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Description
From Viz:
Something is rotten in Okinawa...the floating stench of death hangs over the island..What is it? A strange, legged fish appears on the scene...so begins Tadashi and Kaori's spiral into the horror (and stench) of the sea.
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*Includes two bonus stories called • The Sad Tale of the Principal Post in vol 1. • The Enigma of the Amigara Fault in vol 2.
Type
Manga
Related Series
N/A
Associated Names
Gyo - The Eerie Wriggle Gyo Odór Śmierci The Enigma of Amigara Fault The Sad History of the Principal Post ギョ ギョ～うごめく不気～ 大黒柱悲話 阿弥殻断層の怪 鱼
A very good horror read. Wonderfully drawn, oddly invented but above all perfectly paced. At first the scenery is just bizarre, but then the situation turns worrying, and then tragic, and eventually straight out apocalyptic. The story is always evolving, and when you think it can't get worse, it does. I'm not a fan of pseudo-science in manga because it tends to be pretty lame most of the time but it didn't sound bad in this one (especially considered that experiments on bad smells to use in war have been really made). There are some unrealistic elements that make the story look a bit fake, like
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
what did Tadashi's uncle do all the time? How was he able to afford a secretary? What happened to Tadashi's parents and why doesn't he care about them? What the heck had the circus to do with, well, everything? Why was it even there in the first place?
but they are minor ones and not much relevant to the plot. Clearly the characters aren't the main focus of the manga and that's okay. They are given just as much characterization as they need but they do not drive the story, it's actually the fear and the mysteries that make you go on reading. Some of the mysteries are explained later while others, less practical and more existential, are not. That's okay too I think, the main questions are given an answer and for the others the reader can come up with their own interpretation.
Two words on the hidden gem of this volume: The Enigma of the Amigara Fault is the best short horror story I've ever read. Perhaps even more disturbing and teasingly cryptic than The Death Stench (main story). I give 8 to the main story and 9 to The Enigma of the Amigara Fault.
the main story was good and all... but the bonus chapter tho, especially the second one, it was seriously terrifying in it's own way, the feeling of discomfort after reading that one is still haunt me to this day XD ...damn, the mangaka is a genius
Recommended from a friend who shares very similar disturbing manga reads like I do.
This manga is extremely unique in the idea of being possessed...by robots. The concept (both in terms of artwork and details) is very different, but consistent...which is what I love the most. It really satisfy the horror genre and is pretty disturbing.
The plot is pretty good; people are genuinely afraid and are pretty terrified of what's going on around them. The ugliness of the expressions (of fear and horror) makes it very realistic so one could almost relate to their fear. The plot answers basic questions but more questions continue to arise about how one would live with this kind of chaos as we see the MC surviving all of this madness.
These characters, good lord. It's hard not to giggle at Tadashi every now and then, he really is ridiculous. Half the time I was rooting for him to be infected. Aside from that, this is a pretty interesting series, kept me hooked. It wasn't scary or even gross, I thought the designs for the critters were pretty cool (and kinda funny in the later half of the story).
Definitely recommend it, fun little read. And the bonus stories were neat as well.
not mutch to say since the rest of other people comments can exsplain. As for me. Oh god. I notice this manga at bookstore. Shiver and make me want to throw up. reading this but wanted to see how it ended....since it a short story...twisted. ending story was just ahhhhhh. guess this why i stay away from genre like this. shiver yuck. disturbing....
reading this, i can feel various bugs skittering across my hand, my nape, my back, scratching my scalp and biting me till i itch. this is the effect of junji ito's manga, with the other wordly beautiful character juxtaposed with hellishly ugly creatures wreaking havoc to their world. there is no real horror or mystery or plot, just endless slimes and tentacles and boils and pus and all the ugly and wretched things rendered in high detailed to increase the queasy and gag factor to the readers.
truly a work of art to elevate your disgust to perfection.
I actually kind of liked this one. Well, I really liked it but to read it you have to be in a certain mood and enjoy this kind of story. But really, to get the most out of it, you have to have a black humour streak and take this one a little more lightly than most horror series. Because, I mean really, fish with legs scuttling around like a bug? I can imagine my mother screaming "Get it away from me!!!" and that's what did it for me If you start thinking of it humourously, this series is quite awesome ^_^
It's just a silly mangaka who took a fun idea and ran with it, regardless how it ended up. The ending leaves you wanting, but I can't really be ticked about it. The hanging scene probably takes the crown.
As an avid Junji Ito fan, I had high hopes for Gyo when I first read it a few years ago. I was not very impressed by the fact that it leaned more toward science fiction as opposed to his usual paranormal and cult horror - the genres I think he should stick with. The side story, The Enigma of Amigara Fault, is probably the best part of this series. That was a story that gave me shivers.
I like horror, although I'm probably too squeamish for that genre. I find it fascinating, but some parts of Gyo was just...too much for me. Not the "OMG, I'm going to be sick" kind of "too much", but rather the disturbed kind.
Spoiler (highlight to view)
The legs and the boils and the fact that people are being clamped onto those things pretty much grossed me out. I wish there had been more elaboration as to what the gas had been made of and why the main character isn't affected by all this.
It's interesting, but I don't think this is my cup of tea. The art's not too bad, actually, and the story is passable. But it's not particularly appealing to me.
(+227)
If you start thinking of it humourously, this series is quite awesome ^_^
