Review Corner: A Strange and Mystifying Story
Title: A Strange and Mystifying Story
Mangaka: Tsuta Suzuki
Publisher: June Manga
Grade: A
From the back cover: His bloodline has fallen prey to a mysterious, fatal disease. When Akio's own health starts failing, he desperately summons the spirit of a strange, protective beast....or is he a ravenous wolf-man? In order to survive, Akio must trust his very life to a monster who enjoys nothing more than feasting on poisoned blood...with a cold glass of sake of course! A Strange and Mystifying Story pits man against monster in the ultimate test of will, wits and lust! Quiet Akio suffers from a deadly disease that will ultimately send him to an early grave...unless the beast-man Setsu devours every trace of the illness by ripping into Akio's young flesh. Are Akio's dizzy spells a symptom of his terrible sickness...or could it be the wild fever of love?
First off, I think it would be good to clarify something from the back cover description. Setsu doesn't actually 'rip' into Akio's young flesh, as in gore. Though, I will admit that the tar-black, squiggly creatures, that he pulls from Akio's body with his teeth and then proceeds to eat, are actually kind of gross. The story begins with Akio at his dying grandfather's bedside. Akio's parents long-since dead, the grandfather is saddened that his departure from this world will leave Akio all alone. The grandfather's final words are to remind Akio that there's someone who will protect the family line, and he points to the next room. Once his grandfather passes, Akio feels that deep loneliness to the core of his being. As such, he ignored the signs of his illness; a curse that has plagued all the members of his mother's side of the family for generations. Too late, he collapses and realizes that he is dying. In desperation, he searches for the 'someone who will protect the family line' in the next room, and discovers a fang. From it, a demon, with canine ears and tail, bursts forth and proceeds to devour some of the evil essence that is ravaging his new master's body. It
is shortly after this, when Akio recovers and goes into hysterics, that the beast man tells Akio that he actually knew the original ancestor who got the curse first, and has made it a hobby through time to protect and aid the members of the bloodline. In order to maintain his powers, though, Akio has to name him. Akio names him Setsu, after his grandmother. Setsu makes it known that, if it's in his power, he will grant Akio's wish, but he is not Akio's slave. That one wish is to be healthy again. The contract is such that once Akio's wish is granted, which in this case means disease-free, Setsu will turn back into the fang and disappear. But, this granted wish does not come without a price. In order for Setsu to accurately locate the evil darkness within Akio's body, he needs to have sex with the boy; a fact that greatly distresses Akio, who swears he hates Setsu. Thus begins an uneasy relationship of savior and saved, master and servant, willing and unwilling. As time progresses though, and the illness fades more and more, will Akio's views of Setsu change? Will he come to regret his initial wish?
There are actually three other stories in the book, in addition to the main title. The second story is called 'Nylon Vinyl'. It revolves around a kind-hearted teacher, and an aloof, introverted student. Kuroki sensei has been noticing his student Tachikawa for a while. Tachikawa is a beautiful boy who always stares out the window during class, and doesn't leave his seat during breaks. He rarely speaks to anyone, and has a stubborn air about him. Kuroki always wonders what he's thinking. When they accidentally cross paths in the supply room, Kuroki learns there is more to Tachikawa than he realized. Tachikawa is a lonely boy, who has no trust in others and can never see into their hearts. He has built a barrier between himself and others, as that is easier than being betrayed. But Kuroki manages to show Tachikawa another way of thinking. Rather than isolating yourself, take a chance until you find the good in people. Through flashback panels, the reader is shown that Tachikawa has always been shunned and ridiculed by his peers, called names and made to feel like a freak. But, with Kuroki, he feels no such rejection.
The third story in this compilation is called 'Is There No God or Buddha'. As this tale unfolds, Ginta comes home after delivering his metalwork and discovers a kid lying in the middle of his floor. He absolutely loathes kids. Despite this, he treats the boy's wounds. Once the boy wakes up, he begs Ginta to let him stay, as he has nowhere else to go. But Ginta throws him out into the street, yelling after him to sell his body or something to make money. The next day, when he comes home, the kid is again in his house. This time, the boy has prepared food and wears a hopeful smile on his face, all the while begging him to stay. Ginta threatens him with a knife that had originally been dull, but is now incredibly sharp. This halts him in his tracks, as he begins to survey the handiwork involved in the sharpening of this particular blade. What makes it so extraordinary, is the metal of the blade is incredibly inferior and it is a very old knife. He learns that the boy, called Sohta, had sharpened the blade, having learned the skill. Ginta agrees to let Sohta stay if he will care for the craftsman's tools. Sohta tells him how his parents had died, and he became an apprentice to a shop previously. But, the shop's owner had taken an unhealthy liking to the boy, and Sohta had to escape. Normally as a cold-hearted, unrelenting man, Ginta would not have been moved by such a common sob story. Something in Sohta's eyes, however, softened him. As the days pass, the hard-working Sohta grows on the older, jaded man, working his way under Ginta's skin. It isn't until Ginta comes home one day to find the boy missing and a payment waiting for him as compensation that he realizes just how much Sohta means to him.
The final story involves two secondary characters from the main title. Akio's older Director is a happy go-lucky kind of man who believes that love is love, no matter in what form it comes. As much as he tries to help Akio change his views when it comes to Setsu, he also gingerly seduces Akio's best friend and coworker, Hatoki. Hatoki is much younger than the boss, but he is infatuated with the older man, nonetheless. He is also quite shy. Meanwhile, the Director just wishes Hatoki would hurry up and make a move.
This was a gratifying read, with both comedic and angst values to tickle my interests. Tsuta Suzuki has a way of drawing facial close-ups that really impacted me. The expressions on her characters' faces are well done, in my opinion. The main story title had me chuckling along one moment, and frowning in concern the next. The second story wasn't quite as appealing to me, but it was still touching. With the third tale in the book, the mangaka had my gut clenching with the drama of the boy being thrown out into the street. The tone and shading do a good job of depicting the action sequences.
As with most of June's books, the presentation is good. I always like the larger size of their books, and the feel that there is plenty of room for the panels. There is also a book jacket. The paper is not the crisp white that I've seen in other mangas. It has a slightly textured and slick feel to it.
Ironically, I almost didn't purchase this title because the cover art did not appeal to me. I'm very glad I took the chance, and would recommend the title to anyone looking for an entertaining read.
Mangaka: Tsuta Suzuki
Publisher: June Manga
Grade: A
From the back cover: His bloodline has fallen prey to a mysterious, fatal disease. When Akio's own health starts failing, he desperately summons the spirit of a strange, protective beast....or is he a ravenous wolf-man? In order to survive, Akio must trust his very life to a monster who enjoys nothing more than feasting on poisoned blood...with a cold glass of sake of course! A Strange and Mystifying Story pits man against monster in the ultimate test of will, wits and lust! Quiet Akio suffers from a deadly disease that will ultimately send him to an early grave...unless the beast-man Setsu devours every trace of the illness by ripping into Akio's young flesh. Are Akio's dizzy spells a symptom of his terrible sickness...or could it be the wild fever of love?
First off, I think it would be good to clarify something from the back cover description. Setsu doesn't actually 'rip' into Akio's young flesh, as in gore. Though, I will admit that the tar-black, squiggly creatures, that he pulls from Akio's body with his teeth and then proceeds to eat, are actually kind of gross. The story begins with Akio at his dying grandfather's bedside. Akio's parents long-since dead, the grandfather is saddened that his departure from this world will leave Akio all alone. The grandfather's final words are to remind Akio that there's someone who will protect the family line, and he points to the next room. Once his grandfather passes, Akio feels that deep loneliness to the core of his being. As such, he ignored the signs of his illness; a curse that has plagued all the members of his mother's side of the family for generations. Too late, he collapses and realizes that he is dying. In desperation, he searches for the 'someone who will protect the family line' in the next room, and discovers a fang. From it, a demon, with canine ears and tail, bursts forth and proceeds to devour some of the evil essence that is ravaging his new master's body. It
is shortly after this, when Akio recovers and goes into hysterics, that the beast man tells Akio that he actually knew the original ancestor who got the curse first, and has made it a hobby through time to protect and aid the members of the bloodline. In order to maintain his powers, though, Akio has to name him. Akio names him Setsu, after his grandmother. Setsu makes it known that, if it's in his power, he will grant Akio's wish, but he is not Akio's slave. That one wish is to be healthy again. The contract is such that once Akio's wish is granted, which in this case means disease-free, Setsu will turn back into the fang and disappear. But, this granted wish does not come without a price. In order for Setsu to accurately locate the evil darkness within Akio's body, he needs to have sex with the boy; a fact that greatly distresses Akio, who swears he hates Setsu. Thus begins an uneasy relationship of savior and saved, master and servant, willing and unwilling. As time progresses though, and the illness fades more and more, will Akio's views of Setsu change? Will he come to regret his initial wish?
There are actually three other stories in the book, in addition to the main title. The second story is called 'Nylon Vinyl'. It revolves around a kind-hearted teacher, and an aloof, introverted student. Kuroki sensei has been noticing his student Tachikawa for a while. Tachikawa is a beautiful boy who always stares out the window during class, and doesn't leave his seat during breaks. He rarely speaks to anyone, and has a stubborn air about him. Kuroki always wonders what he's thinking. When they accidentally cross paths in the supply room, Kuroki learns there is more to Tachikawa than he realized. Tachikawa is a lonely boy, who has no trust in others and can never see into their hearts. He has built a barrier between himself and others, as that is easier than being betrayed. But Kuroki manages to show Tachikawa another way of thinking. Rather than isolating yourself, take a chance until you find the good in people. Through flashback panels, the reader is shown that Tachikawa has always been shunned and ridiculed by his peers, called names and made to feel like a freak. But, with Kuroki, he feels no such rejection.
The third story in this compilation is called 'Is There No God or Buddha'. As this tale unfolds, Ginta comes home after delivering his metalwork and discovers a kid lying in the middle of his floor. He absolutely loathes kids. Despite this, he treats the boy's wounds. Once the boy wakes up, he begs Ginta to let him stay, as he has nowhere else to go. But Ginta throws him out into the street, yelling after him to sell his body or something to make money. The next day, when he comes home, the kid is again in his house. This time, the boy has prepared food and wears a hopeful smile on his face, all the while begging him to stay. Ginta threatens him with a knife that had originally been dull, but is now incredibly sharp. This halts him in his tracks, as he begins to survey the handiwork involved in the sharpening of this particular blade. What makes it so extraordinary, is the metal of the blade is incredibly inferior and it is a very old knife. He learns that the boy, called Sohta, had sharpened the blade, having learned the skill. Ginta agrees to let Sohta stay if he will care for the craftsman's tools. Sohta tells him how his parents had died, and he became an apprentice to a shop previously. But, the shop's owner had taken an unhealthy liking to the boy, and Sohta had to escape. Normally as a cold-hearted, unrelenting man, Ginta would not have been moved by such a common sob story. Something in Sohta's eyes, however, softened him. As the days pass, the hard-working Sohta grows on the older, jaded man, working his way under Ginta's skin. It isn't until Ginta comes home one day to find the boy missing and a payment waiting for him as compensation that he realizes just how much Sohta means to him.
The final story involves two secondary characters from the main title. Akio's older Director is a happy go-lucky kind of man who believes that love is love, no matter in what form it comes. As much as he tries to help Akio change his views when it comes to Setsu, he also gingerly seduces Akio's best friend and coworker, Hatoki. Hatoki is much younger than the boss, but he is infatuated with the older man, nonetheless. He is also quite shy. Meanwhile, the Director just wishes Hatoki would hurry up and make a move.
This was a gratifying read, with both comedic and angst values to tickle my interests. Tsuta Suzuki has a way of drawing facial close-ups that really impacted me. The expressions on her characters' faces are well done, in my opinion. The main story title had me chuckling along one moment, and frowning in concern the next. The second story wasn't quite as appealing to me, but it was still touching. With the third tale in the book, the mangaka had my gut clenching with the drama of the boy being thrown out into the street. The tone and shading do a good job of depicting the action sequences.
As with most of June's books, the presentation is good. I always like the larger size of their books, and the feel that there is plenty of room for the panels. There is also a book jacket. The paper is not the crisp white that I've seen in other mangas. It has a slightly textured and slick feel to it.
Ironically, I almost didn't purchase this title because the cover art did not appeal to me. I'm very glad I took the chance, and would recommend the title to anyone looking for an entertaining read.