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2.89 AVERAGE
2.89 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Brain Damage is a manga volume with four creepy stories. In this review I will go through each story individually, because the quality of story telling really differs each story.
The first story felt as if it changed its storyline halfway through, making it feel a bit incohesive. But I still liked it for what it was.
The second story gave me Ringu vibes at first, which is one of my favourite horror stories ever. It was different enough to feel like another story, but the similarities definitely were there. I really liked the twist at the end, which completely changed the story. I don’t think I would have liked it as much if it didn’t do the twist.
I have some issues with the third story. It oversexualized a teenager, and even started victim blaming. It knocked down the rating a whole star for me. I don’t mind social commentary, but it has to be done with tact. The tact definitely was missing in the 3rd story. It also distracted from the main story and made the creepy aspect of the horror much less impactful. I really didn’t like this one, the sexualization felt so out of place.
The 4th story was a fun one and very easy to read! I really liked that one. It felt a bit illogical at times, but that didn’t bother me too much. I would have rated this manga much higher if the other stories were more like this one!!
Brain Damage is a manga volume with four creepy stories. In this review I will go through each story individually, because the quality of story telling really differs each story.
The first story felt as if it changed its storyline halfway through, making it feel a bit incohesive. But I still liked it for what it was.
The second story gave me Ringu vibes at first, which is one of my favourite horror stories ever. It was different enough to feel like another story, but the similarities definitely were there. I really liked the twist at the end, which completely changed the story. I don’t think I would have liked it as much if it didn’t do the twist.
I have some issues with the third story. It oversexualized a teenager, and even started victim blaming. It knocked down the rating a whole star for me. I don’t mind social commentary, but it has to be done with tact. The tact definitely was missing in the 3rd story. It also distracted from the main story and made the creepy aspect of the horror much less impactful. I really didn’t like this one, the sexualization felt so out of place.
The 4th story was a fun one and very easy to read! I really liked that one. It felt a bit illogical at times, but that didn’t bother me too much. I would have rated this manga much higher if the other stories were more like this one!!
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
I really liked the first two short stories, especially the second one (it felt more original and unique). Unfortunately, I wasn't enjoying the third one that much 'cause it sexualised a minor, but I get that it's supposed to be creepy (which it was, but I was actually more grossed out than anything). It felt very unnecessary to me to include incest as well as sexualising a minor, that's why I wasn't able to enjoy it.
Anyway, the short stories were all interesting to read about and I was glad that they had that weird vibe going on which I was looking for (+ it was somewhat funny). The art work was great as well, most of them had a dimmed light atmosphere, which gave me a mix of creepy and cosy at the same time, which suited the weird stories.
My favourite part about these stories were that most (if not even all of them) had a twist at the end, which didn't make them predictable. As someone who doesn't like predictable plots (unless it's done to serve some purpose) it felt refreshing to not always know how it will end.
Labyrinth Quartet: 3/5
Curse room: 4/5
Family portrait: 1/5
Blood Harvest: 3/5
Overall score: 2.75 ≈ 3
Thank you NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for the advanced reader copy of Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago.
Started the book: 7. July 2025
Finished the book: 7. July 2025
Wrote the review: 7. July 2025
I really liked the first two short stories, especially the second one (it felt more original and unique). Unfortunately, I wasn't enjoying the third one that much 'cause it sexualised a minor, but I get that it's supposed to be creepy (which it was, but I was actually more grossed out than anything). It felt very unnecessary to me to include incest as well as sexualising a minor, that's why I wasn't able to enjoy it.
Anyway, the short stories were all interesting to read about and I was glad that they had that weird vibe going on which I was looking for (+ it was somewhat funny). The art work was great as well, most of them had a dimmed light atmosphere, which gave me a mix of creepy and cosy at the same time, which suited the weird stories.
My favourite part about these stories were that most (if not even all of them) had a twist at the end, which didn't make them predictable. As someone who doesn't like predictable plots (unless it's done to serve some purpose) it felt refreshing to not always know how it will end.
Labyrinth Quartet: 3/5
Curse room: 4/5
Family portrait: 1/5
Blood Harvest: 3/5
Overall score: 2.75 ≈ 3
Thank you NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for the advanced reader copy of Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago.
Started the book: 7. July 2025
Finished the book: 7. July 2025
Wrote the review: 7. July 2025
Yeah I dunno. The first two stories were decent while the latter two made me regret even picking this up. I don’t find sexualization of young girls funny so there wasn’t really anything humorous for me. Didn’t really feel thought-out enough to be satirical either. I expected some black comedy per the description but those scenes just felt ignorant.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I believe the biggest positive this collection has going for it is both the fantastic art style, as well as the initial concepts given to the stories.
The low rating is due to the unnecessary and uncomfortable sexualization present of a highschool girl, that culminates into an explicit incest joke, in the third story - Family Portrait. As someone who generally enjoys dark content, I felt like these pages were both uncomfortable and potentially triggering. With details that would not be out of place in a pornographic manga, as opposed to a horror manga, I didn’t feel like they were appropriate. Sexual assault and incest can be something added to a horror novel in ways that I feel are appropriate - I love gothic horror, so such topics don’t immediately turn me away. However, the inclusion in this manga is - in my opinion - more to both arouse the viewer and make it a joke in a “I can’t believe that happened, that’s so funny” kind of way. Which - considering the subject matter - did not sit right with me.
Also, I cannot state enough how explicit and out of place those pages felt. I very strongly feel you could take pages 116-118 and seamlessly add them into a manga intended to be explicitly sexual, and no one would notice a thing.
It was a huge shame as well, since the concept of the story and the curse was something that could have been handled well, if not for the strange sexual perversion it focused on.
The other stories - Labyrinth Quartet, Curse Room, and Blood Harvest - I felt had strong ideas that fell short of a satisfying conclusion. In many ways while reading these I felt like an abridged version, as opposed to the entire thing. Finally, while I enjoyed them for the most part, I felt like much of the story was done in such a way simply to end in a “shocking/surprise” ending that the rest of the story didn’t fully support. I do strongly feel like, with the interesting concepts and artistic skill level, that - if some more care is given to the story and the removal of the weird sexualization of teenage girls - many people who love horror manga would flock to this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Fantagraphics Books for providing me this copy.
Four gory and intriguing horror stories with beautiful art style I really loved.
Wow, the second story 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 was absolutely brilliant, chilling and surprising. Definitely one of my favorites of this collection.
𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 the last story were another favorite of mine from this manga. It was phenomenal, I could definitely have read more of that.
If you love horror and enjoy reading mangas I highly recommend checking out 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞! It was a quick but interesting experience.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
Thank you so much NetGalley and @shintarokago1969 for an ARC of this manga in exchange for my honest review.
Wow, the second story 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 was absolutely brilliant, chilling and surprising. Definitely one of my favorites of this collection.
𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 the last story were another favorite of mine from this manga. It was phenomenal, I could definitely have read more of that.
If you love horror and enjoy reading mangas I highly recommend checking out 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞! It was a quick but interesting experience.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
Thank you so much NetGalley and @shintarokago1969 for an ARC of this manga in exchange for my honest review.
dark
tense
fast-paced
This is compared with Junji Ito's works, and for good reason. They are dark and bizarre horror stories, quintessential to this style of Japanese horror. But readers should be aware that this is on the grittier end of this style of manga, leaning heavily into body horror, at times of a sexualised nature.
It is a visceral style that is not for everyone, but for those it is for, this is a solid collection of stories with engaging art and intriguing storytelling. I would be curious to pick up Kago again.
It is a visceral style that is not for everyone, but for those it is for, this is a solid collection of stories with engaging art and intriguing storytelling. I would be curious to pick up Kago again.
Thank you to Fantagraphics and Netgalley for providing me a review copy of this book. This does not impact my review whatsoever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There are four stories in this book. The 1st was probably the best of the four, then the 2nd and 4th. The 3rd felt like it cut a bit out and jumped to the end, if you don't like SA content, avoid story 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Murder
This definitely wasn't my favorite horror manga that i've ever read. Generally, the stories felt pretty dumb and while there might have been an interesting concept somewhere in there, I do not think the author did a good job executing it.
Thank you netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This is one of the creepiest books I've read in awhile. One of the stories could be triggering for anyone who has experienced SA. Great gore and horror manga. The art is fantastic. This is a very dark book. Not for those who prefer their horror only be suspenseful. I received an ARC from NetGalley.