I am a 28-year-old man who was born in 1997. Since that day, I have been a fan of anime and manga. I've seen it all from Dragon Ball to Cowboy Bebop. Sailor Moon to Mob Psycho. At one point in my joy for Japanese comics and cartoons, I hit a wall. A wall that I'd have presumed I'd never get over. You may have a similar experience. I'm talking about outgrowing the medium that you loved. I was over the brandish shounen fights and school girl transformations that I once loved. I craved something more, something deeper that I was getting from Novels but not my precious comics. That was until I decided to give Aku no Hana a chance. This manga opened the door to more manga that would stimulate the ache in my brain, which I so desperately needed.
Shuzo Oshimi saved me. The beloved creator opened my mind and reignited my passion for manga. A man who isn't afraid to push boundaries and dive deep into the psyche of the average human. Because I had outgrown the themes that made me into the man I am today, I was searching for more. Manga that would push my spirit into the next phase of my life. Oshimi's body of work prompts you to consider not only your role in society, but also how others interact within it. On the surface, we all want love, community, and riches, but do we truly desire them? What does it mean to be a recluse to the world but find solace in that one person, only to then lose them? These short feelings of passion that flutter so elegantly yet so unattainable. Oshimi's literature is what I was missing, and I think you should try it as well.
Aku no Hana/Flowers of Evil
What is it like being a nobody? A story of middle schoolers trying to make sense of the life that was molded around them. A young boy without companionship who loves literature meets a sadistic, borderline personality disorder girl who no one likes. The camaraderie between the two is characterized by fascination and love. Opening yourself up to someone, giving them a piece of who you are. The possibility of rejection or scrutiny one may face. Questions I was presented with throughout my journey of this story. The absolute pain I faced at the realization of the society these kids and even we readers, encounter. A read I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Chi no Wadachi - Blood on the Tracks
Are you living for yourself or someone else? The story of a boy who can't express himself and his mother, who suffocates him. The dynamic of mother and child switches constantly. You never know who is the villain or the victim. Or maybe they both are. Maybe they both have been wronged in a generational curse that only this family shares. I was left speechless with each chapter. Never knowing what could happen next, despite all of my speculation. My perspective changed on how mothers are expected to live for their child first before themselves. The wants of a child are failing in comparison to the joy of the mother. A read that still makes me ponder what it truly means to live for myself or for the sake of another.
Happiness
Have you truly experienced life? How would you react to the life-altering scenario of choosing death with humanity or life with death? A teenager living an uneventful life has his world turned upside down by a woman with nothing to lose. His only friend is going to the ends of the earth and her sanity to save him. How far will you go for someone that you love? A friend, lover, or coworker? A story that twists your arms and pulls your ribcage.
You need to encounter Shuzo Oshimi. Shuzo has a vast mind, an endless ocean of thought-provoking literature. With themes of mental illness, behavioral disorders, love, loss, and happiness, one is never bored with his pen. These series changed my perspective for the better and worse. Every night, I find myself speculating on how I would react in these moments. His body of work injected philosophy into my brain that I needed. I'm glad I encountered Shuzo Oshimi. I'm glad I enjoyed his work of art. And I hope you do as well.
Garser Dismuke is a Massage Therapist and Writer for Blerdsonline.com as well as Garserspoetry.com
He releases his vast knowledge of Anime, Wrestling, K-pop, and Poetry sparingly!
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