I’ve recently gotten back into manga, and I normally don’t write a review on this type of media because they’re often in series and are lengthy which I do not have the time to. But, No Longer Human is one book, and I’m able to give a brief review on it. Junji Ito is one of my favorite magankas, and I have been reading his work off and on since I was in college 15 years ago. I have read most of his work, and will continue to do so because he does not disappoint.
As usual Ito’s work has well designed art. He has his own unique style that’s even more distinguishable and recognizable than probably the most famous mangaka ever Akira Toriyama who created Dragan Ball Z. If you’ve read any of Ito’s work you will know right away when coming to read any of his work what his style looks like. I especially like how he designs women. He gives most of his female characters youthful and innocent looks when some of them can be the most evil characters in the book. And it seems like the more beautiful they are the likelier to be eviler.
Though Ito is a great artist there were times where there were some scenes that were overdone. Demons were used repeatedly, and I could’ve sworn there were chapters of just that at times. I get that there was supposed to be a sickening feel meant to be achieved, and it was accomplished, but it did get tiresome. And there were a lot of sex scenes in the book that seemed to be overdone as well. Those were major gripes of the manga, and there wasn’t much else to complain about other than that.
What I like most about the manga is that it touches up on a lot of hot topics that readers of newspapers will about almost see daily in the news like sex and drug abuse. The main character goes through these things at an early age, and anyone reading this can see how it affects him later into adulthood. It goes to show anyone that manga is not just for kids and teenagers. After reading this manga, I became somewhat more sympathetic towards people who are sexually abused and drug addicts.
No Longer Human is a tragic story with a tragic ending that readers typically do not see in this form of entertainment. It was a breath of fresh air to read a manga that isn’t just about happy endings and having to deal with magical monsters and saving teenaged girls. No Longer Human is a beefy manga that goes into great detail as to what the character is going through. It doesn’t let up on the grittiness, and it puts the main character through a lot without letting up. I was rooting him. I kind of wanted to jump inside this world and say stop drinking so much, and get your act together.
Near the end of the manga it is revealed that the author, Osamu Dazai, had similar experiences in his life, and this story might’ve been a suicide note before he took his life at the young age of 38 years old. I’ve read other stories of authors that have taken their lives after creating their work. It has a pungent effect that sticks with me after reading the book and thinking I might’ve been inside this author’s head, and this is what his or her inner world was like before going off the deep end.
No Longer Human may have been a suicide note, but it does have a deep message to it. The book was written more than 70 years ago, but a lot of the issues are still relevant to this day. It touches on issues on sex abuse and its lingering effects into adult years. Mental health is another issue that is focused on in this book. It’s a good book for anyone wanting to get an idea of how these issues can affect someone. It may be even so effective to deter others from engaging in drug use if they have or have not been addicted to drugs in the past.
Junji Ito is a great mangaka on his own, and with the combination of an author it makes his work seem even better. Ito’s work has always been dark, but having a novelist like Dazai to illustrate for gives his work a bit more detail and better dialogue. I hope to see more collaborations form Ito. This is a book a highly recommend for an Ito fan, or just people looking to get a glimpse on how substance abuse and sex abuse can affect someone. We may see all the sexual glory going with musicians and movie stars, but it is really all so glorious? No Longer Human may have that answer.
Rating: ***1/2