A review by jasmin_awoodun
No Longer Human by Junji Ito

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was the first manga I read by Junji Ito, my favourite mangaka of all time, and on the third reread it's as powerful as ever. No Longer Human delves into the darkest parts of the human psyche, charting the unfortunate life of Yozo Oba, a damaged and deeply flawed individual who digs himself into a hole so deep it seems impossible to get out. Junji Ito's art style compliments the narrative beautifully, with some truly nightmare-inducing imagery. The manga also touches on the life of original author Osamu Dazai, with Oba and Dazai coming into contact at a crucial point in both their lives, and then again shortly before the end of Dazai's. A gripping story where just when you think things couldn't possibly get worse, they always do.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Police brutality, and Death of parent