Gotta say, this was quite a unique read.

First off, the beginning is a bit of an adjustment. The art wasn't immediately compelling (The style reminded me of the cartoons from the comic section of the newspaper) and some of the scenes didn't transition very well, making scenes choppy or confusing.

However, once you adapt and get used to it, it is actually quite nice and different, a nice break from usual art. The quality, at least in my mind, also gets better as you read along. So word of advice, try to keep going - don't feel immediately put off at first glance.


Now, to the actual plot part....

There are a lot of raunchy scenes. Unglamourous Sex, full body nudes in all angles, graphic terms describing female genitilia (Lot's of "C" and "P" words, if you get my drift). I wasn't sure if it was for character development and awareness, or to feed fanservice to the audience, or maybe a blend of both. Consdering the manga was dubbed as Josei, it just caught me off guard a tad.

Nevertheless though, the story is deep and original. There is a constant spiral going on with the main female lead, she mixes between being highly unstable to being philosophical, between being insanely cruel to oddly empathetic. Sometimes she is powerful, sometimes she is incredibly weak. It makes you go between disliking her, pitying her, somewhat liking her...it's complex.

The other characters vary. A couple of them are complex too, others not so much. On one thing though....boy, do I dislike the mom! She really does not help a situation, with plenty of unfair anti feelings towards girls.


You also get a lot of honest questions and itty bits of wisdom from the plot regarding what is beauty, reaction to fake beauty or ugliness, the constant fear of aging and the embracing of aging and being different, the reality/stress of living in such a fleeting industry and the normal people who try to strive for that same perfection.

There is also another bit of a twist in the end, regarding plastic surgery.

Overall, it is an intriguing story, definitely go and give it a try. It is not perfect, but far from awful.

... Last updated on May 10th, 2012, 5:54pm

Art:
Rather bad, to say it frankly. She can't draw real expressions in the faces.
The drawings of humans are something "artistic". You use this if you want to draw the attention of the viewer to some special qualities of the things you draw. And when you think that otherwise this qualities would not be visible. But, the Gods knows i have tried, i could not find which qualities the mangaka wanted to show me whit her drawing style.
Also the drawings are something detail reduced. This is perfectly OK, IF the mangaka is concentrated on the really important aspects of the story by drawing so. But than again, this is done in this manga at best halfhearted.
In my opinion the mangaka tried and failed to draw the manga in a more avan-gardistic style. I could read the manga whit out being disgusted by the art, but it was also no real fun to see the drawings.

The story:
The story about alone Ririko is great. She dissolves slowly in something which is frightening and elusive. Great read.

But the (almost) side story about the "super cool", "super smart" and "super skillful" attorney, which enfolds parallel to Ririkos story, is unneeded and is bad. Yes, in the end the two persons are forcefully thrown together by the mangaka. But the attorney is not needed for the ending of the manga at all. Especially for the 4 last pages of the manga is the attorney non-existent. The attorney is boring: he founds everything out in no time, he knows what would happen if he acts in this or that way, but he is the tragic hero who can not win against the corrupt world. In comparison to the story of Ririki this is boring and superficial. Of course there is no character development for this guy, he is perfect from begin on.


But if you can ignore this "side story", you can, whit a voyeuristic enthusiasm and inner horror, devour Ririkis story being unable to stop reading.
I'm happy that this is not continued. This ending is really cool the way it is. The 4 last pages have even a Tarantino feeling. But yes, it is made ready for a second volume.

I read through this too fast, and didn't pay enough close attention. Next time I read it, I will be reading it to soak in details, rather than reading it to get to the end like I sometimes end up doing... because even though I did so, this story left me with a heavy feeling...

The characters are very deep, and very psychological, but even the most complex actions become apparent if you stare at it long enough, which I liked. Like others have said, I couldn't come to hate Riri, although she did horrible things - I think erotikill put it PERFECTLY saying she hated those who literally made her what she was. She wanted to take as many down to her level as she could. I really liked the officer character, I think he was my favorite - he was the most interesting, and perhaps the only one I really couldn't place a finger on. I want to know more about this hidden relationship... but... hmm.



So. I liked this, but it still leaves this almost empty feeling.. which I hope can be solved by re-reading for details. I really hope for a continuation! Although I do doubt it. The continuation would do one of two things: 1) Ruin the mystery of the ending, and go too far or 2) Clear up details and carry the story to a triumphant ending. Therefor, I am curious...

Anyways, I would recommend to those even remotely interested, I'm sure it won't waste your time - even with the art, it still has it's moments.

This manga was just... wow. The art, though shockingly simple at first, actually fit the grotesque story very well. Ririko's story was frightening, and I'm sure that is what the mangaka intended. You don't come across a manga like this every day.
I'm not sure what else I can say, because this manga was simply incredible.

This manga is definitely not for those who value aesthetics over narrative. The art, is very basic-- I was shocked when I first started reading because of how disgustingly gorgeous I found the cover, but the actual manga is not as detailed, in some points it reminded me of simple Harry Crumb sketches.
Anyway, get off the art work! The story is very heartbreaking, full of insight on someone who is hateful, shallow, moody, beautiful, vindictive, and pitiful-- but strong. Ririko always struck me as a sort of the inverse of a shoujo character-- she isn't plain, she doesn't have that one quality (usually kindness) that will save her in the end, she has love, but more than that, hate. She hates all those who support her, who have LITERALLY made her what she is. She's very real, and very scary although she never comes across as non-human.
I really hope that Okazaki continues the story one day, as the ending is badass, and promises more Riri debauchery to come.

i dont know what to say..
i think that its great first of all but i will say more of that later..
but the thing that i first noticed about this is the art.. i first thought that the manga hasnt started yet because i was kindda hoping for a darker, sketchier drawing kindda like the mangaka of bradherly no basha.. i know i am so mean for comparing but heck.. im just saying what i think..

anyways.. from just the plot up there.. it is already kind of stated that helter skelter is deep.. even though it has cartoony art.. it is deep.. way deep.. its deepness was actually what draw me in..

im not going to say that i love it becaus i hate ririko.. but since she is the protagonist.. it is all about her.. but i like helter skelter.. so.. i cant hate her.. so im neutral..
the things about it is that i like the story telling.. the other characters are also given enough dept.. even though i have to say that at first i thought that hada and kin is the same person and kin is a girl.. but thats not the point here.. i think..

anyways.. even though ririko and some other people are you pretty disgusting.. maybe it was somehow a way of contributing to the psychological darkness of the manga..

but theres a character that i really love.. i love asada!! i just love his ideals.. about beauty, aging and stuff like that.. i mean hes like a light in the darkness!!

anyways.. i think i have said enough.. so im gonna go now..

I love her work very much. A lot of people complain about the art sucking- I can't say that, but I can see why people say that- it's a very old, josei style that takes some major getting used to. But Okazaki is an extremely talented artist, and the first few colour pages are simply beautiful.

Helter Skelter is a deep, complex, and depressing story that sucks you in once you start reading it- although many people don't like Okazaki's artwork, she can tell a hell of a story.

If you're looking for something a little different, with a batshit crazy protagonist instead of your typical airheaded girl, give this one a go, it's truly amazing.

the first word in my mind after reading this is "beautiful". I don't think any comment can make justice to this manga. I do feel the need to say... I loved Mr. Asada. A wonderful manga, I wish more people could read it.

I loved it. I know that people complained about the art, but...I think it suits the manga perfectly.
I think a lot of manga art now a days is so...fabricated. All the styles tend to blur together till they all look the same. Not a lot of it makes you think, wow, how original, how unique. I think that too many mangaka try too hard to make their art 'beautiful', so that it ends up being cheap and lifeless. I'm glad the art for this manga wasn't like that, it kind of made a point as to the story.
As for the story itself, it was engrossing. You just got pulled into this chick’s life. Watching her slowing come apart at the seams was morbidly fascinating...

This completely blew me away. Not only does it refer to subject matters we can all relate to, it is mysterious, dark and captivating.
Contrarily to many other people, I quite enjoyed the art: I thought it fitted quite well with the feel of the story.
I've been looking for a series like this for a while.
Loved the open ending.