No Longer Human Complete Edition (Manga)

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Sensor makes strong use of the twisted images and body horror that Junji Ito is best known for, but it does so sparingly. This is his imagination working in remarkable ways. It also best showcases his uncanny ability to draw the human face in the most terrifyingly expressive ways. If you’ve been interested in the work of Osamu Dazai, Ito’s adaptation is a fine place to begin. It blends the soreness of Dazai’s writing with Ito’s own uncanny and unsettling art masterfully.

In a way, the focus lies on horror and visually disturbing images and I like it but sometimes it get exaggerated. There are tons of really graphic scenes that I found overwhelming. I hated Yozo Oba in here more than the novel. In the novel, I felt deep sympathy to him even if i hate him, i still felt so much for him because of his traumas and the way he was treated. In here, he seema terrible from womanizing and his manipulation but that was him, he was not a good man, he was deceptive. It was troubling and sad to see him. But Yozo was the embodiment of human's fear, desires, horrible, weakness and cowardice, that you may relate or hate for how similar he is to us. he is almost a reflection of ourselves we dont want to admit deep down in our heart. When this book was released, it was a very exciting day for me. Junji Ito is my favourite mangaka and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is my favourite novel. Having the latter be adapted into a manga by the former was like a dream come true. Also in the usual Ito style, his way of drawing facial expressions and emotions is consistently outstanding in Sensor.

That’s because this manga is not horror. Instead, it uses his eerie and unsettling approach to drawing as a way to add comedy to a true and grounded story. This is the last story on this list to feature in the Shivershort story collection. But that book is full of gems that really show off the strength of Ito’s art and plotting. Ito was born in Gifu prefecture in 1963. His debut horror book — which we’ll discuss below — was Tomie. Eventually the narrative is reduced to hallucinations and an extended dream sequence as Oba becomes increasingly unhinged.

Apparently the original web manga was published on youtube (the manga panels and a voiceover) and that doesn´t surprise me because this show feels more like a youtuber project than a TV anime. In Sensor‘s first chapter, Kyoko Byakuya finds herself at the foot of Mount Sengoku, amidst the gentle falling of golden volcanic hair. Found in the Shivershort story collection, Hanging Balloons is my personal favourite Junji Ito story. This manga represents Ito at his peak in more than one way. But it’s through his creepy, eerie, unsettling approach to horror that this ordinary story becomes funny. In an uneasy and nervous kind of way. Madonna, however, leans hard on the concept of catholic guilt, religious fervour, doctrine, and a the cult mentality of Western churches.These cats are now his responsibility and his housemates. His wife insisted that they get two cats, and now Ito must learn to live with them. As a brief member of the Japanese Communist Party, Dazai could be seen as the anti-Mishima. His legacy as a wartime writer and post-war author is legendary, and No Longer Human is often touted as his masterpiece. Originally published in three volumes and now available in a single collection, Uzumaki is a staggering work of horror fiction.

Originally I read Junji's piece first, not even knowing that it was a version of a Japanese classic book. After finishing it, I decided to read the original and give Dazai his dues. I would also suggest reading into Osamu Dazai's biography as well to get a better picture of what exactly all these pieces mean. There is one particular chapter which involves a strange bug. This headless thing with a swollen body and long antennae is grotesque, but it becomes more-so as the chapter progresses. The detailed gore that Ito draws so well is in full force at this moment. Yoda, child-me assumed, was just what we would all eventually look like if we managed to live to 900.

Junji Ito manga comes in three distinct forms. The first is his longform graphic novels. These are longer stories that tell extended, interconnected horror stories.

This is another story found in Shiver. I should mention that one of the cool things about Shiver (as is common with many manga tankobon) is the inclusion of little notes and anecdotes from the author. They’re often about what inspired the story to begin with. What makes the body horror of The Long Dream so unique is that it doesn’t come in the usual form of explosive and monstrous change (think werewolf transformations from old horror films). The phenomenon spreads slowly, and people begin to wonder if it’s contagious. There is no rhyme or reason for why people would begin acting this way. Until, of course, there is.The enigma draws public attention and news crews begin to report on it. Soon enough, people are coming from all over to see the human-shaped holes for themselves. Sure, Motoko isn't in it, but that's no gaurantee of non-quality (Innocence, Solid State Society, the 1.5 manga). Instead, we follow Togusa, Batou, and the rest of the gang plus a young psychic (they exist in Shirow's work, don't make a big screaming deal out of it, it's nothing new) as they work to uncover a murder mystery that then, in classic SAC fashion, turns out to involve a wide-spanning conspiracy involving bio-enhanced test-tube kids, weird cults, shady corporations, and even some sinister Chinese influence. Many of Ito’s tales are inspired by Japanese folklore and tradition ( Weeping Woman Way and The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara are two great examples, both found in The Liminal Zone).