Customer Reviews

Gyo, Volume 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very good read, even if you're not a horror manga fan. And if you are, then that makes it even better.

If I had to choose any one word to describe this manga by Junji Ito, it'd be "freaky". Not "bizarre", like Uzumaki was. Not "weird", like Flesh Colored Horror was. And not "creepy", like Tomie was. "Freaky". Yes, Gyo is freaky.

Ito manages to show that even fish can be terribly daunting in different situations. Admittedly, the idea of walking fish might raise an eyebrow or two at first -- but as his past work shows, Junji Ito is very capable of making anything and everything frightening... whether they be fish, spirals, or beautiful girls. Here, the fish is drawn with every detail, from its scales to its many fangs. Personally, I find their eyes the most frightening feature of them all -- especially how they remain blank and emotionless as they unleash chaos upon inhabitants of the land. Brrr.

Unlike "Uzumaki" or "Tomie", however, "Gyo" won't hit you with grotesque images every other page, nor does it offer you gallons upon gallons of blood in every chapter. No, "Gyo" prefers to put the focus on the terrifying situations themselves, rather than just the outcomes (those with claustrophobia might feel a bit queasy at the last couple of pages). And while there's virtually no blood at all, there are enough images that will give you a more lasting impression more than a few splatters of blood ever would.

So! If you have a fear of the sea and its many unknown creatures, you might want to sit this one out. Otherwise, sit back, grab a soda, and prepare to hate fish.

The previous reviewer nailed the content of this book fairly well. Not on the same level as Junji's earlier masterpiece Uzumaki, but this is a different kind of book in any case. Gyo volume 1 is to some degree an homage to old-school Japanese monster/disaster cinema, but the story looks likely to veer off in other directions in later volumes. Recommended.

Gyo, a story about a mysterious virus that turns people literally into gas bags (ewww), is a very fast paced mystery. It isn't, however, Ito's best (Uzumaki & Tomie hold that position IMHO). Still, even when it isn't his absolute best, it's still incredibly great!

The drawing styles in this volume are incredibly detailed (even when you sometimes don't want them to be) & the storytelling is always smoothly paced. You rarely find yourself bored or lacking something to look at. My only complaint is that it ended too soon. I really would have liked to read more, but then I could say that about most of his works! :)

Surely the greatest manga featuring horrible giant walking fish-parasites, powered by decomposing cadaver-gas .. ever written! .. This stands with Uzimaki as one of the weirdest apocalyptic visions ever put down on paper. It's authentically creepy and disgusting and fun. Junji Ito is the HP Lovecraft of Manga, and perhaps the greatest master of his niche so far. Thumbs Up.

Tadashi and Kaori are on vacation in Okinawa, staying at Tadashi's uncle's place near the water and using his boat to go scuba diving. Things begin to go wrong when Tadashi encounters a strange shape amongst the sharks he barely escapes from, and Kaori becomes ill from the stench of fish.

Or rather, rotting fish, that are walking up onto land on strange, jointed legs. Neither Kaori or Tadashi have ever seen anything like it, but when Tadashi tries to report the odd fishies, the police don't believe him. Soon they must believe, because its not just the little guys scampering around, sharks are coming up from the deep and attacking.

Tadashi and Kaori flee to Tadashi's uncle's laboratory. Doctor Koyanagi is a freaky-deaky recluse, and offers to dissect one of the fish to discover its secrets of ambulation. In the course of his investigations, Dr. Koyanagi loses his arm to the dead fish.

Meanwhile, Kaori becomes sicker and sicker, eventually bloating up to hideous proportions and sporting nasty pustules. And she's gassy. If you think belching and farting are funny, you're going to love this virus. There's something in the air, and Tadashi and his uncle must discover what it is before Kaori gets any sicker.

'Gyo' is certainly not as good as Ito's 'Uzumaki' series, but it is entertaining and interestingly illustrated. Nicely squishy and repulsive, 'Gyo' is a worthwhile addition to your graphic novel collection. Enjoy!

EDIT: Since reviews posted for 'Gyo' volume 1 also post for 'Gyo 2', I will say that 'Gyo 2' is also a four star book that delves deeper into the mysterious exodus from the sea of the walking dead fish. Kaori is missing, and Tadashi finds her gassy and bloated in the Death Stench Circus. He still tries to save her though his uncle Dr. Koyanagi becomes indisposed from the rapidly spreading virus. Will Tadashi be able to save Kaori?

Also included with 'Gyo 2' are two excellent short stories at the end. 'The Principal Post', very short and sweet, and 'The Enigma Of Amigara Fault', a fantastically twisted tale of mad compulsion and warped flesh. Excellent short!

So if you pick up 'Gyo', make sure to grab 'Gyo 2' along with it. I figure Amazon shows the same reviews for both books because it is pretty much one continuous story. Enjoy!

Gyo is creepy. It starts with a silly idea, but then becomes one of Ito's creepiest mangas ever. The artwork is good, different than the traditional "manga style" and may take some readers getting used to. The characters are appealing, very believeable. In all actuality, if you like manga, you need to read this book. I highly reccomend it.

In this first volume of a new horror series, we are introduced to a cast of character and the horror premise. In this case we have a young man and woman as well as a scientist/inventor.

The story begins as the young man and woman are on a trip and she notices a terrible smell. The smell seems to move and finally the source is found; a fish on legs. The crab-like legs seem to keep moving even after the fish is dead.

Soon the real horror begins as more wish on legs appear. Each brings a horrible stink with them. Fish big and small pour onto land and wreak havoc.

But even that is not all. We discover what the source of the fish legs might be and what might be lurking within the stink.

The book progresses very rapidly leaving me to believe that this must be a short work, say a trilogy like the author's Uzumaki trilogy, and not a longer piece like Parsyte. It seems like a very good opening to the story, but I will have to see where the author takes it to see if the series itself works well.

I was dissapointed- after the trippy epic nightmare of UZIMAKI I was expecting brilliance from Ito's latest- but (I've only read volume 1) this one is basically a standard monster movie plot, somewhere between Godzilla and Hitchcocks "The Birds" or Night of the Living Dead. Great art and storytelling of course, but I hope this is just filler before his next real horror masterpiece. I may still read the 2nd volume though, it sounds like it's more of an anthology.
I BOUGHT the 2nd Volume!
Hi- I posted about the first GYO being a dissapointing successor to the brilliant nightmare, UZIMAKI.

I should have trusted the brilliant Junji Ito,for in this second installment the story becomes more supernatural, phantasmagoric,enigmatic and surreal- It is truly Lovecraftian, with a romantic center- Astonishing!
Also, the two back-up stories are outstanding, enigmatic, beautiful, horrifying.

I can't wait to see what Ito-san comes up with next. If you love horror comics, you must own Gyo 1 and 2, Uzimaki 1-3, and Flesh Colored Horror. Great art, great storys- The new master.