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Otaku Blue #1
Tokyo Underground
Asami, étudiante en sociologie, a pour sujet de recherches les otaku, ces Japonais, fans et collectionneurs monomaniaques. Elle les fait parler de leur passion, les « décortique », passe du temps avec eux. Bientôt, Asami rencontre, par Internet, un otaku très particulier qui va la passionner. Il réunit tous les traits qu’elle a pu observer de façon isolée chez les autres sujets. Une sorte d’otaku ultime. Et cet otaku très spécial va entraîner notre héroïne dans une histoire terriblement noire et éprouvante, au cœur du Tokyo contemporain.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2012
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 14, 2021
With a serial killer, maid cafes, and Gothic Lolitas, you'd think this would be a sexy thriller, but it literally put me to sleep. Half the story is about Asami, a sociologist investigating otaku ("geeks") while her relationship with an annoying dude slowly falls apart. Meanwhile super dull police investigate a mysterious killer who cuts pieces off his victim's bodies. I suppose in the next volume these two stories will come together, but I shall not be returning to find out how as I do not care one iota.
May 3, 2019
This was extremely fascinating! The artwork is a ink-noir style that really fits the mysterious, creepy tone of the story. The plot is interesting in the way it weaves between two different threads, yet each new page reveals that they are somehow connected . . . until the cliffhanger end pieces almost everything together.
many thanks to NetGalley for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review
many thanks to NetGalley for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review
July 20, 2019
I was so excited about this from the cover but got pretty disappointed real fast because the art style isn't even close to the cover.
I don't generally hate on people's art style but I can't help but hate on how the illustrator draw women in this. They are all drawn the same way so you can't recognize female characters from each other except for their clothing! Besides that, their faces isn't all that consistent too so the same characters sometimes look a bit different in the next panel besides for the male characters.
Story wise was somewhat mediocre and predictable. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series despite it being a duology. Maybe when I'm curious enough I would.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
I don't generally hate on people's art style but I can't help but hate on how the illustrator draw women in this. They are all drawn the same way so you can't recognize female characters from each other except for their clothing! Besides that, their faces isn't all that consistent too so the same characters sometimes look a bit different in the next panel besides for the male characters.
Story wise was somewhat mediocre and predictable. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series despite it being a duology. Maybe when I'm curious enough I would.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
July 20, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. The art style was a very fascinating blend of Japanese manga and Western aesthetics and the plot was also quite the gripping mystery. Although the depiction of Japanese culture (and especially the otaku culture) often seemed to be very stereotypical, overall I believe it suited the purposes of the plot and the story. I'm looking forward to the next instalment!
A copy was very kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley
A copy was very kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley
April 16, 2019
'Otaku Blue' is a French comic book set in Japan and following a young woman researching fan culture and a middle aged detective investigating a series of murders. The killings are of young women and in each case a different body part is stolen. It plays out like an eastern giallo and its examination of Japanese culture is kind of interesting at times, but never quite reaches the level of being insightful.
A bigger problem is the lack of any tension as the body count rises. It feels like the deaths are happening to give the detective something to do rather than for any other reason. The fact that this is just the first part of a story in two parts doesn't help either. The conclusion felt abrupt and I was left with little incentive to seek out the concluding part.
A bigger problem is the lack of any tension as the body count rises. It feels like the deaths are happening to give the detective something to do rather than for any other reason. The fact that this is just the first part of a story in two parts doesn't help either. The conclusion felt abrupt and I was left with little incentive to seek out the concluding part.
April 16, 2019
“In order to change, I have to become my true self.”
Otaku Blue is the first in a two-part story about a young woman’s search for the ultimate otaku. Otaku belongs to a Japanese subculture of people with obssessive interests. It is also a crime thriller as we follow the investigation of a serial killer targeting and mutilating young women.
It is full of beautiful and morbid art depicting modern Japan and its dark corners. I have to say a lot of elements may have been lost in translation for me. The confusing mess of the main characters’ relationship was also distracting at times, but I appreciate how it effectively portrays the conflict between one’s commitment to scholarly pursuits vs. sacrificing and failing on real life obligations.
Since it is just part one of a promised duology, expect the ending to be non-conclusive. I am looking forward to reading the second book. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Europe Comics for providing a copy of this book (in English translation) in exchange for an honest review.
Otaku Blue is the first in a two-part story about a young woman’s search for the ultimate otaku. Otaku belongs to a Japanese subculture of people with obssessive interests. It is also a crime thriller as we follow the investigation of a serial killer targeting and mutilating young women.
It is full of beautiful and morbid art depicting modern Japan and its dark corners. I have to say a lot of elements may have been lost in translation for me. The confusing mess of the main characters’ relationship was also distracting at times, but I appreciate how it effectively portrays the conflict between one’s commitment to scholarly pursuits vs. sacrificing and failing on real life obligations.
Since it is just part one of a promised duology, expect the ending to be non-conclusive. I am looking forward to reading the second book. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Europe Comics for providing a copy of this book (in English translation) in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2019
One of those recent read I was excited about, a comic book thriller place in Japan, that was looking awesome. Unfortunately the execution wasn't there. The art is alright, nothing great or bad about it. But the story just move way too slow, lots of fillers, and just too cliché for me. I won't continue this one!
April 27, 2019
I enjoyed this storyline. Asami, a normal yet, driven student in the process of doing research for her thesis. How far will one go for answers? How important is it to be able to get a front row seat to a culture that is different from yours? I look forward to reading the second part to this narrative.
September 1, 2022
Malgré la prémisse intéressante du manga - une étudiante universitaire effectuant une étude sociologique sur l'otaku contemporain, sur fond de serial killer dans la métropole -, je n'ai pas envie de poursuivre la lecture. Le trait de crayon rappelle les bd américaines type Marvel et je ne m'attache pas aux personnages et leurs histoires personnelles. Cette série n'est tout simplement pas pour moi...
May 12, 2019
Asami, a sociology student, writes a thesis about otaku. She gets a chance to meet a famous and mysterious otaku knows as Buntaro. In the meantime, Inspector Arakawa follows a sadistic killer who kills local prostitutes and collects parts of their bodies.
The story doesn't shy away from showing gore, but plotwise and conflict-wise, it develops slowly and meanders way too much. While I enjoy the art, at this stage, I don't find the mystery and the pacing rewarding enough to continue reading when Vol. 2 is published.
ARC through NetGalley
The story doesn't shy away from showing gore, but plotwise and conflict-wise, it develops slowly and meanders way too much. While I enjoy the art, at this stage, I don't find the mystery and the pacing rewarding enough to continue reading when Vol. 2 is published.
ARC through NetGalley
November 1, 2019
A story well suited to the comic book style.
Richard Marazano, well known in his homeland, France for his graphic novels, turns his focus on Japanese culture.
' Tokyo. Present day. Asami is a sociology student. Her post graduate thesis - Otakus, a Japanese subculture of people with obsessive interests. She meets with them, interviews and befriends them in a serious academic paper to throw light on their bizarre behaviours. For those engaged to explain their motivations and enjoyment. '
Meanwhile, the police have a more pressing enquiry, that, in its own way, shares a dark mystery which points to a serial killer from a world of obsessive behaviours.
The detectives have disfunctional relationships with women and struggle to find any firm leads. One senses that not everyone are who they seem to be, or they might be closer to the crimes or the influence of Otakus than they realise.
The story is told over two parts and this was the story establishing bit - part 1. I feel therefore it has not been able to score well in reviews. However, for the non-Japanese this is a culture difficult to get a handle on, let alone understand. However, I praise the efforts of the writer and the fine artwork which lifts the story to a level of menace and intrigue.
That the focus of the story is more on the killer, of whom few clues are known than the victims may seem to diminish the crimes. Yet they are so brutal and a destruction of youth and beauty that the drama is established. The further into the piece you also get the feeling that Asami is going to discover things she'll never be allowed to share as part of her studies.
I look forward to reading Part 2, who wouldn't after reading of this dark, shadowy world from the culture of Japan.
Richard Marazano, well known in his homeland, France for his graphic novels, turns his focus on Japanese culture.
' Tokyo. Present day. Asami is a sociology student. Her post graduate thesis - Otakus, a Japanese subculture of people with obsessive interests. She meets with them, interviews and befriends them in a serious academic paper to throw light on their bizarre behaviours. For those engaged to explain their motivations and enjoyment. '
Meanwhile, the police have a more pressing enquiry, that, in its own way, shares a dark mystery which points to a serial killer from a world of obsessive behaviours.
The detectives have disfunctional relationships with women and struggle to find any firm leads. One senses that not everyone are who they seem to be, or they might be closer to the crimes or the influence of Otakus than they realise.
The story is told over two parts and this was the story establishing bit - part 1. I feel therefore it has not been able to score well in reviews. However, for the non-Japanese this is a culture difficult to get a handle on, let alone understand. However, I praise the efforts of the writer and the fine artwork which lifts the story to a level of menace and intrigue.
That the focus of the story is more on the killer, of whom few clues are known than the victims may seem to diminish the crimes. Yet they are so brutal and a destruction of youth and beauty that the drama is established. The further into the piece you also get the feeling that Asami is going to discover things she'll never be allowed to share as part of her studies.
I look forward to reading Part 2, who wouldn't after reading of this dark, shadowy world from the culture of Japan.
April 23, 2019
'Otaku Blue #1: Tokyo Underground' by Richard Marzano with art by Malo Kerfriden is the first half of a story told with two halves. How it turns out will have to wait until the second volume.
Asami is a sociology student who is studying otaku for her thesis. She mainly talks to the cute girls who dress like school girls and maids to attract the attention of the otaku. Meanwhile, local prostitutes have caught the unwanted attention of a serial killer who is collecting parts of their bodies. Inspector Arakawa and his young assistant are looking in to the murders. As Asami gets further in to the world of the Otaku, she gets an invite to meet with mysterious and famous otaku, Buntaro. Could the two stories have a common link?
They most assuredly must, but there are a lot of red herrings being thrown out at this point. I liked the art quite a lot, but the story feels like it's moving slow at this point. Perhaps things pick up a bit in the second half. The cover drew me in, and I think it's quite striking.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Asami is a sociology student who is studying otaku for her thesis. She mainly talks to the cute girls who dress like school girls and maids to attract the attention of the otaku. Meanwhile, local prostitutes have caught the unwanted attention of a serial killer who is collecting parts of their bodies. Inspector Arakawa and his young assistant are looking in to the murders. As Asami gets further in to the world of the Otaku, she gets an invite to meet with mysterious and famous otaku, Buntaro. Could the two stories have a common link?
They most assuredly must, but there are a lot of red herrings being thrown out at this point. I liked the art quite a lot, but the story feels like it's moving slow at this point. Perhaps things pick up a bit in the second half. The cover drew me in, and I think it's quite striking.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
April 20, 2019
My thanks to Europe Comics for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Tokyo Underground: Otaku Blue #1’ by Richard Marazano with art by Malo Kerfriden in exchange for an honest review. It was originally published in France in 2012 and translated by Edward Gauvin. This is the first in a two-part story.
In present day Tokyo Asami is a sociology student working on her thesis. Her subject is Otaku, a Japanese subculture of people with obsessive interests. She is also having relationship issues with her boyfriend, a young filmmaker currently working on J-horror.
Meanwhile, Inspector Kioski Arakawa of the Metropolitan Police is investigating a series of brutal murders. The victims are prostitutes and the killer is taking body parts from each. By the final panels these two stories begin to converge.
It’s a little hard to judge part of a story though I found that I was quite caught up in the story, which is quite different to previous graphic novels that I have read. It serves to introduce the characters and setting.
I found Asami an appealing protagonist and the writer and artist were quite adept at conveying her character and conflicts. Inspector Arakawa was a more familiar character embodying universal aspects of jaded police detectives the world over.
The artwork aims for a realistic approach rather than manga and I liked it, especially in terms of capturing a sense of the cityscape of Tokyo.
I hope that there’s enough interest for the second part to be made available in English.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
In present day Tokyo Asami is a sociology student working on her thesis. Her subject is Otaku, a Japanese subculture of people with obsessive interests. She is also having relationship issues with her boyfriend, a young filmmaker currently working on J-horror.
Meanwhile, Inspector Kioski Arakawa of the Metropolitan Police is investigating a series of brutal murders. The victims are prostitutes and the killer is taking body parts from each. By the final panels these two stories begin to converge.
It’s a little hard to judge part of a story though I found that I was quite caught up in the story, which is quite different to previous graphic novels that I have read. It serves to introduce the characters and setting.
I found Asami an appealing protagonist and the writer and artist were quite adept at conveying her character and conflicts. Inspector Arakawa was a more familiar character embodying universal aspects of jaded police detectives the world over.
The artwork aims for a realistic approach rather than manga and I liked it, especially in terms of capturing a sense of the cityscape of Tokyo.
I hope that there’s enough interest for the second part to be made available in English.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
May 18, 2019
Interesting premise but a little too short. Basically, it's three different stories that may or may not tie in together. You have two police officers investigating a series of murders, mainly of young prostitutes in which the serial killer harvests one body part from each woman. The detectives get a little bit of a story arc and you get to see some of the secrets they are hiding.
Then there's Kotaru, an aspiring film maker and incredibly crappy boyfriend who is always busy on his sets but of course gets mad at his girlfriend when she can't drop her life and go do something with him - which usually means getting dragged to some old horror movie.
The main story is Kotaru's girlfriend Asami, a sociology graduate student working on her thesis which centers around Japan's Otaku culture. She's always busy with her project and her side job working at a maid cafe. During the course of her research a professional "Gothic Lolita" befriends her and gets her to connect with the ultimate Otaku - a man known only as his online persona Buntaro.
Towards the end of the story we also start to see the beginning of Buntaro's story and what he's all about, which may not be good, since he's very mysterious and kind of creepy.
Will definitely want to read volume 2 to see what comes next.
Then there's Kotaru, an aspiring film maker and incredibly crappy boyfriend who is always busy on his sets but of course gets mad at his girlfriend when she can't drop her life and go do something with him - which usually means getting dragged to some old horror movie.
The main story is Kotaru's girlfriend Asami, a sociology graduate student working on her thesis which centers around Japan's Otaku culture. She's always busy with her project and her side job working at a maid cafe. During the course of her research a professional "Gothic Lolita" befriends her and gets her to connect with the ultimate Otaku - a man known only as his online persona Buntaro.
Towards the end of the story we also start to see the beginning of Buntaro's story and what he's all about, which may not be good, since he's very mysterious and kind of creepy.
Will definitely want to read volume 2 to see what comes next.
April 10, 2019
Seven years before the publishers felt the urge to put this into English goes some way towards suggesting it may not be the best book out there. A young woman trying to work out the psychology of all that wacky Japanese dressing-up cos-play lifestyle struggles too to keep her relationship going with a horror film worker (who seems to have a grand total of one colleague). Meanwhile a real nasty type is killing off street workers and taking bits of their bodies for his own delectation. Could our heroine be about to suddenly, unwittingly fall into this even darker world?
Well no, for this does nothing suddenly, being far too wordy, over-long and over-wrought. The junior cop using his regular hooker as a sounding board, yack and yack about dressing up, and the actual thesis for the woman's study, which doesn't read as very interesting or at all plausible, drag this down, and it all feels rather skippable. There is only one other volume of this story to come, but I can't see me rushing to get a look.
Well no, for this does nothing suddenly, being far too wordy, over-long and over-wrought. The junior cop using his regular hooker as a sounding board, yack and yack about dressing up, and the actual thesis for the woman's study, which doesn't read as very interesting or at all plausible, drag this down, and it all feels rather skippable. There is only one other volume of this story to come, but I can't see me rushing to get a look.
April 10, 2019
|| Book Review - Otaku Blue ||
|| Tokyo Underground 1 ||
3 Stars, ***/5
I've been on a bit of a graphic novel kick lately and I picked up a digital copy of Otaku Blue - Tokyo Underground 1 by Richard Marazano and Malo Kerfriden from NetGalley and Europe Comics and read it in one sitting.
The comic, for mature audiences, is about a young women studying the sociological implications of Otaku culture in the midst of an active investigation into a serial killer who is targeting sex workers. The art is wonderful and the story, while a bit sluggish, is interesting. This was really only a taste and is the first in a multi-part story so I didn't get to see any resolution. However, I am hooked and will definitely keep reading this.
I'd recommend this to any adult who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, and graphic novels.
|| Tokyo Underground 1 ||
3 Stars, ***/5
I've been on a bit of a graphic novel kick lately and I picked up a digital copy of Otaku Blue - Tokyo Underground 1 by Richard Marazano and Malo Kerfriden from NetGalley and Europe Comics and read it in one sitting.
The comic, for mature audiences, is about a young women studying the sociological implications of Otaku culture in the midst of an active investigation into a serial killer who is targeting sex workers. The art is wonderful and the story, while a bit sluggish, is interesting. This was really only a taste and is the first in a multi-part story so I didn't get to see any resolution. However, I am hooked and will definitely keep reading this.
I'd recommend this to any adult who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, and graphic novels.
July 5, 2025
Je ne lis pas de BD, ça n’a jamais été trop mon truc mais j’aimerais bien réessayer (je n’ai pas tenté de lire une BD depuis le collège). Je pense que le format roman graphique est beaucoup plus convainquant pour moi. Je vais lire le deuxième tome histoire d’avoir la conclusion du récit, mais ne pas l’avoir ne m’empêcherait pas de dormir. Je trouve l’héroïne agaçante, voir détestable, et son amie n’est pas mieux. Pourtant, le résumé sur la quatrième de couverture avait tout pour me plaire, mais dans les faits, je trouve les méthodes d’Asami assez étranges et incohérentes. Le seul perso pour qui j’ai de la compassion est son copain, qui tente de lui accorder du temps, d’être là pour elle et tout ce qu’il y gagne, c’est de se faire quitter sans raison. Bref, ça ne donne pas envie de s’accrocher aux personnages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2019
I recieved this ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
First of all, I didn't like the art style in the slightest. I was expecting it to be more towards the Japanese manga, which it was not. Secondly, the structure of the manga was very un-clear, which made me not enjoy it - no chapter breaks or anything. Also, the story is quite predictable... So yeah, not my cup of tea overall, but it's a fast read with two detective-research type of narratives, so if you're into that type of thing you might very well enjoy it!
First of all, I didn't like the art style in the slightest. I was expecting it to be more towards the Japanese manga, which it was not. Secondly, the structure of the manga was very un-clear, which made me not enjoy it - no chapter breaks or anything. Also, the story is quite predictable... So yeah, not my cup of tea overall, but it's a fast read with two detective-research type of narratives, so if you're into that type of thing you might very well enjoy it!
May 25, 2019
An interesting and original story. The pacing felt a bit off though. Although it ended at a natural point it was a bit slow. While I'm curious enough about the story to pick up Volume 2, there are quite a few threads that need to be resolved, so hopefully it isn't going to be a mad rush to get it all in so the story doesn't flow or make sense. Beautiful cover. Although the interior artwork was decent, it would have been truly swoon-worthy if the story art was similar to the cover art.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the reading copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the reading copy.
June 24, 2023
A sociology student in Tokyo is investigating Otaku for her thesis. Otaku is some kind of fetish that girls dress in cosplay or something, it wasn't explained well at all. Her relationship with her boyfriend is also falling apart as he's filming a J-horror film. Then there's two police detectives investigating a series of murders where a different body part is cut off a young woman. This should be exciting but it's all very boring. The artist is technically talented but all of the characters look the same and I had a hard time telling them apart.
April 17, 2019
I was left a bit confused on how these stories could be connected, and I had many theories regarding who could be the killer. However, the final scene is almost like a declaration about it. I want to keep an open mind and believe that this was just a trick, that the killer will not be the most obvious option, and wait for the next volume. The style was nice enough and entertaining to keep going, nd I liked the art a lot, so I want to keep my faith in Otaku Blue.
June 9, 2019
Me han gustado las ilustraciones pero no le he pillado el gusto a la historia, quizás porque es la primera parte pero la verdad no ha conseguido engancharme aunque la trama del detective te deja intrigado. Gracias a #NetGalley por una copia avanzada a cambio de mi honesta opinion.
October 11, 2022
3.5 Stars.
A thriller set in Tokyo with a collector serial killer. It started slow but by the end you find yourself really captivated by the story. I liked it and I'm starting the second one right now after that cliffhanger!
A thriller set in Tokyo with a collector serial killer. It started slow but by the end you find yourself really captivated by the story. I liked it and I'm starting the second one right now after that cliffhanger!
April 29, 2019
Love the storyline and the illustrations. And to stop right there at the end of this volume is just pure evil. I’m truly caught hook line and sinker for Otaku Blue.
November 8, 2020
A story about a young woman investigating the psychology of Japanese popular culture fans.
June 16, 2021
Great graphic and interesting plot if a little dark. Not exactly what I expected. However, it was well written. Worth the read.
November 9, 2022
L'histoire est pas mal jusqu'à maintenant, les personnages sont bien définis, mais les bulles de dialogues et les enchaînements de cases et de scènes sont un peu difficiles à suivre par moment.
Read
November 14, 2021My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.
A few months back I did what any good book blogger does and logged into NetGalley to submit some reviews. Also, I did what any easily persuaded book blogger does too and y’know accidentally grabbed a few Graphic Novels that caught my eye. Tokyo Underground was one of them.
Please note: The full graphic novel’s title is Otaku Blue, but the chapter/volume that’s available is simply Tokyo Underground. Only the title page and Goodreads make this apparent – not NetGalley.
Tokyo Underground opens as many mystery’s do – a shocking scene to grab the reader’s attention. This one was two police inspecting a murder scene – the victim a prostitue with a body part missing. She’s the first of many and each are found with a different part missing. Throughout the graphic novel the cops make some gross comments about the victims which made me feel uncomfortable. There’s adding humour to make their jobs easier, and there’s gross I don’t wanna read any more.
Asami and her thesis
Shortly after we meet our protagonist, Asami, a student struggling with her thesis on Otaku and Otaku culture.
(Also she has a very shitty, controlling, and emotionally manipulative boyfriend. I want to throw him out with the trash.)
As Asami isn’t an otaku herself she has to figure out what area of the culture she wants to focus on. After joining online message boards a group of otaku’s volunteer to being interviewed, but also help to find her an otaku style she can be comfortable in whilst joining them at conventions.
As she delves further into the otaku lifestyle she gains the attention of a legend otaku – Mr Buntaro. Who I personally felt was very creepy from the get go, but Asami is so focused on getting her thesis finished she accepts his attention in hopes to interview him.
Dangerous Otakus?
Now can I bring your attention back to the start with the murdered lady and the ones that are found throughout the story, parallel with Asami’s story.
Yeah weird huh?
Whilst this chapter/volume doesn’t confirm the murderer and Mr Buntaro are one and the same. It is strongly hinted at. I would be very surprised if it turns out any other way.
This is where my main concerns with the graphic novel are and why I gave it two stars. Should the Mr Buntaro and the murderer be the same, then isn’t this heavily leaning into the negative connotations that otaku’s already have to deal with? Is this a storyline a non-Japanese author should be taking?
Or perhaps they’re not the same, and it’s only heavily implied to lean into that stereotype and prove us wrong for jumping to that conclusion?
I want to hope it’s the latter but there is a lot that suggests otherwise. Plus they’d need to introduce another reason these two storylines are unfolding side by side.
It would be a nice twist if it’s actually the shitty boyfriend who is the murderer though!
I can only be hopeful for that.
Will I continue this series?
Needless to say this was an okay introduction to Otaku Blue. However I don’t think I can recommend it being read this way. I believe this story will work better as a completed piece. I would be tempted to read the second part to see if it grabs my attention further.
Lastly, as I haven’t touched upon it yet, the art is fine. It does what it needs too and at the very least the characters look Japanese. But ultimately it’s not my preferred aesthetic when selecting graphic novels to read. The cover definitely intrigued me more than the inside.
Anyway, I’m going to leave you with this creepy screenshot of Asami and Mr Duntaro talking so you can get a feel of why I don’t trust him.
A few months back I did what any good book blogger does and logged into NetGalley to submit some reviews. Also, I did what any easily persuaded book blogger does too and y’know accidentally grabbed a few Graphic Novels that caught my eye. Tokyo Underground was one of them.
Please note: The full graphic novel’s title is Otaku Blue, but the chapter/volume that’s available is simply Tokyo Underground. Only the title page and Goodreads make this apparent – not NetGalley.
Tokyo Underground opens as many mystery’s do – a shocking scene to grab the reader’s attention. This one was two police inspecting a murder scene – the victim a prostitue with a body part missing. She’s the first of many and each are found with a different part missing. Throughout the graphic novel the cops make some gross comments about the victims which made me feel uncomfortable. There’s adding humour to make their jobs easier, and there’s gross I don’t wanna read any more.
Asami and her thesis
Shortly after we meet our protagonist, Asami, a student struggling with her thesis on Otaku and Otaku culture.
(Also she has a very shitty, controlling, and emotionally manipulative boyfriend. I want to throw him out with the trash.)
As Asami isn’t an otaku herself she has to figure out what area of the culture she wants to focus on. After joining online message boards a group of otaku’s volunteer to being interviewed, but also help to find her an otaku style she can be comfortable in whilst joining them at conventions.
As she delves further into the otaku lifestyle she gains the attention of a legend otaku – Mr Buntaro. Who I personally felt was very creepy from the get go, but Asami is so focused on getting her thesis finished she accepts his attention in hopes to interview him.
Dangerous Otakus?
Now can I bring your attention back to the start with the murdered lady and the ones that are found throughout the story, parallel with Asami’s story.
Yeah weird huh?
Whilst this chapter/volume doesn’t confirm the murderer and Mr Buntaro are one and the same. It is strongly hinted at. I would be very surprised if it turns out any other way.
This is where my main concerns with the graphic novel are and why I gave it two stars. Should the Mr Buntaro and the murderer be the same, then isn’t this heavily leaning into the negative connotations that otaku’s already have to deal with? Is this a storyline a non-Japanese author should be taking?
Or perhaps they’re not the same, and it’s only heavily implied to lean into that stereotype and prove us wrong for jumping to that conclusion?
I want to hope it’s the latter but there is a lot that suggests otherwise. Plus they’d need to introduce another reason these two storylines are unfolding side by side.
It would be a nice twist if it’s actually the shitty boyfriend who is the murderer though!
I can only be hopeful for that.
Will I continue this series?
Needless to say this was an okay introduction to Otaku Blue. However I don’t think I can recommend it being read this way. I believe this story will work better as a completed piece. I would be tempted to read the second part to see if it grabs my attention further.
Lastly, as I haven’t touched upon it yet, the art is fine. It does what it needs too and at the very least the characters look Japanese. But ultimately it’s not my preferred aesthetic when selecting graphic novels to read. The cover definitely intrigued me more than the inside.
Anyway, I’m going to leave you with this creepy screenshot of Asami and Mr Duntaro talking so you can get a feel of why I don’t trust him.
March 4, 2017
Excellente histoire avec un portrait juste de la culture japonaise!
March 30, 2015
La couverture et le thème de cette bande dessinée m'avaient emballés et j'ai trouvé dommage que les dessins de l'album soient si froids. J'ai vraiment remarqué que les expressions du visage des personnages étaient trop figées, trop inexpressives justement. Alors oui, au Japon, on ne montre pas ses craintes, ses déceptions, ses joies car cela est impoli. On se doit d'être exemplaire quoiqu'il arrive, mais là, c'était un peu trop car il y a des situations où forcément les protagonistes se lâchent un peu plus. Il y avait trop de distance entre le texte des bulles et les illustrations.
L'intrigue est pour autant pas mal. L'histoire complète est en seulement deux tomes donc pas de temps morts ou de digressions sans importances. Un bon point.
Bon découpage des scènes même si là aussi on aurait peut-être pu mettre l'accent sur des visages ou des silhouettes plus parlantes.
Les personnages, j'y reviens, m'ont laissé perplexe alors qu'ils sont certainement plus intéressants que cela. Je mets cela sur le compte sur manque d'expression sur leur faciès. La mono expression, cela ne m'aide pas et même cela m'a un peu gâché mon plaisir de lecture.
Résultat, j'ai envie de lire la suite et la fin car l'intrigue est palpitante, mais possible que je traine un peu les pieds...
L'intrigue est pour autant pas mal. L'histoire complète est en seulement deux tomes donc pas de temps morts ou de digressions sans importances. Un bon point.
Bon découpage des scènes même si là aussi on aurait peut-être pu mettre l'accent sur des visages ou des silhouettes plus parlantes.
Les personnages, j'y reviens, m'ont laissé perplexe alors qu'ils sont certainement plus intéressants que cela. Je mets cela sur le compte sur manque d'expression sur leur faciès. La mono expression, cela ne m'aide pas et même cela m'a un peu gâché mon plaisir de lecture.
Résultat, j'ai envie de lire la suite et la fin car l'intrigue est palpitante, mais possible que je traine un peu les pieds...
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