NIPPOMANIA #13 : Homunculus

We have already talked about it before, but its release in English is imminent, and you absolutely don't want to miss it! Homunculus is a work that perfectly describes the epitome of seinen manga; it's dark, it's anxiety-inducing, it's profound, and above all, it's captivating to the point where you can't stop reading! Here, we see Hideo Yamamoto at his best, throughout the 15 volumes and its 166 chapters. Get ready to bite your nails while reading the chilling pages of Homunculus!





In the near future, the process of "trepanation" mysteriously emerges in the streets of Japan. Supposedly, undergoing trepanation creates a greater blood flow in the patient's cranial box. This influx develops abnormal pressure in the trepanned individual's head, giving birth to a sixth sense in them. The small perforation operation would allow the subject to gain strange powers, such as extrasensory perception, the ability to see spirits, and telepathic abilities.
Susumu Nakoshi is a 34-year-old homeless man, lonely and rather gloomy. He avoids contact with other homeless people as much as possible and prefers the comfort of his car over cohabitation. One day, when his misery seemed to never end, Susumu encounters a strange man. This man asks him if he would like to be a subject in the trepanation process. Intrigued but completely indifferent to the man's proposition, he decides to ignore it and continue on his way…





As he loses all his possessions in a single day, Nakoshi decides to go back to the mysterious character and accept his offer in exchange for 70,000 yen. After this somewhat abnormal surgery, the homeless man realizes that he can now use supernatural powers and can perceive humanoid deformities with his left eye only…





Having gained a cult-like success and a film adaptation, Homunculus is everything Sixth Sense always wanted to be: a thrilling psychological thriller that intrigues and captivates from beginning to end. Not only does the mangaka's research on the lives of the homeless in Japan delve deep and feel like a documentary, but it is executed with finesse. In addition to blending the supernatural with realistic street-life situations, the author's artistic style is endowed with photorealism that pierces through the pages. In addition to these achievements, the character development of Susumu is efficient, brilliant, and comparable to the greats of the genre, like Goodnight Punpun. Through moments of melancholy and questioning his own reality, the protagonist strives to grow and flourish amidst the misery with the help of his newfound powers.
Horror and thriller enthusiasts, your new rare gem will hit bookstores on June 27th!