Kiseijuu

An amazing work of art!

Initially, the grotesque narrative almost deterred me, but since a close friend recommended it, I persevered through the first few chapters.

The story unfolds rapidly, and before you know it, you're deeply engrossed. It's remarkable how repulsive yet captivating the entire experience is. By the end, you discover beauty amidst the horror.

Parasyte – Spoiler-Free – Mixed Feelings

TLDR
Story: 5 - 27.5% of the final grade – 5 x 0.275 = 1.375
Art: 8 - 20% of the final grade – 8 x 0.2 = 1.6
Characters: 5 - 22.5% of the final score – 5 x 0.225 = 1.125
Enjoyment: 6 - 30% of the final grade – 6 x 0.3 = 1.8
Total = 5.9 -> 6

Story - 5/10
The story lacks ambition, epic scope, or memorability. It revolves around an ordinary protagonist and his parasite (the sole redeeming character). The ending is weak, consistent with the overall mediocrity, offering no surprises. Attempts to conclude meaningfully result in a lackluster finale with trite life lessons.

Art – 8/10
The art quality stands out as Parasyte’s strong suit. Whether in color—reminiscent of Pedro Almodovar's films—or black and white—with excellent shading—the visuals are consistently high-quality. They make the narrative clear and enhance readability throughout.

Characters - 5/10
The characters are average and forgettable. Few interact significantly with Izumi (the main character) and Migi (his parasite), none leaving a lasting impression. Their impact on manga history is minimal due to the story’s banality.

Enjoyment - 6/10
The manga isn’t terrible but also isn’t exceptional. Action scenes are decent though infrequent; dialogues are mundane. Only Migi’s relationship with Izumi holds interest. Overall, it's a middle-of-the-road manga elevated slightly by its art quality, turning a 5 into a 6.

Total = 5.9 -> 6

Parasyte is the tale of a teenager in a world where some individuals have been overtaken by an alien species. Shinichi was also attacked, but the alien failed to take control of his brain, resulting in his right arm being a parasite instead.

This setup offers a fascinating backdrop for exploring profound themes like the essence of life or the wickedness within humanity. While these ideas are touched upon, Parasyte primarily focuses on a teenager navigating life in a reality where predators pose a genuine threat to humans. The series blends horror and action with slice-of-life moments and humor. It's only towards the end that the narrative shifts into a more serious direction.

I greatly enjoyed reading this manga, especially after having watched the anime adaptation years ago (which did a commendable job). My favorite part of Parasyte is witnessing the growth and mutual learning between Shinichi and Migi, as they gradually form a unique friendship.

So if you're intrigued by either the anime or word-of-mouth recommendations, here's a review for you. The manga of Parasyte was published from the late 80s to the mid-90s. These parasites in the story are aliens that invade humans, consuming and killing them as per usual in similar narratives. Our protagonist, Shinichi, is one such target who survives the attack—a classic hero move. As you delve into the manga, you'll witness how Shinichi's life transforms under the influence of these parasites. His personality evolves, and his relationships with family and friends shift, sometimes dramatically. I highly recommend this read. It strikes a perfect balance—not too long, not too short—and the pacing keeps the story moving without dragging. For those who have watched the anime, you'll notice both similarities and differences. The manga portrays an older setting where Migi reads textbooks or encyclopedias instead of using computers; fashion differs, and there are additional or altered scenes. The plot and characters remain consistent between the two mediums. Some scenes in the anime are modified. For instance, in a conversation between Shinichi and Satomi, Migi unexpectedly morphs into a penis out of nowhere—an alteration unique to the animated version. If you enjoy sci-fi, alien invasions, horror, Prototype, or simply a well-crafted narrative with deep character development, give this manga a shot!

Parasyte is one of the finest manga series I have ever encountered. The concept is ingenious, the character and plot development are exceptional, and overall it's a flawless series. There isn't a single flaw in this masterpiece. It’s simply phenomenal. My praise for it can never be overstated.

The narrative revolves around an unusual alien species that mysteriously arrives on Earth. These beings resemble tiny snakes but are far more complex. They are known as Parasytes. Their primary objective is to infiltrate and take control of a human's brain to ensure their survival. Parasytes feed off the host species they occupy, and their heads can morph into tentacles, blades, and virtually anything else. They are an incredibly powerful and repulsive species, posing a significant threat to humanity.

A Parasyte attempted to seize control of the protagonist Shin's brain. However, he was wearing headphones while asleep, which hindered the Parasyte's entry. Instead, the Parasyte stabbed into Shin's arm, prompting him to wrap a cord around his arm to prevent further penetration into his bloodstream. As the Parasyte matures within his arm, they form an unlikely alliance; a human and a Parasyte, united in their fight for survival.

The manga swiftly evolves from a straightforward action series into a psychological thriller. It raises numerous profound questions. Are Parasytes truly evil? After all, they are merely striving to survive. Like us, they consume food to live, though their sustenance happens to be humans. But are they genuinely malevolent?

Are humans perhaps worse than Parasytes? While Parasytes kill for sustenance, humans kill for personal gain. Humans are the true abominations. To the Earth, humans are akin to Parasytes—taking without giving back. In this sense, Parasytes could be seen as the cure.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this incredible series. It’s concise, compelling, and utterly amazing.

Parasytes are an alien species that take over the human body by replacing the head. Our protagonist, Izumi, was almost taken over by a parasyte, but thanks to some quick thinking, he managed to trap the alien in his arm. The parasyte then consumes his arm and takes its place. The two must learn to coexist while also dealing with other parasytes that have landed on Earth.

What initially drew me to Parasyte were the grotesque images of people’s bodies mutating, growing tentacles, teeth, and occasionally bizarre appendages. I’m usually quite squeamish, so it's strange that these visuals fascinated me. There’s something intriguing about how alien the mutations look. Once you get past the initial shock, it’s not even that scary anymore. The mutations become so alien and cartoonish that they turn into a subject of scholarly interest. The only times I felt genuinely disturbed were during the more gruesome deaths of actual humans, rather than the parasytes. This cartoonish aspect could have undermined the horror, but Parasyte is cleverer than that. It has a dark sense of humor, willing to laugh at itself, especially with those aforementioned bizarre appendages. Plus, the comedic segments don’t detract from the moments meant to shock you. It’s a delicate balancing act, but Parasyte pulls it off remarkably well.

Parasyte isn't just an alien horror story; it explores deeper themes about humanity and what defines being human. Migi, the parasyte living inside the main character, is reminiscent of Kyubey in his way of thinking. He lacks empathy but has endless curiosity driven mostly by self-preservation. Through conversations with Izumi, they explore both sides of each character and broader concepts of humanity and selflessness. Their dialogue forces both characters to develop. Migi’s development is subtler than Izumi’s, reflecting the gradual change in all parasytes as they evolve and adapt to society. Their transformation becomes a way to examine what makes humans tick.

Izumi starts off as a somewhat generic protagonist but quickly evolves into a more complex character struggling to find his humanity. Early in the manga, he absorbs part of Migi into his bloodstream, which starts to change him subtly. He becomes emotionally detached, unable to cry at friends' and family's deaths, and some of his actions reflect Migi’s apathy. You get the sense that when he shows kindness and emotion, he's trying to force himself to act human to reclaim his identity. This mirrors how advanced parasytes try mimicking human behavior to fit into society better, like smiling, having children, and laughing. This causes them to start experiencing more human emotions. Although this might sound heavy, discussing the nature of humanity, it’s handled with a sense of humor. In key moments, particularly around the parasytes’ increasing selflessness and Izumi’s struggle with his humanity, the scenes are so well-executed they can bring you to tears.

To emphasize: I cried reading Parasyte. Yes, the manga with bizarre appendages made me cry. How often do I cry at entertainment? Never! Yet somehow, Parasyte did it. Proper tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed with emotion that I had to stop reading and walk around for a bit. The only other time I cried at media was Grave of the Fireflies, which is expected since that film's purpose is to evoke such strong emotions. Over time, I’ve grown less fond of Grave of the Fireflies because its method of drawing emotion is through relentless tragedy, which feels cheap. Meanwhile, Parasyte achieved it through positivity. Its climactic scene fulfilled eight volumes of thematic buildup and reaffirmed the main character’s humanity so beautifully that it broke me down.

Sorry, am I getting too serious?

I picked up Parasyte hoping it would draw a reaction from me, but I ended up loving it immensely. It keeps the story tight and focused on a small cast of characters. The pacing is excellent, leading to a conclusive ending without dragging on. It balances depth with humor, and the body horror is shocking without hindering enjoyment. It’s a fantastic manga and highly recommended.

I will write my review as an explanation to my rating.

Story: The plot, though it seems straightforward at first, becomes increasingly complex as you delve into this manga. It intertwines the narratives of parasytes and humans in a thrilling action-packed story. Despite not being the most original concept, it contains elements that keep readers hooked from start to finish.

Art: The artwork in this manga deviates from the typical anime style seen in series like Magical x Miracle or Mai Hime. Instead, it features more human-like and realistic drawings. Sometimes rough, sometimes almost sketched, and occasionally highly detailed (especially in gory scenes), this unique style enhances the sci-fi atmosphere while grounding the story in reality.

Character: The main character's development is well-executed; throughout the narrative, we witness his transformation and learn about his family, relationships, and thoughts. However, there's a noticeable lack of focus on his friends, who are present but not deeply explored. This could be intentional, reflecting the protagonist's desire for solitude. Additionally, some secondary characters, such as rivals and romantic interests, feel underdeveloped, leaving their backstories incomplete.

Enjoyment: Although stories about alien invasions are not new, this one draws you in with its emotional depth and variety of feelings. The genre spans gory horror, mundane school life, romantic encounters, and thrilling action. Once you start reading, you won't want to stop.

Overall: While this manga may not be as famous as those adapted into anime, it is definitely worth reading, especially for fans of intense and suspenseful situations. Sci-fi enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy moments from movies like Spider-man or X-men where characters discover their powers, will find this manga intriguing.

Masterpiece

Everything about this manga is fantastic, and the more you read, the better it gets.

I can't recall the writer's name, but he is a remarkably talented genius for crafting this and "Hestorie."

The best aspect of this work is the character development from start to finish; it never ceases to be engaging. The main character is very likable, much like the protagonist from "Hestorie."

This manga serves as a reflection on humanity itself, embodied in the form of an "outsider." You can't call these things evil, but you can't love them either. You don't get it? Oh well, you'll understand once you start reading it.

Almost but not exactly the same

I’ve recently watched and read Kiseijuu/Parasyte, a very interesting case of a work that was very faithfully adapted and yet with a very relevant difference that isn’t brought up as much as it should, so I thought about writing about both versions.

Interesting premise

The premise is about monsters taking over humans from within and mimicking them to feast on them, hence the name. Since the origin of the parasites is not clear, it can be seen as a combination of Devilman, the first one in its kind in the manga and anime mediums, with The Thing and the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. What you get is a premise that’s interesting but not very original, even more so for the anime, which came out during the post Walking Dead and Shingeki no Kyojin fad.

Strong plot and themes

What sets this work apart from similar ones is the layers it adds to its premise, making it a far more complex and layered plot than you would expect from it, since it doesn’t stop at just humanity being devoured by monsters until they can fight against them, it also tackles into some sociological and even kind of philosophical questions regarding humans, the way we function as a society, and even our place on the Earth and even the whole universe, and if you’ve read some of my reviews before, you know by now how much of a sucker I am of such themes.

The theme exploration comes mainly from three character arcs, one from Shinichi, the protagonist, who managed to not get completely possessed by the parasite that attacked him, and just like Akira Fudo, he goes from a kind, quiet and nerdy guy to a cold and strong badass, with the difference being that the change is more gradual, believable and explored here, as there is a good focus on how his close ones perceive him, mainly his mother and love interest, as he becomes both inexplicably stronger and colder, resulting on some of the best scenes in this work, and he slowly regains his emotional side as a human being later on after all the tragedy that continuously take place around him.

Then you have Migi, said parasite, who although as colder and calculating as others of its kind at first, everything he learns, his interactions with Shinichi and his fights for survival against other parasites, and even consuming the same food as his host and eventually friend, end up making it completely different from them, as it becomes more sensitive, and also by developing both strengths and weaknesses in its abilities that most other monsters present throughout the show don’t have.

The third one comes from the best antagonist in the whole series, Ryouko Tamiya, also known as Reiko Tamura, who from the very beginning is far more concerned than the rest of her kind to learn more about her species both on a physiological and even existential level, as she is the only one that really wants to learn where they came from and what would be their role on the Earth, she is also the one that tries to learn about humans, understand them, communicate with them, even live through some of the same experiences as them, and she ends up even developing emotions along the way, even gaining the enmity of other parasites in the process.

Besides these three, it’s interesting to see the different perspectives among the parasites, as Migi wants to survive, Ryouko/Reiko yearns for learning, others try to blend in, and some others are just there to feast on humans, some for the sake of survival, and others like hungry beasts. This is one of the main elements within the plot and questions throughout the story, the role of humans on Earth, who called the parasites monsters for eating them, even though we, as a species, do the same with other animals on our planet. Just think about it, most of us eat other animals just to survive and stuff, yet most of us want them to have a delicious taste in the process, so eating them ends up losing its purpose of survival which we so much use as an argument when questioned about it by vegans. So, weirdly, the theme suits the anime better than the manga for the time it came out, when these sort of discussions and questions were becoming more prominent and relevant. Oh, and there also parasites that hunt humans just to test their strength to both themselves and others, just like some dickheads in our species hunt animals for the same reasons and for the sake of sport and entertainment.

The sociological aspect is present in the different ways the two species interact with their kind, as Shinichi is mortified by all the human deaths and want to warn others, but can’t because if he does Migi will dispose of anyone who knows about it to ensure its survival, and different authorities work together to find ways to identify and eventually fight against the parasites, and even the protagonist himself is reminded several times by several people what it means to be human, and how to face problems instead of running from them in order to keep on living, while also helping or receiving the help or advise of others in the process.

At some point, Ryouko/Reiko hires a detective to spy on Shinichi to both learn more about him and keep him on check, and yet that man, as well as another human/parasite hybrid end up cooperating with the protagonist instead, because, humans are capable of mutual understanding.

On the other hand, the parasites only stick together for the sake of survival, as soon as they can either eat, or kill, or take over another one, most of them will, that’s the reason why plenty of them turn on Ryouko/Reiko, because her actions are deemed as dangerous since everyone can be exposed to the rest of the world with the most minor mistake.

But it’s not like the manga and anime says that everyone in a species is the same, just like there are a few exceptions within the parasites, there are people who are not qualified as humans within this franchise, present in the form of a serial killer who is presented as a far worse monster than any non-human creature that appears in the story. Whether or not this is a correct take and idea from the author is an interesting discussion, but not one to have here on this review. The way this character is written doesn’t leave much room to talk about mental health and stuff anyways, his whole characterization is being a sadistic psycho for the sake of it without any character exploration whatsoever, he is just an over the top villain written on the early 90s after all.

Good pacing

The pacing is very good on both versions, as no fight or element or mini arc overstays its welcome and each one lasts just the right amount of length it needs to. If I had to choose between one of them, I’d say the manga is slightly better, as one can read at their own pace, but I also have to say that the anime knows how to end its episodes better than the lame attempts of the original version at finishing every chapter with a cliffhanger, even the ones that don’t have as much content as others.

Weak writing

Despite all the good things I wrote so far about it, Parasyte is sadly a series that works better for its themes and scope than level of writing, as there are plenty of illogical or poorly explained things, if even, in it, that end up playing against it and lowering the overall quality of the whole thing, such as:

Unnecessary and silly romantic elements

They even play out in the form of a telenovela, thanks mainly to the character of Kana, who for some reason is nowhere near as hated as much as Murano, the main love interest of the manga and anime, and I don’t understand why. Yes, it’s true, lots of lines from Murano are asking Shinichi if he is really him over and over again, to the point of becoming repetitive and even kind of annoying, but nowhere near as much as the main love interests of Naruto or Bleach, mind you. But even at her worst, that girl isn’t nowhere near as bad of a character as Kana, who appears as a sadistic girl that enjoys seeing others being beaten up, for no reason in the anime, and just because she likes strong men in the manga.

If that wasn’t enough, her reasons for falling in love with Shinichi are completely selfish and superficial, her dreams of her being rescued by him like he was her white knight are cringy as shit, and even worse in the anime thanks to the slower pacing of the scenes, voice acting and music. She also acts as a bitch whenever she is near Murano, and if all of that wasn’t enough, she ends up having a tragic end purely because she was dumb as shit and ignored every warning that was given to her. I’ve seen plenty of female characters being crapped on for years for far less and yet not this girl, why? It doesn’t count if the manga is retro or what? What did this girl add to the story? She, or rather, what happens to her, reminds Shinichi what it means to be human alright, but so did plenty of other characters, mainly other women, such as Murano or Shinichi’s mother, and they did a far better job at it.

At the end of the day I can’t help but feel like the preference of Kana over Murano comes from her adoring the protagonist, while the latter was constantly questioning and breaking up with him as they become more distant, which makes perfect sense given her lack of knowledge about the whole situation.

Harem bits

Nowhere near as bad as series within that genre of course, but you can tell the original work was written in the late 80s and early 90s when several girls end up liking or falling in love with Shinichi either only because of his manliness of just because he is the protagonist, something that not only is unnecessary, but also far more outdated in the anime for the time it came out.

Silly comical moments

Despite the serious pretense of the themes and plot, there are some silly moments that are meant to be funny that clash with the tone that such a story should have, and it’s even worse for those that aren’t even supposed to come off as funny, yet they do either because of the weak writing and or presentation, or because of another weak element, which is:

Weak and stupid secondary characters

Besides the main three and to a lesser extent Shinichi’s mom, nobody else is nearly as well written, and this isn’t just about Murano or Kana, or even other characters like the parasites, a lot of scenes comes off as unintentionally funny because of the stupidity of the common people from the manga and anime, such as chasing after a woman running with her head open or following a guy that single handedly killed a whole group of yakuza, crushing their heads, when the deal with the monsters was already known throughout the whole country or even world.

Unexplained things

For all the questioning that both Shinichi and Ryouko/Reiko did to themselves about the origin of the parasites, it is never answered, they have a thematic reason to be in the story that’s explored throughout the whole plot alright, but if the author didn’t intend to provide an answer for their origin, then why even bring it out in the first place? Hideaki Anno gets crapped on for not explaining where the Angels came from in Evangelion, when the series never even cared about that, but for some reason is not a problem here, it seems, even though it’s the main mystery of the whole story.

Also, that Kana girl has an ability similar to that of the parasites of detecting others with the same mental waves or something like that, and it’s never explained why or how she got them in the first place. As far as I’m concerned, the author only gave them to her for the sake of writing one of the worst love triangles of all time, with one of the most avoidable and pathetic tragic ends ever, with dozens of cringe overload included, both during, and after the event.

The serial killer also has a similar ability, but just like Kana, it is never explained why and how he has such ability, and the attempt of an explanation, which comes from him, as the result of all his sadistic killings, is so bad, it would be better if there never was one instead.

Plot armor

Despite all the deaths in the story, it somehow messes up by saving or resurrecting the protagonists more times than it would be acceptable. I can take the first time thanks to the excuse given and the consequences, shortcomings in capabilities, and character development for the two mains that come from it, but near the end of the series one of them comes back from the death or disappearing not one but two times at the most convenient moments.

Weak and rushed ending

Speaking of which, during the last arc, Shinichi fights against a much stronger enemy that he has no hope of beating, and yet he does in the most convenient, lucky and ass-pulled way possible, that thankfully was properly criticized when the anime aired, something that does not happen frequently with hyped series, especially at the moment they are airing because of recency bias.

What’s never brought up, however, is how unnecessary the follow up is, it’s supposed to be a relaxed epilogue especially for the protagonist after all the tragedy and angst he went through throughout the story, but here we are with an out of nowhere weak attempt of scientific and existential monologue from Migi (more so in the anime), a minor villain reappearing even after his role was over, everything in the last episode and chapter happening only because of the stupidity of Shinichi, and like I said, plot armor for the sake of a happy ending. Oh, and don’t forget how the humans and parasites end up learning to coexist despite nothing in the series leading to that.

Similar levels in visuals

In terms of production, both versions are very close to each other, the manga has an inconsistent artwork that’s at times very good and detailed, and others very simple and lacking, with generic character designs for its time, and with simply drawn backgrounds with not much variety. The special effects, however, are very good. The anime could’ve been much better in in this aspect, since the artwork doesn’t have the same drops in quality and is far more consistent, the backgrounds are better, the special effects are overall better, and the character designs got updated for the time it came out, Unfortunately the motions aren’t very good at any moment, and it’s also far worse during the action scenes, where characters stand still all the time, with just some speed lines representing the tentacles of the parasites moving at superhuman speeds. Not only that, but the bad CGI brings everything down. Good artwork? Yes, except for the CGI crowds. Decent character designs? Only if you don’t see those CGI crowds. Well done backgrounds? For the places, sure, but not with those CGI crowds. Not very good motions? It’s worse for those CGI crowds. Good special effects? Only until you see those CGI crowds, see what I mean? It’s funny because a lot worse came out since then, but still, it was quite an issue back then.

Horrible atmosphere

This is an issue that’s present only in the anime thanks to its audio department, the voice acting is fine, acceptable, but everything else is not. The opening was quite hyped back then and I never understood why, the lyrics are good, they reflect the themes of the series quite well, something rare for anime in general, I have to say, but the music it’s a combination of dubstep and screamo that made me want to rip off my ears, thankfully those times are over. I would say something about the ending if I even remembered it, but I do not. The background music has some good tracks in it, mostly the ones that attempt to be horror, but most of it is more unlistenable dubstep that doesn’t fit the series nor the limited animation. And finally there are the sound effects, which are good for the metallic clashes and stuff, but laughably low budget and effort for everything else.

Differences among both versions

To start with what the anime did better, there are some irrelevant girls that are friends of Murano in the manga, that the anime replaced with some girls that have a bit of a short lived importance at some point, thus introducing them earlier than the arc they appear in.

Something similar happens with the serial killer, who although is shown quickly in a random and out of place scene, that is still slightly better than he appearing in the last arc and becoming so important just because out of nowhere.

It also made the parasites in the original form much smaller, which although not as horrifying as I guess the original was going for, it makes more sense for them to enter a human body that way.

It also removed the stupid scene of Migi turning into a penis, and it toned down some unnecessarily violent scenes and the sex scene present in the manga, which although not explicit, it was done better in the anime but removing some details and giving it a more romantic and sentimental tone, closer to what was happening at the time of the series in terms of theme exploration.

Now for what it did worse, outside of the CGI crowds and most of the sound, the cringy scenes are even more painful in it, if I remember correctly it never explains how the police, military and scientists found out about all those parasites, something that the manga does, and the worst thing in it was the superficial update it gave to the setting by giving the characters cellphones fitting for the year it came out, something that Banana Fish would also do later. Not taking in count that, if the story takes place in 2014 instead of 1989 or some year in the early 90s, the level of technology that both the characters and the whole world have, should have a drastic change in the way that a lot of events play out, the characters could and should be in contact more frequently and quickly, to even be able to avoid several misunderstandings and tragic scenes, and also, the parasites couldn’t be hidden in the way they do, and the whole population would never react the way they do with them around. It’s the only thing I’m willing to give to a series that I despise in absolutely everything it does such as Crybaby over any other recent remake or adaptation of an old manga, the way it made the whole world to know about the demons thanks to the Internet, updating the setting in a way that others didn’t bother with. By not paying attention to that, a lot of the credibility in Parasyte gets compromised.

Conclusion

In the end, like I already said, Kiseijuu is a very interesting and overall well made series that sadly works better in theme exploration, main characters and conflicts it presents throughout its story than the level of writing of its plot and characters as a whole, and it feels like the author wanted to write a mature seinen story, while something else, like the magazine and later on the committee that ordered its adaptation, wanted to throw some shounen antics in it to make it more appealing for a larger audience, lowering the overall quality of the whole thing. Besides that, it’s worth consuming in either its anime or manga versions at least once thanks to its themes and main characters, with the original being slightly better for taking place in a time when the ways its events play out are easier to buy, but nowhere near as great as the retro suckers and elitists want you to think it is, by deliberately choosing to ignore all of its issues that they criticize whenever they are present on modern shows they don’t like.

“Above Earth, someone was pondering...if half of humanity vanished, how many forests would be spared?
Above Earth, someone was contemplating...if 99% of humanity disappeared, would pollution drop by 99%?”

Story - 10
What can one say about the story? It's extraordinarily original. After finishing the first four chapters or so, I was astounded to a degree that might be indescribable. The volume of gore, action, and plot progression packed into such a short span was impressive. They portrayed it masterfully. On an utterly ordinary day, Shinji encountered a snake-like creature which, apparently, entered him. It slithered through his arm, heading towards his brain. Fortunately, he managed to halt the creature before it reached its 'destination'. Afterwards, his arm 'awakened' and introduced itself. This may sound like a childish tale, which it did to me initially. But this manga is anything but childish. The gore, murder, and blood will either horrify or fascinate you, depending on your nature.

Art - 7
The artwork is average. Considering it's a manga from the early 90s, this is expected. The parasites are drawn exceptionally well, with great detail. However, the humans could have used some improvement. That might just be my opinion since I've never been a fan of old manga or anime. When I read the first volume, I thought it was from the 70s or 80s. But checking MAL revealed "1990-1995". Although art isn't crucial; what matters is the substance. Unless you're obsessed with appearances. Regardless, the story compensates for any shortcomings in art.

Character - 8
The characters exhibit a wide range of personalities: cocky, arrogant, happy-go-lucky, comedic, and more. Even the so-called parasites develop these traits and become integral to character development. The story and its characters evolve rapidly, perhaps too quickly. You'll see Shinji brimming with confidence at times, and other times so scared you'd expect him to lose control completely.

Enjoyment - 10
Those who appreciate this manga will find themselves deeply immersed, craving more after each chapter. I enjoyed it so much I stayed up all night reading. Yes, no life whatsoever. Also, this manga bears similarities to Death Note. Strategy, luck, thinking—it's all there.

Overall - 10
I wish there were more of this. I'd definitely call this a "must-read" for all manga enthusiasts. Even if you aren't fond of gore or murder, as I wasn't. I despised gruesome manga/anime, but after reading this, my perspective changed. I still dislike pointless killing in several anime/manga, but "Parasyte" featured brilliantly twisted and engaging killings with numerous twists and turns.

STORY: Alright, the story as described earlier might seem cheesy and unoriginal to some. I get that. However, as the narrative unfolds, the plot thickens beautifully. It showcases how various individuals infected with parasites, the antagonists, attempt to navigate society, which is fascinating to witness. One character becomes pregnant, another tries not to kill, and so on.

Parasyte also vividly illustrates what it's like for someone to coexist with a symbiote inside their body. This concept is cool and intriguing if you're into that kind of thing. Even if you're not, it doesn't significantly slow down the fast-paced and easy-to-read storyline. A friend of mine started reading it around two in the morning, intending to stop after one chapter. He ended up staying awake until four to finish the entire book.

ART: The artwork is well-executed, though some might find it too sketchy and simplistic. Yet, one clever technique by the author/illustrator, Hitoshi Iwaaki, is making the eyes distinctive enough that you can tell who's controlled by a parasite just by looking at them.

The transformations are another highlight. When a parasite takes over a body, they can alter its shape and strength to suit their needs, resulting in heads unraveling to reveal blades or morphing into massive mouths. These transformations are visually striking and creepy.

The illustrator also builds tension effectively through panel techniques. For instance, in the second new graphic novel (the fourth old one), when Shin jumps over a ten-foot wall, the panels widen until there's a full-page spread of Shin leaping, followed by half-page panels showing his landing. Trust me; it gets your adrenaline pumping.

CHARACTER: Initially, Shin fits the typical teenage hero archetype seen in many shounen manga. But as you progress to the second new graphic novel (fourth old one), things change. The parasite in his hand splits, spreading 20% throughout his body. Consequently, Shin starts losing his humanity and must fight to regain it.

A love triangle develops towards the end of the second new graphic novel, which is pretty well done despite being a common trope in shounen manga.

ENJOYMENT: Wow. I just can't get enough of this series. Everything about it is nearly perfect. Sure, there are occasional translation errors that make you wince, but otherwise, it's fantastic. I read all the old graphic novels when I was twelve, and they blew my mind. Now, with Del Rey's re-release, there's no better time to buy them. They've combined two old graphic novels for a nice price of $13-14.

If you enjoy shounen or action-packed manga, check this out. You may not love it, but you won't be disappointed.

OVERALL: I want to give this series a ten, but I can't, or I wouldn't be honest. If I could, it would get a 9.5.

The only issues are occasional translation errors and some finding the art too simple. Nevertheless, the positives far outweigh the negatives. There's something here for everyone: those who prefer lots of action with less plot, fans of deep stories, people who enjoy gory scenes, and even a bit of sexual humor for those interested.

Even if you're not a big manga fan, don't worry. I've had people who didn't know what a comic book was read it, and they loved it. One bought it himself, while others eagerly await the next release.

Try it; you'll like it. (If you don't, please tell me why. I'd like to know.)

Kiseiju stands as my all-time favorite manga, but I mustn't let my personal preferences blur my objectivity. Kiseiju is fundamentally a tale about empathy. It delves into the inherent selfishness within every living creature striving for survival in a ruthless world governed by the law of the strongest, and how this coexists unexpectedly with the warmth of altruism—the seemingly irrational act of valuing another's life over our own. It explores the roles of justice and morality in nature.

Izumi Shinichi, a young man navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood, grapples with these philosophical quandaries while endeavoring to uncover his identity and aspirations in life. This poignant, endearing, and above all, beautifully intimate story of morality employs a creative, multi-layered supernatural element as a vehicle to discuss something profoundly real and human. It's far from flawless: some storylines weren't fleshed out sufficiently to justify their significance within the plot, and one crucial character, despite their importance and potential, serves merely as a plot device.

Nevertheless, Kiseiju is a gripping emotional drama that masterfully intertwines sentimentality with adrenaline, drama with thrill, fully realizing the beautiful potential of its original narrative concepts without ever straying from its core themes. Instead, it ensures that both elements of the story complement each other, enhancing the overall impact.