horror graphic novel

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Dark Gathering” Vol. 8, by Kenichi Kondō

199798732

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Faced with the powerful spirit of a murdered child, Yayoi, Keitaro, and Eiko bring forth Otogiri: The Soul Stealing Courtesan to subdue him; a spirit so powerful, Yayoi may not be able to reel her back in. Also, a new student – Dorothy – arrives at Yayoi’s school and quickly puts her friends and classmates in danger.

As usual, the spirits are scary. The art is very effective at making them look terrifying or just WRONG. Even when the Courtesan is all smiling and coy, there’s still just something not right about her. Same goes for Dorothy. She’s villain coded in every scene she’s in. Very creepy and entertaining. Trigger warning for child death in this one. 4.5 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Battle Royale: Enforcers” Vol. 1, by Koushun Takami & Yukai Asada

199525656

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is recommended for mature readers.

After a two decade ban, Program 68 is restarted and the newest crop of ill-fated kids are Daito Academy’s Class F. Now, they will be forced to kill their fellow classmates in order to be the last one standing.

Now, it’s more understandable to have the info dump at the beginning of the story because the games in universe haven’t been a thing in a long time and it’s been awhile since the original series came out. Other than being some creepy masterminds making this decision, we don’t know why this class was chosen to bring this program back but I’m sure the reason will come out later on.

Our cast is the typical school student collection: the idealistic lead, bitchy girls, uncommonly good at killing quiet guy, etc. But it doesn’t waste time getting to the bloodshed. I’m sure we’ll get to know the students better as the series goes; probably right before they’re brutally killed. 3.7 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Alley: Junji Ito Story Collection” by Junji Ito

199525662

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of short horror stories leans heavily towards urban legends like spirits in creepy alleys and cursed ice cream trucks. Your scare milage may vary throughout this as the stories are hit or miss for me. The hospital one freaked me out the most. The body horror alone gave me chills and is the best in the volume, in my opinion. It isn’t perfect and I don’t wanna say too much lest I spoil something but it’s a decent collection but if body horror isn’t your thing, best skip this one because Ito is very good at that. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Fool Night” Vol. 1, by Kasumi Yasuda

199525648

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

In a world where the sun is gone, humanity’s last hope is Transfloration: a process by which human beings are turned into plants to produce precious oxygen for the rest of the population. With a crappy job and a sick mother, Kamiya considers volunteering in exchange for enough money to change whatever life he has left.

This has some impressively creepy body horror and a compelling premise. This is a great first volume; even addressing the moral implications of the Transfloration program. It gets you immersed in the world building and starts toying with the complications and problems with this system right away so, it’s not fucking around. Trigger warning for child abuse and again, body horror. This feels like it’s gonna get wild and I’m ready for it. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” Vol. 14, by Haro Aso & Kōtarō Takata

199798714

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Izuna comes into her own and starts fighting back as the group are trapped in a zombie infested facility. We also spend some time with Kencho as he tries to see his family.

While the looming threat of the Umbriel Corporation endures, Kencho’s side story was nice since we get to learn more about him. We know a lot about Akira so it’s good to give other characters some time in the spotlight. I enjoy these little stories even though they’re not focusing on the main plot so much. 3.7 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Dark Gathering” Vol. 7, by Kenichi Kondō

199798611

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Keitaro, Yayoi, and Eiko are on the way to collect another sealed graduate, trying to get ahead before school starts again. At the same time, a sinister force is hoping from body to body.

So, not only do we have to worry about what the spirits can attack with, we have to worry about body switching that may or may not be detectable? As if all of this wasn’t horrifying enough getting attacked, possessed or – in this volume – cannibalized. This series is just damn creepy. I love it but it’s really unsettling. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Choujin X” Vol. 6, by Sui Ishida

205089965

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After being kidnapped from training camp; Sora Siruha tells Toki and his friends that a dark future lies ahead. Their hesitation to immediately obey her drives Tokio and the others to flee for their lives to avoid her wrath. The enormity of what they’re facing makes Tokio make a life altering decision.

There is one heck of a time skip after the big battle against Sora that’s really well done and pushes the characters into some interesting scenarios. The weirdo cult around Sora is genuinely creepy to me and it still tickles me that they had this big ole dramatic prophecy around Tokio and he just turns it down. It’s intriguing to see them all grow and I am curious to see how this will all play out because I’m getting the sense Sora is full of crap. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Alice in Borderland” Vol. 9, by Haro Aso

176443719

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

For Arisu and Chishiya there is only one face card left after their final confrontation with Niragi.

Niragi is one of those characters that makes me go “Why are you still here?” The entire time of the last appearance, I was just metaphorically tapping my foot for the Queen if Hearts part. I did wonder if the source material would have the same ending as the show and (spoilers, I guess???) it’s pretty much the same and I do like the way it’s handled. It’s creative and I think it’s more interesting than some huge ass battle or another game with math that gives me a headache. These omnibus editions were really satisfying and I had a lot of fun reading them. If you like these survival game stories, this is a good series. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Dark Gathering” Vol. 6, by Kenichi Kondō

177617785

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After using the Damned Sargent to acquire such a powerful spirit they all barely survive and need to rest up, giving Eiko some time to think about how dangerous all of this ghost hunting really is.

Eiko didn’t waffle very long as she decides with Yayoi to buy a cheap house to store spirits and the story behind this old house is fucked up. If you do not do well with body horror, you will NOT like this volume. It’s less funny and much more horrific than anything that’s come before it. Aside for the murder, there’s also incest so, trigger warning for all of that. I guess the most unbelievable part of this volume for me is a young person just having the money to buy a haunted house on a whim. *cries in post-capitalism America* 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “The Summer Hikaru Died” Vol. 2, by Mokumokuren

145624942

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After warnings from a local woman, Rie, Yoshiki struggled to resist keeping Hikaru in his life. Meanwhile, there are adults in the village are aware of some unknown entity living in the mountains.

While there is still that feeling of overall sadness, this volume is more of Yoshiki getting to know this new Hikaru while also letting us know what happened to the real Hikaru. There’s also whatever is goign on with Yoshiki’s little sister, Koaru. She can see spirits and isn’t going to school for some reason the small town is gossiping around to figure out. I like this series. It’s building up well. Like “Erased” but with less murder (so far). 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.