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ハピネス [Happiness] #8
Happiness Vol. 8
MONSTERS Sudo arrives to rescue Gosho from Sakurane’s torture, and like so many before him, he underestimates the cult leader’s monstrosity, with devastating consequences. Amid the horror, Yuuki emerges from his catatonia to a chance at redemption–but it may take a monster to defeat a monster, and in spite of everything, Yuuki’s still just a bit too human…
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2018
175 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Shuzo Oshimi
137 books1,041 followersShuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
February 22, 2019
That was deeply disturbing...
April 24, 2021
I forgot about this series until I recently began his Trail of Blood series. This is volume 8 from Oshimi of a bullying story that becomes a vampire story that becomes a deep reflection on youth trauma and now a vampire cult story. The focus shifts from different characters, but has recently been on Yukiko Gosho, ten years in the future from the original teen events, as she tries to figure out what happened to her friends, Okazaki and Nora, and make some sense of what happened to her, too.
In the last volume Gosho finds the mysterious Sakurane, now sort of a religious leader of this vampire-worshiping nihilist blood cult, (ugh, I say). We get some backstory on this monster. The volume is intense, violent, but get this: As you can see from the delicately drawn cover, this volume is penciled only, very airy and light technique contrasted with the pretty disturbing action. And in this one, most of the story is told through the images, lyrically (yes, I mean that), even poetically. This series is now in a place, however, that I have to warn readers about it. Trigger happy? Trigger sad/scary! I am told I still need to find the last two volumes to finish this series. And will. Though I prefer more psychological horror and less blood, but oh, well, I am now curious to see how it finishes.
In the last volume Gosho finds the mysterious Sakurane, now sort of a religious leader of this vampire-worshiping nihilist blood cult, (ugh, I say). We get some backstory on this monster. The volume is intense, violent, but get this: As you can see from the delicately drawn cover, this volume is penciled only, very airy and light technique contrasted with the pretty disturbing action. And in this one, most of the story is told through the images, lyrically (yes, I mean that), even poetically. This series is now in a place, however, that I have to warn readers about it. Trigger happy? Trigger sad/scary! I am told I still need to find the last two volumes to finish this series. And will. Though I prefer more psychological horror and less blood, but oh, well, I am now curious to see how it finishes.
November 6, 2020
Goddamn it, this book really is horrifying.
It's not even the over the top blood and gore you might expect that usually gets people saying "Oh my this is horrifying" it's just the simple actions of one man.
So we ended the last volume on a cliffhanger. A friend just wanting to help his other friend survive but of course it isn't that easy. For each moment where we cheer that the heroes might come out of this, it gets darker and sicker. The backstory of the neckslasher is great, shows he was ALWAYS a piece of shit, and the ending was...well just fucked up as hell.
I need more of this but I'm reading as slow as possible because I don't want it to end. A 5 out of 5.
It's not even the over the top blood and gore you might expect that usually gets people saying "Oh my this is horrifying" it's just the simple actions of one man.
So we ended the last volume on a cliffhanger. A friend just wanting to help his other friend survive but of course it isn't that easy. For each moment where we cheer that the heroes might come out of this, it gets darker and sicker. The backstory of the neckslasher is great, shows he was ALWAYS a piece of shit, and the ending was...well just fucked up as hell.
I need more of this but I'm reading as slow as possible because I don't want it to end. A 5 out of 5.
March 1, 2022
La historia hasta este momento me ha gustado, no la he encontrado tremenda, pero es muy buena. Aborda el fanatismo, la culpa, soledad, incomprensión, dolor, entre otras cosas que atrapan mucho. Como es propio de este mangaka, el aspecto psicológico en sus historias es altamente relevante.
Ya vamos en la recta final de la historia.
Ya vamos en la recta final de la historia.
October 4, 2022
Okay, I suppose this has to be my favourite volume. We are grateful that Gosho and Sado survived. And that piece of sh*t Sakurane aspired to become a deity; his backstory was fascinating, and it goes without saying that he was crazy for Yuki. Now that Yuki, my best son, has done well, let's locate Okazaki and hope to survive.
February 16, 2024
What happens when a human views a vampire as a God? What if that vampire, at heart, is still a mere mortal? Yuuki may have been transformed into a monster but he is still just a bit too human… Yet he has an entire cult built around him, led by the insane Sakurane.
Gosho and Sudo are adorable together and I hope they both make it out of this nightmare to be together 🤞 will they the survive torture and violence at Sakurane’s hands? Will Yuuki be the one to protect them?
The horror imagery is great here, especially the body horror elements, very reminiscent of Junji Ito’s work. It’s making me want to reread Uzumaki and Tomie now that I own physical copies! I read quite a lot of horror manga online in my teenage years.
3.6 Stars 🧛🏻♂️🩸
Gosho and Sudo are adorable together and I hope they both make it out of this nightmare to be together 🤞 will they the survive torture and violence at Sakurane’s hands? Will Yuuki be the one to protect them?
The horror imagery is great here, especially the body horror elements, very reminiscent of Junji Ito’s work. It’s making me want to reread Uzumaki and Tomie now that I own physical copies! I read quite a lot of horror manga online in my teenage years.
3.6 Stars 🧛🏻♂️🩸
May 23, 2022
Such a gruesome encounter
Yuuki finally regained consciousness of the mind, when Sakurane tortured Gosho and stabbed Sudo critically. In this volume, we got to see the broader view of Sakurane's backstory and it's just horrible. He is a devil incarnate and all he wanted is to succumb to the darkness. Yuuki finally came out and explained his identity.
It seemed that everything is going to be fine now, but the fanatics are in question... And when Sakurane entered the picture once again... things were about to get even nastier. Now, with Yuuki on the brink of possible death... Okazaki's consciousness came to light.
I thought Yuuki will be the biggest villain and I hated myself for thinking that. I loved his character arc, albeit clichéd redemption trope. I just loved that there is still human pieces left within him. Time does change people.
This has been the nastiest volume so far, and I loved how Oshimi presented it artistically with hint of emotive techniques and horrifying strokes. Goat mangaka I tell you. I really adore the art so much.
Yuuki finally regained consciousness of the mind, when Sakurane tortured Gosho and stabbed Sudo critically. In this volume, we got to see the broader view of Sakurane's backstory and it's just horrible. He is a devil incarnate and all he wanted is to succumb to the darkness. Yuuki finally came out and explained his identity.
It seemed that everything is going to be fine now, but the fanatics are in question... And when Sakurane entered the picture once again... things were about to get even nastier. Now, with Yuuki on the brink of possible death... Okazaki's consciousness came to light.
I thought Yuuki will be the biggest villain and I hated myself for thinking that. I loved his character arc, albeit clichéd redemption trope. I just loved that there is still human pieces left within him. Time does change people.
This has been the nastiest volume so far, and I loved how Oshimi presented it artistically with hint of emotive techniques and horrifying strokes. Goat mangaka I tell you. I really adore the art so much.
March 19, 2024
And the last for now- picks back up finally, and I have high hopes for the last two despite me not wanting it to go this exact route!
January 23, 2020
The battle in the cult compound keeps seesawing back and forth in an almost ridiculous way, and we are subjected to a secret origin of Masami "Vampire Boy" Sakurane, the twisted villain of the last several volumes. Not my favorite entry of the series, but at least it looks like things will be back on track as we head into the final two books.
May 4, 2023
4.8/5
OMG this is getting better and better and darker and darker.
This is seriously one the best binge reads, with a meh start that then they rise to success.
We are still in the cult and we reach a super cliffhanger at the end.
Madness is all over in here.
The pace is super fast and has definitely the ability to keep you at the edge of your seat!
OMG this is getting better and better and darker and darker.
This is seriously one the best binge reads, with a meh start that then they rise to success.
We are still in the cult and we reach a super cliffhanger at the end.
Madness is all over in here.
The pace is super fast and has definitely the ability to keep you at the edge of your seat!
October 15, 2023
This seriously had me gaping 0: So good and intense. That ending D: Loses a star for .
July 1, 2024
felt like a filler
Read
February 28, 2024wtf
December 11, 2021
I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.
We're still on the gore.
Basically, this book gives us a background to Sukurane, how he found out about vampires, tried to get Nora to turn him, was mistreated by his family, murdered 3 children, got a new identity and is now the leader of a blood-sucking cult keeping a vampire in the basement and using Yukito to try and force Yuki to talk and ultimately turn Sukurane into a vampire. That's what he wants. This book is intense in a lot of ways. It deals with some heavy triggers, it has a lot of torture elements to it and frankly I miss when this series was more simply about teenage vampires. Now it's all weird and violent and dark.
We're still on the gore.
Basically, this book gives us a background to Sukurane, how he found out about vampires, tried to get Nora to turn him, was mistreated by his family, murdered 3 children, got a new identity and is now the leader of a blood-sucking cult keeping a vampire in the basement and using Yukito to try and force Yuki to talk and ultimately turn Sukurane into a vampire. That's what he wants. This book is intense in a lot of ways. It deals with some heavy triggers, it has a lot of torture elements to it and frankly I miss when this series was more simply about teenage vampires. Now it's all weird and violent and dark.
July 8, 2021
4 estrellas para la historia en su conjunto, una de las más perturbadoras y oscuras que he leído en mucho tiempo. Como ya ha apuntado alguien por aquí, este manga tiene un aire que recuerda a “Déjame entrar” aunque la historia bebe de un montón de referencias. La trama se sumerge en una espiral sangrienta que alcanza su cenit en un par de capítulos tan heavies que me han dejado tal que así 🤯😱🤯😱 y me han dado muy mal rollo. El final me ha gustado bastante y, más, las referencias pictóricas a Picasso y Van Gogh.
January 13, 2024
Sometimes I wonder why this series is called "Happiness". 😅
That said, in this volume there was the 1st moment of joy I remember seeing in this whole series.
One of the characters finally caught a break. How long will it last?
Only 2 more volumes to go. Curious to see how this will end.
So far it has been amazing.
That said, in this volume there was the 1st moment of joy I remember seeing in this whole series.
One of the characters finally caught a break. How long will it last?
Only 2 more volumes to go. Curious to see how this will end.
So far it has been amazing.
May 13, 2020
Another action-packed volume. Loved the Sakurane flashback, really helps cement one of the main themes of this series - childhood trauma. Oshimi once again changed up his style for the flashback, this time using only soft pencils; I really enjoyed it.
February 25, 2021
The thing with reading is, you can't just close your eyes 'til it's over
This volume has me conflicted. I love horror, but I try to stay away from realistic depictions of extreme acts of violence, sadism, maiming and torture. Unfortunately there is a lot of that in volume 8. Definitely not an enjoyable read.
Oshimi devotes almost two chapters to Sakurane. Through flashbacks of his childhood and teenage years we learn about the origin of his vampire obsession and that he's a sociopath who started his carreer as a monster torturing and killing animals. Oshimi shows us in excrusiatingl graphic detail how Sakurane is the real demon in the story, not the vampires. Kudos to him for creating an utterly unlikable, twisted character with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, but I didn't care about Sakurane's past or his motivations. I was just rooting for him to die asap so the focus could shift back to the other characters.
I think I get why Oshimi tried to push the story into yet another direction. I mean, from a creative standpoint, as an artistic exercise, I can sort make sense of this. And I also believe that the primary goal of art is not to please but to make us feel things and think about stuff. So I get the point but I hope in the next volume Oshimi moves on from this in the next volume.
This volume has me conflicted. I love horror, but I try to stay away from realistic depictions of extreme acts of violence, sadism, maiming and torture. Unfortunately there is a lot of that in volume 8. Definitely not an enjoyable read.
Oshimi devotes almost two chapters to Sakurane. Through flashbacks of his childhood and teenage years we learn about the origin of his vampire obsession and that he's a sociopath who started his carreer as a monster torturing and killing animals. Oshimi shows us in excrusiatingl graphic detail how Sakurane is the real demon in the story, not the vampires. Kudos to him for creating an utterly unlikable, twisted character with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, but I didn't care about Sakurane's past or his motivations. I was just rooting for him to die asap so the focus could shift back to the other characters.
I think I get why Oshimi tried to push the story into yet another direction. I mean, from a creative standpoint, as an artistic exercise, I can sort make sense of this. And I also believe that the primary goal of art is not to please but to make us feel things and think about stuff. So I get the point but I hope in the next volume Oshimi moves on from this in the next volume.
June 10, 2021
mano, na moral, essa série virou uma coisa absurda. nunca q no primeiro volume eu ia achar q essas coisas seriam possíveis na mesma história
August 25, 2024
4 ⭐️
Such a horrifying volume. It comes to show just how much pain and suffering one persons actions can bring. We have our “monsters” of the series, but they are not the only ones. They never chose that fate and never asked for it, but we have our other character who has every choice in front of him and has chosen violence and shows just how non linear the idea of “good and bad” really is
Such a horrifying volume. It comes to show just how much pain and suffering one persons actions can bring. We have our “monsters” of the series, but they are not the only ones. They never chose that fate and never asked for it, but we have our other character who has every choice in front of him and has chosen violence and shows just how non linear the idea of “good and bad” really is
February 12, 2021
4.5/5 ⭐️
This book really surprised me because most of it is the backstory of Sakurane. This is probably the most disturbing book in the series so far. It was interesting to see how he went from serial killer to cult leader, and how it all stems from his childhood. This change, the memory sequences were designed in a great way because it shown in a different style for it was done with pencil panels. But the ending cliffhanger has me really excited for what is to come next.
This book really surprised me because most of it is the backstory of Sakurane. This is probably the most disturbing book in the series so far. It was interesting to see how he went from serial killer to cult leader, and how it all stems from his childhood. This change, the memory sequences were designed in a great way because it shown in a different style for it was done with pencil panels. But the ending cliffhanger has me really excited for what is to come next.
August 6, 2021
super. intense. holy. shit.
[in the background is playing “𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕝𝕝 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥” (introduction to the snow – miracle musical)]
[in the background is playing “𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕝𝕝 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥” (introduction to the snow – miracle musical)]
July 21, 2024
In this series, we get heart breaking betrayals and we get a shocking turn where now the cult has realized something shocking about their leader. What’s interesting too is now they’re being commanded around instead of existing. Will this backfire by the end of the series? Almost certainly.
July 12, 2023
this has me in PIECES
January 1, 2022
Sudo menyangkakan beliau boleh mengalahkan Sakurane dan menyelamatkan Gosho, malangnya Sakurane dah gila.. Namun kerana Sudo, Yuki mula bangkit dari kegelapan dan membantu Gosho serta Sudo.. Namun sifat kemanusiaan Yuki yang masih bersisa telah menghancurkan dirinya..
May 15, 2021
Getting so tense.
August 26, 2024
This volumes ends with big LFG energy. Ready for the denouement with two volumes left.
Library copy (Ocean City).
Library copy (Ocean City).
May 20, 2025
that was the most disturbing one so far
September 20, 2025
"I'm not your god"
and it just keeps getting more twisted, holy moly
and it just keeps getting more twisted, holy moly
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews