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Homunculus Boxset
Trepanation is the procedure of drilling a hole in the skull. It is said to increase the blood circulation and improve pressure inside the skull. It is also said to bring out a person's sixth sense, the ability to use ESP, see ghosts, move objects with one's mind. This is speculative fiction based on the concept of trepanation.
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About the author
Hideo Yamamoto
174 books248 followers 山本英夫 Yamamoto Hideo , is a Japanese manga artist best known for the manga series "Ichi the Killer" (which was adapted into a live-action film in 2001) and the series, Homunculus (manga).
Recurring themes in his manga are crime, sexual deviations, and psychology.
Recurring themes in his manga are crime, sexual deviations, and psychology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 3, 2023
One of my all-time favorite stories, just a tremendous feat in the realm of fiction and, especially, manga. Yamamoto weaves together a tale of human identity, psychology, homelessness, connection, and the effects of the repression of trauma in a way that is completely singular to his style and work, complete with the macabre and dark elements that make his other work such masterpieces (Ichi, in particular). The journey the reader takes with Nakoshi and Ito as their characters progress both as traditional focal elements within the story, as well as symbolic representations of repression, self-loathing, and guilt, are truly something to behold. And that isn’t even beginning to get into the shorter arcs that contain such beautiful, tear-jerking moments, such as the climactic events involving Mr. Ita, Yukari, and the Yakuza boss. Even with this being a re-read, moments like those still brought me to tears, as they caused me to both experience the tragedy held within the page, but also come to grips with traumatic elements and feelings of guilt throughout my life from a young age until now that have kept me weighed down with the chains of an intense denial of acceptance and growth. I feel like Homunculus can make you, or at least help you become, a better person upon its conclusion if you allow yourself to be a part of the lives of these characters, and I can’t thank Hideo Yamamoto enough for crafting such a profound, meaningful work. Highly recommended.
September 22, 2021
Didn't expect this to be that gross and real, and I've never expected to be frightened of oneself persona, or of my ego and my guilts...
It reminds me of how we often idealized love as an un ending state of catarsis. This also happens with our idea of happiness and what's good, were we try as hard as we can to repress our shadows. But just as there's hate and suffer in human love, there are also dark parts of ourselves that (redundantly) are part of ourselves! That we must accept, 'cause when you deny yourself, that's when you truly put the final nail in the coffin.
This story really achieves to break down human ego and how we can be broken by things that we decide to ignore for the sake of instant pleasure.
So yeah, I'm really diggin this Carl Jung influenced stories.
It reminds me of how we often idealized love as an un ending state of catarsis. This also happens with our idea of happiness and what's good, were we try as hard as we can to repress our shadows. But just as there's hate and suffer in human love, there are also dark parts of ourselves that (redundantly) are part of ourselves! That we must accept, 'cause when you deny yourself, that's when you truly put the final nail in the coffin.
This story really achieves to break down human ego and how we can be broken by things that we decide to ignore for the sake of instant pleasure.
So yeah, I'm really diggin this Carl Jung influenced stories.
March 5, 2024
never let this man write about women ever again. nakoshi being drawn repeatedly in multiple panels eating his nut just to “feel” human is nasty. series is not as deep as those wannabe seinen fans make it out to be.
April 9, 2025
Terrible depictions of women. R*ping women to stimulate the brain? That’s nauseous. I like the established idea of homunculi based on psychological theories, but I just can’t stand misogyny at its worst.
August 13, 2021
I saw nothing like these books. I love them and I would gladly take recommendations if anyone know books like Homunculus.
January 1, 2025
Es una obra de arte, lo ame y lo sigo amando, no puedo creer que esta serie exista, es magnifica, el hecho de que utilice el homunculus para ver a travez de las personas y sus traumas, no se, lo amo, todo, desde el dibujo hasta la historia.
April 11, 2022
What a trip.
Started this manga more than 10 years ago, finally finished it today. The facial expressions are haunting 👁👄👁
Started this manga more than 10 years ago, finally finished it today. The facial expressions are haunting 👁👄👁
December 10, 2022
فکر میکنم مهمترین مانگا برای من، بخصوص زمانی که بار اول خوندمش
October 10, 2025
What did I even just read
January 29, 2020
Absolutely incredible commentary on aesthetics, homelessness, mental illness, and austerity. I struggle to compare Homunculus to anything else across all media. This whole thing is a kafkaesque nightmarish acid trip executed perfectly, there is no confusion for confusions sake, no edginess for edginess sake, no hackiness, this is a true work of love.
This is definitely not for the faint of heart.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
One of the most deeply disturbing things I've ever written. It does "edginess" perfectly, none of the scenes as vile and repugnant as they were, felt like they were edgy for edginess sake. It all makes sense at the end.
The author does a great job of surprising you and making sure you have absolutely no idea whats going to happen. The ending was made all the more tragic by the fever dream-like "uplifting" parts. .
I've seen this classified as "psychological horror" but I really don't think that does it justice. The tone of the series is so enigmatic that at some points you're not sure whether this is some kind of uplifting, inspirational commentary on self-actualization or horror, and I think that's what makes this series so great. The ending left me questioning my own morals at how confused I was. The descent into madness paired with the subtle perspective of his self-grandeur that you can't really be sure of anything. The disjointed, bizarre dialogue also adds to the effect.
My only complaint would be the pacing towards the middle was a little bit strange, but that could be intentional.
This is definitely not for the faint of heart.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
One of the most deeply disturbing things I've ever written. It does "edginess" perfectly, none of the scenes as vile and repugnant as they were, felt like they were edgy for edginess sake. It all makes sense at the end.
The author does a great job of surprising you and making sure you have absolutely no idea whats going to happen. The ending was made all the more tragic by the fever dream-like "uplifting" parts. .
I've seen this classified as "psychological horror" but I really don't think that does it justice. The tone of the series is so enigmatic that at some points you're not sure whether this is some kind of uplifting, inspirational commentary on self-actualization or horror, and I think that's what makes this series so great. The ending left me questioning my own morals at how confused I was. The descent into madness paired with the subtle perspective of his self-grandeur that you can't really be sure of anything. The disjointed, bizarre dialogue also adds to the effect.
My only complaint would be the pacing towards the middle was a little bit strange, but that could be intentional.
March 7, 2025
I’m writing my review on the box set seeing as I read it in one day (partially to get it over with) this series was recommended to be as one of the best psychological horror manga. The idea of homunculi was an interesting idea that could have been expanded on in many ways. As the reader you become increasingly aware that you are seeing the story through the eyes of the antagonist, however I find the storytelling itself rather than the characters view point misogynistic and shallow.
1. Every male character spits misogynistic rhetoric whenever they are given the chance, in volumes 3-4 there is a horrific scene where the storytelling somehow makes it out like r*pe was healing. It was disgusting, dismissed and ignored later on in the story.
2. Shallow because the main character is supposed to be shallow but all other characters are given no depth, just stepping stones to the story. The end is also rushed however I did enjoy the end.
2/5 - for your sake, if you’re going to read this, skip volume 3-4 you’re not missing out. I guess it’s similar to American psycho? But that may be a bit of a stretch
1. Every male character spits misogynistic rhetoric whenever they are given the chance, in volumes 3-4 there is a horrific scene where the storytelling somehow makes it out like r*pe was healing. It was disgusting, dismissed and ignored later on in the story.
2. Shallow because the main character is supposed to be shallow but all other characters are given no depth, just stepping stones to the story. The end is also rushed however I did enjoy the end.
2/5 - for your sake, if you’re going to read this, skip volume 3-4 you’re not missing out. I guess it’s similar to American psycho? But that may be a bit of a stretch
January 8, 2023
Che dire di questo capolavoro?
È stato un viaggio straziante quanto meraviglioso.
Il protagonista è alla continua ricerca di sé stesso, ignaro della sua essenza che si è del tutto dissolta nell'aspetto fenomenico della realtà tutta.
Il modo in cui comincia la narrazione — da un intervento al quale Nakoshi neanche crede, ma al quale si sottopone per necessità economica — è l'iniziazione di un baratro che era stato riempito fino all'orlo di menzogne.
Durante il corso della storia, il povero protagonista si imbatte in storie traumatiche, un passato quasi sempre soffocato da apparenze e continue bugie.
La bruciante scoperta che Nakoshi si troverà a fare, però, lo lascerà senza fiato: in quegli strambi omuncoli, che per lui non sono altro che mostri deformi, si cela una parte di sé.
O è lui a proiettare sé stesso negli altri?
Cos'è che sta succedendo in quella sua mente? Non ha più il controllo di sé stesso, le bugie cominciano a dissolversi e lentamente scopre nuovamente quel Sé sotterrato nei meandri più profondi dell'inconscio.
Non voleva più avere a che fare col suo passato e quale metodo migliore se non cancellare tutto? Definitivamente. Nessuna traccia.
Non aveva fatto i conti con esso, però: si era affrettato a dimenticare, a crearsi una immagine sulla quale basare tutta la sua esistenza. Donne, sesso, soldi: menzogne su menzogne su menzogne.
Nessuno vuol guardare la propria essenza più profonda e bisogna omologarsi alla straziante apparenza della realtà, per poter sopravvivere nella società.
Una deplorevole società d'apparenze e di menzogne.
Nakoshi si rende lentamente conto di aver sentito, per tutta la sua vita, la necessità di essere visto e riconosciuto dagli altri, nonostante il suo tentativo di voler soffocare quella sorta di pretesa. Nonostante quella vita costruita sulle menzogne gli desse la possibilità di tutto, non sentiva niente.
Questa sua progressiva presa di coscienza alla ricerca della sua vecchia essenza lo porterà dritto al tribunale della ragione, al quale verrà duramente condannato.
La sua flebilissima e, al contempo, sensibilissima richiesta era semplicemente di essere guardato. Essere guardato profondamente, come lui aveva guardato ossessivamente negli altri. Un lungo processo metaforico che gli costerà il senno.
Un capolavoro filosofico, psicologico ed a tratti inquietante.
È stato un viaggio straziante quanto meraviglioso.
Il protagonista è alla continua ricerca di sé stesso, ignaro della sua essenza che si è del tutto dissolta nell'aspetto fenomenico della realtà tutta.
Il modo in cui comincia la narrazione — da un intervento al quale Nakoshi neanche crede, ma al quale si sottopone per necessità economica — è l'iniziazione di un baratro che era stato riempito fino all'orlo di menzogne.
Durante il corso della storia, il povero protagonista si imbatte in storie traumatiche, un passato quasi sempre soffocato da apparenze e continue bugie.
La bruciante scoperta che Nakoshi si troverà a fare, però, lo lascerà senza fiato: in quegli strambi omuncoli, che per lui non sono altro che mostri deformi, si cela una parte di sé.
O è lui a proiettare sé stesso negli altri?
Cos'è che sta succedendo in quella sua mente? Non ha più il controllo di sé stesso, le bugie cominciano a dissolversi e lentamente scopre nuovamente quel Sé sotterrato nei meandri più profondi dell'inconscio.
Non voleva più avere a che fare col suo passato e quale metodo migliore se non cancellare tutto? Definitivamente. Nessuna traccia.
Non aveva fatto i conti con esso, però: si era affrettato a dimenticare, a crearsi una immagine sulla quale basare tutta la sua esistenza. Donne, sesso, soldi: menzogne su menzogne su menzogne.
Nessuno vuol guardare la propria essenza più profonda e bisogna omologarsi alla straziante apparenza della realtà, per poter sopravvivere nella società.
Una deplorevole società d'apparenze e di menzogne.
Nakoshi si rende lentamente conto di aver sentito, per tutta la sua vita, la necessità di essere visto e riconosciuto dagli altri, nonostante il suo tentativo di voler soffocare quella sorta di pretesa. Nonostante quella vita costruita sulle menzogne gli desse la possibilità di tutto, non sentiva niente.
Questa sua progressiva presa di coscienza alla ricerca della sua vecchia essenza lo porterà dritto al tribunale della ragione, al quale verrà duramente condannato.
La sua flebilissima e, al contempo, sensibilissima richiesta era semplicemente di essere guardato. Essere guardato profondamente, come lui aveva guardato ossessivamente negli altri. Un lungo processo metaforico che gli costerà il senno.
Un capolavoro filosofico, psicologico ed a tratti inquietante.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2023
Loved this! Really gripping manga all the way through. The way it often drifts from reality or trying to be totally understandable reminded me of what I liked about surreal crime 3D-visual novels Silver Case and 25th ward. The way this manga portrayed the protagonist's obsession with trepanation, really feels like grappling with the idea of body dysmorphia. I liked how characters would argue over whether or not the homunculi were just hallucinations - and how sometimes it would feel like they were, while at other times the protagonists perceptions were spot on.
The art is great too, really stunning arrangement of panels and style. Sometimes the action got a little hard to read. I guess if I had a gripe, the general pacing sometimes felt a bit off, and the series could have ended a little earlier, but maybe that's just how serialization tends to go.
The art is great too, really stunning arrangement of panels and style. Sometimes the action got a little hard to read. I guess if I had a gripe, the general pacing sometimes felt a bit off, and the series could have ended a little earlier, but maybe that's just how serialization tends to go.
February 5, 2024
I read Homunculus years ago in college when I was in the mood for a 'messed up manga' phase. Reading it again now I can confidently say that while it has bewildered me in the same fashion as my first read of it - now I could pick up on a lot of the finer details.
Homunculus deals with perspectives, mostly those of the protagonist and his views of the people around him with fresh eyes. While parts get confusing, and it's hard to distinguish at many points who is right and who isn't - overall this is a story of how we internalise our emotions and use it to gauge how well we understand others.
Many parts of the story can get disturbing to read but keep you captured with a unique art style and constant flow of dialogue (not all of which are spoken).
For anyone looking to have a thought provoking read that you're going to have difficulty suggesting to others - pick this up.
Homunculus deals with perspectives, mostly those of the protagonist and his views of the people around him with fresh eyes. While parts get confusing, and it's hard to distinguish at many points who is right and who isn't - overall this is a story of how we internalise our emotions and use it to gauge how well we understand others.
Many parts of the story can get disturbing to read but keep you captured with a unique art style and constant flow of dialogue (not all of which are spoken).
For anyone looking to have a thought provoking read that you're going to have difficulty suggesting to others - pick this up.
February 17, 2025
This is such a deep dive into the complex human psychology that I didn’t think I would get. It was nearly sickening at some points how realistic some parts of the story, whether it was on an emotional level or the literal panel and what was being shown. There is too much to describe in what is actually great about the story but I will give some of my favorites. The focus on unresolved trauma and how it reflects on the homunculi and how they also reflected on Nakoshi were overwhelming. The more we unfolded about Nakoshi the worse it felt, honestly there were some moments that just broke me down. I usually find it harder to find my emotions to fully come out while reading a manga but this is one in which it truly showed me parts of life that I haven’t really thought about it. I recommend this as a read for anyone, anyone can find something that reflects their own life.
December 26, 2023
It's not that deep, bro. It's just a banker living in his car, a medical experiment gone wrong, a growing friendship, trauma bonding, and a lost love. But wait, spoiler, the trauma is all the projected from the banker's buried past. And, he's constantly lying to everyone, including himself. He cannot remember hardly anything. He was learning to love himself and to live the world. Instead, he probably kills his lost love, overcome with his medical (non)hallucinations, and his newfound oneness with himself (and the world reflected in himself). Then, his new friend turns him into the cops because the banker's flown off his nut (Frankenstein's gotta chase down his monster). And, he's still living in his car, bro.
February 6, 2024
Homonculus was really good overall. The deep dive into human philosophy and what shapes us as humans and the pursuit of meaning in life/purpose is extremely well done through the supernatural ability Nakoshj was given. I loved the way they portrayed it and executed this theme with the ultimate tragic but free conclusion, however, I do think at times it was too explicit/dark, particularly around volume 5-6. Overall amazing manga with very deep profound themes and messages but be prepared for a emotional rollercoaster, a tragic bitter sweet conclusion, explicit/dark content, and also not recommend for kids as like I said it is quite dark at times. 8/10 overall I’d say taking all things into consideration.
May 18, 2023
Un manga desconcertante donde un chico que vive dentro de un coche y viste traje decide vivir la vida de un vagabundo harto de la superficialidad de la gente que le rodea. Se encontrará a un extraño tipo que le sugiere hacerle una trepanación a cambio de una suculenta cifra de dinero. El resultado de ese agujero en la cabeza será que nuestro protagonista comenzará a ver a la gente como monstruos, con rasgos que muestran las diferentes enfermedades o traumas psicológicos que encierran. El chico iniciará un viaje de autodescubrimiento bizarro y en ocasiones escalofriante.
May 29, 2024
An interesting story but too big brained for me. I had to google an interpretation of the ending because it was just a little too much out of my understandings. Due to the ending/final arc (& lack of understanding) I felt very let down. Don’t let my review deter you, just because I didn’t enjoy the story doesn’t mean you won’t.
Also the MC is absolutely terrible and I hope I never have to cross paths with someone with the same narcissistic personality as him.
Also the MC is absolutely terrible and I hope I never have to cross paths with someone with the same narcissistic personality as him.
April 5, 2021
To have or to be? This is the summary of the 15 volumes. A particular story, a little disturbing at certain times and with strong themes, but very actual.
A story that make you think about a lot of things and that puts you in front of the priorities of existence.
I've honestly never read anything like this. Higlhly recommended!
A story that make you think about a lot of things and that puts you in front of the priorities of existence.
I've honestly never read anything like this. Higlhly recommended!
May 6, 2023
One of the best psychological thriller manga I ever read. It depicts reality and connectively from mental(paranoia). It is gruesome and restricted for adult content only. It supprised me that every character has one of their own stories. Which depicts the main character itself (Nakoshi).
October 11, 2024
A manga for people who want to seem interesting but are very surface level. Interesting theme with bad execution at times. Would still recommend to people who are looking to get into psychological/seinen mangas.
July 9, 2025
one of the weirdest, if not THE most absolutely weirdest manga I’ve ever read. somehow managed to top Uzumaki in terms of nastiness but not the creepy scare factor. really cool psychological horror manga nonetheless
October 13, 2025
david lynch fest of a manga. starts off as this unusual thriller and then just slowly and slowly turns crazy. and the craziest part about it, is theres no coherent ending, its so abrupt and i love it!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2021
Masterpiece. This manga was just great in every aspect. I love it.
January 26, 2022
4.5 stars*
October 4, 2022
"No recuerdo todos los libros que he leído, ni todas las comidas que he consumido. Aun así, estas me han hecho" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
June 23, 2023
Homie Chilling, Lit, Bussin
July 20, 2023
Who would've thought I would love a manga where I completely hate the protagonist
July 29, 2023
Loved this, the author has a great way of fleshing out the characters in a way that feels grossly realistic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews