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Scumbag Loser
High-schooler Masahiko Murai has exactly one thing going for a keen sense of smell. Not exactly the sort of defining trait that helps someone become one of the popular kids, especially given the malodorous scents he finds particularly appealing. But that's okay. He's set the bar pretty low in terms of his expectations. He doesn't have to be cool or popular -- or even liked. Just as long as he isn't the biggest loser, he can get by.
As luck would have it, there's always been one rung lower on his class's social ladder, but when the "biggest loser" gets a girlfriend, a panicked Masahiko pulls a name out of his past -- Haruka Mizusawa -- playing the long-distance relationship card in a desperate attempt to keep his worst nightmare from becoming reality. Naturally everyone's skeptical, but when Haruka shows up at school the next day and backs up Masahiko's story, their skepticism is quickly laid to rest. You'd think that Masahiko was off the hook...
But what he failed to share with his classmates was that Haruka actually died years earlier...so who's turned up wearing her face, and why is she playing along with him at all...? Masahiko's about to learn that there are far more horrifying fates than being the biggest loser in school...
As luck would have it, there's always been one rung lower on his class's social ladder, but when the "biggest loser" gets a girlfriend, a panicked Masahiko pulls a name out of his past -- Haruka Mizusawa -- playing the long-distance relationship card in a desperate attempt to keep his worst nightmare from becoming reality. Naturally everyone's skeptical, but when Haruka shows up at school the next day and backs up Masahiko's story, their skepticism is quickly laid to rest. You'd think that Masahiko was off the hook...
But what he failed to share with his classmates was that Haruka actually died years earlier...so who's turned up wearing her face, and why is she playing along with him at all...? Masahiko's about to learn that there are far more horrifying fates than being the biggest loser in school...
600 pages, Paperback
Published November 29, 2016
7 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 5, 2017
Beneath this creepy scary shit is a tale of acceptance and hope of love from those you want it from.
January 22, 2019
This book was surprisingly much better than I expected. The art isn't my stile, but it makes a difference when talking about who the "scumbag losers" are. I also wasn't really expecting the creep factor and the amount of gore. The description didn't hit that for me at all, so that was an interesting premise.
April 25, 2022
Masuhiko is deemed the biggest scumbag loser in his area and suffers at the bottom of the social ladder. He's ruthlessly bullied at school and abused at home. He's also a perverted weirdo dealing with some severe psychological issues and obsessions. Things seem to turn around for the better when his childhood friend Haruka transfers to his school and proudly declares her love for him in front of his whole class. Once he starts dating the prettiest girl in school, everyone begins to respect him. There's only one problem. Unknown to everyone but Masuhiko, his childhood friend was brutally murdered five years ago. So who is this strange girl posing as her?
This manga was a big surprise. It starts off as a creepy and gross story about an unlikable high school student deemed the biggest scumbag loser in his area. Over the course of the story though, it evolves into a genuinely intense psychological drama that explores the minds of troubled young outcasts. It makes you sympathize with them and understand how they became the way they are in spite of how bad they can be at times.
The character development is truly impressive considering this manga is only 15 chapters. Masuhiko is a deranged pervert with serious issues, yet he develops so much in so little time that he ended up becoming the most tragic, sympathetic and likable person in the entire story for me. I wasn't expecting to end up liking him as much as I did considering the multiple awful first impressions he gave me.
Overall, the story seems to be a huge criticism of social hierarchies and how it's unfair to deem people as losers just because they don't fit into certain groups or have certain aspects of their character that might seem unsavory to some. At the end of the day, even the most flawed people are needed by someone, and they're all capable of doing good things regardless of their faults.
On top of the surprisingly strong character depth, there's also a lot of impressive horror art, creative concepts and gory madness to keep things thrilling.
This manga was a big surprise. It starts off as a creepy and gross story about an unlikable high school student deemed the biggest scumbag loser in his area. Over the course of the story though, it evolves into a genuinely intense psychological drama that explores the minds of troubled young outcasts. It makes you sympathize with them and understand how they became the way they are in spite of how bad they can be at times.
The character development is truly impressive considering this manga is only 15 chapters. Masuhiko is a deranged pervert with serious issues, yet he develops so much in so little time that he ended up becoming the most tragic, sympathetic and likable person in the entire story for me. I wasn't expecting to end up liking him as much as I did considering the multiple awful first impressions he gave me.
Overall, the story seems to be a huge criticism of social hierarchies and how it's unfair to deem people as losers just because they don't fit into certain groups or have certain aspects of their character that might seem unsavory to some. At the end of the day, even the most flawed people are needed by someone, and they're all capable of doing good things regardless of their faults.
On top of the surprisingly strong character depth, there's also a lot of impressive horror art, creative concepts and gory madness to keep things thrilling.
January 6, 2018
This was definitely dramatic and over the top sometimes, but if you look past all the weird crazy stuff going on with the main character there’s an interesting story about acceptance and loving yourself. It was a bit racey at times (a little bit much for my taste) but that’s just mainly the main character’s traits. Overall it was an entertaining read 👌🏻 more of a 3.75 not quite 4 stars
April 12, 2020
I remember when I read this I was like wtf and I really think I need to re-read it.
July 30, 2022
Whenever I read anything, I look a book's strong points. Scumbag Loser has an intriguing premise. The idea of people you know being replaced by otherworldly, foreign or otherwise alien creatures has potential. The first few chapters leave you tense because of the small scale, and every transformed character leaves you with a sense of fear, wondering who could be next. The idea of the "biggest losers" being transformed for the better offers a pseudo-philosophical notion of if they were better off changed.
The story should have ended at Chapter 4. Beyond this point, things go downhill.
There is no more praise I can offer this book. None at all.
Firstly, the characters. Our main protagonist is one of these "losers". An absolute degenerate. A panty-sniffing creep. That in itself is not the problem, after all he is the titular scumbag loser. The problem arises just after the halfway point when the story tries to portray him as some sort of hero. There is no growth, no development. Above all, he is a hypocrite, a massive one, and fails to see it even when people point it out. There are also so many different characters that are introduced and dropped a few chapters later when they serve their purpose, seemingly disappearing and never mentioned again.
Also, the story doesn't seem to follow its own rules. How did the protagonist not change once he supposedly died. And don't say it was because he was only "half transformed" because that is just lazy writing. And the "biggest loser" requirement was completely dropped whenever it seemed convenient. Is it really possible the entire school is filled with bad people?? All ages??? And everyone is a supposed loser????? Bullfuckingshit
Finally, of course, the ending. Once again, our hypocritical protagonist strikes again. How can you preach acceptance when the protagonist hates everyone around him, even to the point where he believes these "losers" should die?? Oh but when the losers actually start dying he is suddenly upset? Something something mortal nihilism shoot in the head. He is no better than the people he is trying to stop, so acting like he is the hero is beyond ridiculous. (And the extra chapter ruined any possible interpretation for the final scene, as if it needed to be spelt out).
An absolute waste of time. Most of these ideas could be found in other manga or anime. Tokyo Ghoul, Attack on Titan, Evangelion and Death Note did all the ideas this manga had and better before this was even written. You want forgiveness? Get religion.
The story should have ended at Chapter 4. Beyond this point, things go downhill.
There is no more praise I can offer this book. None at all.
Firstly, the characters. Our main protagonist is one of these "losers". An absolute degenerate. A panty-sniffing creep. That in itself is not the problem, after all he is the titular scumbag loser. The problem arises just after the halfway point when the story tries to portray him as some sort of hero. There is no growth, no development. Above all, he is a hypocrite, a massive one, and fails to see it even when people point it out. There are also so many different characters that are introduced and dropped a few chapters later when they serve their purpose, seemingly disappearing and never mentioned again.
Also, the story doesn't seem to follow its own rules. How did the protagonist not change once he supposedly died. And don't say it was because he was only "half transformed" because that is just lazy writing. And the "biggest loser" requirement was completely dropped whenever it seemed convenient. Is it really possible the entire school is filled with bad people?? All ages??? And everyone is a supposed loser????? Bullfuckingshit
Finally, of course, the ending. Once again, our hypocritical protagonist strikes again. How can you preach acceptance when the protagonist hates everyone around him, even to the point where he believes these "losers" should die?? Oh but when the losers actually start dying he is suddenly upset? Something something mortal nihilism shoot in the head. He is no better than the people he is trying to stop, so acting like he is the hero is beyond ridiculous. (And the extra chapter ruined any possible interpretation for the final scene, as if it needed to be spelt out).
An absolute waste of time. Most of these ideas could be found in other manga or anime. Tokyo Ghoul, Attack on Titan, Evangelion and Death Note did all the ideas this manga had and better before this was even written. You want forgiveness? Get religion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2025
The ending was unexpected but wrapped most everything up really well. It did leave one potential new plot line that would be cool if the author decided to pursue that but I really don’t think there needs to be another book. The last couple of lines were a bit confusing and you had to really think about it but the bonus pages at the very end explained what they meant without ever saying it outright. Overall I can’t really say I loved the book but I did enjoy it and can see it being a re-read. It takes a surprising dive into love and acceptance but not in a way that makes you feel good or happy and it doesn’t even really redeem the characters for me. My favorite thing about the whole entire book: there’s no hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
I actually really love this series. Yes it’s weird, gross, and uncomfortable in some parts. I pretty much binged it all in one sitting.
The main character is completely unlikeable and I thought that was refreshing in a manga. Having to root for someone who is disgusting is so strange and new. But underneath it all, you do feel very bad for him. The horror aspect of it was very well done as well. You want the “bad guys” to win sometimes in a weird way.
This manga is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I fell in love with it and it is easily my top 5 horror manga I’ve ever read. Give it a shot!
The main character is completely unlikeable and I thought that was refreshing in a manga. Having to root for someone who is disgusting is so strange and new. But underneath it all, you do feel very bad for him. The horror aspect of it was very well done as well. You want the “bad guys” to win sometimes in a weird way.
This manga is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I fell in love with it and it is easily my top 5 horror manga I’ve ever read. Give it a shot!
November 17, 2018
Okay.. To be honest, I was hesitant to read this at first. But I'm glad I decided to still read it because it turned out to be much better than I expected!
The story is about a high-schooler who is known to be one of the scumbag losers in his school so in order to not be a loser anymore, he said that he has a girlfriend. And along came the gf but the thing is, the girl died a long time ago. That alone is creepy and then came the series of events when it turned out that the girl is not human but kinda like an "entity" or a "demon" that ate humans every wednesday. She's always asking the main character for someone who has nothing to live for a.k.a. a scumbag. I was actually hooked while reading this and I find myself not wanting to stop reading lol.
I really like this manga! Along with the creepiness is a story of love and acceptance. It's not just a horror manga but something that will tackle personal issues as well.
Seriously, I wanted to ask my parents if they wanted to change me or have an exchange of "me" after reading this. Lol.
Overall, good job to the author and the illustrator! Everything is perfect. Such a good read!
The story is about a high-schooler who is known to be one of the scumbag losers in his school so in order to not be a loser anymore, he said that he has a girlfriend. And along came the gf but the thing is, the girl died a long time ago. That alone is creepy and then came the series of events when it turned out that the girl is not human but kinda like an "entity" or a "demon" that ate humans every wednesday. She's always asking the main character for someone who has nothing to live for a.k.a. a scumbag. I was actually hooked while reading this and I find myself not wanting to stop reading lol.
I really like this manga! Along with the creepiness is a story of love and acceptance. It's not just a horror manga but something that will tackle personal issues as well.
Seriously, I wanted to ask my parents if they wanted to change me or have an exchange of "me" after reading this. Lol.
Overall, good job to the author and the illustrator! Everything is perfect. Such a good read!
October 22, 2018
Good amount of horror.
November 10, 2019
Now that’s what I call an anti hero
September 14, 2023
I am honestly shocked by how good this actually was. Must be one of the most suprising books I’ve read. From the plot to the character development, i was enthralled by every page. The underlining messages the book tries to convey are actually very sad and deep which is how it makes you understand the character more and is maybe very relatable to many people as we all just want to find love in some form, but unfortunately not all people ever find itand are affected by it very badly.
The title and the cover betrays the messages and main plotline as when i picked it up, i thought it would be this incredibly pervy manga that i could have a good laugh at but it was not the case.
Yes the main character is pervy and a scumbag but the development and plot explore more about why he is and you understand why he is how he is along with a horror type story similar to that of a certain classic 50s hollywood horror movie that was then remade in the 70s, but with a touch of maybe tokyo ghoul?
Inspite of the main character being a scumbag and perv, you are still interested by his story and never betrays that he is indeed a scumbag loser which other books may try and justify which this book does not, only understanding how he became that person.
Not just the main character, but you get attached to the other smaller characters very quickly which i always find very important in a story, that it is not just one character holding the story up by themselves.
Overall, i was speechless after reading this thinking about how great it was. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that wants to read something that is deep in many aspects.
The title and the cover betrays the messages and main plotline as when i picked it up, i thought it would be this incredibly pervy manga that i could have a good laugh at but it was not the case.
Yes the main character is pervy and a scumbag but the development and plot explore more about why he is and you understand why he is how he is along with a horror type story similar to that of a certain classic 50s hollywood horror movie that was then remade in the 70s, but with a touch of maybe tokyo ghoul?
Inspite of the main character being a scumbag and perv, you are still interested by his story and never betrays that he is indeed a scumbag loser which other books may try and justify which this book does not, only understanding how he became that person.
Not just the main character, but you get attached to the other smaller characters very quickly which i always find very important in a story, that it is not just one character holding the story up by themselves.
Overall, i was speechless after reading this thinking about how great it was. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that wants to read something that is deep in many aspects.
November 26, 2024
The author warns at the end that "If this manga was traumatic for anyone out there, it also means that this work will stay with you forever, and as an author, there is nothing more I could ask for". And they are *DAMN FRICKIN RIGHT*.
This was disgusting and intriguing all at the same time.
I went into this book fully blind and was quite shocked at the vulgarity of some of the content. What I had assumed was 'degenerate gets bullied and turns into a revenge story' was in no way what I got. In fact, it has some actually decent horror and a bit of gore, a really dark and quite bleak storyline, really cool art but absolutely gross elements too (many to do with smell). It is rated 'Mature' for a reason, and though there is a tiny bit of nudity, honestly I think the rest of the content is what gives it such a rating.
I was glued to this and read it in a day, however I did have to take constant breaks in between.
Though the book didn't quite follow it's own rules (two inconsistencies being ), I found it oddly enjoyable to read and genuinely had to see where it was going as I had no clue at all.
Genuinely fascinating book I have to say was a good read despite slightly traumatising me. Fascinating really is the word of the day!
This was disgusting and intriguing all at the same time.
I went into this book fully blind and was quite shocked at the vulgarity of some of the content. What I had assumed was 'degenerate gets bullied and turns into a revenge story' was in no way what I got. In fact, it has some actually decent horror and a bit of gore, a really dark and quite bleak storyline, really cool art but absolutely gross elements too (many to do with smell). It is rated 'Mature' for a reason, and though there is a tiny bit of nudity, honestly I think the rest of the content is what gives it such a rating.
I was glued to this and read it in a day, however I did have to take constant breaks in between.
Though the book didn't quite follow it's own rules (two inconsistencies being ), I found it oddly enjoyable to read and genuinely had to see where it was going as I had no clue at all.
Genuinely fascinating book I have to say was a good read despite slightly traumatising me. Fascinating really is the word of the day!
April 13, 2025
I bought this book on a whim because it was cheap, but I must say, it wasn't anything like I expected. In fact, this manga was absolutely fantastic! The perfect blend of Junji Ito meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
The artwork was good & really suited the story. The reveals were perfectly timed with page changes & I loved the how the creepier scenes were drawn. Those grinning faces will in no doubt stay with me for quite some time.
My only issue with this manga, comes with its use of certain darker themes. I don't mind the horror stuff & the blood and gore was perfectly fine with me. However, the 'Rapey' scenes were a little unnecessary. Sure, nothing is shown on page, but those scenes leave a bad taste in the readers mouth. They also make this book hard to recommend to others, which is a shame, because I'd like to recommend it to everyone.
But despite all the bad stuff, I really enjoyed the rest of the story. It was so imaginative & bizarre that it was right up my street. And for that reason, I'll be scoring the manga. 4.5/5.
The artwork was good & really suited the story. The reveals were perfectly timed with page changes & I loved the how the creepier scenes were drawn. Those grinning faces will in no doubt stay with me for quite some time.
My only issue with this manga, comes with its use of certain darker themes. I don't mind the horror stuff & the blood and gore was perfectly fine with me. However, the 'Rapey' scenes were a little unnecessary. Sure, nothing is shown on page, but those scenes leave a bad taste in the readers mouth. They also make this book hard to recommend to others, which is a shame, because I'd like to recommend it to everyone.
But despite all the bad stuff, I really enjoyed the rest of the story. It was so imaginative & bizarre that it was right up my street. And for that reason, I'll be scoring the manga. 4.5/5.
January 14, 2020
This felt less like a light hearted pervy manga that I was going into it for. Instead it very much so became a revenge torture porn fantasy where the mc is redeemed and acts out "justice" for what trauma he was inflicted with. The plot was thinly veiled excuses for him to bash skulls in and show provocative dead female bodies. Dont get me wrong, I love weird manga. But this was just another run of the mill loser horror wet dream .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2017
Over-the-top at times, and occasionally there's the need for more humanity even in the most unflattering of characters, this is nonetheless an interesting read. The more I got into the story, the more compelling things became. It is worth pointing out, however, that Yamaguchi seems to have a breast fetish going on. Whenever possible, the women in this manga display hyper-sexualized bodies.
June 16, 2022
CERTIFIED SIMP CLASSIC
This is an outrageously strange story about really weird characters, I fully respect Yamaguti for going all in on the weirdness.
I really enjoyed this story- I was happy to never really like any characters. They are all very interesting but they’re all scumbag losers. I will be thinking about this story for a long time.
This is an outrageously strange story about really weird characters, I fully respect Yamaguti for going all in on the weirdness.
I really enjoyed this story- I was happy to never really like any characters. They are all very interesting but they’re all scumbag losers. I will be thinking about this story for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2020
Fun premise but badly executed and lazy after midway point (Pretty sure it should’ve ended at the midway point because holy fuck was the idol shit dull and pointless as all hell).
Also MC who is supposed to be dislikable is supposed to be likeable for no reason halfway through.
Also MC who is supposed to be dislikable is supposed to be likeable for no reason halfway through.
August 17, 2018
It's good, although the ending makes me feel, "Huh? That's it?"
May 6, 2020
the death note-aot-Tokyo ghoul crossover nobody needed.
April 18, 2024
I started reading it and thought it was weird and not very relateble. I felt like every character was made to be an extreme version of something and they all felt very shallow.
DNF'ed the series after the first book.
DNF'ed the series after the first book.
January 12, 2024
Characters - 4/5
Plot - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Spice - 2/5
A big chunky manga with the weirdest, most bizarre characters and intriguing storyline.
The story of this book is amazing but definitely has some strange concepts. If you can look past the panty sniffing, the book keeps you curious the whole way through. Some of the small plots in the book are predictable but still entertaining.
Plot - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Spice - 2/5
A big chunky manga with the weirdest, most bizarre characters and intriguing storyline.
The story of this book is amazing but definitely has some strange concepts. If you can look past the panty sniffing, the book keeps you curious the whole way through. Some of the small plots in the book are predictable but still entertaining.
January 6, 2017
First and foremost this book is rated Mature which is basically equivalent to Rated R in the theatres so younger readers generally should not be introduced to a series such as this. There is violence, undergarment fetish, sexual content, a bit of cannibalism (technically at least), and a story revolving around humanity willing to do whatever it takes to make themselves feel better at night. Honestly I wasn't even going to pick up this book because it shows a creepy guy on the cover with panties(why do we pluralize those like pants?) in his hand and wanting to lick someones foot. I only changed my mind after seeing someone reviewing it as an excellent horror manga and it was half off...well now i have read it.
Scumbag loser is primarily about Masahiko Murai who is a young man with an incredibly sense of smell. He doesn't have much in the expectations department coming from a rough family life and in one of the meanest classes of the school. So long as he is the biggest loser in the class he is more than happy to squeak through life. After all he is not the worse of the worse. That is until the guy Masahiko looked down upon declares he has a new girlfriend putting Masahiko's status in serious trouble so he must lie about having a girlfriend too. However things turn weird as the girl on his phone soon transfers into the class and declares Masahiko is indeed her boyfriend even though she was basically made up.
This is the beginning of a story where monsters lurk within society and devour the worst of the worst knowing no one will miss them. However how can you fight against something that takes the skin of the victims they devour and leaves something behind taking over the victims life and ultimately improving their stake in life? Only Masahiko knows the truth about what is happening but can a man just trying to not be the worse of the worse really be expected to save humanity?
There are probably about 3 books in this omnibus so I decided to chose a favorite part of the beginning, middle, and end of the book. In the beginning I didn't like Masahiko at all but when he starts to get to know Chihaya the story turned a little nicer even though he was desperate to fulfill his new mission and I thought it was great he found someone that was nice. In the middle part of the book it would have to be when Masahiko discovers a terrible truth about his class after being in a coma for a long time. The end of course has to be the confession of affection at the end. If you can get through the perversion and everything else perhaps you will find parts of this omnibus that you will enjoy as well. :)
Scumbag loser is primarily about Masahiko Murai who is a young man with an incredibly sense of smell. He doesn't have much in the expectations department coming from a rough family life and in one of the meanest classes of the school. So long as he is the biggest loser in the class he is more than happy to squeak through life. After all he is not the worse of the worse. That is until the guy Masahiko looked down upon declares he has a new girlfriend putting Masahiko's status in serious trouble so he must lie about having a girlfriend too. However things turn weird as the girl on his phone soon transfers into the class and declares Masahiko is indeed her boyfriend even though she was basically made up.
This is the beginning of a story where monsters lurk within society and devour the worst of the worst knowing no one will miss them. However how can you fight against something that takes the skin of the victims they devour and leaves something behind taking over the victims life and ultimately improving their stake in life? Only Masahiko knows the truth about what is happening but can a man just trying to not be the worse of the worse really be expected to save humanity?
There are probably about 3 books in this omnibus so I decided to chose a favorite part of the beginning, middle, and end of the book. In the beginning I didn't like Masahiko at all but when he starts to get to know Chihaya the story turned a little nicer even though he was desperate to fulfill his new mission and I thought it was great he found someone that was nice. In the middle part of the book it would have to be when Masahiko discovers a terrible truth about his class after being in a coma for a long time. The end of course has to be the confession of affection at the end. If you can get through the perversion and everything else perhaps you will find parts of this omnibus that you will enjoy as well. :)
December 6, 2016
I get the feeling that this series was canceled prematurely, because man, plot threads get dropped left and right throughout the final volume. Two seemingly important characters amount to nothing, and another is introduced and revealed to be a major villain out of nowhere -- yes, she's mentioned a few times before appearing on screen, but there's nothing that sets up her prominence in the climax. And the mythology behind what's going on is thready at best.
And that's all too bad, because the first volume (roughly the first two hundred pages) is a great setup for a story that never materializes. The author lays out a carefully crafted suspense story that ratchets up the stakes, and then goes off on a complete tangent in the second and third volumes.
And that's all too bad, because the first volume (roughly the first two hundred pages) is a great setup for a story that never materializes. The author lays out a carefully crafted suspense story that ratchets up the stakes, and then goes off on a complete tangent in the second and third volumes.
July 8, 2024
Excruciating, the worst manga I’ve ever read.
100% dreck.
If this has any value whatsoever, it is proof that an aspiring author or mangaka has a good chance of getting published if garbage like this can.
100% dreck.
If this has any value whatsoever, it is proof that an aspiring author or mangaka has a good chance of getting published if garbage like this can.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews