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2.87 AVERAGE
2.87 AVERAGE
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.
thanks to netgalley and fantagraphics for an arc of this title. kago's work is definitely an acquired taste, but this one unfortunately didn't match up to his earlier work. the first story in this collection was definitely the most solid--that final page was truly a gut punch. but! the rest of the stories truly didn't make much sense, and not in an absurdist way. it was more so that the stories didn't really get too fleshed out and it made kago's trademark grotesquerie fall flat.
fast-paced
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
you'd have to have brain damage to enjoy the last 2 stories, because what? I felt all the stories had a really good stopping point, but then just continued until they were overexplained or completely changed the plot and ruined the unique story that was being told and could've had an ominous ending
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago will definitely be compared to Junji Ito’s works–the cover alone is reminiscent of many of Ito’s. Nonetheless, the two authors definitely stand apart in artistry and storytelling style. Brain Damage by Kago is shocking, witty, and quick. Each short showed a versatility to the depths of darkness humankind can stoop to. Of the four stories, “Labyrinth Quartet” ranked first for me; it was a pity the story wasn’t as long as “Blood Harvest”. I really wanted to stay with these girls who looked similar, yet were different people. There were definitely ways it could’ve been stretched to fuel my PLL heart. “Family Portrait” was absolutely stomach-turning/sickening, which I guess is the point of horror, but I was not a fan of the last (5?) panels. It was definitely unforgettable, pun intended. “Curse Room” was an interesting twist on zombies, as Kago stated in the notes of the work. I am curious how this type of story will fit in with the symbolism of zombies as a whole and what they represent in literature. No, not everything needs to be analyzed, but my passion (and my degree) beg to differ. As aforementioned, “Blood Harvest” was the longest narrative of the four. Or maybe it felt the longest? If King’s Christine and It Follows had a baby, it would be “Blood Harvest”. Overall, I found this work to really stand for itself in the broadening genre of horror manga. I was intrigued enough to ILL Dementia 21. Thanks to Fantgraphics and NetGalley for the chance to read this eARC.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my first experience reading Shintaro Kago and it will definitely not be my last. These four stories are all gut punches combining the grotesque, weird, and horrific to great effect.
In the first story, a group of identical young women wake up together in a locked room and have to figure out what's going on.
In the second story, a woman wakes up in a cell-like apartment and things feel off...I won't say anything more about this one as it would be too spoilery, but the concept behind this one was the most interesting and original to me.
In the third story, a high school-aged girl investigates disappearances in her neighbourhood while dealing with her creepy grandfather (this was the grossest and most uncomfortable story).
In the fourth and final story, people are showing up dead and mangled in their cars, but the police cannot find the cause.
Each story starts by establishing a sense of the uncanny, where some things are just a bit off (love it). The tension builds and builds, leading to grotesque endings that will stick in my mind for a while. Overall, this was a captivating, genuinely discomfiting read. Four stars because the last story was least effective to me, at least until I got to that final haunting image (I think he was going for a bit of absurdist humour here but it didn't land for me).
Thanks for the ARC!
In the first story, a group of identical young women wake up together in a locked room and have to figure out what's going on.
In the second story, a woman wakes up in a cell-like apartment and things feel off...I won't say anything more about this one as it would be too spoilery, but the concept behind this one was the most interesting and original to me.
In the third story, a high school-aged girl investigates disappearances in her neighbourhood while dealing with her creepy grandfather (this was the grossest and most uncomfortable story).
In the fourth and final story, people are showing up dead and mangled in their cars, but the police cannot find the cause.
Each story starts by establishing a sense of the uncanny, where some things are just a bit off (love it). The tension builds and builds, leading to grotesque endings that will stick in my mind for a while. Overall, this was a captivating, genuinely discomfiting read. Four stars because the last story was least effective to me, at least until I got to that final haunting image (I think he was going for a bit of absurdist humour here but it didn't land for me).
Thanks for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I think this is my first time venturing into horror manga that isn't Junji Ito. I mostly enjoyed the art, but there were some unnecessary/boring panels in my opinion. Some pacing issues. The stories were creepy, but I thought the third one with the dementia storyline could have gone in a direction that DIDN'T involve incest, and it would have been way better.
I think this is my first time venturing into horror manga that isn't Junji Ito. I mostly enjoyed the art, but there were some unnecessary/boring panels in my opinion. Some pacing issues. The stories were creepy, but I thought the third one with the dementia storyline could have gone in a direction that DIDN'T involve incest, and it would have been way better.
dark
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Incest, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Dementia, Cannibalism