Ichi the Killer, Tome 1

Ichi the Killer #1

by Hideo Yamamoto

Yoshio Anjo, le chef du clan de Yakuzas le plus influent de Kabukicho, disparaît sans laisser de trace avec sa maîtresse et trois millions d'euros. S'il paraît évident pour tous que le vieux s'est offert une retraite en or, son bras droit n'est pas du même avis. Et pour le retrouver, Kakihara est prêt à tout, y compris déclencher une guerre des gangs !

Genres: Manga, Horror, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Crime, Seinen

212 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 5, 1998

About the author

山本英夫 Yamamoto Hideo , is a Japanese manga artist best known for the manga series "Ichi the Killer" (which was adapted into a live-action film in 2001) and the series, Homunculus (manga).
Recurring themes in his manga are crime, sexual deviations, and psychology.

Reviews

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Old Geezer and his murder clean up crew strike a blow against one of the most dangerous Yakuza crime families in Japan’s red light district, killing their boss by employing the help of deranged crybaby assassin Ichi. They score their marks and earn their blood money, but Masao Kakihara, son of the assassinated crime boss, is even more brutal, cruel and ruthless than his father. He’ll torture and kill anyone that gets in the way of him hunting his target and he’ll have a wonderful time doing it.

Deranged killers hunting deranged killers, great evils against slightly lesser evils. The plot sets up an interesting protagonist/antagonist dynamic between Ichi and Kakihara. Both are psychotic killers. Both get sexually aroused by extreme violence and murder. One is an unstable crybaby with the mind of a child, the other is a cruel predator that feeds on pain. They’re both evil and twisted in similar but slightly different ways.

There are no good guys here. Everyone is seriously messed up. I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for Ichi though, he’s clearly unstable and being taken advantage of.

[Jayjaypl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly im not reading to many manga books these years but this ... I mean THIS is fucking HUGE.

This manga is propably first one who stick to me. Its visually and more important - plot - great. Violence is amazing in this way that is not physically hurting viewer but its simple more than that. Violence in this plot when almost existential rooted fear (my prophetic thoughts about life must be true?) meets hopeless man looking for ultimate question is excellent background. Its more about spirit of fighting for ...huh.. connection to existence. Desperately looking for essential life where you don't have to question anything anymore, when things belongs to their places. Ichi is kid in behaviour but his unorganised and mostly very annoying life have deep meaning for ultimate one guy - Kakihara. I don't see their relation as ordinary telepathic bond between two ''lost'' souls but their hearts beat in same way. Mystery of their hearts to my interpretation is put in their way of ''doing'' things. ITS LIKE YOU FUCKING OPEN WIDE WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some scenes like when Kakihara is balancing on top of the building just blow up my mind. I mean - its soooo close to our dreams when you fear to death while you falling down and in this falling in some moment you have earned BEYOND OUR LIFE FEELING.
Their hearts is looking for essential life and thats one of greatest mangas ive ever read in my whole life.

[Lör K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Ichi the Killer. Probably one of the most famous mangas known from the horror genre. Partly because of its story and characters, but more known for the fucked up gory cult classic directed by Takashi Miike in 2001. After watching the film last night I happened onto the original manga which I wasn't aware existed and I just couldn't wait to get into this.

Some trigger warnings: necrophilia, body mutilation, assault and abuse, sexual contact, blood and gore, murder

And that's just about the half of it, not the full amount. If you aren't a fan of shock horror, cult horror, etc then this really isn't the manga for you - and the film definitely won't be for you either.

Ichi the Killer is the story of Ichi, a man who is trained in martial arts but feels terrible about harming other people - until he begins to cry. Then, he becomes an amazing human weapon; he's fast, agile and deadly. And he ends up in a fight to the death with Kakihara - the enforcer of one of the Yakuza in Japan.
Kakihara is a sadistic man with a love for violence one can either marvel or grimace at. Ichi is a man with no love for violence, and can only cry when he even accidentally harms someone.
Together, it makes for one of the bloodiest, goriest and sickening cat and mouse chases to ever grace manga.

There really isn't much to say about this other than it's a masterpiece of the cult genre of horror. It's an amazing piece that features on a lot of the many tropes of cult horror - see the trigger warnings listed above. Nothing in this manga series is light-hearted if the first issue is absolutely anything to go by. It's dark, it's twisted, and you're either going to enjoy it or be utterly disgusted. This isn't for the faint-hearted, although the manga seems somewhat milder compared to the film in terms of its content so far.

This is a dark story that is set up beautifully and is only going to get darker and wilder.

Hideo Yamamoto has created a world that's deliciously dark and stomach-churningly cold and graphics, and I cannot wait to read more of it.

[Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the Takashi Miike film version of this nightmarish violent story a few years ago. Reading the manga a few years later definitely helps to understand the movie better. And it confirms to me once and for all that only the Japanese can produce such incredibly twisted graphic novels.

[Steven Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the bloodbath I thought it would be - I'm thinking Takashi Miike's mad and extremely violent 2001 film, but then this is only the first in the series. When it comes to manga it didn't disappoint.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

very brutal...very explicit...making it a difficult intense read at some points.
but it's a definite MUST read.

[Nida Irmanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this comic? The title says it all! I've completed all series and I can only say that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!! Call me a pervert, a weirdo. I know that this book is packed with all kind of gory stuffs and perversion, but for those who can stand those kind of stuffs, this comic is a must read. Why would I recommend this comic? Apart from the violence and the perversion, this comic has an amazing storyline and characters. Whoever came up with the story is a genius who deserves a gold medal. I like the idea that the spotlight is not for the hero, but for the villain instead. This comic has also a sick, dark sense of humor. So, for those who believe they can stand gore and perversion, this comic should go into your must read list!

[Camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sé quién está más enfermo, si Ichi o Kakihara... O Inolie.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the most sadistic graphic novel I've read. Up there with Cormac McCarthy for the literary folks.

I speed read this manga after watching a trailer from the Takashi Miike Trailer for the 2001 movie and its 2018 remaster. I can't compare the two, anyone who adapts or reads this is in for some serious messed up shit.

Trigger warning: I'm talking ultra vioelnce, assault and abuse, sexual themes, blood, gore, and of course murder. There's also necrophilia, but there's so much violence even I felt numb to seeing a man rape a dead man.

Ichi the Killer is the story of Ichi, a man who is trained in martial arts but it psychologically abused to become a human weapon, who is sent to assassinate members of the Yakuza in accordance with his employer, who wants to stire trouble in the Yakuza. Ichi abhors violence but is so scarred that he fights others. Pitted against him is Kakihara, a sadistic enforcer of one of the Yakuza in Japan. Bloood, gore, and murders incur.

This is a masterpiece of shock and cult horror that only gets more sadistic and twisted as it goes on. Gut wrenching to read as it must be to write, I don't know how this was created in 3 years, even with assistants but it's something I hope to get to as an asprining comic creator.

I think the most impressive feature about this graphic novel is how ingrained the violence and gore is to the plot and characterizations so much so that censoring it is near impossible. Unlike Berserk, where the violence is thrilling but can be toned down, or the earlier works of Frank Miller, which glorify violence, Ichi the Killer puts violence at the forefront in the inner psychology of every character. Yamamoto remains neutral in the depiction of violence but rather shows how far people will go and how fucked up violence can make people, from psychological trauma to yakuza violence to sheer vengeance. Jesus Christ.

This is perfect for fans of shock horror, those who enjoy a bit of Saw and the like. Japan's able to create lots of taboo subjects, some more troubling than others, but with psychology and art like this, Ichi the Killer is a sadstic shock horror masterpiece. n

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violent, Disturbing, Gory, Gratuitous, Nauseating, and largely Fetishistic. These are some of the words one might use to describe the tone of Hideo Yamamoto's Ichi the Killer. Following the exploits of dysfunctional, disturbed, psychotic killer Ichi, as he faces off against a gang of Yakuza, while we get to understand what sort of F**ked up trauma turned him into this.

But the main draw of the story is not our protagonist, who, for all intents and purposes acts as a blank slate, whose past is filled in from hallucinations, manipulations, suggestions and his own unstable psyche; most of which is fabricated.

No, the main points of interest are the other supporting characters; be it the enigmatic, shrewd, calculating strategist, the masochistic antagonist which a devil may care attitude and piercing fetish, or the goons and painted ladies who all make up the periphery of the narrative, each having their own demon, but mostly getting caught in the whirlwind of death and gore that is Ichi.

All of which makes up for a very disturbing reading, but one which is hard to look away from, like a train crash happening in slow motion.

[Aaron Not Now · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Warning*: the content discussed in this manga and the review that follows is not suitable for a younger audience under the age of 18: readers discretion is advised. :D (go away anyone younger than me!)



When your in a rut and want to understand the allure of gore based porn. or just a skewed philosophy on what constitutes a justified reason to kill people and have a hard on, you get Ichi the killer! Looking back on my own journey through this relatively quick read, I say my Saturday night was not exactly robbed but has been taken on a bus trip to a new and strange land that I probably would have been better off not seeing.

speaking of rape there were a lot of graphic scenes that were not exactly pleasing to the good ol eyes, let alone the imaginations that the volumes of this manga leaves with the readers. it does kinda slowly ease into the risk-eh portions of the manga as time progresses; although undoubtedly you will be finding yourself on the fast track to some hardcore concepts.

Despite the growing severity of the gore, torture, and almost superfluous amount of sexual content the plot incidental thickens with such activity; leaving the other people(like you and maby me :3) who are NOT looking to have some cozy relaxing Japanese gore porn, a plot nice and crunchy enough for a broader appreciation of the dark comedy that ensues around the chaos.

Even though to me this tale was overall an entertaining experience there were many moments where I myself was thrown a ways back from turning the page, specifically when thinking about the aspirations and motivations of the main character Ichi. Being as he is, the novel introduces him with a very disturbed psyche, ripped to shreds by being bullied in the past, and as you continue throughout the story most likely between the blood and guts flying everywhere you will see the tortured sad puppy that is "big bro Ichi" but don't worry if you had this genre in mind to begin with you will enjoy this manga undoubtedly, as the core action and suspense of the whole story presents its own conclusion with a very satisfying and almost poetic sense of character development..... of the ones that survive that is c: (please enjoy)

[Aidan Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it’s quite… odd… I think it’s a really interesting story and is an improvement in tone over the previous volume.

[Cabezas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cada uno de los personajes de este cómic debería visitar a su psiquiatra de confianza, pero los que lo necesitan con urgencia son los dos protagonistas de la historia: Kakihara sociópata, psicópata y violento de nacimiento. Un masoca que disfruta con todo lo relacionado con las perforaciones y cortes en el cuerpo. Grandísimo tortutador y fiel perro de su jefe, al que no le importa demostrar su lealtad lesionando a otros, o incluso autolesionándose a sí mismo, y que nos regalará las mejores y más explícitas escenas de violencia del manga.

Continúa en la web: http://www.cabezascortadas.com/ichi-t...

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can't take the sick, crazy, or perverse don't bother to read this; if you don't mind it go right ahead...
Ichi is a killer but you'd never know it and his power is only revealed in his anger or grief...

[Dan R. Celhay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally worth the read for Kakihara's** antics they're hilarious. Ichi is more disgusting than him.
**

[Koonu · Rating 5 out of 5]

One deliciously twisted and wicked tale full of horrid sexual deviancy and unspeakable torture. You'll feel dirty just by enjoying it.

[Sebastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

rating for all volumes

[Afonso Loureiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super villain meets improbable hero in a world of clockwork-orange-grade ultra violence. It's strange, but works.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agh, motherfuck, I always do this! Apparently I read the Ichi prequel stuff two years ago! And I read all of Homunculus twelve years ago, but, in fairness, I didn't realize it was the same author at the time. But shit, it would be sixteen years ago that I first saw Miike's Ichi film...!

Anyway, not much is going on in this volume. We get a sort of "in medias res" intro to Ichi himself, which may or may not involve an awareness of the prequel (joke's on Yamamoto; I don't remember the prequel very well at all!). What we know is that some Yakuza guys have hired this weird kid as an assassin, and the weird kid cries, pops a boner, and whacks his wood when he kills people. We learn later that Ichi's first victim here is the father of sadomasochistic gangster Kakihara. We learn later still that the crew of gangsters who hired Ichi were exiled from their former gangs, and don't currently belong to any formal family. The last chapter is about Ichi living his life as an eternal white-belt in karate, always punished from promoting because of how far his violence goes, even holding back. Also, he likes to get his dick sucked by a hooker who's often beaten by her lover(s?) because of his sexual connection to violence.

The plot will (probably) develop in time.

[Kay Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, before I go into this, Trigger warning for just about literally everything. I think the only thing we don't indulge in with this one is cannibalism but if you're bothered by literally anything else, you might want to avoid this. It's physically, psychologically and sexually violent to the eighth degree and there is not a single decent person in the roster. Every character is a different shade of messed one way or another and the manga is absolutely in love with that fact.

So, I originally read this manga a few years ago and the part of my brain that enjoys ultra violent media fell in love with it. I recently re-read it and that specific part of my brain STILL loves it.
However, something that I noticed on my second read, behind the the gore and carnage and violence just for the simple love of violence, is how well structured the story actually is.
The plot revolves around two primary characters. The titular Ichi, a sadistic cry baby who's manipulated by the mysterious Jiji into using his childhood trauma as a trigger to unleash a flurry of bloody violence upon the local Yakuza gang, and the sadomasochistic Kakihara, the newly self-appointed leader of said Yakuza gang. (Newly self-appointed because the Manga opens with Ichi killing his boss.)
The manga cuts back and forth between these two, painting them as diametric opposites in both personality and as narrative devises. Ichi is depicted as a weak willed mess of human being who breaks into tears if you say "boo" to him. He's haunted by childhood trauma, and uses it as a conduit to channel his own emotions. He's also a sexual sadist and has a habit of zoning out whenever he's in situations that involve any kind of violence, getting himself worked up into a state and waking up to find himself covered in blood and thoroughly aroused by it.
Kakihara, on the other hand is a sociopathic extreme masochist who casually swans around the entire manga looking either bored or disinterested and only showing emotion whenever he's hurting someone of being hurt himself. He's not given any real character development or back story, as is the case with Ichi, and is presented as something of a living embodiment of intimidation. This becomes rather ironic on reflection since despite giving off the aura of someone who knows what he's doing, he spends most of the manga making some of the dumbest decisions possible. By the end it becomes clear that the entire story has been less a game of chess between two opposing sides, and more a sadomasochistic game of cat and mouse with the gang never really having stood a chance, and the ending where this is finally brought home is honestly rather glorious.

There is one major issue, however, and that I believe is the inclusion of the twins. They are thoroughly repugnant, upping the sexual violence a great deal and generally being quite unpleasant to look at, but the main issue is that that they're completely pointless. There's nothing they add that could not have been performed by the characters already introduced and quite frankly aren't as entertaining as our other characters. And they take up a whole volume.

But besides that, it's fun ride. It's a weird type of fun, but it is fun if you're of the mind.

[Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! I remember when I first watched the movie by Takashi Miike... it completely blew me away. Who could imagine stuff like that, I wondered. The characters completely freaked me out. A guy who loves to experience pain and another who is aroused by inflicting pain. They haven't met yet but we know that they will. It all takes place amongst the lowlives of Shinjuku. We're talking prostitutes, yakuza, little gangsters trying to get by and workers from the lowest classes. Exactly the type of people I want to read about from time to time. I can't wait to find out more about all of them!

[Tara Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this!

This is a fucked up nightmare of a story but you can't help to turn the page to see what happens next. I was fighting sleep just to read more last night even. Just when you think "Okay, this has to be as bad as it gets." It gets worse, but in the best way possible.

All the characters are so interesting and the story just keeps getting better and better. Ichi alone is such a twisted, complex character.

Apparently there is a movie for this too?! How?! I can't imagine some of the stuff that happens in this manga happening on screen but *shrug*

The art is great and, yeah, can't wait to continue reading this manga. :)

[Illumi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading 'Ichi the Killer' manga. The story is wild, crazy and perverted. The villain is a masochist. The hero is a sadist.
There is a trauma behind almost every character and gory violence in every 10th page.
Not for the faint of heart.

P.S: There's been a movie based on the comic which you can check out if interested, but honestly I doubt if it would have as much perversion and gore as the manga.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296042/

[Eliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bf had this on a shelf and I kept wondering what the fuck it was - he didn't even remember, as he got the manga bc he saw the film ages ago & still hasn't read it.

Well, it's one big sick fucking manga that's actually entertaining enough in its completely over the top insanity of sexual deviance and sadistic gore.

[Julio · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bloodiest and most disturbing manga I've ever read. It's packed with action, very intense from start to finish, you will get hooked by the storyline. Well-developed characters, some of them with serious mental disorders.

[Sparks Lowry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The English translation is pretty bad but I at least got the gist of what they were trying to say. Interesting to see the character of Ichi explored, but so far, I like the film better. The way Yamamoto draws children is odd, too; they just look like little people.

[Robin Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I was familiar with Ichi The Killer through Takashi Miike’s film adaption when I watched it years ago. It’s safe to say I don’t remember anything coming into this popular manga, but it’s slowly explaining Ichi’s story and how he became the way he is.

So far, so good.

[pato]

homoerotic gore porn, lot of red flags like gantz, but cinematic, fast paced, and memorable. relied a lot on body horror/violence shock value and masochism and taboo's too much at times. lasting impression for better and worse

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty awesome and very gruesome Yakuza manga, good story and love the art and characters 😻😻💪😁

[c. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abt the pain of existence and its lack of meaning.
Very cool, 9/10.