutal and tragic life of Charles-Henri Sanson, the real-life "Gentleman of Paris" who performed nearly three thousand executions. Born into a dynasty of state-sanctioned killers, Charles-Henri is a compassionate young man who initially recoils from his grim birthright but eventually accepts his father's mantle as the Royal Executioner of Paris. The series, noted for its hyper-detailed and "museum-glass" art style by Shin’ichi Sakamoto, follows Charles-Henri’s internal conflict and his eventual vow to be the final Sanson to spill blood, all while his fiercely rebellious sister, Marie-Joseph, begins her own blood-soaked path toward vengeance against the era's social order.

• Japanese Name: イノサン (Inosan)
• English Title: Innocent
• Story & Art: Shin'ichi Sakamoto 
• Original Publisher: Shueisha (Weekly Young Jump)
• English Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
• Release Years: 2013–2015
• Volumes: 3 Volumes (3-in-1 Omnibuses)
• Age Rating: 18+ / Mature
• Genre: Historical Fiction, Suspense, Psychological, Seinen Themes: Duty vs. Morality, Social Injustice, Gender Norms, The French Revolution, Fatalism

Adaptations

• Stage Musical: The manga was adapted into a 2.5D musical titled Innocent Musicale in 2019. It starred J-pop singer Mika Nakashima in her musical acting debut as Marie-Joseph Sanson.
• Literature Foundation: The series is technically an adaptation itself, based on the non-fiction book 
  The Executioner Sanson
   by Masakatsu Adachi.

Awards, Nominations & Sales Milestones

• Japan Media Arts Festival: The original Innocent series was a Jury Selection in 2013 and eventually won the Excellence Award. Its sequel, Innocent Rouge, also received an Excellence Award in 2021.
• Manga Taishō: Nominated for the 8th Manga Taishō in 2015, where it placed seventh.
• Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize: Nominated for the Reader Award in 2014. 
• American Manga Awards: The English omnibus release by Dark Horse Manga has been nominated for Best Continuing Manga Series in 2025.

Notable Works by Shin'ichi Sakamoto

The Climber (Kokou no Hito): A gripping, award-winning seinen series about solo mountain climbing that established Sakamoto's reputation for hyper-detailed, psychological storytelling.
Innocent Rouge: The direct 12-volume sequel to Innocent, focusing on the French Revolution and the rise of Marie-Joseph Sanson. English omnibuses are scheduled for release starting in October 2025.
#DRCL midnight children: His current ongoing series, which is a surreal, gothic reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula. It recently won Best New Manga at the 2024 American Manga Awards

Comics & manga are assumed VG+ or better unless otherwise noted. No broken spines, no writing, no stickers, and may have light shelf wear. Mid-2000s or earlier manga may have slight yellowing due to the age of the paper. All manga and comics are assumed to be pre-owned.