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彼岸異譚 [Higan Param] #1
Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond, Volume 1
Yamagishi and Sendo are schoolmates, but that's about as far as their similarities go: one is a short, no-nonsense boxer, while the other is a tall, bookish conspiracy nut. But when they find themselves embroiled in a paranormal phenomenon at school involving plant-faced monster people assimilating innocent victims, it seems they'll have to set aside their differences and work together as best as they can. Of course, it doesn't help that the only one with any answers to this bizarre situation is a mysterious "paranormal investigator" named Akisato, who insists they must find some sort of "key" to stop it all -- before giant insects and other preternatural perils from the world "beyond" get to them first. Inspired by Lovecraftian horror and the Call of Cthulhu, this is a brand-new manga series from the creator of Monochrome Factor!
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2018
14 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 9, 2020
I'm liking where the story is going despite nothing much happened before the ending since it's just an introduction to the series. The artstyle is really great and is one of the few instances where facial hair on characters look really good and fitting.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
January 22, 2020
This started out in full color and I really wish it had stayed that way. But besides that two guys in the same school but different classes happen upon they flower faced destroyed that will remind readers of the demogorgon from Stranger Things. The story is too drawn out. It seems the same thing happens over and over again. It’s like they are trying to build up sexual tension underlain on all the graphic death, and mysterious disappearances. I thought this book was fine, but will not be reading more of the series.
#LitsyAtoZGN
#LitsyAtoZGN
December 7, 2019
Full review to follow closer to publication!
February 13, 2020
Summary:
Yamagishi, a small, but powerful boxer, and Sendo, a bookworm obsessed with the occult, are essentially polar opposites. However, a strange paranormal occurrence at their school suddenly brings the two boys together. In the midst of this phenomenon, they witness a man with a monstrous flower for a head, attack and take over a human being. As a result, Yamagishi and Sendo quickly become embroiled in a series of odd occurrences.
This eventually leads to them meeting Akisato, a mysterious paranormal investigator. The three end up becoming trapped in a nightmarish world known as the “Beyond,” plagued with giant insects and other horrific creatures. The group must work together to find the “key,” if they are to have any hope of escaping.
Pros:
The story of Parham Itan is quite interesting and engrossing throughout. Its official synopsis states that the story was inspired by Lovecraftian horror, and to me, that influence is clear. I really like how these aspects were incorporated into the manga; they make for a truly unique story and universe. From the very beginning, the story is fairly fast-paced. But, that quick pace fits well with the story. It doesn't detract from the atmosphere and tone at all.
Moreover, this manga has a great balance of comedy and seriousness. There's enough humor to provide some levity from the often dark, somber story. However, it never becomes too much. Actually, I think it strikes a near perfect blend.
All of the characters in Parham Itan are fascinating, with Sendo probably being my favorite. I found his personality to be unique and endearing. Additionally, I loved his passion for the paranormal and occult. Yamagishi is sort of a reluctant hero, stepping up because he's forced to by his present situation. I'm especially interested to see how his character develops over future volumes.
And last but not least, there's Akisato. This particular volume didn't divulge much about Akisato and his background. But, he makes for quite a cool mentor type character.
As I stated before, the Lovecraftian influence is really apparent, and it adds some neat layers to this manga. The author even had a section at the end discussing this inspiration further. Said section included a stat sheet for Yamagishi, with individual values for traits like Strength, Intelligence, etc. I thought this was a nice touch; it complements the story well.
In addition, the art is absolutely gorgeous, maintaining a detailed, visually appealing style the entire time. Similarly, the character designs are distinct and memorable. I could easily distinguish them from other manga characters and series. The enemy designs are also cool and suitably creepy, with the plant based ones being especially eerie.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Parham Itan is an interesting, engaging story with a cast of endearing, colorful characters to enhance it. This manga’s tone is dark and mysterious all throughout, which fits the story well. Furthermore, the art style is beautiful, detailed, and distinct, perfectly illustrating the Lovecraftian influence. Truly, I'm so excited to see how the story and characters progress from here. I can't wait for the next volume!
*Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Tokyopop for this book. I received a free copy from them, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.*
Yamagishi, a small, but powerful boxer, and Sendo, a bookworm obsessed with the occult, are essentially polar opposites. However, a strange paranormal occurrence at their school suddenly brings the two boys together. In the midst of this phenomenon, they witness a man with a monstrous flower for a head, attack and take over a human being. As a result, Yamagishi and Sendo quickly become embroiled in a series of odd occurrences.
This eventually leads to them meeting Akisato, a mysterious paranormal investigator. The three end up becoming trapped in a nightmarish world known as the “Beyond,” plagued with giant insects and other horrific creatures. The group must work together to find the “key,” if they are to have any hope of escaping.
Pros:
The story of Parham Itan is quite interesting and engrossing throughout. Its official synopsis states that the story was inspired by Lovecraftian horror, and to me, that influence is clear. I really like how these aspects were incorporated into the manga; they make for a truly unique story and universe. From the very beginning, the story is fairly fast-paced. But, that quick pace fits well with the story. It doesn't detract from the atmosphere and tone at all.
Moreover, this manga has a great balance of comedy and seriousness. There's enough humor to provide some levity from the often dark, somber story. However, it never becomes too much. Actually, I think it strikes a near perfect blend.
All of the characters in Parham Itan are fascinating, with Sendo probably being my favorite. I found his personality to be unique and endearing. Additionally, I loved his passion for the paranormal and occult. Yamagishi is sort of a reluctant hero, stepping up because he's forced to by his present situation. I'm especially interested to see how his character develops over future volumes.
And last but not least, there's Akisato. This particular volume didn't divulge much about Akisato and his background. But, he makes for quite a cool mentor type character.
As I stated before, the Lovecraftian influence is really apparent, and it adds some neat layers to this manga. The author even had a section at the end discussing this inspiration further. Said section included a stat sheet for Yamagishi, with individual values for traits like Strength, Intelligence, etc. I thought this was a nice touch; it complements the story well.
In addition, the art is absolutely gorgeous, maintaining a detailed, visually appealing style the entire time. Similarly, the character designs are distinct and memorable. I could easily distinguish them from other manga characters and series. The enemy designs are also cool and suitably creepy, with the plant based ones being especially eerie.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Parham Itan is an interesting, engaging story with a cast of endearing, colorful characters to enhance it. This manga’s tone is dark and mysterious all throughout, which fits the story well. Furthermore, the art style is beautiful, detailed, and distinct, perfectly illustrating the Lovecraftian influence. Truly, I'm so excited to see how the story and characters progress from here. I can't wait for the next volume!
*Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Tokyopop for this book. I received a free copy from them, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.*
October 17, 2022
I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I was very excited to start reading this one, the cover looked quite exciting (though his neck/head position was a bit painful) and the blurb sounded right up my lane!
And boy, this was in the end pretty awesome. I wasn’t a fan of all the characters, Sendo especially just got on my nerves. He didn’t know when to stop being nosy, saw conspiracies EVERYWHERE, he complained a lot (I mean, hello everyone was fighting for their lives and yes I understand that you don’t want to touch those damned wires but man up and do it), he is truly the weakest link in the party with that he was the first to be captured (and then had to be freed again by our awesome detective or whatever he is dude). And so on. I just wanted him eaten by one of the monsters. I am sorry.
Yamagishi however? I did like him more! He seemed to actually have a brain in his head, not to mention that he is strong. I did feel sorry for him for what happened at the boxing stuff, I can imagine that he is feeling down by that. But hey look, your skills are still worth something, look at you kicking some serious creepy butt. I do wonder why his hair is half white and half black and why he has the scar on his head. I hope we find out more about that in the next volumes. I can’t wait!
The manga is pretty spooky and scary. Our duo is at school late at night when they see something weird happening. They run away but the next night they come back and that is the start of some really creepy stuff. I am still not entirely sure what is going on, but there are plant-faced humans walking around, bugs, dimensions get distorted, people get murdered. It was a bit confusing, but I did get a good grasp in the end, though I would like some more confirmation regarding stuff.
Also booo cliffhanger! Who is that person! I want to know!
So I had tons of fun reading this one, it has all the elements I love seeing in a manga right now (my mood is for spooky things). I also love the art that the manga is using, especially the battle scenes were just wonderful .
All in all, recommended! I can’t wait for the next volume.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was very excited to start reading this one, the cover looked quite exciting (though his neck/head position was a bit painful) and the blurb sounded right up my lane!
And boy, this was in the end pretty awesome. I wasn’t a fan of all the characters, Sendo especially just got on my nerves. He didn’t know when to stop being nosy, saw conspiracies EVERYWHERE, he complained a lot (I mean, hello everyone was fighting for their lives and yes I understand that you don’t want to touch those damned wires but man up and do it), he is truly the weakest link in the party with that he was the first to be captured (and then had to be freed again by our awesome detective or whatever he is dude). And so on. I just wanted him eaten by one of the monsters. I am sorry.
Yamagishi however? I did like him more! He seemed to actually have a brain in his head, not to mention that he is strong. I did feel sorry for him for what happened at the boxing stuff, I can imagine that he is feeling down by that. But hey look, your skills are still worth something, look at you kicking some serious creepy butt. I do wonder why his hair is half white and half black and why he has the scar on his head. I hope we find out more about that in the next volumes. I can’t wait!
The manga is pretty spooky and scary. Our duo is at school late at night when they see something weird happening. They run away but the next night they come back and that is the start of some really creepy stuff. I am still not entirely sure what is going on, but there are plant-faced humans walking around, bugs, dimensions get distorted, people get murdered. It was a bit confusing, but I did get a good grasp in the end, though I would like some more confirmation regarding stuff.
Also booo cliffhanger! Who is that person! I want to know!
So I had tons of fun reading this one, it has all the elements I love seeing in a manga right now (my mood is for spooky things). I also love the art that the manga is using, especially the battle scenes were just wonderful .
All in all, recommended! I can’t wait for the next volume.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 11, 2020
I absolutely loved this manga! Gorgeous art style & a fun story that had lots of action, jokes, & unlikely friends. One of my fave tropes in manga! It was also inspired by the Call of Cthulhu board game so this was definitely right up my alley. I already can't wait for the next volume!
A+
Thanks to the publisher & netgalley for a copy to review!
A+
Thanks to the publisher & netgalley for a copy to review!
March 21, 2020
The world of "paranormal detective/police series" is surprisingly deep in the manga world. I, for one, am living for it.
And like any other genre with a lot of entries (looking at you, isekai), there are some hits and some misses. And it's funny to me that I read volume 1 of two different series which are taking on this theme within a couple weeks of one another, and one, I loved while the other, I was kind of meh on. I'll let that four-star rating up top tell you which one was which :)
Yamagishi is a boxer with performance anxiety. After practice one day, he literally runs into the bookish Sendo in what, in another (very different) manga, probably would have been a meet-cute. As they head toward the campus' dining room, they're met by what seems to be a drunk businessman swaying his way through the campus.
You can probably guess, but that businessman is not what he seems.
From there the two end up entanged in a world of mysteries and dangers from creatures most people don't even believe in. And I love it.
Now, this is where the 5-star rating system can really cause some troubles. Is this book objectively good? Even as compared to some of its contemporaries? I'm really not sure. It's fairly well written, I like the art, but this might be more of a case where the story is hitting all the beats I like. Things like:
1. The characters are, so far, nothing special and I cherish that. Yamagishi is strong, but like excellent boxer strong so far, not like blessed with strange powers he doesn't understand strong (so far). Sendo is smart and has a fascination with the occult, but comes across basically like a parallel-world Dib from Invader Zim. I love that Yamagishi legitimately does think sticking their nose into the nonsense is idiotic. So far (knock on wood) the characters seem like people you might actually encounter in real life. And even when we get to the character who deals with the supernatural, he seems kind of tired of things and exhausted with trying to balance idiot laymen with his job. I love it.
2. Sort of related, the troubles that the characters get into are kind of their own fault (well, basically Sendo's fault.) there's no mysterious mcguffin or power or whatever that draws the monsters to our main characters. They get in trouble because they stick their nose in because they're (again, mostly Sendo) just too darn curious.
3. I appreciated the pacing. A lot of stories like this seem to be in a real hurry to introduce you to the infrastructure of their world, and usually that infrastructure is cool! But it sometimes feels like it cheapens the early chapters. This one gets the pacing just right for me.
So, if this all sounds interesting, it may be worth a try. It's a fairly quick read, if nothing else! And I am already looking forward to volume 2. :)
And like any other genre with a lot of entries (looking at you, isekai), there are some hits and some misses. And it's funny to me that I read volume 1 of two different series which are taking on this theme within a couple weeks of one another, and one, I loved while the other, I was kind of meh on. I'll let that four-star rating up top tell you which one was which :)
Yamagishi is a boxer with performance anxiety. After practice one day, he literally runs into the bookish Sendo in what, in another (very different) manga, probably would have been a meet-cute. As they head toward the campus' dining room, they're met by what seems to be a drunk businessman swaying his way through the campus.
You can probably guess, but that businessman is not what he seems.
From there the two end up entanged in a world of mysteries and dangers from creatures most people don't even believe in. And I love it.
Now, this is where the 5-star rating system can really cause some troubles. Is this book objectively good? Even as compared to some of its contemporaries? I'm really not sure. It's fairly well written, I like the art, but this might be more of a case where the story is hitting all the beats I like. Things like:
1. The characters are, so far, nothing special and I cherish that. Yamagishi is strong, but like excellent boxer strong so far, not like blessed with strange powers he doesn't understand strong (so far). Sendo is smart and has a fascination with the occult, but comes across basically like a parallel-world Dib from Invader Zim. I love that Yamagishi legitimately does think sticking their nose into the nonsense is idiotic. So far (knock on wood) the characters seem like people you might actually encounter in real life. And even when we get to the character who deals with the supernatural, he seems kind of tired of things and exhausted with trying to balance idiot laymen with his job. I love it.
2. Sort of related, the troubles that the characters get into are kind of their own fault (well, basically Sendo's fault.) there's no mysterious mcguffin or power or whatever that draws the monsters to our main characters. They get in trouble because they stick their nose in because they're (again, mostly Sendo) just too darn curious.
3. I appreciated the pacing. A lot of stories like this seem to be in a real hurry to introduce you to the infrastructure of their world, and usually that infrastructure is cool! But it sometimes feels like it cheapens the early chapters. This one gets the pacing just right for me.
So, if this all sounds interesting, it may be worth a try. It's a fairly quick read, if nothing else! And I am already looking forward to volume 2. :)
January 1, 2020
Yamagishi and Sendo attend the same school but they don't have much to do with each other. Yamagishi is one of the school boxers and Sendo is a nerd from the year above.
One night after leaving the boxing gym Yamagishi runs into Sendo who is lugging a pile of books home from the library and so he stops to help him. The two of them are shocked and horrified to see one of the gardeners being consumed by a plant with tentacles. They are saved by a mysterious stranger who they later find dead in the school chapel. The next day they are convinced they dreamt it all, especially when they see the school gardener going about his business as usual.
Sendo refuses to forget about these strange occurrences and he convinces Yamagishi to accompany him to investigate the chapel where they found the stranger's dead body and this is the start of their weird adventure. When they go to the chapel they are surprised to find the stranger there and alive, and to their horror he isn't the only strange thing around.
The two young men discover they have entered an altenative reality with huge winged insects that are determined to kill them. They have to work with the stranger, who they discover is a paranormal investigator named Akisatoto, to battle the winged beasts and get home.
This is a well drawn manga horror/sci fi story which is actually quite gripping to read. The story is inspired by Lovecraftian horror and the Call of Cthulhu and it is fascinating to see these kinds of horror in a different cultural context and in manga format.
This is the first volume of the series and it ends on a cliff hanger although I didnt mind because the volume is full of action and the artwork is really good. There is lots to discover in future volumes. What is this strange world the young men have found themselves in and will they get home? How can they stop the winged beasts and horrors of this strange realm from crossing over into their school and who is the paranormal investigator?
There is lots to look forward to with this new series and it will be interesting to see what the next volume will bring.
Copy provided by TokyoPop via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
One night after leaving the boxing gym Yamagishi runs into Sendo who is lugging a pile of books home from the library and so he stops to help him. The two of them are shocked and horrified to see one of the gardeners being consumed by a plant with tentacles. They are saved by a mysterious stranger who they later find dead in the school chapel. The next day they are convinced they dreamt it all, especially when they see the school gardener going about his business as usual.
Sendo refuses to forget about these strange occurrences and he convinces Yamagishi to accompany him to investigate the chapel where they found the stranger's dead body and this is the start of their weird adventure. When they go to the chapel they are surprised to find the stranger there and alive, and to their horror he isn't the only strange thing around.
The two young men discover they have entered an altenative reality with huge winged insects that are determined to kill them. They have to work with the stranger, who they discover is a paranormal investigator named Akisatoto, to battle the winged beasts and get home.
This is a well drawn manga horror/sci fi story which is actually quite gripping to read. The story is inspired by Lovecraftian horror and the Call of Cthulhu and it is fascinating to see these kinds of horror in a different cultural context and in manga format.
This is the first volume of the series and it ends on a cliff hanger although I didnt mind because the volume is full of action and the artwork is really good. There is lots to discover in future volumes. What is this strange world the young men have found themselves in and will they get home? How can they stop the winged beasts and horrors of this strange realm from crossing over into their school and who is the paranormal investigator?
There is lots to look forward to with this new series and it will be interesting to see what the next volume will bring.
Copy provided by TokyoPop via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 17, 2020
Warnings: body horror and gore, violence
A jock and a nerd get tangled up in the supernatural events in their school - I mean, this has potential for buddy comedy, and loads of mystery, so I was quite interested. I am not familiar with Lovecraft or Call of Cthulhu, except like a few pop references so I can't say how much of the source material is in there, but I enjoyed the book as its own story. So, Yamagishi (the boxer) and Sendo (the nerd) meet each other when the former helps him lug a big bag of books, late one night. They come across the gardener being attacked by a plant monster, and run away before they become victims themselves. The next day, the gardener seems fine, and Sendo, who is the believer in this duo, urges Yamagishi the skeptic to help him investigate. Round 2 with plant monster isn't going very well, but they get rescued by a strange pararnormal investigator who himself is a mystery. They all get trapped in an alternate dimension and have to fight their way out through some more creatures.
The dynamic between Sendo and Yamagishi is good, the former being the one eager for occult and paranormal things, while the latter having some self-preservation applied along with a large serving of denial. The investigator, Akisato, is kinda a stock character, with his mystery being mainly of his mysterious ability to be alive (you will understand when you get to *that* part). The artwork is quite impressive, and I loved the action sequences! The character designs of the humans, and the monsters both are quite good. The story, while leaving us with more questions in this first volume, is quite compelling and I am excited to see where it goes.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Tokyo Pop, via Edelweiss.
A jock and a nerd get tangled up in the supernatural events in their school - I mean, this has potential for buddy comedy, and loads of mystery, so I was quite interested. I am not familiar with Lovecraft or Call of Cthulhu, except like a few pop references so I can't say how much of the source material is in there, but I enjoyed the book as its own story. So, Yamagishi (the boxer) and Sendo (the nerd) meet each other when the former helps him lug a big bag of books, late one night. They come across the gardener being attacked by a plant monster, and run away before they become victims themselves. The next day, the gardener seems fine, and Sendo, who is the believer in this duo, urges Yamagishi the skeptic to help him investigate. Round 2 with plant monster isn't going very well, but they get rescued by a strange pararnormal investigator who himself is a mystery. They all get trapped in an alternate dimension and have to fight their way out through some more creatures.
The dynamic between Sendo and Yamagishi is good, the former being the one eager for occult and paranormal things, while the latter having some self-preservation applied along with a large serving of denial. The investigator, Akisato, is kinda a stock character, with his mystery being mainly of his mysterious ability to be alive (you will understand when you get to *that* part). The artwork is quite impressive, and I loved the action sequences! The character designs of the humans, and the monsters both are quite good. The story, while leaving us with more questions in this first volume, is quite compelling and I am excited to see where it goes.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Tokyo Pop, via Edelweiss.
December 23, 2019
In Parham Itan: Tales from Beyond Volume 1, high school student boxer Yamagishi and smart nerd Sendo literally run into each other on the way back to their dorm. While walking together, they encounter a half-human half-man-eating-flower monster. But the next day, everything seems normal.
“What if nobody’s seen them before ‘cause they camoflage themselves? What if there’s actually tons of those critters walkin’ among us all the time? What if all those ghost stories and urban legends that sound made up are actually cover stories to hide their existence? What if we saw yesterday is the real world?”
What kind of horrors will they encounter while investigating the flower man?
Per the author, Parham Itan: Tales from Beyond Volume 1 is based on the Cthulhu legend from the tabletop RPG. The plot is more a thriller with paranormal elements than a straight-out horror manga. The artwork, especially of the flower man, is excellent. It succeeds in making the absurd idea of a man with a giant flower for a head into a truly frightening monster.
This story is the first volume in a hopefully long series. The main characters are introduced but there is room for many more explanations in future books in the series.
If you liked the author’s Monochrome Factor series, you will be thrilled with this series too. It has the same genre-fluidity in it. It has action, horror, comedy, and two disparate male leads that must work together without becoming yaoi. It is an enjoyable read. 4 stars!
Thanks to Toykopop, Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
“What if nobody’s seen them before ‘cause they camoflage themselves? What if there’s actually tons of those critters walkin’ among us all the time? What if all those ghost stories and urban legends that sound made up are actually cover stories to hide their existence? What if we saw yesterday is the real world?”
What kind of horrors will they encounter while investigating the flower man?
Per the author, Parham Itan: Tales from Beyond Volume 1 is based on the Cthulhu legend from the tabletop RPG. The plot is more a thriller with paranormal elements than a straight-out horror manga. The artwork, especially of the flower man, is excellent. It succeeds in making the absurd idea of a man with a giant flower for a head into a truly frightening monster.
This story is the first volume in a hopefully long series. The main characters are introduced but there is room for many more explanations in future books in the series.
If you liked the author’s Monochrome Factor series, you will be thrilled with this series too. It has the same genre-fluidity in it. It has action, horror, comedy, and two disparate male leads that must work together without becoming yaoi. It is an enjoyable read. 4 stars!
Thanks to Toykopop, Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 21, 2020
'Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond, Vol. 1' by Kali Sorano is a horror manga inspired by Lovecraftian horror and the Call of Cthulhu, so of course I was interested.
Yamagishi and Sendo are two classmates, but that's about all they have in common. Yamagishi is a short, solid boxer, and Sendo is lanky and bookish. When they run across weird dealings on campus, they are thrown together to figure out what is happening. From people who have flowers for faces to giant bee-like insects, things are just weird. A mysterious supernatural investigator shows up, but when he is slaughtered in the chapel, it seems that the boys are on their own
I liked this moody, creepy story. I'm not sure it reminded me all that much of Lovecraft, but it's definitely got weird things going on. The art works well, and I'd like to see where the story goes.
I received a review copy of this manga from Tokyopop, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
Yamagishi and Sendo are two classmates, but that's about all they have in common. Yamagishi is a short, solid boxer, and Sendo is lanky and bookish. When they run across weird dealings on campus, they are thrown together to figure out what is happening. From people who have flowers for faces to giant bee-like insects, things are just weird. A mysterious supernatural investigator shows up, but when he is slaughtered in the chapel, it seems that the boys are on their own
I liked this moody, creepy story. I'm not sure it reminded me all that much of Lovecraft, but it's definitely got weird things going on. The art works well, and I'd like to see where the story goes.
I received a review copy of this manga from Tokyopop, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
February 6, 2020
This looks like it could be really good!
Yamagishi is a jock - a world class boxer. Sendo is a nerd - a guy who routinely checks out stacks of books from the library so large he can barely carry them home.
One night, Sendo literally runs into Yamagishi and together they stumble upon a bizarre plant creature thing (looks a lot like a demogorgon!) that promptly kills the heck out of a groundskeeper.
Before the two can figure out what is going on, they meet a paranormal investigator, witness another horrible murder and stumble into a dark dimension they may never escape from. And who is the creepy little kid in the back cape?
Yamagishi is a jock - a world class boxer. Sendo is a nerd - a guy who routinely checks out stacks of books from the library so large he can barely carry them home.
One night, Sendo literally runs into Yamagishi and together they stumble upon a bizarre plant creature thing (looks a lot like a demogorgon!) that promptly kills the heck out of a groundskeeper.
Before the two can figure out what is going on, they meet a paranormal investigator, witness another horrible murder and stumble into a dark dimension they may never escape from. And who is the creepy little kid in the back cape?
December 7, 2019
Parham Itan is the first volume of a new series. It follows two high school students who accidentally come upon the reality that we are not alone. That there are things that go "bump" in the night and that something is definitely wrong with their school campus after dark.
It sets up the premise for the rest of the series, but fails to end at spot that is not awkward. With that being said, it does a good job of roping in the reader to get them excited for the next volume(s).
It sets up the premise for the rest of the series, but fails to end at spot that is not awkward. With that being said, it does a good job of roping in the reader to get them excited for the next volume(s).
February 4, 2020
As always, Kaili Sorano delivers exactly what I expect of them. Another manga that's filling me with the excitement of reading another of their works after so long!
Sorano's art is gorgeous and they're so skilled with drawing gore. As a first volume it's a very solid start to the series.
I'm excited for the story to be continued, having followed it since the characters were first shown on twitter from the TRPG.
Sorano's art is gorgeous and they're so skilled with drawing gore. As a first volume it's a very solid start to the series.
I'm excited for the story to be continued, having followed it since the characters were first shown on twitter from the TRPG.
December 7, 2019
Parham Itan was a fun, easy read. I enjoyed the premise and characters, and this first volume left me interested to know what would happen next. The artwork is good, as is the balance of images and text. I would definitely read on.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2019
Addictive. I see a great sequel in the near future. I liked the main characters and how they interacted with the others, and the ending, although bittersweet, was good as well. There are many answers I want right now, so I have high expectations on the next volume.
February 2, 2020
This was my first manga that I have read. It was really good and action packed. I definitely will read more in this series. Two students totally different, one athletic and the other studious. They come upon a crazy guy one evening on campus. What has happened to this guy?
October 14, 2020
I picked this up largely because I was surprised to see TokyoPop actually publishing something that's not a manga adaptation of a Disney franchise, and I want them to do more of this. Thankfully, I got my money's worth.
Parham Itan is more Resident Evil than H.P. Lovecraft so far, despite its aspersions to the latter. I do have to applaud Sorano for trying something different though, instead of just throwing Deep Ones or Cthulhu into the story--the monsters here are mostly original. And while the focus is often more on action than cosmic horror, there are sections where there's a pretty unsettling atmosphere that establishes itself, so this series is legitimately trying to be scary, and I appreciate that effort. I do hope the story develops beyond Sendo, the occult enthusiast, dragging Yamagishi, the sensible one who also happens to be the only one who can fight, into a series of "mystery of the week" scenarios, but there's a decent setup all the same.
As a horror/action series, Parham Itan is off to a good start. The characters don't feel too trope-y or overpowered, the situations they get wrapped up in are suitably creepy, and while I have a feeling the scales will tip further to the "action" side of the equation as time goes on, it's an okay balance so far. Give it a look, if you're in the mood for a creature feature.
Parham Itan is more Resident Evil than H.P. Lovecraft so far, despite its aspersions to the latter. I do have to applaud Sorano for trying something different though, instead of just throwing Deep Ones or Cthulhu into the story--the monsters here are mostly original. And while the focus is often more on action than cosmic horror, there are sections where there's a pretty unsettling atmosphere that establishes itself, so this series is legitimately trying to be scary, and I appreciate that effort. I do hope the story develops beyond Sendo, the occult enthusiast, dragging Yamagishi, the sensible one who also happens to be the only one who can fight, into a series of "mystery of the week" scenarios, but there's a decent setup all the same.
As a horror/action series, Parham Itan is off to a good start. The characters don't feel too trope-y or overpowered, the situations they get wrapped up in are suitably creepy, and while I have a feeling the scales will tip further to the "action" side of the equation as time goes on, it's an okay balance so far. Give it a look, if you're in the mood for a creature feature.
December 8, 2019
Hmm, Parham Itan is quite solid actually. I'm not a fan of Cthulhu, so I cannot say if this was accurate in any way, but interesting if nothing else. Yamagishi and Sendo go to the same school, the other is a boxer and the other is a bookish alien loving nerd obsessed with conspiracies. They encounter this odd plant-faced monster that kills a man and they also meet this weird inspector that soon dies mysteriously. Except he didn't die and they all end up in another dimension mansion inhabited by bugs. Basically this first part doesn't really offer us anything else except the monsters and the looming mystery of what could happen next, but no explanation or anything. Thus the manga feels quite long as it doesn't really set the story and we don't get to know the characters all that well either. Still, there's always the possibility that this will turn out better along the run.
The art looks OK, nothing spectacular, but the monsters and the gore looks good surely. Interestingly so this is shoujo! I'm glad we get monster comics like this too. The panels are slightly stuffed, but the humor helps out and lightens everything up. I hope this gets better, but at least this is really new.
The art looks OK, nothing spectacular, but the monsters and the gore looks good surely. Interestingly so this is shoujo! I'm glad we get monster comics like this too. The panels are slightly stuffed, but the humor helps out and lightens everything up. I hope this gets better, but at least this is really new.
January 27, 2020
I have an interest in cosmic horror which lead me to this series. Unfortunately unlike the of Call of Cthulhu game which this takes inspiration from there doesn't seem to be anything all that good going for it. I mean the two lead characters aren't even friends. If this was parodying the game this might be good but it's just feels distracting. One of the characters is driven more by a need to better himself and not be bothered by trauma, being around an occult freak would only make things worse for him. I'd like it better if the occult guy wasn't around, he's more of a plot element than a character. At least the cosmic horror stuff would be easier to engage.
I mean when the cover character meets the paranormal investigator he reacts like any normal person would. He's also capable and handling situations despite being way out of his depth. This is actually a good set up to an action horror. Again though, the comedic elements feel in the way. I get that different viewpoints on curiosity or trying to get over trauma are potentially good but couldn't they have been done separately?
I mean when the cover character meets the paranormal investigator he reacts like any normal person would. He's also capable and handling situations despite being way out of his depth. This is actually a good set up to an action horror. Again though, the comedic elements feel in the way. I get that different viewpoints on curiosity or trying to get over trauma are potentially good but couldn't they have been done separately?
May 14, 2020
Yamagishi and Sendo are schoolmates, but that's about as far as their similarities go: one is a short, no-nonsense boxer, while the other is a tall, bookish conspiracy nut. But when they find themselves embroiled in a paranormal phenomenon at school involving plant-faced monster people assimilating innocent victims, it seems they'll have to set aside their differences and work together as best as they can. Of course, it doesn't help that the only one with any answers to this bizarre situation is a mysterious "paranormal investigator" named Akisato, who insists they must find some sort of "key" to stop it all - before giant insects and other preternatural perils from the world "beyond" get to them first.
So this was much different than my typical reads. I have read comic books, but never Anime. The story was interesting and kept my attention the entire time. Overall I really enjoyed it. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
So this was much different than my typical reads. I have read comic books, but never Anime. The story was interesting and kept my attention the entire time. Overall I really enjoyed it. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
December 20, 2021
This supernatural action manga is marked by a strong visual narrative, effective pacing, and deft characterization. Yamagishi is an up and coming high school boxer who meets Sendo, a book worm with a penchant for the occult. So, of course, creatures from beyond start popping up on their school campus. Luckily, they meet Sesshu Akisato, a mysterious adult who can kick supernatural butt.
I was mostly impressed with the mangaka’s art. The artist has a 360 degree imagination, showing action scenes from just about any camera angle available. To maximize visual interest, the horizon line is tilted at radical angles so that even shots of the characters standing and talking feel exciting. Pay attention to the artist’s use of screentone, which is both subtle and inventive.
Overall, a very entertaining manga, and I’ll likely buy Volume 2.
I was mostly impressed with the mangaka’s art. The artist has a 360 degree imagination, showing action scenes from just about any camera angle available. To maximize visual interest, the horizon line is tilted at radical angles so that even shots of the characters standing and talking feel exciting. Pay attention to the artist’s use of screentone, which is both subtle and inventive.
Overall, a very entertaining manga, and I’ll likely buy Volume 2.
February 8, 2020
I never DNF a manga or graphic novel, but this one almost did it for me.
Almost.
Too much is trying to happen all at once, and the flow of the story isn't coherent at all. Or at least, the way it showed up on my phone wasn't easy to follow. There's bits and pieces I actually loved, but it was all mostly toward the end. The beginning was a big mess for me, and I found myself caring less and less about the characters. While an interesting concept (and similar to the types of manga and graphic novels I love), this one just wasn't a hit for me.
Almost.
Too much is trying to happen all at once, and the flow of the story isn't coherent at all. Or at least, the way it showed up on my phone wasn't easy to follow. There's bits and pieces I actually loved, but it was all mostly toward the end. The beginning was a big mess for me, and I found myself caring less and less about the characters. While an interesting concept (and similar to the types of manga and graphic novels I love), this one just wasn't a hit for me.
November 10, 2022
Okay, but not great pacing
I'm not really a fan of the pacing, it feels like action/events are happening too quick while at the same time info is doled out too slowly. I wish the first encounter was expounded upon more or the detective brought them into the fold sooner. The art style also threw me as I kept reading the protagonists as tomboy characters based on their faces which seemed more feminine than the only female character shown.
I'm not really a fan of the pacing, it feels like action/events are happening too quick while at the same time info is doled out too slowly. I wish the first encounter was expounded upon more or the detective brought them into the fold sooner. The art style also threw me as I kept reading the protagonists as tomboy characters based on their faces which seemed more feminine than the only female character shown.
January 28, 2020
Thanks to Edelweiss for the e-arc!
This one is a 3.5 for me
Intriguing start to a horror manga. Two students get pulled into a world of horror, death and eldritch magic. Hoping for more creepy creatures to show up in the next volume.
This one is a 3.5 for me
Intriguing start to a horror manga. Two students get pulled into a world of horror, death and eldritch magic. Hoping for more creepy creatures to show up in the next volume.
October 5, 2022
A story between Day Of The Triffids and any Resident Evil
Well done. Good characters, although sometimes you want to slap one of them, and, of course, its not the one with the glasses. Kept my attention. I went to look for the second volume...wanted more. Thanks.
Well done. Good characters, although sometimes you want to slap one of them, and, of course, its not the one with the glasses. Kept my attention. I went to look for the second volume...wanted more. Thanks.
February 1, 2021
I really enjoyed the character development, dialogue, and the art. I’m really excited to see where this leads.
November 15, 2022
HP Lovecraft and unlikely friends trope, with an added dose of great art and really good writing? I’m in.
May 18, 2023
La trama que homenajea los cuentos de detectives y monstruos del siglo pasado pero con una perspectiva moderna hacen de esta historia su mayor atractivo
January 16, 2026
I'm interested I love the character designs
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