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Persona 4 #1
Persona 4, Vol. 1
Following a string of mysterious murders, transfer student Soji Seta and his new friends have followed the legend of the Midnight Channel and found themselves pulled into another dimension! In this twisted TV world, a person s innermost secrets materialize as a Shadow an entity that may become a powerful ally, or something much worse Based on the popular Persona 4 video game!"
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2009
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January 22, 2023As with Jim Carrey's
The Mask
, there's some profound shit here about how the collective unconscious is constituted by narrative media, historically-specific arrays of mnemonic and memetic technologies (oral storytelling, plays, novels, operas, newspaper comics, films, games, feeds; fires, theatres, libraries, train stations, cinemas, personal computers, phones).
Both Persona 4 and The Mask centre on television as a field of the unconscious, moving out of the atomised space of Freud, with his obsessions over biology and destiny, and into a more postmodern space concerned with discourse and subjectivity.
While the protagonist of The Mask resembles the unhinged psychotic Freud feared was at the centre of us all, this psychotic subject is expressed only through references to pop culture. The Mask is obscene because he is all surface, an automaton chaining together an array of short skits from Mickey Mouse to Looney Tunes, in a mode eerily similar to, and prophetic of, the TikTok feed, as well as the memefucked manifestos of mass shooters.
The shadows of Persona 4 are similarly obscene. They emerge on television screens, beginning half-formed in static before coalescing into reality TV stars. Such shadows are spectacular, alien others who appear to have the authentic relations to themselves that the characters themselves lack. Though each character's shadow reveals shameful aspects of themselves, they do so with revelry. There's a deep irony to such articulations, constituted through a televisual genre whose claims to verity drip with cynicism.
I don't think these texts are pessimistic, however. By resituating the unconscious into narrative media, they free us of those who would use essentialist claims to control and contain us. If anything, Persona 4 and The Mask are warnings. The unconscious is a space both spectral and all-too-material, where certain media conglomerates are so powerful they can completely cuck Jim Carrey's mind, and where the truth of our desires may only be spied as a distorted image on reality TV. It's not so much that authenticity doesn't exist, but that it can only be grasped through otherness. This otherness is political. It's not radically other, but absolutely mundane. It's all around us.
It's what you're looking at.
Both Persona 4 and The Mask centre on television as a field of the unconscious, moving out of the atomised space of Freud, with his obsessions over biology and destiny, and into a more postmodern space concerned with discourse and subjectivity.
While the protagonist of The Mask resembles the unhinged psychotic Freud feared was at the centre of us all, this psychotic subject is expressed only through references to pop culture. The Mask is obscene because he is all surface, an automaton chaining together an array of short skits from Mickey Mouse to Looney Tunes, in a mode eerily similar to, and prophetic of, the TikTok feed, as well as the memefucked manifestos of mass shooters.
The shadows of Persona 4 are similarly obscene. They emerge on television screens, beginning half-formed in static before coalescing into reality TV stars. Such shadows are spectacular, alien others who appear to have the authentic relations to themselves that the characters themselves lack. Though each character's shadow reveals shameful aspects of themselves, they do so with revelry. There's a deep irony to such articulations, constituted through a televisual genre whose claims to verity drip with cynicism.
I don't think these texts are pessimistic, however. By resituating the unconscious into narrative media, they free us of those who would use essentialist claims to control and contain us. If anything, Persona 4 and The Mask are warnings. The unconscious is a space both spectral and all-too-material, where certain media conglomerates are so powerful they can completely cuck Jim Carrey's mind, and where the truth of our desires may only be spied as a distorted image on reality TV. It's not so much that authenticity doesn't exist, but that it can only be grasped through otherness. This otherness is political. It's not radically other, but absolutely mundane. It's all around us.
It's what you're looking at.
It's time for you to wake up to your role. Who are you? You said you were connected to yourself, but are you really? You're not believable as a reporter or a father. The world is full of lies and people can't play their roles convincingly. They fail as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children. So the only way to figure out what we can be is to lie openly and pursue emptiness.
- Noriko's Dinner Table
You're a part of me, but I'd been rejecting you this whole time. I've been thinking about which "side" of me is the real me, but it was wrong of me to think of it that way. There is no such thing as a "real me".
- Persona 4
May 12, 2019
This is one of my FAVOURITE games that I have ever played!! I’ve spent so long in it that I feel like I know the characters as people!! I’ve watched the anime too and now it’s onto the Manga!!! How could I not LOVE this!!
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous and totally true to the original piece of entertainment!! One thing I do find a little difficult to get to grips with is the action sequence that’s shown here. Obviously it’s a more physical deal in the manga so we’re missing out on some magical elements!! However, some of the artwork is blurred and sometimes it appears that our main characters persona has multiple knives out of nowhere but other than that its great!!
I really love that in the manga, the main character has a voice!! He doesn’t talk much, but I think that’s because one of the other main characters in the party is the viewpoint for this volume!! I really like that aspect too as we get the story from another character rather than the main character that we play in the game.
One thing I don’t like is how the personas are just brought in. I know the main characters personas name but not because of the manga. He appears and it really isn’t referenced other than the fact that he’s there kicking ass.! The same with Yosuke’s persona. I’m hoping that their characters/names will at least be referenced in coming volumes!!
Altogether a great manga that stays true to the source material but has all the heart and identity of its own self!! Love it and would fully recommend!! Vol 2 in the near future
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous and totally true to the original piece of entertainment!! One thing I do find a little difficult to get to grips with is the action sequence that’s shown here. Obviously it’s a more physical deal in the manga so we’re missing out on some magical elements!! However, some of the artwork is blurred and sometimes it appears that our main characters persona has multiple knives out of nowhere but other than that its great!!
I really love that in the manga, the main character has a voice!! He doesn’t talk much, but I think that’s because one of the other main characters in the party is the viewpoint for this volume!! I really like that aspect too as we get the story from another character rather than the main character that we play in the game.
One thing I don’t like is how the personas are just brought in. I know the main characters personas name but not because of the manga. He appears and it really isn’t referenced other than the fact that he’s there kicking ass.! The same with Yosuke’s persona. I’m hoping that their characters/names will at least be referenced in coming volumes!!
Altogether a great manga that stays true to the source material but has all the heart and identity of its own self!! Love it and would fully recommend!! Vol 2 in the near future
June 25, 2023
Great game and pretty good manga!
December 15, 2017
As a fan of the Persona series, I really found this manga to be very enjoyable. The story is about this boy, named Soji Seta, who transfers to a new high school in Inaba. Soji meets friends like Yosuke & Chie and hears about this one mysterious channel that only appears at midnight, both Soji and Yosuke decide to see this and find out if its true. When the midnight channel appeared they saw a mysterious girl from school, who was found murdered the next day... I won't say much more but this manga really keeps coming back for more. I find both the story and most its characters to be quite interesting, it also uses things from Greek and Japanese mythology. All in all, this manga, like its video game and anime counterparts, was really awesome and I enjoyed it all the way through!
June 25, 2024
Not my favourite adaptation.
📺 I enjoyed the art!! The art style just looks so nice to me and the battles are very interesting to me. I don't read a lot of action mangas so I don't know how common it is but I liked the full page spread.
📺 Characterization of Yosuke was very good. Based on the Character Notes the writer obviously put a lot of thought into his role.
📺 Yu Narukami doesn't get to be the main character?? I dislike this choice because while it allows us to see the perspective of other characters it devoids us from having that (much needed) perspective of Yu. Since he is a blank slate in the game, it is crucial we develop a personality here. While we do get a run down at the start (distant, always moving) we then immediately cut to Yosuke. And Yosuke's primary belief is that Yu is just so cool.
📺 Does a poor job at introducing the cast + set up. Yukiko has maybe one panel, Adachi is only cameo'd, and Nanako doesn't get her sad moments. I wouldn't be so torn up if it weren't for the fact that right after this volume and Yosuke gets his persona, we are thrown right into Yukiko going missing. If she isn't properly set up in the first volume I don't really care what happens to her in the second.
📺 I'm holding out for this manga because I really like this game!!
📺 I enjoyed the art!! The art style just looks so nice to me and the battles are very interesting to me. I don't read a lot of action mangas so I don't know how common it is but I liked the full page spread.
📺 Characterization of Yosuke was very good. Based on the Character Notes the writer obviously put a lot of thought into his role.
📺 Yu Narukami doesn't get to be the main character?? I dislike this choice because while it allows us to see the perspective of other characters it devoids us from having that (much needed) perspective of Yu. Since he is a blank slate in the game, it is crucial we develop a personality here. While we do get a run down at the start (distant, always moving) we then immediately cut to Yosuke. And Yosuke's primary belief is that Yu is just so cool.
📺 Does a poor job at introducing the cast + set up. Yukiko has maybe one panel, Adachi is only cameo'd, and Nanako doesn't get her sad moments. I wouldn't be so torn up if it weren't for the fact that right after this volume and Yosuke gets his persona, we are thrown right into Yukiko going missing. If she isn't properly set up in the first volume I don't really care what happens to her in the second.
📺 I'm holding out for this manga because I really like this game!!
August 13, 2019
Interesting story, but the combat is indecipherable and far too close up. The atmosphere is made both creepy and bright with the cuteness of characters serving to highlight horror.
Characterization. Soji is given a mild back story, but then once he receives his Persona, becomes the every hero: bad-ass, full of conviction, looking down at weaklings. Where is this character development coming from? It seems incongruent with what we know of him so far, a military-like child with no long term friends, constantly moving from one place to another. Yosuke is given the most back story, one that sounds believable, but his move from denial of the shadow to redemption feels cartoony, odd considering that he is supposed to be a manager at Jones. The females do not yet get enough time to personify much. Ah well, these are fairly minor nitpicks considering this is an adapation from game, and not the other way around. Will check out the next volume.
*Note, I have not played Persona.*
Characterization. Soji is given a mild back story, but then once he receives his Persona, becomes the every hero: bad-ass, full of conviction, looking down at weaklings. Where is this character development coming from? It seems incongruent with what we know of him so far, a military-like child with no long term friends, constantly moving from one place to another. Yosuke is given the most back story, one that sounds believable, but his move from denial of the shadow to redemption feels cartoony, odd considering that he is supposed to be a manager at Jones. The females do not yet get enough time to personify much. Ah well, these are fairly minor nitpicks considering this is an adapation from game, and not the other way around. Will check out the next volume.
*Note, I have not played Persona.*
November 27, 2019
What better to relive a good game franchise than to read the manga adaptation?
I borrowed this from the library hoping to recap on my Persona knowledge and love. It's been too long since I've played the game (or any in general...). Unfortunately, I was reading the mangaka's notes that warned about how some plot details had to be skimmed and trimmed out to make way for the main story. I guess it wasn't that big of a deal in this volume, but I hope it won't be the same way for any of the others in the future. It's already bad enough for a fan like me to watch anime that takes a different approach to the story (spinoff-wise). It feels as though it sort of urges me to play the game (when I can't right now) to get the full experience instead of dealing with 85% of the story being shown in different platforms.
I digress. The first volume was great, overall. I wanted to relive the story, and I feel for the most part that I did. Hoping to grab the second volume here soon!
I borrowed this from the library hoping to recap on my Persona knowledge and love. It's been too long since I've played the game (or any in general...). Unfortunately, I was reading the mangaka's notes that warned about how some plot details had to be skimmed and trimmed out to make way for the main story. I guess it wasn't that big of a deal in this volume, but I hope it won't be the same way for any of the others in the future. It's already bad enough for a fan like me to watch anime that takes a different approach to the story (spinoff-wise). It feels as though it sort of urges me to play the game (when I can't right now) to get the full experience instead of dealing with 85% of the story being shown in different platforms.
I digress. The first volume was great, overall. I wanted to relive the story, and I feel for the most part that I did. Hoping to grab the second volume here soon!
December 28, 2023
4 ⭐️
I love the art style in this manga!! Especially the way it’s colored on the cover and back of the book!
My favorite thing is Yu (I won’t call him Soji fuck you >:( also I’m used to it being spelled like ‘Souji’ lol) being all emo like “I have to hold people at an arms length because I move all the time so I can’t get attached,,,” Little does he know, he’s about to make the strongest friendships of his LIFE.
Also I like how even though we aren’t gonna be able to do people’s social links like in the game, we still got to see how Yosuke’s max social link plays out in this verse. The author did say Yosuke was going to start out on his max social link and he did, bros were really brawling on the shadow realm whilst Chie thought they died LMFAO
I wonder if they’ll do similar things for the other characters or no :0 I’m hoping not bc I’m gatekeeping Yu. As he’s dating Yosuke (Source: Bro trust me).
I love the art style in this manga!! Especially the way it’s colored on the cover and back of the book!
My favorite thing is Yu (I won’t call him Soji fuck you >:( also I’m used to it being spelled like ‘Souji’ lol) being all emo like “I have to hold people at an arms length because I move all the time so I can’t get attached,,,” Little does he know, he’s about to make the strongest friendships of his LIFE.
Also I like how even though we aren’t gonna be able to do people’s social links like in the game, we still got to see how Yosuke’s max social link plays out in this verse. The author did say Yosuke was going to start out on his max social link and he did, bros were really brawling on the shadow realm whilst Chie thought they died LMFAO
I wonder if they’ll do similar things for the other characters or no :0 I’m hoping not bc I’m gatekeeping Yu. As he’s dating Yosuke (Source: Bro trust me).
January 17, 2024
This was a really solid start to the series. Starting this volume off, I was worried with how the author is focusing on only the main plot of Persona 4, since much of the game's charm came from the characters and their interactions, but I can already see some of that shining through in this volume. The pacing, though, is really fast, probably because there's only so much time for an entire game's story. Now that we're past the intro and setting up of the story, I hope the pacing gets better. The handling of Yosuke's shadow was phenomenal, 5 out of 5 star moment. It reminded me of why I loved the game so much. The author then inserts his rank 10 social link, which feels really out of place so early on. I'm really optimistic for where the story's going.
August 14, 2019
I don't know if I've just been over-saturated by Persona4 stuff - I love the anime, and though I haven't played the game (never owned the consoles Persona is on) I know all the twists and turns of the plot - but this just wasn't very exciting. I thought the writing was dry (and like the best part of the anime is the banter) and it just didn't excite me. I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next volume even though my library has it.
March 14, 2021
Wasn't sure if I'd end up liking this book, considering the Persona games have a silent protag. But I really enjoyed. The fact we were put in Yusuke's prospective after a certain point I really appreciated because it allowed us to see what he sees when the protag is fighting in game. And the way his feelings, thoughts were written really made me feel like Yusuke was the original protag. Can't wait to start the second book.
January 2, 2025
Fun manga - it’s been awhile since I’ve played P4 and this volume has been a fun way to revisit it. There are some really good panels in this volume and settings/characters are very true to the original design. They shuffled just a little bit around in this first volume, but in a way that I thought actually improved the story! My only complaint is….his name is Yu. I don’t know why but Soji Seta just bothers me!
May 16, 2017
It's Persona 4. If you played the game or watched the anime, its a pretty faithful retelling of the story. Still fantastic. Persona 4 is one of my favorite universes ever. The only jarring thing is by this point I accepted that the otherwise silent protagonist's name was Yu Narukami. So when they called him something else it just felt off. Everything else is perfect.
I love Persona 4.
I love Persona 4.
June 12, 2021
So... I am coming into the manga kind of blind. I have not played persona 4 yet but I have watched some lets plays of this version. I would say I was not really paying attention to the lets plays in the beginning but I feel I connected way more with the manga here. And Yosuke's introduction... I almost shed some tears. What a great introduction to this season.
December 23, 2022
I might be biased because Persona 4 is in my top 5 games literally ever, but this volume focused on my boy Yosuke and it revived my special interest. Does a decent enough job at adapting, and I like some of the personality interpretation for the main character (although his name will forever be Narukami for me, but that's personal taste)
October 3, 2024
A good comic adaptation of the Persona 4 video game. Shuji Sogabe's art is clear and crisp and the writing is very close to the game. I can't remember the beginning of the game well now, so I like having a refresher on it. If playing the game is too much trouble then reading the comic series seems like a great substitute.
July 9, 2017
very similar to the anime which i'll say is a pretty good thing. art is also very good and narration is okay. nothing outstanding though especially since i've seen the anime, i already know the 'mystery'.
January 10, 2022
I feel like this first volume provided a super good view of Yosuke and his POV- he's sort of a mirror image of "what could have been" when you post him up against the killer, and I really like the little parallels. Excited to read this manga, I loved the game so much
September 30, 2017
Based on a game, which probably explains why the story slides from broody teen angst into spectacular battles as it goes along. The human stuff worked much better than the adventure stuff.
January 1, 2018
PURSE OWNEEEEEER.
...highly recommend this game/francise. The manga...Im not a manga fan really but I enjoyed this because I enjoy the games!
...highly recommend this game/francise. The manga...Im not a manga fan really but I enjoyed this because I enjoy the games!
July 21, 2020
Critical Score: 4
Personal Score: 4.25
Total Score: 8.25
Personal Score: 4.25
Total Score: 8.25
February 23, 2021
I probably should have played the game before reading the manga but it was still really interesting.
July 19, 2021
A really good manga adaptation of one of the greatest video games ever made.
January 5, 2022
Cracked
April 23, 2023
I am so obsessed with the game. Number one hyperfixation right now so I got the first two Mangas. I LOVE IT. IT MADE MY HEART SO HAPPY. It's a game, anime, and Manga. It's the best
September 3, 2023
With no context of the game or anime, this was really hard to follow and maybe not enough world building/concept explaining upfront for someone not familiar with anything from the series.
November 25, 2023
Not as pretty as Persona 3 also too much text.
I read the first and left it at that.
I read the first and left it at that.
March 23, 2024
I've played the game multiple times, so I'm probably biased since I already understand the insanity.
August 17, 2024
ill never stop consuming fatlus content. love this game and what lovely adaptations come from it, including this manga!
November 6, 2024
Not my favorite manga, but it was pretty good.
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