Parasyte Vol. 5 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 5

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey 1992

Genre: Comics

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

MONSTER: Shinichi was just an ordinary high school student, until his body was invaded by a parasite, a horrifying alien being. Now Shinichi is a monster with a human face . . . and a human conscience. He is unlike anything else in the world-part man, part alien, and caught in a desperate struggle to save his own soul.

I think we hit the low point of the series. This volume really slows down the story to check-in with the other parasite characters and eventually engage in one big fight. We get a few little scenes of interest between Shinichi and Migi, but mostly, I was just flipping pages to see what happened next. Still fully into this series, but this volume almost felt like a bit of a pause in the storyline.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2018

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…

I finally started this series! And it really starts off with a bang! We get introduced to our main characters and the action starts right away. I loved puzzling things out with Itadori and trying to understand the world we’ve been thrown in. The inclusion of our Sensei and other students really helped round out the introduction story. We got a few great action sequences and some world-building in this volume. I cannot wait to continue with this series, and eventually watch the anime.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Parasyte Vol. 4 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 4

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey 1992

Genre: Comics

Pages: 287

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

SIXTH SENSE: Shinichi, an ordinary high school student, is the only one who knows that aliens have invaded Earth and are controlling the minds of thousands of unwitting victims. It's a secret too dangerous to share . . . but too big to cover up. Then Shinichi meets Kana, a brave young girl with a strange gift that may allow her to detect the alien parasites. Has Shinichi at last found an ally to combat these creatures?

Another big death in this volume. I was so not expecting that to happen, but really, I guess I should have. Of course we need to keep the story’s tension rising. The parasites keep evolving and are now cooperating. Definitely not a good thing for the strictly human population on Earth. I’m very interested in how Shinichi is changing compared to the other parasite infected. I cannot even imagine where this story is going but I am excited to continue the journey.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile:

Parasyte Vol. 3 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 3

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey 1991

Genre: Comics

Pages: 283

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

ALIEN NATION: Aliens parasites have invaded Earth and taken over the minds of ordinary people. Shin has been infected with a parasite, but he still can think and act for himself. Now he's been approached by two mysterious victims of the invasion: Tamiya, a beautiful schoolteacher, and Shimada, another student. What do the aliens want with humanity? and with Shin?

And the story has begun to really get serious with this volume. We get to see how Shin has started to change and how his relationship with Migi has evolved. I love how we get to experience and puzzle out the changes along with our characters. The addition of a new character in Shimada added great tension and suspense. Loved how that chapter ended. Definitely still excited to keep reading.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile:

Parasyte Vol. 2 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 2

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey 1991

Genre: Comics

Pages: 288

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

PERSONAL DEMON: Shin looks like an ordinary high school boy, but he has a terrible secret: an alien parasite has infected his body. This mysterious creature is ruthless, deadly, and utterly indifferent to human suffering . . . and it is beginning to assert itself over Shin. As Shin fights for control of his body, can he also hold on to his humanity?

This volume had some terrible gut punches. I was so not expecting the emotional weight in this one. I was flipping pages with an increasing sense of dread that was finally revealed on the page. I am really loving how this story is evolving and changing just as Migi and Shin are evolving and changing. And I’m really enjoying the subtle art involved in the differences between the humans and parasite-infected humans. Guess I’m deeply involved in this series now. And I just realized that there was an anime version of the series.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile:

Parasyte Vol. 1 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 1

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey 1990

Genre: Comics

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

SILENT INVASION: They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade-and take control of-a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret-except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?

Another fun manga series that’s been on my radar for awhile and I finally started. I was intrigued by the alien horror premise and dove in without knowing much more than that. Overall, I really enjoy this first volume where we meet Shin and his new “friend.” We see the duo attempt to navigate life but then others come into play. I loved seeing how the “friend” and Shin interacted. The horror aspects were light and yet a whole lot of fun. I’m excited to see how the next volume moves the story and the horror forward.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile:

Mimi's Tales of Terror by Junji Ito

Title: Mimi’s Tales of Terror

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2023

Genre:  Horror Manga

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

University student Mimi and her boyfriend Naoto encounter one chilling mystery after another. There’s the enigmatic neighbor woman dressed in black from head to toe—but if she’s so odd, why does it seems like there are many others like her? Then, whose eyes track Mimi’s movements from the cemetery next door? And why does a bizarre red circle drawn on a basement wall change with each passing day?

Nine scary stories that really happened, drawn from the famed collecton of urban legends Shin Mimibukuro (New Earmuffs), and adapted into manga by horror genius Junji Ito! 

I randomly found this horror comic collection on a list from my local library. I dove int and it was exactly what I wanted. We get some truly horrifying stories that mostly have no ends or explanations. I really loved the shorts; they were just long enough to hold my attention with a big punchline! Loved them. The black and while drawings added to the horror. Do not pick this one up if you at all squeamish.

Next up on the TBR pile: