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MPD Psycho #3
MPD Psycho, Vol. 3
The uncensored, uncut MPD-Psycho manga series continues, with another volume of creative crimes, slippery criminals, and an enormous, disturbing puzzle that's slowly unraveling with each inventive atrocity. The Isono Criminal Research Lab trusts that Kazuhiko Amamiya, their maverick multiple personality detective, can crack any murder case-as long he can keep all of his other personalities in check. His latest mystery involves a serial killer who uses body doubles and is actually famous for his macabre murder scenes and attempts at dark humor. More clues on the Gakuso Group emerge, and their top "company man"-the white-haired, maniacal Zenitsu-just can't stay out of the Isono Lab's business. Toguchi, the tough, one-eyed video journalist, now feels that he deserves a worldwide spotlight . . . and he's on the verge of making a deal with a laughing devil!
191 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 1998
18 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Eiji Otsuka
361 books142 followers大塚英志
Social anthropologist and novelist. Graduated from college with degree in anthropology, women's folklore, human sacrifice and post-war manga. In addition to his work with manga he is a critic, essayist, and author of several successful non-fiction books on Japanese popular and “otaku” sub-cultures. One of his first animation script works was Maho no Rouge Lipstick, an adult lolicon OVA. Otsuka was the editor for the bishojo lolicon manga series Petit Apple Pie.
In the 80s, Otsuka was editor-in-chief of Manga Burikko, a leading women's manga magazine where he pioneered research on the “otaku” sub-culture in modern Japan. In 1988 he published "Manga no Koro" (The Structure of Comics), a serious study of Japanese comics and their social significance. Also as critic, Otsuka Eiji, summarized the case of the Japanese red army's 1972 murders as a conflict between the masculine and the feminine principles as they were both embodied by women and against women (Otsuka,1994).
Social anthropologist and novelist. Graduated from college with degree in anthropology, women's folklore, human sacrifice and post-war manga. In addition to his work with manga he is a critic, essayist, and author of several successful non-fiction books on Japanese popular and “otaku” sub-cultures. One of his first animation script works was Maho no Rouge Lipstick, an adult lolicon OVA. Otsuka was the editor for the bishojo lolicon manga series Petit Apple Pie.
In the 80s, Otsuka was editor-in-chief of Manga Burikko, a leading women's manga magazine where he pioneered research on the “otaku” sub-culture in modern Japan. In 1988 he published "Manga no Koro" (The Structure of Comics), a serious study of Japanese comics and their social significance. Also as critic, Otsuka Eiji, summarized the case of the Japanese red army's 1972 murders as a conflict between the masculine and the feminine principles as they were both embodied by women and against women (Otsuka,1994).
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 21, 2023
First of all, the covers are all very stunning and kind of entice you to read the book, but don't worry—you won't be let down by what's within. However, just put up with the uncertainty for a while—there are many characters, and some of them are mixing up their personalities, but it's enjoyable.
July 18, 2018
Okay, I’m hooked. 👀
September 11, 2023
me who can barely remember my own name vs. guy who has seventeen personalities with different names - who will win
May 4, 2015
Read the review of the previous volume. Possibility of dropping it gets higher by the minute. I hope it develops a story somewhere in the near future...
May 30, 2012
Stuff I Read – MPD Psycho Vol 3
The plot thickens in this third volume of the Multiple Personality Detective. So far we have learned that the main character apparently started out as a killer, and then as a child, after supposedly killing a bunch of people, he developed multiple personalities. Or maybe something different. It is possible, instead, that those spirits somehow jumped into him. This is technically the same universe as the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, so in theory things like that are possible, that somehow this person is housing all of the souls inside of him and they come out from time to time. More over, this volume introduces the idea that the personality that the main character assumed for most of his life, and up to the incident where his girlfriend was murdered, was not the only personality that came out. Before this volume it was rather assumed that only the one personality came out from the time of the killings as a child up to the thing two years ago. And while there have been vague hints that something else might be going on, this volume confirms it.
The first and longer of the two stories, after all, has a killer show up, one who was supposedly executed. This man was apparently trained and directed by the killer personality of the main character during the time the main character was still a cop. In fact, the main character was involved in catching the killer at the time. So here we have clear proof that at least the killer personality was active the entire time. This might explain how the main character got his eye barcode, and how he knew some of the characters from previous volumes. This begs the question of how large a role this character played in the strange organization that seems to be behind these eyes and the covering up of facts and evidence. It would seem to me at least that there isn’t that much of a connection, that the killer personality kind of works for them but sees himself as only using the organization while the organization believes that they can use him.
In any event, the first story revolves around the return of this killer who proceeds to try and kill the killer personality in order to prove that he is the better psycho. Meanwhile it seems like the organization has not sanctioned this, and moves to protect the killer personality. So things are getting a bit odd. It seems obvious that the killer personality knows a lot more than he is letting on, and it is possible that other personalities also know more than they are saying, but things are getting more complicated. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does take some doing keeping everything straight in my head. You’ll notice I don’t really use names, and that is because I don’t have the volume right here and I can’t really remember the names. Which means that there are some personalities that I just can’t really remember too well by name, and have to rely on which personality is which based on how they act.
The first one is mostly murder and mayhem, though, and does introduce some important things, revealing a little more of the evil organization and also introducing a cop and former lover of the female leader. The second volume focuses much more on the photographer, who is still quite a bit of an unknown at this point, as it is revealed that he, too, seems to be working for the organization. It turns out he has been involved in lots of shady stuff in the past, and the volume goes as far as to make the accusation that he has the same eyes as the rest of the serial killers. If that is true or not remains to be seen, as the eye patch kind of makes it hard to tell if he actually has an eye or not. But the second story is much more focused on him as a character, how he considers himself an artist but how that might not be the case. He wants to be an artist, though, and until this point apparently couldn’t see the conflict between that and working for the organization. His job seems to have been to spy on the main character, and at the end of the volume he quits that, which seems like it might land him in trouble. But that story is left much more open, and leaves me wondering what will happen to him. I had kind of hoped he would be a good guy, but I suppose it doesn’t matter that much. At the end of the volume I was left with solid developments going forward, and I want to see what’s going to happen with this series. This volume merits a 7.5/10.
The plot thickens in this third volume of the Multiple Personality Detective. So far we have learned that the main character apparently started out as a killer, and then as a child, after supposedly killing a bunch of people, he developed multiple personalities. Or maybe something different. It is possible, instead, that those spirits somehow jumped into him. This is technically the same universe as the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, so in theory things like that are possible, that somehow this person is housing all of the souls inside of him and they come out from time to time. More over, this volume introduces the idea that the personality that the main character assumed for most of his life, and up to the incident where his girlfriend was murdered, was not the only personality that came out. Before this volume it was rather assumed that only the one personality came out from the time of the killings as a child up to the thing two years ago. And while there have been vague hints that something else might be going on, this volume confirms it.
The first and longer of the two stories, after all, has a killer show up, one who was supposedly executed. This man was apparently trained and directed by the killer personality of the main character during the time the main character was still a cop. In fact, the main character was involved in catching the killer at the time. So here we have clear proof that at least the killer personality was active the entire time. This might explain how the main character got his eye barcode, and how he knew some of the characters from previous volumes. This begs the question of how large a role this character played in the strange organization that seems to be behind these eyes and the covering up of facts and evidence. It would seem to me at least that there isn’t that much of a connection, that the killer personality kind of works for them but sees himself as only using the organization while the organization believes that they can use him.
In any event, the first story revolves around the return of this killer who proceeds to try and kill the killer personality in order to prove that he is the better psycho. Meanwhile it seems like the organization has not sanctioned this, and moves to protect the killer personality. So things are getting a bit odd. It seems obvious that the killer personality knows a lot more than he is letting on, and it is possible that other personalities also know more than they are saying, but things are getting more complicated. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does take some doing keeping everything straight in my head. You’ll notice I don’t really use names, and that is because I don’t have the volume right here and I can’t really remember the names. Which means that there are some personalities that I just can’t really remember too well by name, and have to rely on which personality is which based on how they act.
The first one is mostly murder and mayhem, though, and does introduce some important things, revealing a little more of the evil organization and also introducing a cop and former lover of the female leader. The second volume focuses much more on the photographer, who is still quite a bit of an unknown at this point, as it is revealed that he, too, seems to be working for the organization. It turns out he has been involved in lots of shady stuff in the past, and the volume goes as far as to make the accusation that he has the same eyes as the rest of the serial killers. If that is true or not remains to be seen, as the eye patch kind of makes it hard to tell if he actually has an eye or not. But the second story is much more focused on him as a character, how he considers himself an artist but how that might not be the case. He wants to be an artist, though, and until this point apparently couldn’t see the conflict between that and working for the organization. His job seems to have been to spy on the main character, and at the end of the volume he quits that, which seems like it might land him in trouble. But that story is left much more open, and leaves me wondering what will happen to him. I had kind of hoped he would be a good guy, but I suppose it doesn’t matter that much. At the end of the volume I was left with solid developments going forward, and I want to see what’s going to happen with this series. This volume merits a 7.5/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2021
AAAAAAAAAA YES
August 15, 2025
Excited for more
Love the story line,will be getting the next volume on pay day. Just can't wait, love the whole barcode. And just love the different personalities
Love the story line,will be getting the next volume on pay day. Just can't wait, love the whole barcode. And just love the different personalities
February 28, 2019
** Amazing and NOT for the faint at heart **
Eiji Otsuka's MPD Psycho is one of the most brutally bloodiest, psychologically dark, mind fucked mangas I have ever read. The complex array of socially dysfunctional psychopaths committing brutally creative, straightforward morbid homicides borderline erotic and disturbing at times left on mark on me while reading this series for nearly 5 years.
The art fresh with simple clean lines, macabre to say the least, hypnotized me with detailed expressions and backgrounds. That said, the illustrator kept most of the cast true to the Japanese background, a rare feat in today's mangas.
The plot felt realistic to a certain degree when excluding the Lucy Monostone ensemble (especially in the finale). There isn't much comedy as it is very dry, with no useless characters and a dark environment.
Unfortunately, the translators stopped a few years back and no english volume has been release in some time. Fortunately, the french version of the series had been completely serialized in France so I was able to grab copies and read the ending finally. Although I can read french this is the one downfall for those that cannot...
If you can muster the first chapter, you're in for a treat. This is just one of the novels where you need to fully pay attention to each sentence.
Do I recommend it:
YES!!!
Eiji Otsuka's MPD Psycho is one of the most brutally bloodiest, psychologically dark, mind fucked mangas I have ever read. The complex array of socially dysfunctional psychopaths committing brutally creative, straightforward morbid homicides borderline erotic and disturbing at times left on mark on me while reading this series for nearly 5 years.
The art fresh with simple clean lines, macabre to say the least, hypnotized me with detailed expressions and backgrounds. That said, the illustrator kept most of the cast true to the Japanese background, a rare feat in today's mangas.
The plot felt realistic to a certain degree when excluding the Lucy Monostone ensemble (especially in the finale). There isn't much comedy as it is very dry, with no useless characters and a dark environment.
Unfortunately, the translators stopped a few years back and no english volume has been release in some time. Fortunately, the french version of the series had been completely serialized in France so I was able to grab copies and read the ending finally. Although I can read french this is the one downfall for those that cannot...
If you can muster the first chapter, you're in for a treat. This is just one of the novels where you need to fully pay attention to each sentence.
Do I recommend it:
YES!!!
January 7, 2016
L’enquête sur la mort, le résurrection et la re-mort d’Akio Umemiya est peu passionnante.
C’est donc surtout l’occasion de souffler un peu dans l’intrigue principale et de faire le point sur ce que chacun sait.
Une partie du Gouvernement est au courant du phénomène des yeux tatoués et de l’implication du groupe Gakuso là dedans. Et l’ancien petit ami d’Isono, Kito Akira, qui dirige le Quatrième Bureau, en connaît au moins autant que le Ministre de la Justice en personne.
Très peu de changement de personnalités dans ce tome malgré un gros retour en force de Shinji et l’apparition de Sakurai Kotone, la dernière des petites victimes de l’incendie de la clinique Amamiya.
En tout cas, il semble que j’ai eu de l’intuition en trouvant quelque chose de louche autour du chanteur Lucy Monostone.
Et les rôles de Toguchi Kikuo, le journaliste, et surtout de Zen.Itsu continuent de rester bien mystérieux.
J’aime toujours autant ce manga et, si ce tome marque un peu une pause, je continue à me régaler.
C’est donc surtout l’occasion de souffler un peu dans l’intrigue principale et de faire le point sur ce que chacun sait.
Une partie du Gouvernement est au courant du phénomène des yeux tatoués et de l’implication du groupe Gakuso là dedans. Et l’ancien petit ami d’Isono, Kito Akira, qui dirige le Quatrième Bureau, en connaît au moins autant que le Ministre de la Justice en personne.
Très peu de changement de personnalités dans ce tome malgré un gros retour en force de Shinji et l’apparition de Sakurai Kotone, la dernière des petites victimes de l’incendie de la clinique Amamiya.
En tout cas, il semble que j’ai eu de l’intuition en trouvant quelque chose de louche autour du chanteur Lucy Monostone.
Et les rôles de Toguchi Kikuo, le journaliste, et surtout de Zen.Itsu continuent de rester bien mystérieux.
J’aime toujours autant ce manga et, si ce tome marque un peu une pause, je continue à me régaler.
March 8, 2010
An interesting read-a detective with multiple personalities, one of whom is a reckless psychopath. Unfortunately, I had to start with volume 3, because the library system only has 4 random volumes (with mulitple copies still on order), so I feel I am unable to give this book a proper review, as I'm starting in the middle of the story.
I wanted to read this series, because I am familiar with the author's collaboration in "The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service", and the premise of MPD (multiple personality detective) Psycho intrigued me. If I ever get to read the series in it's proper order, I may revisit this volume...
I wanted to read this series, because I am familiar with the author's collaboration in "The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service", and the premise of MPD (multiple personality detective) Psycho intrigued me. If I ever get to read the series in it's proper order, I may revisit this volume...
July 30, 2013
Whereas in the previous two volumes, the SF elements were gently hinted at, now they begin to move into the forefront. However, the stronger fantasy/SF elements don't drag the focus away from what is still character based stories. Yes, plural. For now, we begin to examine a couple of characters, not just our MPD detective. The "new" character's past is wonderfully interwoven and promises a great deal for future volumes.
Please note, I ended up reading volumes 2 - 6 in almost one sitting. My memories of each separate volume will therefore be a bit fragmented. However, that does bring out how interesting and amazing the manga got after the first volume.
Please note, I ended up reading volumes 2 - 6 in almost one sitting. My memories of each separate volume will therefore be a bit fragmented. However, that does bring out how interesting and amazing the manga got after the first volume.
May 20, 2014
In this volume, the story is really starting to take steam. There is an expansion into more characters, and a revealing of the past around the MPD detective. Because of the way MPD switched between personalities, the threads can be difficult to follow, and I still feel like I need to have a set of notes beside me. The artwork is very nice, with clear character designs, and a clean, uncluttered style with strong line. One of the problems with the first volume seems to be clearly in the past now, in that the victims are now well distributed across a sampling of the population, not just a series of pretty women.
September 15, 2008
Great volume, all around. We see the original children and people that seem to have sparked the various personalities of Amamiya...and of course, more about Lucy Monostone! I have to say, I'm completed impressed by the quality and excellent book design that went into this series from Dark Horse. They truly do print manga for the 'collector' rather than the 'consumer.'
October 1, 2012
The brutality rages on and the mystery deepens in the 3rd volume of this fiendishly clever psychological thriller. The blood still sprays, the writing is as mature as any work English language writers like Alan Moore or Warren Ellis could put in a four color panel, and secrets come out to stun the reader into a stupor. "MPD Psycho" is one of the best Manga out there today, no question!
November 8, 2015
Cogí los tres primeros volúmenes en la biblioteca pensando que eran los únicos del manga, y resulta que en total son 22. Es una lástima, porque me estaba resultando interesante la trama, pero tendré que dejarlo aquí (igual algún día me da por ver el live action que hicieron, aunque no sé yo si estará a la altura de un manga tan gore xD).
June 20, 2016
This volume actually disappointed me. Even if I started finally see clearly two of protagonist's personalities it doesn't mean that everything became easier to understand. The plot was kinda slow and boring, at least to me. Yet we finally get a peak into some of backstories and some meetings that I was looking forward to. 3 out of 5 because this volume could've been better, but it wasn't.
February 5, 2015
The plot thickens. The story revolved less around the main character in this volume, and more around the side stuff going on.
I'm definitely rereading what I have of this series once I get a few more volumes.
I'm definitely rereading what I have of this series once I get a few more volumes.
May 6, 2013
Serial killer muncul lagi, kali ini Machi, bos Amamiya, jadi sandera. Ternyata pembunuh ini mengaku dulu muridnya Shinji Nishizono, salah satu kepribadian Amamiya yang kejam dan dulunya mengaku sebagai pembunuh
January 27, 2014
Confusing does not begin to describe this magna... at points. This manga is highly sophisticated and beautiful, but I had a difficult time following it at points. I might come back to this manga in the future, but I cannot justify reading it anymore.
October 16, 2011
Like one of those episodes in a long-running TV series that adds some more detail to the backstory but doesn't go much of anywhere in and of itself. Enough to keep me reading, though.
Read
July 29, 2011It takes a step back from the episodic stuff to more enrich the conspiracy that's going on. Very satisfying read, though it threatens to get confusing as fuck.
January 30, 2015
This is garbage and I can't bring myself to read another page.
Read
October 1, 2011Felt short to me compared to the first two books. Still pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews