Manga Reviews (2010-2019): Blood on the Tracks vol. 1 by Oshimi Shuzo

If you enjoyed Oshimi’s previous work with “Flowers of Evil”, and you enjoy dark storylines with twisted characters, you’ll no doubt enjoy “Blood on the Tracks”! Recommended!

Click here to buy the “Blood on the Tracks” vol. 1

MANGA TITLE: Blood on the Tracks vol. 1

STORY AND ART BY: Oshimi Shuzo

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Shogakukan

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: Vertical Inc.

RATED: N/A

RELEASE DATE: February 25, 2020

Seiichi’s mother loves him very much, and his days pass with placid regularity. School, friends, even the attention of his attractive classmate Fukiishi. Until one terrible summer day, that all changes…

Shuzo Oshimi (The Flowers of Evil) delivers his most unsettling work yet, the tale of a seemingly normal family suddenly swallowed up by the creeping horror of everyday life. Gorgeous art and an understated script only serve to heighten the tension as we watch Seiichi Osabe’s life spiral into a nightmare.

Oshimi Shuzo is a mangaka best known for his dark manga works such as “The Flowers of Evil” and “Drifting Net Cafe”.

His most recent work is “Chi no Wadachi” (Blood on the Tracks) which will be released in English courtesy of Vertical Inc.

The manga begins with a mother and young child looking at a dead cat and the child asking his mother, “why did the cat die?”.

Fastforward and Osabe Seiichi wakes up, he’s a normal high school teen, lives with his parents, hangs out with friends, likes looking at girls.

One day, he remembers him and his mother Seiko, discovering the dead cat.

His mother tells him that his aunt and cousin Shigeru will becoming over.

And as Seiichi and Shigeru enjoy playing video games, Shigeru jokes with Seiichi of how his family is overprotective. Which Seiichi tries to pass it off as his mom is just concerned about him.

Meanwhile, Fukiishi, a female classmate wants to walk home from school with him and when she asks if she can come over to his house, Seiichi tells her that he has to ask his mom.

As Sei’s family and his aunt’s family are planning an outdoor trip together, but the unthinkable happens.

I have to say that after reading the first volume of “Blood on Tracks”, I can easily say that Oshimi Shuzo has managed to create a dark, twisted storyline. Whereas, “Flowers of Evil” revolved around a twisted classmate and a weak boy. For “Blood on Tracks”, remove the twisted classmate and put an overprotective parent.

Suffice to say, that is chilling. How far would one parent go to protect their child from any danger?

And I can foresee things getting even darker which is quite scary in itself, considering how mom treats her teenage son.

And the first volume, you no doubt get a feeling something is off, within the first few pages. But it’s how this first volume ends, you can’t help but think of how bad things will get, considering mangaka Ishimi Shuzu’s track record when it comes to his characters in his previous manga stories.

The first volume is no doubt setting the storyline up for some darker events up ahead. But if you enjoyed Oshimi’s previous work with “Flowers of Evil”, and you enjoy dark storylines with twisted characters, you’ll no doubt enjoy “Blood on the Tracks”!

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