horror manga

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Lenni Reviews: “Dark Gathering” Vol. 18, by Kenichi Kondō

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

After the battle with the god, there is a meeting of Japan’s strongest mediums as Yayoi reflects on when she first came into her powers after the accident that claimed her parents.

A good portion of this is back when Yayoi was learning about spirits while she’s in the hospital recovering from the accident. She gets to know another patient, Granny Sachiko, and wastes no time getting to know the rules and building her arsenal. The other mediums are concerned about the power vacuum left behind after Yayoi defeated Taisai. While I’m always down to expand this amazing universe, I have concerns about expanding the cast this much so quickly. This series hasn’t had any major missteps, so I should probably trust the process. I do love this insight into Yayoi. That was a great story and it hit so many emotional beats and had some amazing creature designs. 4.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” Vol. 20, by Haro Aso & Kōtarō Takata

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

With clinical trials for the vaccine in the works, the crew heads to Okinawa to respond to an SOS from a base about to be overrun with zombies.

In Okinawa, they meet Yui; a survivor who uses her anxiety to “predict” outcomes. I love her, and she must be protected at all costs.

This volume also puts the zombie’s ability to overwhelm with sheer numbers back to the forefront so they’re a threat. The art really does some great work making them look horrible and scary. It’s clear this series isn’t about them; it’s about Akira and company tripping their way into completing all the things on their bucket list. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Choujin X” Vol. 12, by Sui Ishida

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

The Yamato Mori are still battling through the Tower of Mourning, and during the fight, Azuma loses complete control. Tokio faces Zora and must decide whether or not to take the mark.

Since killing Zora would kill anyone with her blood (this is not a spoiler for this volume; it was revealed in the last one), they were going to have to make a decision about carrying on with the battle and sacrificing them, or come up with something else. I won’t spoil what they come to, but I will say that it fits with Tokio’s character. I am so interested in what happens next. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Bug Ego” Vol. 1, by ONE & Kiyoto Shitara

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

Hich schoolers Kokudo and Hitsujiya find a book of life hacks. As they try out the increasingly strange tips, the results of using it or failure to follow the rules result in some world-bending consequences.

Okay so…. I don’t have a read on this yet. I’m not sure if this is trying to be weird for weird’s sake or is building up into something bigger and more profound/intricate. There are some cosmic horror moments that are interesting and have some cool potential, but my confusion is outweighing my interest at this point. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Sayuri” by Rensuke Oshikiri

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

Norio and his family move into a new home only to find nothing but pain and hardship.

While it seems like this is building up slowly to a typical haunted house story, the absolute mad frenzy this becomes was genuinely horrific. It’s scary and sad to watch this family falling apart. Some of the art for this defies the original expectation I had of the style not being able to handle it, as it’s fairly cute, but:

I don’t want to post too many screenshots, but yeah, fucking terrifying. If you read a lot of horror manga, you might find this predictable, and I personally prefer happier endings, but this is worth checking out. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Parasyte Paperback Collection” Vol. 1, by Hitoshi Iwaaki

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

In a world where humanity is slowly being taken over by alien parasites, Shinichi ends up infected. While he manages to contain the being to his arm, he is thrust into a dangerous life with the alien Migi as an ally.

This is another series that I’ve gone so long without interacting with up until now. Finally getting to it, I can see why it’s such a classic. It has horror elements I enjoy, the clueless but well-meaning protagonist, a greater threat looming in the future… I can see where Ajin got its inspiration, while this is, of course, very different. Since it is an older series, the tone and art are very nostalgic, and maybe younger readers will be affected by that, as it’s a completely different vibe from more modern titles. As for me, I like it, and I’m glad I’m able to experience it. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Dra-Q” Vol. 1, by Chiyo

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

Amelie Kurosaki is a high school girl hiding the fact that she is a vampire who must follow strict rules in order to continue living among humans. When attacks on humans seem vampiric, it puts Amelie’s secret at risk.

This volume doesn’t waste any time getting started. Main character, love interest, family drama, and rival love interest all plunked down in under 200 pages. It’s gory and has some dark humor, but the pace doesn’t let you sit with what’s happening for very long. You know the rules Amelie is given are presented to be inevitably broken, but I didn’t think all of them would be broken in the first volume. The plot is fun, the blood and gore are top-notch, but I almost felt dizzy by the end of it. 3 out of 5.

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

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

The actual summary works here, so I don’t spoil or sound rambly: “Art teacher Okabe creates strange, headless statues. One day, he is found murdered, his corpse headless. From that day on, art club member Shimada seems off somehow… Elsewhere, in a curious town custom, the dead are placed on a tatami mat and set out on the river. Kanako’s grandmother lives alone in a house near this river. What did she witness at one of these funerals long ago? And a mysterious disease makes girls suddenly become more beautiful. But soon they all die. The only way to survive might be worse than death itself”

This collection of stories is pretty good, but also very rapid-fire and short. Some of these could easily be expanded a bit more so they don’t feel like they’re incomplete. I still enjoy them, but a couple more pages would have helped them feel more fleshed out. No pun intended. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “After God” Vol. 9, by Sumi Eno

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

Tokinaga is still stuck as a dog but after he finds a way to escape, Wauke attacks the Anti-God institute to try and convince Waka to turn on them.

This is batshit insane. Tokinaga’s time travel abilities make things interesting, especially since others know about it or sus him out. It’s not used as a Deus ex Machina but as an additional tool for the Anti-God Institute. The fights are wild, but a lot of implications are still brewing by the end of it that I’m dying to find out more about. That’s fine, it’s keeping me involved and I’m having so much fun reading this. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Dark Gathering” Vol. 17, by Kenichi Kondō

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

Now, we are in the final stage against Yin Jiao with one graduate left to face the god’s wrath. But even if they prevail, there are still greater threats around our main cast.

I have to wonder how the stakes will rise higher than “defeat a god’ but let’s go for it! I love this series! Tama’s backstory and association with the same curse that afflicted Ai, as well as Ai’s family history with the entity, is a great story. I love this deep dive into all the lore around this god. Now, the focus shifts to the spirits stealing bodies and going after the spirit that took Yayoi’s mother. These characters are so entertaining and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 4.5 out of 5.

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