Blood on the Tracks, Vol. 9

血の轍 [Chi no Wadachi] #9

by Shuzo Oshimi, Daniel Komen (Translator)

Seiichi's aunt and uncle have arrived to confront Seiko, and the truth has come out at last. The lies—and his family—are falling apart, and Seiichi is left to pick up the pieces...

But as he shakes off his mother's influence and faces police questioning, a shocking revelation about his past emerges!!

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

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2020

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 5 out of 5]

Oh shit!!!! This is probably my favorite volume in the series so far!! It’s getting so unhinged. Can’t wait to see where it goes!! 🤯

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Literally. Have. No. Words.

There is so much going on in this series. It's impossible to describe anything that happens without spoiling it. Just know that the level of complexity in human behavior that Oshimi illustrates through these characters is sick. I have never felt so many emotions reading a manga. The artwork is phenomenal and a perfect example of why I want people to explore graphic works more. The storytelling is in the art and not the words and damn does Oshimi prove this time and time. I have the next two volumes and cannot wait to dive into more of this story. I still can't get over the fact that the first thirteen volumes are the prologue.

[Katie Colson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vlog/Review: https://youtu.be/ONtCTarlJKs

I am enthralled. I'm eating it UP! This story has me by the throat. It took a while to catch me but I'm CAUGHT.

Also, let's talk about this cover cause gotDAMN

[Katie Colson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading in anticipation for vol 10 & 11.

Hits just as hard the second time around.
It's like a silent movie that has a horror undertone.
I'm well and truly obsessed.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

if Seiko was real i’d beat her ass cause sis is just asking for it at this point

[Kesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a turn. Finally the Pandora' s Box of his memories opens.

[Dhia Nouioui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay Seiichi is getting on my nerves more and more I wanna side with him cus he’s mentally fucked up but at the same time it’s like I wanna punch him he’s so annoying.

I think the dad is having affairs at this point. I'm happy to see him smacked.

She manipulated Seiichi into being completely dependent on her and unable to live without her command, only to turn herself in and leave him.

Mf pulled a Shinjii while his mom in prison lol.

This interrogation looks like the best therapy Seiichi ever had. I'm glad he's finally speaking his mind.

Crime scene reconstruction. Sei is the only witness and is a minor therefore police have the right to do this, all to make sure that the testimony was true and correct.

She pushed two kids down a hill in her lifetime? Mom of The Year. Mf really said "ugh nevermind" when he survived. She never wanted a kid, so she tries to kill him, and probably herself later since she talked previously about wanting to "disappear".

[Svetlana]

I can’t rate this manga. It’s so disturbing and terrifying.

[Ebony "Interstellar Introvert" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read this manga I am left feeling traumatized. Jesus...Joan Crawford would have reported Seiko to the police. The level of mental and physical abuse is mind numbing. It's done in a way that makes you question how do you cope after living with a mother who is mentally broken. This.....this. Jesus take the wheel.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY FRIGGING SHIT

This volume was bananas. I can not believe how much we moved the plot foward what is happening.

[Anabel Samani · Rating 5 out of 5]

El gato.
Oh, el gato.
El gato.

[Katherine (Kat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

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

What in the Oshimi is this? I definitely deserved slurping that spicy noodles while reading this. I needed a distraction to ease up the tension I'm feeling.

I'm literally shaking and reeling from the shock. Such red herring that I've had on my mind from the very start since I saw that cat. I thought, since his mother's overprotective, she probably killed the cat that "hurt" Seiichi, because she's psycho and all. But there's a huge crazyfest incident that took place covered by her manipulative aura. Very Oshimi, indeed. I mean, I was always thinking like, if she just killed the cat why are there flies already feasting the carcass that instant? But, it was actually a metaphor for what happened to him when he was three. And it made me ache for Seiichi that that moment was memorable to his mother's existence. She's crazy. Now I know why that song says she's sweet, but a psycho.

This is fucked-up. I don't want to use this unpleasant word but, I can't think of other horrible words that would fit what exactly I'm thinking right now. This felt like a blow on my head and I'm gushing with blood—I feel sick.

Blood on the Tracks volumes are pretty longer than other Oshimi series volumes, nevertheless it is very engaging. You wouldn't even notice the length difference because you'll keep turning pages, engrossed in the story. It wouldn't even feel like you're just reading. It's like you're literally there, such vivid storytelling. Goat Oshimi as always.

[Steph ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

um, what the ever loving fuck was that? what the hell? favourite in the series so far, by a country mile. good lord, im shooketh

[Klinton Saha · Rating 5 out of 5]

পূর্বে করা অপরাধের দায় স্বীকার করে মা।সেইচি মায়ের স্নেহের বলয় থেকে বেরিয়ে এসে সত্য সাক্ষ্য দেয় পুলিশের।সে এবার বুঝতে পারে মায়ের ভালোবাসা তার স্বাধীনতা হরণ করছে,এটা স্নেহ নয় - এক প্রকার নির্যাতন।সে স্নেহ ও ভয়ের জাল থেকে বেরিয়ে এসে অনুধাবন করে সেও মায়ের মতো বিভৎস হয়ে যাচ্ছে। তার মনে পড়ে ছোটবেলায় মা কেন তাকে মেরে ফেলতে চেয়েছিল!!

[shubiektywnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Według mnie najlepszy tom w serii

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The big secret is out in the open, but more are lurking in Seiichi's slowly solidifying memories. The story is so decompressed at this point it almost feels like it is happening in real time -- perhaps a bit too slow even.

And what's up with that police reenactment? Is that even something remotely possible?

And somehow this isn't even close to the climax, with volume 14 already out in Japan. Once again, this feels like a series where Shuzo Oshimi has written himself into a corner. Is another one of his time jumps coming?

[Ignacio · Rating 4 out of 5]

En esta historia rayano en al porno de tortura psicológica, Shuzo Oshimi sabe sacar partido a situaciones que uno imagina rutinarias o que anticipa de otra manera. En este caso su manejo de la escena de la reconstrucción del suceso traumático que lo inició todo le permite liberar un recuerdo del protagonista que se había vislumbrado en capítulos anteriores y asienta un posible motivo del crimen terrible. Hay un cierto abuso de las figuras de los fantasmas y los sueños, pero la manera en que sigue avanzando en el drama de estos personajes es maquiavélico.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars (reread)
Page 150 is one of the best panels in this series. The Blood on the Tracks chapter ties everything with the title of the series and is utterly terrifying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5 stars. I love Blood on the Tracks. It is a manga series that I can't wait to buy the translated English editions of when they drop. I can't wait until this series is complete and I can reread these volumes as one cohesive story arc. The wait does kill me, but each volume has progressively gotten more intense psychologically and now the consequences from volume 1 are rearing back around. It's a wild time and the moment of repressed trauma coming back up was shocking. So well done and crafted. Those sequences of the mother's face were terrifying.

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in chapters as releasing

[Met · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che bomba ragazzi… siamo all’apice della tensione ormai da almeno 4 volumi e ogni volta l’orrore è più intenso.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welp.

This crazy mother just go to upgraded to a new type of batshit crazy. Damn.

Curious to see where this is heading and how Seiichi will deal will all this emotional damage.

[✮ osanna aoki ✮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The familial turmoil is ramping up. This is nothing near typical family dinner table drama— this is peak.

The truth is out and all hell has broken loose.

But just when you think things may simmer down for a bit, the tables turn once again.

A revelation of Seiichi’s past has left me heartbroken and shocked.

It also confirms his mother’s disgusting and demented history.

Seiko is a monster.

”I belong to me.”

Huge revelations and heartbreaking memories aside, this volume is where we really see Seiichi struggle with the tumultuous wave of varying and traumatizing emotions.

He is battling the idea of being his own person, a separate entity from his mother— a human being with his own thoughts, emotions, and actions. It’s heartbreaking to witness him grapple with just being able to exist.

And the abandonment he feels is choking me up.

What a fucking story, oh my God.

This is probably my favorite volume thus far. It has the most dialogue yet— but mangaka Oshimi continues to deliver on such beautiful and excruciating artwork that will continue to reel you into the story more than words ever could.

This manga is a masterpiece.

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

…oh

[Alo ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

K TRAUMA

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

I am my own person

Yass qween speak 👏 your👏 truth👏

[Ain Ashura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every volume brings you something unexpected and this one just takes it up a notch.
I can't wait for Vol 10 but I'm also a bit scared to learn what happens next.

[Joshua Jonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

9 books in, and this series continues to shock me and impress me. The big shock about Seiichi’s childhood makes the truth about the current reality all the more shocking. And the fact it was hinted at a while back with Auntie saying “She’s always been a little weird”.’ I’m so eager to find out what led Seiko down this path, and if there’s even a small chance for her to be redeemed. She seems so comfortable in her ways, and I’m curious to see what happens after the events of this book given now, that she’s faced what most manipulators and Psychopaths fear, repercussions, jail and being put in check.

[Karina Romero Botto · Rating 5 out of 5]

GRAAAANN TOMO!

[MarinaLawliett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pero qué es esto??????
Ufffffff es que... lit de verdad que lo siento, pero no sé qué decir.