Summertime Rendering, Vol. 1

Summertime Rendering 2-in-1 Omnibus #1

by Yasuki Tanaka

[ DRIFITING ASHORE / VORTEX ]

Hearing the news of the passing of his childhood friend Ushio, Shinpei returns to his hometown in the remote island of Hitogashima to attend her funeral. Little does he know that it is the beginning of a summer full of mystery and horror! No one is prepared for the time twisting adventures ahead that defy life and death!

Genres: Manga, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics

364 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2022

About the author

TANAKA Yasuki
Name (in native language): 田中靖規

Zodiac: Scorpio

Blood Type: O

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This messy supernatural thriller plays with time and doppelgangers on a small island off the shore of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture, just south of Osaka. Shinpei Ajiro, a 19-year-old, returns from cooking school in Tokyo for the funeral of one of his foster sisters. The possibility that she was murdered kicks off an overly-complicated plot that allows the creator to dump in frequent twists and turns -- so many that I started to weary of them after a while.

The fan service that mostly targets a 15-year-old girl is unwelcome and the various crushes between the foster siblings and their small group of friends are more cringe than romantic.

I have another volume on hand from the library, so I'll give that a go, but I'm pessimistic that I'll ever make it to the end of this tangled web.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summertime Rendering is when you take Erased, mix it in with some brutal kills, and add a bit of a supernatural entity trying to take over (maybe destroy) the world.

Shinpei returns back to his hometown which is on a island, perfect set up for some horror elements, and upon returning runs into his childhood friend who was basically like a sister to him though she might have some feelings for him. And when I say feelings, I mean she wanna get it on with him. But this is manga so let's goooooooooooo-- I mean, ick.

And anyway, he's returning on a not so happy occasion, his childhood friend is dead. And Ushio (the girl who passed) sister is the one crushing on him. Either way it starts off as a goodbye to their sister/friend when all of a sudden someone comes into the picture and begins murdering people and then BAM...we're back to the same moment Shinpei is coming back to the island.

A Do over.

A groundhog day.

A erased.

Now Shinpei MUST discover what really happen. what are these shadows that act as doppelgangers. Who is killing people. Why!?

The mystery itself is intriguing. I do want to know who and why this is happening. The characters are good though a bit cliché, and Shinpei can be kind of a idiot while also being really smart at times. Guess that's how it goes. I will say the kills are BRUTAL as hell. Some really screwed up deaths for sure.

One thing I think is a bit off is the pacing, it's iffy at times with the exposition going to heavy at moments.

But overall I'm interested in more. Probably around a 3.5 but I'll bump it to a 4.

[Whitney Jamimah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this one quite a lot.

We follow Shinpei as he returns to his tiny, 2 square mile island home to attend the funeral of his foster sister. We quickly learn that things are not right on Shinpei's home island. Not only has his foster sister died under very strange circumstances but there are other people in town going missing as well.

Ok so that is the bird's eye view of what is going on in this series.

Things get complicated rather quickly because there is a time loop element as well as a doppelganger element. I am trying to be a vague as possible so as to not spoil anything but these elements can make for slower reading that you really have to pay attention to so I want it to be known so you can make a conscious choice to get into this with a good mindset. I think that Tanaka did a really good job overall of making the storyline easy to follow where it could have quickly because a convoluted mess. At the very end it did get just a little bit muddled but still, for what it could have been things were easy to follow.

[Sarah E B ʚ♡ɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars ⭐️💫
I'm usually drawn to time-travel stories, but this manga really stands out. It has a fresh concept, keeps you on edge with suspense, and delivers twists at a rapid pace. The story starts strong and introduces unique elements that make it feel original and engaging.
🏊‍♀️👥

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Erased, Volume 1 blended with elements of body horror and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's an interesting idea, but I couldn't focus on the body swaps and time lines because of the fan service and the hugely icky family relationship.

The protagonist was taken in by another family when he was ten and his 14-year old stepsister-- who has a crush on him-- is constantly shown naked or with exposed panties.

[Kadi P]

Ahead of the new anime show on Disney+, UDON Entertainment recently acquired the rights to print the English editions of this popular manga! I'm excited to dive into it soon!

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to Udon Entertainment in connection with SLJ's Teen Live! programming for librarians for the eARC of this title. This in no way changed my rating**

This is the beginning of a series about Shinpei, who goes back home for the funeral of his friend only to discover that she was murdered by a monster that's terrorizing their island home and that he's essentially living Groundhog's Day. Every time he dies, he's taken back to July 22 and the cycle starts over again. This was super interesting. I really liked the characters and I want to know more about the reason for these monsters and why Shinpei is time traveling or looping. I'm disappointed that the anime series for it is only available in Japan right now. I'm hoping Disney will expand that to the US soon so I can watch it, but for now, I'll see if I can find the next volumes of the story. I really want to keep reading this.

[Libbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

✨ Writing a grouped review as I started reading this series a few months ago and read it over a few months. I do not remember the specifics of each specific volume apart from the overarching story and specific ratings for each volume. ✨

As a sci-fi/mystery series this is not my most common genres but this series honestly surprised me in a good way.

There is a not insignificant amount of fan service, especially in the earlier volumes which I didn’t love but it gets better. The series does also get a bit more repetitive at times.

However, I would recommend this series. It is genuinely creepy and disturbing at times. Good use of the groundhog day trope as well

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was probably the weirdest manga I've ever read. The cover art seems like it could be very misleading if one goes into this story based on the cover without reading the synopsis. The time jumpy deja vu was a bit confusing. The scenes of Ushio in the casket was off putting as thats a phobia of mine This one just didn't work for me. I am curious to watch the anime to see the story in full motion though.

Thank you Netgalley, Udon Entertainment, and Yasuki Tanaka for the eARC

[Joshua Jonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This supernatural horror manga is definitely for fans of “Higurashi: when they cry” and as one myself, this is super awesome. The antagonists and the timeline resets are interesting and I want to see what the bad guy turned good does going forward or if they’re doing this to manipulate.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This omnibus was amazing!

[Vikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another manga that I had read in March but that copy was all jumbled up, so I didn't enjoy that experience much. Now I read it on the MangaPlus app so enjoyed it better. This is one weird story that is a combination of Groundhog Day and Bodysnachers. I would be able to finish this series on Manga Plus now so will we doing that and going to Keep on Reading.

I have always loved comics, and I have I can. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and hope always to love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.

[Freya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting manga but a little hard to get through and a bit confusing at times. A thriller/horror mystery I enjoyed reading.

Shinpei is back home for the funeral of his best friend Ushino who supposedly died saving someone. Dark folklore gets involved when Shinpei tries to investigate her death. When he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, he dies but time gets turned back every time he does while his investigation progresses.

I’m curious about how this story will continue in the next volume.

[Armando · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best surprise reads I've had in a while. Maybe I didn't read the description right but this was not at all what I was expecting. It was just so much better. I don't want to even spoil anything in this review, but if you're looking for something good, this is the manga to go to.

[Dynameis03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il n'y a pas tous les tomes de visibles ici mais il y en a 13. C'était vraiment incroyable, très très bon manga. J'adore le délire des boucles temporelles qui est bien développé, même s'il y a pas mal de fan service ça impacte pas vraiment l'histoire qui elle est très bien, l'intrigue est haletante. Ça m'a fait penser au Darwin's Game qui est mon manga préféré, dans l'idée de l'intrigue qui est très bonne.

[Secre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for omnibus volume 1.

The content in this manga covers the material from the first four episodes of the anime.

I purchased the summertime rendering collection as a paperback series and the artwork both on the cover and inside is phenomenal. Each manga panel is well detailed and full of life.

The story of summertime rendering I would classify as a mystery/science fiction but the book itself classifies itself as a mystery/horror. The story is fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat once it starts. There is almost an ominous vibe while reading this and for me personally I just couldn't put it down once I started.

It is unfortunate that people have given bad reviews based on censorship in the United States but light censorship does not seem to bother me. For those who are curious the censorship is that of soap studs and shower scenes.

Based on what I've read so far I would highly recommend this to someone who's looking for a unique story with an ominous vibe to it.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this at the libary and grabbed it cause MANGA!
It reminds me a bit of Tokyo Revengers with time travel to save a friend bit, but with more fan service.
I do find the mystery very intriguing and U want to know more about these shadows and Mother and Shin's eye... Looking forward to volume 2!
Just found out this is Disney+'s first anime!
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[Rafaela (dragonsandpaperbacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that's an incredible start! I'm hooked in this mysterious horror. Now I'm just not sure I want to keep reading or just skip right to the anime.

I loved the whole concept of the shadows. At first, it seems like one of those small town folk tales, but it gets eerie and dark real fast. And the time loop just adds to the suspense of it.

I'm really intrigued to see where this story is going! (Think I might just skip to the anime, though. It's only 25 eps and on disney+, so

[Othy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this series. I just couldn't get enough of it. I think I bought all six volumes as soon as I could and read them straight through. I was a bit surprised by the violence, but what great characters, plot, concept, art - everything. Amazing!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded up.

This is a promising start. Hopefully, it can maintain its momentum.

[Matthew Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Lydiah☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

kinda confusing..

[Braden Koop · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a couple tries to get into it, but it eventually clicked for me. Very "Body Snatchers" meets "Groundhog Day".
I'm interested to see how it continues.

[kaitlphere · Rating 4 out of 5]

The combination of a character returning home and a doppelganger mystery works very well. There were some panty shots and a few other unnecessary male gaze-y panels.

[Philip McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This must be the summer of weird books, because this one just goes right off the deep end from the first chapter. The basic plot is that a college student, Shinpei Ajiro, returns to his rural island hometown during the summer after a close friend of his passes away. There are doppelgangers of people in town appearing and killing off their originals in order to take their place, and Shinpei is able to restart his time on the island whenever he is killed. This lead to him trying to make it through the same timeframe on the island in order to keep people from passing away. Throughout this volume he fails multiple times in his battle against the shadows. In order to keep my ideas straight for this, I'm going to review what is known so far.

Shinpei is able to relive the same day over and over again. After the first one his eye ends up changing color. This is the eye of Mother, the seeming leader of the shadows. Shinpei's favorite author is also on the island and seems to be aware of the mystery going on. She had written a book that seems to follow the same plot as the story we are following, could this be coincidence?

The major goal of the shadows is to bring about the return of mother by killing off everyone on the island and covering it in darkness. When they make a copy of someone they flash as though taking a picture. They also leave behind a shadow residue. Ushioh, the possible shadow of Ushio, doesn't remember anything besides her feelings for Shinpei and is unconvinced that she is a shadow. Shadows only get the memory information up to the point in time when the person they copy is. So if they don't kill their copied person, then it's possible they can be discerned by testing knowledge of things past the point of copy. Pass phrases might not work though because if they copy someone after the phrase is made, they will know it.

Mio's shadow already exists at the starting point of the story, along with Shiori Kobayakawa's. The sheriff is the seeming next target for the starting point as well. I do wonder about what the Kobayakawa doppelganger family gets up to after they go disappearing the day after the wedding. At the moment things are still pretty unclear but I look forward to seeing where the story goes and trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a manga that packs a punch and leaves you questioning your grip on reality, Summertime Rendering is a chilling summer read that will take you on a wild ride of mystery, horror, and a sprinkle of time-warping madness!

Meet our MMC, Shinpei, who’s just trying to navigate the heartbreak of losing his childhood friend Ushio. Returning to the quaint, slightly eerie island of Hitogashima for her funeral seems simple enough, right? Wrong! It turns out that this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill homecoming; it’s the start of a bizarre summer full of twists, turns, and a hefty dose of supernatural horror. Who needs summer vacation when you can have an existential crisis?

From the moment Shinpei sets foot on the island, the atmosphere drips with suspense. The art is beautifully haunting, perfectly capturing the quaint charm of island life and the lurking shadows that hint at the horrors to come. Tanaka’s storytelling is a masterclass in building tension; one moment you’re admiring the waves, and the next, you’re racing to uncover dark secrets that shroud the island. Who knew a funeral could lead to such a whirlwind of time-twisting escapades?

The cast of characters is equally compelling. Each person Shinpei encounters is wrapped in layers of mystery, making you question who can be trusted. Is it the childhood friend who seems a little too eager to help? Or the townsfolk who all have their own secrets? Every interaction feels like a puzzle piece falling into place, and trust me, you’ll want to piece it all together!

As Shinpei unravels the enigma of Ushio’s death, readers are treated to a narrative that flips the script on life and death.

Summertime Rendering Volume 1 is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural mysteries. With a compelling plot, stunning art, and a mix of horror and nostalgia, Yasuki Tanaka has crafted a story that keeps you guessing at every turn.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summertime Rendering Volume 1 is the first two volumes of the SUMMER TIME RENDER series by Yasuki Tanaka. Despite the cover and the early chapter stereotypical panty shots and "I woke up in her boobs!" tropes (which as someone who's read manga/watched anime a time long enough to get a drivers' license, register to vote, and drink I am SO TIRED of especially somewhere like here where there's no need??) it does fortunately develop into a creepy time loop horror mystery story.

There's a story about people being replaced by their shadows.... but what if it's true? And what if it's happening in this small, semi-isolated island?

Volume 1 ends on a good cliffhanger to lead into volume 2 and I'm interested to read the rest of the story!

The art is good and the characters are really expressive, especially as it gets deeper into the horror of it all, and I appreciated the author notes/memos in the back about while this island isn't real, it's sort of based off of a few things (and where they are -- but shout out to Wakayama Prefecture! Underappreciated) and how and why... love that.

Unfortunately the title expired less than two days after my ARC request was approved so I had to grab this volume from the library as I definitely had not downloaded it quick enough! That's on me. But I appreciate publishers throwing older titles up onto NetGalley sometimes to give us the opportunity to read something we may not have been so aware of, or have not gotten around to reading yet. (So thank you to NetGalley and Udon for the eARC!)

Onto volume 2!

[E (manga_runner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Time Rendering 
-mystery, horror
-completed 

From just the cover, you would not expect this series to be along the lines of a horror/thriller genre. Throughout volume one, there are several twists and mysteries keeping you wondering who is human and who is a “shadow”. I will be honest, at the end, I was a bit shocked (won't say since it would be a spoiler). I look forward to seeing the mysteries unravel- including the reason why Shinpei experiences a time loop. 

Shinpei goes back to his home island for the funeral of Ushino. Soon he discovers some shocking news that Ushino might not have drowned saving a young girl. It does not stop there, the group of them believe it is the “Shadows” told in the folklore of the island. Shinpei did not spend much time on the island before discovering that he keeps going back to July 22 when he dies. Each time he goes back, Shinpei attempts to change the future and grant Ushino’s wish to save Mio- her sister.However, in the process, he discovers the “Shadows” have a plan in the works. 

*There is also a season available to watch.
NetGalley/Udon entertainment read

[Vikas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this manga but my enjoyment was marred by my copy that was all jumbled up so I took the membership of Manga Plus and read it and matched it with my copy and finally finished it. I liked the story so would be continuing on the app and would finish it as the series is completed. I liked the whole setup but maybe I shall read this from the start once I am able to buy a tablet to read these much better till then I shall zoom and scroll on my phone one page at a time and going to Keep on Reading.

I have always loved comics, and I have I can. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and hope always to love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.