Rastros de sangre, vol. 2

血の轍 [Chi no Wadachi] #2

by Shuzo Oshimi, Verònica Calafell (translator)

Durante una excursión familiar a la montaña, Seiko nuevamente da muestras de ser una madre demasiado sobreprotectora con Seiichi, provocando las bromas de los demás. En un momento dado, de repente se oye un estremecedor grito. Ante la mirada de Seiko y de Seiichi, Shigeru se ha despeñado mientras hacía el tonto al borde de un precipicio. Las risas dan paso al drama, y Seiko no para de pedir perdón por no haber sido capaz de evitar la caída de su sobrino. Seiichi se encuentra en shock por lo ocurrido... ¿O acaso porque no ha sucedido tal como cuenta su madre?

Genres: Manga, Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Thriller, Fiction, Seinen

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2017

About the author

Shuzo 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) .

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mom!!! What the heck, yikes. Also, I love this authors style, and how they’re able to convey so much story and emotion with just a facial expression, it’s so impressive!

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes it even more impressive is that Oshimi is able to convey these emotions solely through images. The sight of utter dread on Seiichi's face, as well as the look in the mother's eyes, tell far more than any words of discourse could possibly say. I know I'm not discussing much about the second volume of Blood on the Tracks, but that's because giving anything away about the plot would spoil the surprises. What makes it even more bizarre is that this is just the start of the chaos; I can't wait to see how far this can go..

[☾❀Apple✩ Blossom⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I will never complain about my mom ever again lol

[Brandon Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really truly honestly what the hell 😅 I’m beyond uncomfortable. This is psychologically horrific in every sense.

Also the emotions the illustrations are able to present are just insane.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTFFFFF....I didn't know that this manga was going to get this damn creepy. Like what in the actual hell is wrong with his mother. I just don't get it. Clearly, there isn't anything that I can say about this volume because I'll spoil everything. Honestly, just read this series. It'll take you on a wild ride.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

My third psychological horror manga series by Shuzo Oshimi, and I am calling it his best work, because it is spare, atmospheric, conveying the emotional trauma through simple images, with few words. So you can theoretically read this volume in minutes, but it is best to slow down and see the complexity. Sei's mother, on a hike with Sei and his cousin, does something very bad (actually) at the edge of a cliff, and we shudder. We get some pretty clear indications of psychological abuse of Sei by Mommie Dearest, and there are hints of that abuse being sexualized, luring him to her smotheringly. And there seems to be intense jealousy over anyone or anything that may get in the way of her attachment to Sei.

In the second volume we actually slow down, and even have fewer words, as Sei seems more anxious and depressed, as we wait and see the definite outcome of the bad thing mom did at the end of the last volume. Then Sei has a friend, Fukiishi write a letter of affection for him. Mom sees the letter. Oh oh. The tension in the series is high, and the pacing appears to indicate a longish run with most of the "action" in mad glances. Really scary good.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is so unsettling i hate it so much i love it

(but i'm also only giving it 3 stars because even though i am constantly disturbed i don't think i'm 100% enjoying the story and i'm not invested)

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of the first volume, Seiichi Osabe's mother did a very bad thing. As tiny moments and looks elongate in very creepy ways, we start to see just how deep mama's bad goes.

I gulped this book down in just a few minutes. I'm so glad I have the next two volumes on hand.

[daria ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

everything i said about the first volume still rings true. oshimi is the master of human emotion. he will craft panels that are just a closeup of a person’s face and they will continue to haunt me for days after seeing them. oshimi understands that humans are far scarier than any monster he could possibly conjure up. he takes the supposedly pure relationship between mother and son and poisons and bastardizes it beyond recognition. and it is just so damn intriguing to watch him do it.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geez this is one creepy fucking manga.

This starts right where the last one left off. But wait, is the boy dead? NO! Wait, hospital. Wait. News of his recovery? Wait, why is my mother looking at me like if I speak a word of what happen she'll slice my neck? OH WAIT! A girl came to visit me. She likes me? WAIT! Mama found out. Oh weird she's getting close to me.

What the fuck was that ending? This is such a weird series and I kind of love it?

A 4 out of 5.

[Katie Colson · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022: 4⭐️
Vlog/Review: https://youtu.be/3LtrFimU5g0
I'm back in it and enjoying it SO much more the second time around. Now that I understand Oshimi's style, I am getting so much more out of the story.

2021: 2⭐️
Okay, like ONE thing happens in this graphic novel.
Beautiful art and eerie atmosphere. But how long am I gonna have to wait to be invested???

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

His mom needs to be locked up

[Fereshte · Rating 3 out of 5]

bitch whAT THE FUCK—

[Steph ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literally, what in the ever loving hell is this?! I don't understand but I also cannot stop!

[Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oshimi no decepciona, turbio turbio, real creepy, my my, I would not like to encounter the mother of Sei... Soo scary.

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid art. This is why Oshimi is goat 😭 I got the literal chills and unsettling feeling I couldn't get rid of ever since I started this volume. His psychotic mother is too powerful that she's cornering him on the side with her aura, he couldn't see the outside world. Now, it's clear to me the relevance of what took place on the breathtaking cliff. Osabe is a chicken and has a mother complex that he cowers over the shadow of her mother for the illusion of protection. I can't wait to see how Osabe will evolve. This is just hooking, gripping, terrifying, and disgusting all at once. I'll devour the next ones too.

[Vanessa Ferreyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

ES QUE CADA TOMO ES MÁS BUENO QUE EL OTRO

Solo estoy demasiado pegada a esta historia RETORCIDA.

[Ignacio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aparte del suceso con el que se terminó el anterior tomo, se profundiza en el tabú del incesto. Me gusta cómo Oshimi juega con el tempo del relato y su capacidad de desconcertar, retorcer y conmover con las miradas, los contactos, muchos silencios y ciertos gestos exagerados detenidos en el tiempo al repetirlos en varias viñetas. Aquí la narrativa descomprimida tiene todo el sentido: el sufrimiento del chaval protagonista se hace angustioso.

[Sassy Sedusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT THE FUCK!!! 😳

[♑︎♑︎♑︎ ♑︎♑︎♑︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol. 2 took about the same time to read ("read" being a stretch--most of the panels have no words) and I'm still intrigued and irritable in equal measure which is about where the first volume in the series left me. I'm absolutely fascinated, though, at how a manga with so many word-free panels in a row, depicting no more than, maybe, a single eye, or a pair of lips, or something equally simple and context-free, can still advance the story, and give me such unsettling feelings.

[Katie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok wtf my eyes BULGED at the last scene.
I’ll tell you right now, Sei needs to kill mommy.

[Sergsab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hay páginas en las que me da miedo que Seiko me devuelva la mirada. La madre de esta historia ha construido una intimidad fortificada entre ella y su hijo. Una separación entre ellos y el resto que protege a cualquier precio. Y el mero hecho de leer esta historia te hace sentir como si estuvieras vulnerando dicho acuerdo. Hay mucho de terror en una historia que cuenta cómo una madre sobreprotege y manipula a su hijo para su propia y distorsionada paz mental. Y lo terrible de la situación es lo verosímil de todo lo que cuenta. La de infinidad de veces que algo así ha sucedido y pueda que suceda ahora mismo tras las puertas de cualquier casa de cualquier ciudad. En todo momento. Hay una aire de aislamiento constante y una tensión que Shuzo Oshimi se encarga de transmitir al lector a base de gestos. La falta de aire, la falsa necesidad del otro. Esta historia ha roto todos los preceptos que tenía sobre qué y cómo se puede contar a través de un manga. Si sólo vas a leer un cómic este año, si no te interesa en absoluto el medio, te recomiendo que lo intentes con Rastros de Sangre. Es demasiado bueno como para ignorarlo. Demasiado retorcido como para esconder el terror en la palabra mamá.

[Elyrria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is scary relatable for anyone who had been through controlling, narcissistic parental abuse. Horror at home always hits deeply.

[Anabel Samani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué turbia se empieza poner esta historia.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: Highly hard to read, very uncomfortable, especially if you've experienced abuse from a parental figure, whether it was physical, mental, or sexual. There is a mother/son kiss that did not feel paternal. A toxic, scary, abusive parent

---

Hard to read, but I keep going, like a train wreck I can't look away from. This is too real. This isn't a supernatural monster or a crazed killer on the loose, this is a toxic, abusive parent and the effects that has on a child. This is something that could be happening to someone you know, but you probably wouldn't have a clue.

Please don't ignore signs of abuse. The kid has started to have speech problems, stuttering...etc. and the dad blows it off as "no big deal." The kid did witness a traumatic event with his cousin, so even if the dad doesn't know about the abuse from the mom, he should be concerned and get his kid in therapy at the very least!

[Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 1 gets quite uncomfortable, but this volume gets nauseatingly disturbing. A masterpiece in psychological horror that I wouldn't recommend to almost anybody.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

UNCOMFY

[Whitney Jamimah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This installment was an improvement from the last but it still felt like an introduction continued from the previous volume. I am still very interested in the story as the implications feel even more intense as the story builds. These volumes just fly by so fast given there is very little dialogue that so far each hasn’t felt substantial enough for me to be blown away but I can see that morphing over time once I have consumed the story as a whole. The use of imagery to convey emotions as opposed to words is a nice touch though. The last splash page was SUPER impactful.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the f is going on

[shubiektywnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

#azjatyckimiesiąc #summerween

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