@@Wanderer8008 WOAH WOAH THANK YOU!!! I really hope they fully encapsulate the feeling the manga gives off in the adaptation 🐱also crossing my fingers that the new fans will not mischaracterise the boys 😞‼
I've read all 15 chapters and I'm so obsessed I've made a playlist for it. Not only is the art a treat but the story has me hooked. *SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD* 'Hikaru' is so compelling with his genuine naivety in being a human making him almost endearing and with the inherent terror we get when reminded he isn't human. I'm constantly torn between believing he wants real connection and means no harm to feeling extremely unsettled with his presence and fearing what he may do. Yoshiki dealing with the grief of losing Hikaru while being confronted with something that sounds, looks, and acts like but isn't Hikaru everyday is a fascinating concept. How can you fully mourn someone when "they" are right in front of you? How can you go on seeing everyone going back to normal while you know this isn't the same person? His conflicting feelings towards the different 'Hikaru', his repressed feelings towards his best friend being brought to light and twistedly reciprocated only after his friend's death. The story is still in its beginning and I'm so so excited to see where it will go!!
I see it as more of a tragedy then horror. As I feel like "Hikaru's" feelings are genuine and that he doesn't know what he is exactly be he still loves his friend. Probably by him coming into the village had broken the spirit barrier or something like that.
It's definitely tragic, I like the balance of Hikaru developing feelings without understanding how the factor into a humans lived experience. That's why I find it's a horror from everyone's perspective but Hikarus, he has no moral or ethical understanding of normal responses, so he could decide to drop someone for almost no reason 😂 I'll definitely be getting the physical copies of this one
something i haven’t seen too many people discuss, and something i immediately picked up on as a gay man, was how well the manga uses horror to discuss the fear and anxiety of “coming out” and dealing with gay feelings. so much of Hikaru’s internal struggle is such a wonderful metaphor. and likewise so many of the moments between him and Yoshiki are serving as two things - the face value story but also this very delicate story about two boys from a rural village who realize they have feelings for one another. the whole story in fact is one giant metaphor for dealing with the anxiety losing who you thought you were - and coming to terms with concrete truths about sexuality and love. idk i just feel like a lot of people are taking this story only at a literal level when there is SO much happening beneath the surface.
Potential minor spoilers? Idk if this is at a later volume but it doesn’t majorly spoil the plot. I also remember the flashback scene by the river when they’re both talking about the neighbors’ son and Hikaru says “I heard he’s sick” and Yoshiki responds “He’s not sick, he’s gay”. In so few lines we were told the kind of environment they live in, and their potentially differing views on the matter. (Though Hikaru’s response was vague.) Such a swift line that represents so much. It especially hit close to home for me.
(Warning for Spoilers!!!) I was also a bit confused about that. People often seem to regard the gay romance as playing "not a huge role" and see it as a story that could just as well be told through straight characters when to me a lot of the subtext seems to be for example about yoshiki overcoming his internalized homophobia. (with him for example being disgusted of himself for accepting "hikaru" and his emotions) There is also the "mixing" with "hikaru". (I think the resemblance to sexual intimacy is not far-fetched) Yoshiki describes this as both "gross" and "good" and how he gets upset at "hikaru", but later feels like he has to apologize to him for that, and "hikaru" feels awful for basically betraying yoshikis trust. Oh, and theres also the constant second-guessing of their relationship, with yoshiki seemingly unsure of how he feels and "hikaru"' questioning himselfe if his "like" is the same as the one of the girl who asked him out... Altogether I think it is a manga that definitely be enjoyed without reading all of that into it, for me the manifestation of all the negative aspects of a gay relationship in an unaccepting enviroment (or even in more accepting ones) and recognizing some of my own thoughts and feelings made this experience more impactful for me, although I think most straight readers might not relate to all of that in the same way. So in a way I think this could be interpreted as a coming of age story that uses horror to add impact to negative emotions connected to it. (sry the comment is so long)
It bothers me that there are people who avoid this manga because they consider it just boys love and those superficial, unrealistic elements in straight women's stories about boys love.
I love the story bc of how Yoshiki would fall in love with whatever the creature is, not Hikaru himself. I love that their relationship isn’t based on deception or lies and that he is aware that he’s an imposter, just not the extent of what he is or what is happening in the town. *SPOILER FOR CHAPTER 15* Also I wanna add despite this being a horror story, I think Hikaru will grow as a character in learning to value human life despite him saying he enjoys being a human. He enjoys the selfish aspect of having Yoshiki’s attention and companionship, saying he doesn’t care if he kills Asako for knowing he’s an imposter. He’s very naive and I hope to see him grow to understand what being human is.
I think the panel in the beginning of the manga you showed where "hikaru's" imitation wears off and his face begins to dissolve into being is one of, if not my favourite manga panel ever
In fact, this is not a yaoi manga. It can be considered BL ( Lightly ), but the story does not focus on the love of boys or any element found in Yaoi. That's why most readers of this manga are male
Maaaannn I really wanna see a full breakdown of the series from you and see what you have to say and your thoughts on it. In the mean time, I'm going to go read this and see what I think. If you end up doing a full series review, it would be cool to compare my thoughts to yours which I will be posting in the comments!
Really good contextual sit rep and pitch! You have an eye for narrative. Just ordered a copy, subbed, and now I’m off to crush your library. Great content!
I recently started reading this series and I cannot wait for the new chapters! I hope that many more people discover this story as well, so thank you for making this video!💖
Kind of like what you said, it does have Higurashi vibes. I decided to buy the Higurashi DVDs this year since I could never see the anime in its entirety legally ever since I heard about it in Middle School (Ive graduated college 2 years ago 😆) . My God I love Higurashi - it reminds me of Silent Hill but in Japan/ on crack. Which the guy who wrote Higurashi is also writing for Silent Hill F (which pushed me to want to finally see Higurashi). Can't wait for that and more Hikaru chapters
I’m getting skinwalker and Carpenter’s “It” vibes. I like how the sexuality is very secondary, as the creature doesn’t possess that concept. It’s BL in a very vague sense. That’s far more interesting, actually.
Thinking as if it now if you really take a step back and think that I feel so bad for a yoshiki, not only has he lost his only real good friend that he shares a very close bond with some fucking Eldredge whore is walking around in his skin, and on top of that he can’t tell anybody, I mean, I don’t know what updates for the new chapters but as far as a Red think about it, he can’t tell anybody I sure exactly what happened and what he is because no one would believe him , and even if they did, he still have to deal with the effects of “ losing his best friend again” and the issue of the town and everything else. This poor kid will be destroyed more than he already is. Doesn’t help that “hikaru” doesn’t know what it’s like to be human doesn’t know how to act doesn’t know how to do. This is not to do that and causes yoshiki severe amount of trauma and stress, and he probably constantly think so no he’s going to eat me and kill me. but the story is, so intriguing I wonder if the story is going to end in a few different ways I hope it’s not a copout ending. I hope the ending is where he learns to grow and move forward and not need the situation anymore for “Hikaru”- as in feeling like he needs to grow up and do different things in life make change and move forward with grief and other issues which would be the simplest thing to do, but I’m wondering if it’ll pull a catch 22 it’ll be something really weird.
interesting, i don't remember then name of the movie, but it was about a couple who had gone hiking and thru the jigs and reels the girl tries to kill her boyfriend because she realized at some point during the hike he had been replaced with some alien tentacle thing that still had all of his memories and love for her. it's fairly new so i wonder if the writer had read some of this manga...
Is there an Irish retailer you buy your manga from? Pretty new to buying manga but this has captured my imagination and i avoid Amazon as much as possible. Thanks for the video!
Your local book shop can usually order in anything you're looking for, though if there's difficulty with that there's always options like the Shonen Jump app 😁
I’ve seen some clips here and there of edits on Tik Tok and was instantly intrigued. I waited to start reading it for the first physical volume to deliver to me. I read it and I can’t wait for more…after that I had to go online and get up to date lol I am also obsessed. I smoke late at night and have never felt bothered by the dark but after reading…I was so unsettled that I had to sit against my porch wall looking out. I was too scared to have my back to that dark.
THEY ANNOUNCED THEY'RE MAKING AN ANIME ADAPTATION,, I'M SO HYPED?? Literally love this series sooo much, I'm obsessed
WHAT??! PINNED COMMENT, LETS GOOOOOOO
@@Wanderer8008 WOAH WOAH THANK YOU!!! I really hope they fully encapsulate the feeling the manga gives off in the adaptation 🐱also crossing my fingers that the new fans will not mischaracterise the boys 😞‼
THAT SHIT BETTER BE GOOD BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MANGA
I've read all 15 chapters and I'm so obsessed I've made a playlist for it. Not only is the art a treat but the story has me hooked.
*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD*
'Hikaru' is so compelling with his genuine naivety in being a human making him almost endearing and with the inherent terror we get when reminded he isn't human. I'm constantly torn between believing he wants real connection and means no harm to feeling extremely unsettled with his presence and fearing what he may do.
Yoshiki dealing with the grief of losing Hikaru while being confronted with something that sounds, looks, and acts like but isn't Hikaru everyday is a fascinating concept. How can you fully mourn someone when "they" are right in front of you? How can you go on seeing everyone going back to normal while you know this isn't the same person? His conflicting feelings towards the different 'Hikaru', his repressed feelings towards his best friend being brought to light and twistedly reciprocated only after his friend's death.
The story is still in its beginning and I'm so so excited to see where it will go!!
i found your vid just so i could rave about it and hear another person's thoughts too lol
i hope your review gets more people to read it!!
Is the story still being continued?
@@YupuASMR yes it's still updating
How many teachers does it have now?
@@crusaderdalek3527 15 chapters currently
I see it as more of a tragedy then horror. As I feel like "Hikaru's" feelings are genuine and that he doesn't know what he is exactly be he still loves his friend. Probably by him coming into the village had broken the spirit barrier or something like that.
It's definitely tragic, I like the balance of Hikaru developing feelings without understanding how the factor into a humans lived experience.
That's why I find it's a horror from everyone's perspective but Hikarus, he has no moral or ethical understanding of normal responses, so he could decide to drop someone for almost no reason 😂 I'll definitely be getting the physical copies of this one
@@Wanderer8008 yeah I guess it's the fear of the unknown for everyone around him. And I also love how Yoshiki loves and is fearful of him.
something i haven’t seen too many people discuss, and something i immediately picked up on as a gay man, was how well the manga uses horror to discuss the fear and anxiety of “coming out” and dealing with gay feelings. so much of Hikaru’s internal struggle is such a wonderful metaphor. and likewise so many of the moments between him and Yoshiki are serving as two things - the face value story but also this very delicate story about two boys from a rural village who realize they have feelings for one another. the whole story in fact is one giant metaphor for dealing with the anxiety losing who you thought you were - and coming to terms with concrete truths about sexuality and love.
idk i just feel like a lot of people are taking this story only at a literal level when there is SO much happening beneath the surface.
Potential minor spoilers? Idk if this is at a later volume but it doesn’t majorly spoil the plot.
I also remember the flashback scene by the river when they’re both talking about the neighbors’ son and Hikaru says “I heard he’s sick” and Yoshiki responds “He’s not sick, he’s gay”. In so few lines we were told the kind of environment they live in, and their potentially differing views on the matter. (Though Hikaru’s response was vague.)
Such a swift line that represents so much. It especially hit close to home for me.
(Warning for Spoilers!!!)
I was also a bit confused about that. People often seem to regard the gay romance as playing "not a huge role" and see it as a story that could just as well be told through straight characters when to me a lot of the subtext seems to be for example about yoshiki overcoming his internalized homophobia. (with him for example being disgusted of himself for accepting "hikaru" and his emotions) There is also the "mixing" with "hikaru". (I think the resemblance to sexual intimacy is not far-fetched) Yoshiki describes this as both "gross" and "good" and how he gets upset at "hikaru", but later feels like he has to apologize to him for that, and "hikaru" feels awful for basically betraying yoshikis trust.
Oh, and theres also the constant second-guessing of their relationship, with yoshiki seemingly unsure of how he feels and "hikaru"' questioning himselfe if his "like" is the same as the one of the girl who asked him out...
Altogether I think it is a manga that definitely be enjoyed without reading all of that into it, for me the manifestation of all the negative aspects of a gay relationship in an unaccepting enviroment (or even in more accepting ones) and recognizing some of my own thoughts and feelings made this experience more impactful for me, although I think most straight readers might not relate to all of that in the same way. So in a way I think this could be interpreted as a coming of age story that uses horror to add impact to negative emotions connected to it.
(sry the comment is so long)
It bothers me that there are people who avoid this manga because they consider it just boys love and those superficial, unrealistic elements in straight women's stories about boys love.
I love the story bc of how Yoshiki would fall in love with whatever the creature is, not Hikaru himself. I love that their relationship isn’t based on deception or lies and that he is aware that he’s an imposter, just not the extent of what he is or what is happening in the town.
*SPOILER FOR CHAPTER 15*
Also I wanna add despite this being a horror story, I think Hikaru will grow as a character in learning to value human life despite him saying he enjoys being a human. He enjoys the selfish aspect of having Yoshiki’s attention and companionship, saying he doesn’t care if he kills Asako for knowing he’s an imposter. He’s very naive and I hope to see him grow to understand what being human is.
U worded it so well
Thats scary af, time to read
I think the panel in the beginning of the manga you showed where "hikaru's" imitation wears off and his face begins to dissolve into being is one of, if not my favourite manga panel ever
It's so sick, I legitimately felt like I could *hear* the panel
In fact, this is not a yaoi manga. It can be considered BL ( Lightly ), but the story does not focus on the love of boys or any element found in Yaoi. That's why most readers of this manga are male
You're correct, but Yaoi sounds better for SEO 😂
i've seen more female fans of this series and was hoping to see more male fans, so its nice to know theres dudes enjoying this with us
@misterdefan Indeed! even lesbians love this manga. XD! because if they want to follow BL's story, they turn to horror
Maaaannn I really wanna see a full breakdown of the series from you and see what you have to say and your thoughts on it. In the mean time, I'm going to go read this and see what I think. If you end up doing a full series review, it would be cool to compare my thoughts to yours which I will be posting in the comments!
Really good contextual sit rep and pitch! You have an eye for narrative. Just ordered a copy, subbed, and now I’m off to crush your library. Great content!
I recently started reading this series and I cannot wait for the new chapters! I hope that many more people discover this story as well, so thank you for making this video!💖
Kind of like what you said, it does have Higurashi vibes. I decided to buy the Higurashi DVDs this year since I could never see the anime in its entirety legally ever since I heard about it in Middle School (Ive graduated college 2 years ago 😆) . My God I love Higurashi - it reminds me of Silent Hill but in Japan/ on crack. Which the guy who wrote Higurashi is also writing for Silent Hill F (which pushed me to want to finally see Higurashi). Can't wait for that and more Hikaru chapters
I really love your story telling! I've also watched your anti hero one, I'll be reading this! ☺️💖
Its such a good love story but also feel conflicted about it too
I’m getting skinwalker and Carpenter’s “It” vibes.
I like how the sexuality is very secondary, as the creature doesn’t possess that concept.
It’s BL in a very vague sense. That’s far more interesting, actually.
I love horror mangas/manhwas!
Thank you I’m going to give this a read❤
Thinking as if it now if you really take a step back and think that I feel so bad for a yoshiki, not only has he lost his only real good friend that he shares a very close bond with some fucking Eldredge whore is walking around in his skin, and on top of that he can’t tell anybody,
I mean, I don’t know what updates for the new chapters but as far as a Red think about it, he can’t tell anybody I sure exactly what happened and what he is because no one would believe him , and even if they did, he still have to deal with the effects of “ losing his best friend again” and the issue of the town and everything else. This poor kid will be destroyed more than he already is.
Doesn’t help that “hikaru” doesn’t know what it’s like to be human doesn’t know how to act doesn’t know how to do. This is not to do that and causes yoshiki severe amount of trauma and stress, and he probably constantly think so no he’s going to eat me and kill me.
but the story is, so intriguing
I wonder if the story is going to end in a few different ways I hope it’s not a copout ending. I hope the ending is where he learns to grow and move forward and not need the situation anymore for “Hikaru”- as in feeling like he needs to grow up and do different things in life make change and move forward with grief and other issues which would be the simplest thing to do, but I’m wondering if it’ll pull a catch 22 it’ll be something really weird.
interesting, i don't remember then name of the movie, but it was about a couple who had gone hiking and thru the jigs and reels the girl tries to kill her boyfriend because she realized at some point during the hike he had been replaced with some alien tentacle thing that still had all of his memories and love for her. it's fairly new so i wonder if the writer had read some of this manga...
been a fan of the manga for months now, this is an awesome vid!! this might just make me go reread the whole thing again haha
peak manga
Is there an Irish retailer you buy your manga from? Pretty new to buying manga but this has captured my imagination and i avoid Amazon as much as possible. Thanks for the video!
Your local book shop can usually order in anything you're looking for, though if there's difficulty with that there's always options like the Shonen Jump app 😁
I’ve seen some clips here and there of edits on Tik Tok and was instantly intrigued. I waited to start reading it for the first physical volume to deliver to me. I read it and I can’t wait for more…after that I had to go online and get up to date lol I am also obsessed. I smoke late at night and have never felt bothered by the dark but after reading…I was so unsettled that I had to sit against my porch wall looking out. I was too scared to have my back to that dark.
I love lucky star ⭐
Read Pupa......