(completed, sequel in Fuan No Tane Plue)
Written and Illustrated by Nakayama Masaaki, "Fuan No Tane" is a collection of short horror stories. And when I say short, I mean microscopic. Each story ranges from 10 to 3 pages, with some of the plots following a simple algorithm.
A + B = C
A - a mundane activity (e.g. walking home, waking up).
B - a strange anomaly (e.g. power outage, creepy old lady).
C - the money shot. (Boooo!)
These plots are like a fucken gas station robbery. Get in, get out. That simple, and it works like charm! Even with a pretty basic blue print, most of these stories are spooky as hell; abruptly ending and not giving the audience much time to let things linger. Leaving people unease and very satisfied. Some stories seem a bit rehashed, but their still enjoyable. You could probably skim through the whole thing in one night.
9. Terra Formars
(ongoing series)
Written by Sagusa Yu and illustrated by Tachibana Kenichi, "Terra Formars" is set in a future where scientists have successfully terraformed the planet Mars. This was accomplished by sending large amounts of mold and, uhm... Cockroaches (just hear me out) to cultivate the planet and make it habitable. The mold is in place to absorb sunlight while the roaches are there to eat the mold. In turn, the dead roaches feed the mold, blah blah, the circle of life. 500 years have passed, and the roaches have evolved. So, a rage-tag team of misfit (kind of) are sent off to Mars, with the mission to exterminate every living cockroach. But things don't go as planed. *plays loud ominous music*
Terra Formars, is by no means top tier manga material. Its a b-list sic-fi horror, and Sagusa Yu and Tachibana Kenichi know that. So to compensate for things like well developed characters, they escalating thing rather quickly. Pacing the manga at a brisk jog, giving the story a constant flow of death a misery, and it works in it's favor. Plus, they have some of the creepiest fucking roaches I have ever seen. It's not the best, but its enjoyable.
8. Hakaijuu
(ongoing series)
Written and illustrated by Honda Shingo, "Hakaijuu" is about 2nd year high school basketball player, Takashiro Akira, who just became a starter on the team. He envies his friend and teammate Kudou Eiji, and is madly in love with his childhood friend Aizawa Miku (Eiji also likes Miku, but fuck that guy) who moved to another city. His life is pretty placid, until he goes into the gym storage room during an earthquake and is then knocked unconscious. Upon waking, he finds that most of the school is dead and a strange creature roaming the halls.
Hakaijuu is a good read with some very interesting monsters and a ever present feeling of helplessness. The only drawback with this series is that it's only 6 chapters deep, with chapter 7 hopefully coming out before the 2nd coming of christ. For what its worth, read it. Then bookmark it.
7. Apocalypse no Toride
(ongoing series)
Written by Kuraishi Yuu and illustrated by Inabe Kazu, "Apocalypse no Toride" is about 16 year old Yoshiaki Maeda, who is wrongly accused of murder and thus sent off to prison. While incarcerated, the prison soon comes under attack by zombies and Maeda, along with a few other inmates have to fight to survive.
Apocalypse no Toride is by no means your basic zombie horror. There are supernatural elements at play, that adds a very need kick to the story. Granted its a manga about zombies. But there are so many roads that have yet to be explored with the genre. The manga dose have its fair share of problems, but their minor at best.
6. Battle Royale
(complete series)
Written by Koushun Takami and illustrated by Taguchi Masayuki, "Battle Royale" follows the story of a japanese middle school class that is forced to fight to the death on an island by a totality government for 3 days. Each student it fitted with a fancy neck collar, that is rigged in explode if a students disobey orders, goes to a restricted area during the course of the game (the areas change daily), or after the game has reached its 72 hour mark (only one person can be left standing). Also, each student if given a bag with basic necessities like food, a map, a compass, etc. Along with one weapon. Kill or be killed.
Like most people who have read the manga, I watched the movie first. That being said, the manga can be seen as a good extension on the feature film. In depth back stories. Character development for nameless faces. Plus, there are some really intense moments that could not of been translated well on film (I ain't playin either).
There are some discrepancies with Tokoypop's translation of the manga. So if possible, read the fan translation.
(complete series)
Written by Koushun Takami and illustrated by Taguchi Masayuki, "Battle Royale" follows the story of a japanese middle school class that is forced to fight to the death on an island by a totality government for 3 days. Each student it fitted with a fancy neck collar, that is rigged in explode if a students disobey orders, goes to a restricted area during the course of the game (the areas change daily), or after the game has reached its 72 hour mark (only one person can be left standing). Also, each student if given a bag with basic necessities like food, a map, a compass, etc. Along with one weapon. Kill or be killed.
Like most people who have read the manga, I watched the movie first. That being said, the manga can be seen as a good extension on the feature film. In depth back stories. Character development for nameless faces. Plus, there are some really intense moments that could not of been translated well on film (I ain't playin either).
There are some discrepancies with Tokoypop's translation of the manga. So if possible, read the fan translation.
5. Kiseijuu (Parasyte)
(complete series)
Written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaaki, "Kiseijuu" is about a race of alien parasites that appear on earth one night searching for an adequate host. Once these parasites enter the body of the host, they travel directly to the brain; taking control over the body and killing them. While they do appear human, they tend to show no emotions. They can transform their limbs into deadly weapons and they have a hunger for human flesh.
Kiseijuu reminds me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, with an elements of Terminator 2. It's a solid story with some solid characters. This was one of the first manga I've ever read, so I want other people to like this shit too. So read it!
(complete series)
Written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaaki, "Kiseijuu" is about a race of alien parasites that appear on earth one night searching for an adequate host. Once these parasites enter the body of the host, they travel directly to the brain; taking control over the body and killing them. While they do appear human, they tend to show no emotions. They can transform their limbs into deadly weapons and they have a hunger for human flesh.
Kiseijuu reminds me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, with an elements of Terminator 2. It's a solid story with some solid characters. This was one of the first manga I've ever read, so I want other people to like this shit too. So read it!
4. Gantz
(complete series)
Written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku, "Gantz" follows the story of Kei Kurono who dies in a train accident along side an old acquaintance, Masaru Kato. Both Kurono and Kato are transported to a small room with several other people who have meet the same fate as them. In the center of the room is a large black ball that tells them, "you are all dead." This ball also tells them about a game they must partake, in which they need to hunt aliens. Oooooooooooo!
Gantz, in its self, is a character driving manga. Assembling a cast with different personalities, occupations, and on occasion, nationalities. Pitting them against unbelievable and horrifying odds, while making them question reality. Empathy, moral decency and constant fear of death strains them mentally. As a result, their outlook on the world around them changes, giving them depth and complexity. Gantz blends elements of science fiction, horror, and a bit of some japanese mythos into a great story that's laced with mystery. READ IT!
(complete series)
Written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku, "Gantz" follows the story of Kei Kurono who dies in a train accident along side an old acquaintance, Masaru Kato. Both Kurono and Kato are transported to a small room with several other people who have meet the same fate as them. In the center of the room is a large black ball that tells them, "you are all dead." This ball also tells them about a game they must partake, in which they need to hunt aliens. Oooooooooooo!
Gantz, in its self, is a character driving manga. Assembling a cast with different personalities, occupations, and on occasion, nationalities. Pitting them against unbelievable and horrifying odds, while making them question reality. Empathy, moral decency and constant fear of death strains them mentally. As a result, their outlook on the world around them changes, giving them depth and complexity. Gantz blends elements of science fiction, horror, and a bit of some japanese mythos into a great story that's laced with mystery. READ IT!
3. Homunculus
(complete series)
Written and illustrated by Yamamoto Hideo, "Homunculus" is about Susumu Nakoshi, a man who is living out of his car near of a park. He is approached Manabu Ito, who offers him 700,000 yen ($7210.00) to preform a medical procedure on him. The procedure is called Trepanation, where a hole is drilled into a person's the skull, which allows a them to use their 6th sense, see ghosts, use ESP and move things with their mind. Nakoshi agrees, thus changing his perception of the world around him.
Yamamoto Hideo, of Ichi the Killer fame, has delivered some of the most cerebral shit I've ever read with his magnum opus (in my opinion) Homunculus. The manga itself, is about the "gooey center" of what makes a person who they are. And that "goo,"(just listen) is personified into a visual form. A visual hyperboles, so to speak, that could take the shape of a horrifying being or a simple spoon. It's all about the subtext, and how it relates to that person.... fuck, just read the damn thing! Yamamoto Hideo made a very intriguing story; complimented with great artwork, complex psychological elements, and some very interesting three dimensional characters.
I alway had a wired feeling in the pit of my stomach when I read it... You should feel it too.
(complete series)
Written and illustrated by Yamamoto Hideo, "Homunculus" is about Susumu Nakoshi, a man who is living out of his car near of a park. He is approached Manabu Ito, who offers him 700,000 yen ($7210.00) to preform a medical procedure on him. The procedure is called Trepanation, where a hole is drilled into a person's the skull, which allows a them to use their 6th sense, see ghosts, use ESP and move things with their mind. Nakoshi agrees, thus changing his perception of the world around him.
Yamamoto Hideo, of Ichi the Killer fame, has delivered some of the most cerebral shit I've ever read with his magnum opus (in my opinion) Homunculus. The manga itself, is about the "gooey center" of what makes a person who they are. And that "goo,"(just listen) is personified into a visual form. A visual hyperboles, so to speak, that could take the shape of a horrifying being or a simple spoon. It's all about the subtext, and how it relates to that person.... fuck, just read the damn thing! Yamamoto Hideo made a very intriguing story; complimented with great artwork, complex psychological elements, and some very interesting three dimensional characters.
I alway had a wired feeling in the pit of my stomach when I read it... You should feel it too.
2. Berserk
(ongoing series)
Written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, "Berserk" is about a man named Guts (Gattsu, or Gats in some fan translations), the Black Swordsman. Clad in all black, and wielding a metal prosthetic arm (that seconds as a cannon) along with a large sword that can be mistaken for a slab of iron. Branded with a demonic mark on his neck, Guts must fights hordes of demons, ghosts, and the undead. While seeking out the one who branded him.
Action! Monsters! Blood! Revenge! Love! It has it all! Kentaro Miura has made a world so large in scale, that it feel genuinely organic! Characters that grow and change over the course of the story's spain! Horrifying monsters with blood lust! If you want a reason to live, read this shit! If you feel dead inside, read this shit! Its amazing! The Iliad be damn!
Berserk is currently on chapter 333, so take your time and enjoy it. Its great.
(ongoing series)
Written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, "Berserk" is about a man named Guts (Gattsu, or Gats in some fan translations), the Black Swordsman. Clad in all black, and wielding a metal prosthetic arm (that seconds as a cannon) along with a large sword that can be mistaken for a slab of iron. Branded with a demonic mark on his neck, Guts must fights hordes of demons, ghosts, and the undead. While seeking out the one who branded him.
Action! Monsters! Blood! Revenge! Love! It has it all! Kentaro Miura has made a world so large in scale, that it feel genuinely organic! Characters that grow and change over the course of the story's spain! Horrifying monsters with blood lust! If you want a reason to live, read this shit! If you feel dead inside, read this shit! Its amazing! The Iliad be damn!
Berserk is currently on chapter 333, so take your time and enjoy it. Its great.
1. I am a Hero
(ongoing series)
Written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa, "I am a Hero" is about Hideo Suzuki, an out of luck mangaka who suffers from severe hallucinations. He has vivid conversations with an imaginary friend named Yajima, and is under the impression that he must fight off evil spirits. Add in the fact that he's having problems with is girlfriend, Tekko, Hideo Suzuki is a broken man. But things soon change, as the city is under attack from a strange new virus. *plays loud ominous music*
I am a Hero, is a very tightly written story. Paced to perfection, Kengo Hanazawa dose an amazing job unfolding events. Starting the plot off pretty slow and then hitting you with everything all at once, and beautifully sequencing panel after panel. Hideo Suzuki, as a character, is one strange cookie... but very likable. Which I guess is a common trait from most of Hanazawa's manga. Try and read this one.
(ongoing series)
Written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa, "I am a Hero" is about Hideo Suzuki, an out of luck mangaka who suffers from severe hallucinations. He has vivid conversations with an imaginary friend named Yajima, and is under the impression that he must fight off evil spirits. Add in the fact that he's having problems with is girlfriend, Tekko, Hideo Suzuki is a broken man. But things soon change, as the city is under attack from a strange new virus. *plays loud ominous music*
I am a Hero, is a very tightly written story. Paced to perfection, Kengo Hanazawa dose an amazing job unfolding events. Starting the plot off pretty slow and then hitting you with everything all at once, and beautifully sequencing panel after panel. Hideo Suzuki, as a character, is one strange cookie... but very likable. Which I guess is a common trait from most of Hanazawa's manga. Try and read this one.
Go read junji ito, fag. this shit you posted if for normies.
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