Publisher: Vertical

Release Date: April 2011

Price: $16.95

Creator: Usamaru Furuya

Format: 328 pgs., B&W; Trade Paperback

ISBN: 978-1-935654-06-3

Age Rating: 18+

ICv2 Rating: 2.5 Stars out of 5

 

The phrase “something to offend everyone” is usually said in jest, but in this case, it is quite true.  This manga is a strange blend of Frankenstein, Lord of the Flies and Helter Skelter, with a smattering of neo-Nazi gay teen sex and religious iconography.

 

While this blend of deranged and thought-provoking images and story has substantial merit, the creator may have attempted too much in this adaptation of a surreal stage play.  The main difficulty is that the central character is supposed to be amazingly charismatic as well as insane, a middle-school Charles Manson with a Jesus complex.  The other characters act as if he is, but the reader never sees anything convincing, just insane ranting.  This makes some scenes read like “Springtime for Hitler,” but without the show tunes.  In addition, the “magical realism” technology of the story (programming a robot via a calculator keyboard and pwering it with lychees) is often distracting.  Oddly, though, the madness of the story is often compelling.

 

On the down side, the graphic sexuality and sexual obsessiveness of these middle school kids is exceptionally creepy.  The violence is extreme, ranging from gory scenes which violate the laws of physics to “mere” mutilation and rape.  For adults only, due to these and other issues.
 
--Nick Smith: Librarian Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.