Legendary novelist NISIOISIN partners up with Mitsuru Hattori in this three volume graphic novel adaptation of one of his mystery novels... "Looking back on it now, I realize that incident is what turned me into the novelist I am today." An author is someone who creates tales, but an aspiring author is someone who lies, and nothing more. This incident happened 10 years ago, when I was in college, and merely an aspiring author. If those events never took place I wouldn’t have become much of anything at all, which is why I think I need to thank her, thank that girl...
Nisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
Odd. This one strives for a certain amount of creepiness, and mostly succeeds. Our protagonist is an unnamed young man, a college student who's also an aspiring novelist. On his way to class one day, he witnesses a terrible accident, and inadvertently learns a terrible truth about an unnamed young girl. This chance encounter eventually leads to her kidnapping him at knife point …
Our aspiring novelist is a remarkably passive individual. If I found myself locked in a closet I think I’d at least try forcing the door at some point, especially if I believed my abductor(s) to be asleep or absent. I think we're supposed to believe he's motivated by his curiosity about the unnamed girl, but … Since he's narrating the entire book from some point in the future, I think it's a reasonable assumption that he survives the ordeal. Maybe NISIOISIN is pulling a Sixth Sense on us? Only time--and volumes 2 and 3--will tell.
This isn't a bad manga, though a bit too laid back for my tastes. I’m mildly curious to see where it goes, but, if I don't read the rest of it, I won't lose any sleep over the fact.
Creepy kids are creepy. I mean just look at the cover...is she the daughter of Hell Girl or something? Anyway I am not sure how Vertical Press rates their books (or even if they do) but given the scenes of violence I personally would say this book is at least Teen but before handing this to your 13 year olds you might want to flip through it first to be safe.
An aspiring author with a certain something missing from his stories is telling the tale of how he became an author at last thanks to a strange girl that seemed to do things out of order and has an enthusiasm for formalities. His world was changed as she manages to capture him and keeps him in captivity. The author unsure of whether he should call the police or take other actions as he wonders how the poor girl will be affected and how others will see him if they find out he was abducted by a young girl. He must make decisions though because something doesn't seem quite right with the young girl and he is being kept in a closet against his will.
Honestly I didn't even have a favorite part to the book considering it starts out easy enough letting us know the story is a recap of actual events that happened, the introduction of the girl, and the abduction of the author all happening smoothly to the point that nothing really stood out to me (even the truck accident that hit the girl's walking buddy was underplayed) but the story is still creepy and the author seems to be going along for the ride as he rationalizes for a girl that held him at knife point. This is probably the first time I can't really pinpoint any real reason for really liking a title but I am definitely looking forward to more volumes to come.
Not usually a fan of NisiOisin, but this is intriguingly creepy. If the protagonist turns out to be the author himself, however, I will be seriously displeased.
3/5 Stars: ‘Imperfect Girl (Vol.1)’ by NisiOisiN and Mitsuru Hattori. → Age Range: Adult. → Genre: Mystery, Contemporary Horror. → Book Type: Manga.
Favourite Quote: ‘It was a wall that just about anyone chasing their dreams is bound to run into at some point.’
In-depth Rating: → Plot: ★★ → Character Development: ★★★ → Setting: ★★★ → Entertainment Level: ★★★★ → Writing: ★★★ → Art (If Applicable): ★★★★
General Comments: Not a read for the faint of heart. With exceptional art, minimal dialogue, eerie atmosphere, and satisfying conclusion, it is an progressive and reflective story - it raises questions about loneliness and parenting that will shake some to the core, whilst remaining an excellent piece of entertainment. There are several questionable antics from the Teachers (in terms of Safeguarding and Child Welfare) and Protagonist (in terms of their priorities) that were unfathomable. Regarding the art, the dark-shading and broad strokes enhanced the underlying tones and themes perfectly.
Time Read: Two Days. → Audiobook: No. → Audiobook Narrator: -
Trigger Warnings: → Abduction. → Car Accident (Graphic). → Imprisonment. → Gore (Blood). → Abuse.
This story was interesting but obviously horrifying if you continue on with reading the story. It basically shows a fed up 20 year college student who while on a bike ride to college, meets two little girls walking the road and then suddenly one of them dies in a road accident. The little girl who survives the incident then breaks into his house and kidnaps him all the way through her own home….with a friggin knife! She locks him in a laundry closet and he spends a good number of days. Then as soon as he gets to know her more and that she is oddly enough comfortable with him, dark secrets surrounding the little girl start to unravel.
Overall it was unexpected like don’t get me wrong, it is rather odd for a man in his 20s to let a young girl kidnap him but the interaction between the characters seems rather intriguing in a way. Some might find that part of the whole thing uncomfortable so bare that in mind!
I adored the art style a lot! What is making me curious is how the story is going to continue, hence me debating if I want to get the second volume and onward.
This is one of those books that I don't really know how to feel about.
Imperfect Girl, based on a mystery novel, is about a young man who witnesses a horrific accident. And soon after, someone else who was at the scene of that accident enters his life and wrecks it because of what he saw there.
I do bet this worked better as a novel. The thing about manga is, even though I know each volume is part of a larger story, I kind of expect there to be something satisfying in every volume. This is the first of three in this series, and the whole thing is basically setup. It starts by introducing questions, then adds more questions, then adds more questions, and never really resolves things. In a novel, it's fine if the first third doesn't really answer things.
The other thing it sort of fails at is giving us characters to root for. there are two main characters -- the young man from above and a young girl. I do feel some interest in and sympathy for the girl, but the guy is such a nonentity (which I do think is the point of his character but still...) and makes suck ridiculous decisions that it's actually kind of hard to really cheer for him. He feels too much like a character and not enough like a person. And again, in a novel with more space to maybe delve into why he's such a sad sack, that might not be as big a problem.
Overall, it's ... fine. It's a quick read, and there are some interesting mysteries at play here. But I can't give it a hard recommend. It DID make me interested in seeing if I can find the novel though.
Ok, so the book description gives pretty much no info or framework for what the story's really about, and this is pretty messed up.
I was constantly torn between wondering where things were going and being afraid to find out. Oh and wanting to shake the main char for being an idiot. I'm very curious to continue and see where this is going, but this is really unsettling and I very well could regret finding out. Call it 2.5 rounded down, which I may revise if this 3 volume series goes anywhere worthwhile (assuming I ever finish it).
!!Read all 3 volumes in 1 sitting so i’ll be leaving the same review on each!!
The story was pretty average, though the concept was interesting. I realllllly liked the art in this series though it was really nice. The story despite being average got kinda dark, I really liked that about it, and the kinda open ended ness gave a slight mystery to it.
To start with I am a massive Nisioisin fan. I fell in love with his work from watching Bakemonogatari, I had always wanted more having watched all his work that was adapted to anime, so far. I thought I was never going to read his Work (unless my Japanese skills become far more fluent than they are anyway) but as of the end of last year the ~monogatari series is being translated and a lot of his work is coming over here. Onto this one, I had never heard of this one but snapped it up. It is a manga adaptation of one of his stories, so it is written or ‘retold’ as the book says by another author, Mitsuru Hattori and then translated. It is different, more a straight mystery novel than his other works. There is no word play, obscure/not so obscure cultural references, banter between the characters... But it is still good, I enjoyed reading it, the protagonist is easy for me to identify with, aspiring author who is an outsider. So that helps. But it moves at good pace and I wish I did not have to wait until January ‘18 for the next volume. The art is nice, not up to stylised other work but it suits the story. Only fault is problem with all manga, over too fast (though comics have same issue) but it’s always a nice change of pace in between novels (or at the moment rereading a 1,087 page beast of a fantasy book in preparation for pt3 next week). No spoilers here, though you may want to wait until all (3 I think) are out, imagine it would probably read nicely as a whole. But if you are a fan probably can not hurt for a Nisioisin fix until Juni Taisen & Nekomonogatari arrive.
I recommend acquiring the entire series before you start reading. I finished this in under an hour and felt like I barely got into the story. I definitely need to read the other two books to feel like it was worth it.
This is very odd not much happens dude sees a girl get killed sees another girl then the girl kidnapes him and stick him in her closet. That's basically all that happens don't waste your time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Small review for the entire series since most people will look for reviews starting with Volume 1.
The story itself is rather odd. It is about a college student who wants to be an author that ends up being kidnapped (adultnapped?) by a 4th grade student and living in her closet for almost an entire week.
The style of writing is juvenile, how the artist does the dialogue paneling is annoying to me, and the story itself requires a rather large suspension of disbelief. We are lead to believe this could actually happen and I cannot fathom buying it. Almost a week in the closet of a 4th grader? What a strange storyline.
That being said, it is not the worst series I have ever read and the story is buttoned up rather well. Glad I bought these as part of a sale and would say if you are looking to buy these at full retail price, spend your money elsewhere. This is one of those series that are likely better to read online than to own on your shelf.
Children copy our behaviors and words. They don't speak our languages. Not English or Japanese. Their native tongue is comprised of mimicry and play. A developing person is something not yet human, but entirely resembles one. An uncanny valley would exist here if we did not know they were a part of our species...Most grown men do not understand children because they almost never interact with them. If they do, they are often met with suspicion by those around them. Thus an asymmetrical power dynamic exists between the main character and his child kidnapper.
I wrote this to answer the obvious question: "why did he let her kidnap him?" To which I think the answer should be equally obvious and need only be answered with the rhetorical question: "who would believe him?"
I recently read my first graphic novel - I'd chosen a story I already knew (presented as a graphic novel) so that I'd be sure to understand what was going on and follow the text and illustrations.
As I'd really enjoyed it, I thought I'd give a true manga novel a try - and this was the chosen book.
It was super strange reading the book (for me) backwards.....but I actually got the hang of it pretty swiftly.
The illustrations were amazing. So much detail in every segment.
The story itself, sadly, was only the first part of a series and therefore left at a point which was only part way through the whole.
However, it was really well written and presented and found it really enjoyable and easy to read.
This is a review for the 3 volume series, there's a lot of trigger warnings for that story, so your mileage may vary. I'm also a NisiOisiN fan, but I haven't read the novel yet.
First off, the story was really good and captivating, it's less surreal than what I'm used to by the author, but that's still very much his style.
That was my first manga by Mitsuru Hattori and oh boy... He's an absolutely brilliant mangaka! The author's style is perfectly captured (think Monogatari anime series). The storytelling is pretty unique without sacrificing clarity and readability. But the thing that immediately struck me is the artwork, the line quality and the amount of detail is truly staggering.
What I Did Like: +Excellent use of thoughts among the pictures to highlight what’s happening in the narrator’s mind. Loved that! +Definitely a creepy vibe here that I liked. There’s a lot of unanswered questions you’re drawn to that make you want to read the second one. It’s like you HAVE to know at this point.
Who Should Read This One: -Fans of strange and creepy (think The Servant) who like or want to try manga or graphic novels.
My Rating: 4 Stars Great vibe, good art, nice intro to the story!
Stopped by a library for a bathroom break, and had the sudden impulse to check something out with my barely used card. Literally have no idea what this is, but it looked like something I could read quickly and see if I could keep going? *shrug*
Don't know if this is for me? It certainly has a shocking beginning, followed by a surreal follow-up, and then...just a lot of internal monologue. Which I like! But all the same, the direction feels aimless, waiting for something. Like I'm stuck in the closet with the narrator as well.
Heck, let's give the second one a shot and see if it goes somewhere. Can amend my rating later, if so. 😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
An interesting start to the series. Although I can't say the story so far has been overly believable.
You can also tell that this manga is adapted from a novel, because it reads more like a novel with pictures than an actual manga. With the artist often having to jazz up the font, just to make the page look more interesting.
But despite these grievances, I'm intrigued where the story is going. I'm just hoping the pace picks up a little in volume 2. 3/5.
I may come back and revise this once I've read the whole set but for the moment I'm very intrigued about these characters and looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Thinking about what we know so far and I and U, I actually find their behaviour very convincing and realistic. He sees his younger self in her which is why he's letting this play out for a minute, she is deeply disturbed at a young age.
I hope the remaining two volumes don't let me down.
Unlike many of the other graphic novels I've read, this one isn't gory or violent, but it's still a bit confusing to me. I think, though, that stems more from the fact that we don't get any answers. It's a mystery that halts 1/3 of the way in. I guess I'll be ordering the next two when they are published.
Guter Einstieg und tolle Illustrationen. Da geht aber definitiv noch mehr. Bislang denke ich einfach nur, dass das Mädchen „U“ einfach bekloppt und der Student lediglich schwach ist und sich nicht gegen ein kleines Mädchen behaupten kann. Klar, sie ist etwas gruselig, aber ein verdammtes kleines Mädchen. Bin gespannt wie es weiter geht.