Parasyte #4

Customer Reviews:

Shin adjusts to his parasyte..........2001-07-13

In this the 4th installment of the Parasyte series, our hero Shin begins to adjust to his pal lefty, and even begins to show cruelty-- enough to scare sara. He also discovers that the new kid at school, one Hideo Shimada, is more than he seems....

Customer Reviews:

Parasyte..........2007-01-17

"Parasyte 1" was originally published in Japan in 1990, this particular translation is from 1998. I don't know anime, but I know what I like. I know even less about manga. Still, I was recommended this, since I'm a fan of sci-fi, and I quite liked it.

A Parasyte, possibly from outer space, invades Shin's home and tries to get into his brain through his arm, but gets stuck in his left hand, where he mutates. Parasytes have lots of special properties. They can talk, morph into all sorts of shapes, can sense what its host is feeling. A lot of the issue sees Shin and "Lefty" getting used to life with each other, while discovering what the Parasytes really are.

It's pretty exciting stuff.

Post-industrial bio-ecological horror .......2005-01-05

This series clearly owes its existence to Nagai Go's classic Devilman. Whereas Nagai's work is a product of the cold war socio-political reality with its apocalyptic dualist themes, this one is more in a post-industrial globalist mode with its emphasis on ecological symbiosis. And as such it is a scathing critique of modern egocentricity, which is in fact just another name for rationalism. The ending is perhaps something of an anti-climax and borders on naivety, but it will no doubt make you think and ponder about what it means to "live" with others. Leaving aside all the gory scenes that the series contains, this could perhaps be used as a secondary-school textbook under the strict guidance of an informed instructor.

Munch, Munch..........2004-05-15

"Parasyte" is a cheerfully icky, somewhat silly, and quite enjoyable sci-fi anime yarn with strong environmental overtones -- which makes it pretty much unique in this world. Award-winning creator Hitosi Iwaaki takes a well-used premise and injects it with squirmy new life -- and I'm impressed. There's so little original science fiction out there (when was the last time you read sci-fi that wasn't based on Phillip K. Dick or Star Wars? Think about it), and I'm grateful to see new material presented in a graphic novel format....and I'm not even an anime fan.

The story begins one night, when hundreds of tiny seedpods descend to Earth from....somewhere. The pods land, break open, and hatch out slimy little worms who seek out sleeping humans and burrow into their bodies. When the people wake up, they aren't people anymore -- from the neck up, they've transformed into grotesque, shape-shifting fiends with lots of eyes and tentacles who are fully intelligent and can make themselves look perfectly human. Guess what their sole source of food is? Us, of course.

The hero of "Parasyte" is a teenager named Shin, who lives a perfectly ordinary, boring life until the night a parasyte burrows into his left hand. He uses a tourniquet to isolate the thing in his arm, this saving himself from total infestation. However, the parasyte matures, and soon Shin's hand is sprouting eyes and a mouth, chatting pleasantly to him, and reading textbooks while he sleeps. Initially shocked and repulsed, Shin, develops a bizarre symbiotic relationship with the parasyte (named "Lefty"), and they start getting into some freaky situations. Parasytes can sense each other's presences, and all the other parasytes are very interested in Shin and Lefty, who may be the only human/parasyte hybrid alive. Fortunately, Lefty is super-fast, super-strong, and can morph himself into razor-sharp blades and slice people up like pastrami. Of course, so can all the other parasytes....

You get the idea. This pilot volume -- there are twelve in all -- is basically a series of disturbing scenarios designed to integrate us into the world of parasytes. There is, of course, the integral scene where a parasyte splits open like a flower and eats its host's wife's head in a single bite. And the scene where Shin and Lefty encounter a flying monster-dog. And the one where an escaped lion foolishly attacks a parasyte named Mr. A, with unpleasant results. There's an awful lot of gore in this series, what with innocent and not-so-innocent people getting torn limb from limb, devoured, stabbed, decapitated, blown up, vivisected, and so on. And then there's the hilariously over-the-top moment when Lefty demonstrates his knowledge of the male reproductive system. This may turn off a lot of people, but I really don't think you're supposed to take this very seriously. Later on in the series, things becomes more serious as Shin's battle with the parasytes gets personal and he begins to doubt his humanity.

"Parasyte" is well-drawn, with a simple black-and-white format and a more realistic style than a lot of anime. It's well-written, and well-translated for American readers. It's well-paced, with lots of twists and turns to keep your interest and make you wonder what messed-up thing's gonna happen next. And it's well-conceived. The whole "Aliens-Taking-Over-Our-Bodies" thing has been done so many times, but never quite like this. Kudos to Iwaaki! I highly recommend "Parasyte" to anyone who likes some good, bloodcurdling fun.

The Parasyte story begins. . ........2003-11-17

Volume 1 of "Parasyte," by Hitosi Awaaki, tells the story of a mysterious plague of intelligent, shapeshifting parasitic life forms that take over the bodies and lives of their human hosts. These parasyte/human unions spread a trail of murder. The story centers on Shin, a high school student whose parasyte fails to take over his brain and his will; instead, the creature takes over his left arm. Shin and "Lefty" soon develop a curious symbiotic relationship.

The crisp black-and-white artwork is an effective medium for telling this story. The book is full of inventive, at times stunning, visuals. Awaaki maintains mystery and tension throughout the story, and throws in some mind-blowing surprises. Shin and "Lefty" have a truly intriguing relationship, and it's complicated by their encounters with other parasytes; this character-driven element is one of the story's key strengths.

"Parasyte" is at times extremely gory and bloody. Overall, it's a well-written and imaginative blend of horror, science fiction, and teen angst.

Yeah..........2003-06-10

I do think that I need to say to start out with that certain people need to remember that "manga" is as broad a category as "novels" in America, that there are all different subjects and USUALLY one is not a reader of "novels," but a reader of "horror novels," or "fantasy novels," even getting more specific. Americans should remember that each manga is written for a specific audience, not for everyone in general, and that they are not eexpected or even encouraged, as a reader of manga, to like ALL manga. It would be akin to liking "TV" meaning ALL tv.

Customer Reviews:

The Parasyte saga continues.......2004-01-23

"Parasyte," Book 2, by Hitosi Iwaaki, continues the story begun in book 1. Once again our principal characters are a young man named Shin and "Lefty," the intelligent, shapeshifting, parasitic life form that has taken the place of Shin's left arm.

Like book 1, this graphic novel is an effective blend of science fiction, horror, and human drama. The parasyte plague continues, and takes a horrifying turn for Shin. The Shin/Lefty relationship is more deeply explored, and takes a truly startling twist. We learn more about parasyte biology and the parasyte/host relationship in general, but the underlying mystery that undergirded book 1 remains. The visual style remains potent. If you loved book 1, I highly recommend this well-written continuation.

The Parasytes are coming! The Parasytes are coming!.......2001-07-13

In this the 2nd book of the Parasyte series, Shin has a showdown with the mysterious "Mr. A", and begins to fear that the creature inside him is beginning to alter his personality. The fight at the end of this one is a real thriller!

This is another great manga offering from master Hitosi Iwaaki, one of the best artists and storytellers in the genre. Action packed, with well developed characters and an intense storyline, this series is one that will not disappoint newcomers or seasoned manga fans.

Perfect for everyone.......2000-01-04

If you're blood thirsty or like sci-fi or like romance or a good story line. this book has it

Average customer rating:

TRULY CREEPY!
Don't read after, before, or while eating.
gritty grim apocalyptic manga thriller

Parasyte 1 (Parasyte)
Hitoshi Iwaaki
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345496248
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Book Description

SILENT INVASION
They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade–and take control of–a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret–except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?
Ages 16+

Customer Reviews:

TRULY CREEPY!.......2007-09-14

Parasyte, from Del Rey Manga, combines elements of two of Hollywood's most famous Sci-Fi films, "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "The Thing" (Think the John Carpenter version). Alien spores fall to earth and hatch worm-like parasites that enter the openings of the body, i.e., nose, ears, and eat the brain of their host and takeover their bodies. As in Carpenter's version of The Thing, once they have taken over the body they can change their shape into some very bizarre and deadly forms. Unfortunately, once they've taken over a body, they can only sustain themselves by eating other humans. Of course, this rule is in place for whatever type of body they infected. Some have erred and taken the bodies of dogs and other animals and once inside, they cannot leave.

Shinichi is an ordinary high school student living in Japan and he, too, has been infected by one of the parasites that bored its way into his hand. But before the creature could reach his brain, Shin tied off his arm with a tourniquet, trapping the worm. We'll soon learn that because the parasite has now matured, it can no longer enter Shin's brain. That's the good news...the bad news is that Shin's right hand now has a mind of its own...not to mention eyes and a mouth. Shin's right arm is now fully malleable as well as intelligent. It reveals that it came to Earth to prey on humans but it has failed in its mission.

Shin and the parasite now share a bond, dependent upon one another as the parasite cannot live without Shin, but it can also kill Shin if it chooses. This strange bonding is at once terrifying and yet also quite humorous as the parasite has a curiosity about the world, wanting to learn more and more, even reading books on its own as Shin sleeps. When the parasite needs rest, Shin's hand and arm again turn to normal. But there is also danger facing the pair. The parasites can sense each other's presence when they are near and soon Shin and his alien partner have to fight other parasites that consider Shin a reject. The parasite, which Shin nicknames Migi, now has to protect its host from others of its race who try to kill him.

Parasyte is written and drawn by Hitoshi Iwaaki and is a fantastic first volume to a new series. Iwaaki shines when he lets his imagination run wild with the incredible and deadly transformations of the parasite-infected bodies. The bodies literally become weapons, sprouting deadly, razor sharp tentacles, often from the face of their hosts that literally split apart. Quite terrifying and graphic! This is one you definitely need to check out!

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

Don't read after, before, or while eating........2007-08-12

This book is GOOOORRRYYYYY. I usually can't stand that much gore, and I had to frequently put the it down, but I couldn't for very long. This manga has a great story that is pretty dang freaky. Along with the horror and violence, the book also has some pretty funny stuff, such as the parasyte that took over Shinichi's(main character) hand trying to figure out how human minds work. It basicly revolves around Shinichi trying to get along with Migi(his parasyte) who has taken over his right hand. Migi can't live without Shinichi, literally, and the two of them must get in life or death fights with other parasytes that have taken over other humans and animals. The parasytes can actually make someones body morph and stretch, as well as make it as hard as iron and sharp as a razor.

I would reccommend this series to those who are not faint of heart, or squemish. If you have ever seen the series "Elfen Lied" and enjoyed it, you will enjoy this.

gritty grim apocalyptic manga thriller.......2007-05-07

They came from space at night; aliens falling planet-side while people sleep. These slugs crawl like snakes as they seek human hosts to feed on from within. One by one they easily nestle into the brains of those humans they find. These hosts are no longer who they were as the space slugs take over thoughts and their body, but conceal themselves and their master plan by pretending their human host remains in control.

However, one failed to cuddle inside the brain when high school student Shinichi sneezes as the slug enters his nostril. He grabs the creature that he thinks is a snake, but it escapes. When it soars at his face, he instinctively puts his hand up; the parasite enters him there. Shinichi still controls his brain and can communicate with Migi as he calls the creature residing in his right hand. As Migi studies the host population, mass kings and serial murders become frequent. It appears man's reign is through with Shin the last hope although first he must defeat Migi over just whose body is it before he can try to save the world.

Mindful of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, this gritty grim apocalyptic manga thriller is a reprint of a tale released in the United States in 1990. The plot holds up quite nicely as a terrific coming of age tale with several twists all inside a sneaky invasion by what would seem a whimper but is a pandemic big bang. However, it is the manga art that grips the audience as the simplistic dark and grainy pictures means not to eat while reading or just afterward as the gloomy vividness will stay inside your brain like a lingering PARASYTE long after this first book is finished.

Harriet Klausner

Average customer rating:

Parasyte, Vol. 11

Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1931514119

Book Description

The police raid on the Parasyte stronghold of City Hall isn't going quite as planned. The Parasytes' secret weapon, the invulnerable fighter Goro, is slaughtering police and military forces. To make matters worse, the serial killer that the police brought in to identify Parasytes has escaped. With the official assault a disaster, it is now up to Shin and Lefty to face Goro alone.

Average customer rating:

A worthwhile manga out there that everyone should read.
Parasyte = Best ever
Shin quests for the truth...
Why isn't this a movie yet?

Parasyte
Hitoshi Iwaaki
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1892213214

Customer Reviews:

A worthwhile manga out there that everyone should read........2004-12-12

Indeed, this one, by far, beats most of the products aimed strictly for otaku and animation fans for the mere reason that it's a very intelligent and compelling story which will attract fans of science fiction mysteries in general. There are no saucer eyes, no cute magical girls, no long drawn-out fights between generations and generations of uber-strong fighters - all that nonsense which makes anime and manga a subculture is thrown out the window. What we end up with is something that is partially X-Files, part V, part Invasion Of The Body Snatchers with a bit of Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and a hint of high school drama; and even if the story may not seem original when you start to think about past sci-fi films and series, you cannot help but be compelled to read into the panel, into the next page, and into the next volume of the series because such genres (when properly executed) will always hook readers and viewers in general. I have to chime in as well and ask, "Why hasn't this been made into a television series?!" I highly recommend this not just to anime fans (because undoubtedly they have already heard about it), but to to fans of sci-fi mysteries. It makes for an interesting gift :o)

Parasyte = Best ever.......2004-05-30

After buying all the manga and reading the entire series twice through, it is safe to say that parasyte is one of the best manga in existence.

Shin quests for the truth..........2001-07-13

In this, the 3rd installment of the Parasyte series, Shin makes a voyage to the vacation town where his father is in the hospital. There he meets another hybrid like himself named Uda, and discovers the grisly truth about his mother's disappearance...

Another great book in this enthralling set. Bloody and frightening, thought provoking and full of astoundingly detailed artwork, this series will satisfy even the most serious manga fans.

Why isn't this a movie yet?.......1999-12-29

Let me guess. You watch Dragonball Z and Astroy Boy on the cartoon network, and you automatically assume you know all there is to know about anime. Not so. Most of what comprises Japan's culture of japanese animation is the manga (comics) that spawn the animated stuff. The 'Parasyte' series, which is a compilation of the monthly comics that appear in 'Tokyo Pop', is an incredbily violent, fast and action filled story. The plot revolves around Shin, who, one night, is attacked by a small worm like creature that fell from the sky in a small spore-like pod. The worm creature, intent on entering Shin's skull and eating Shin's brains, fails at his mission and can only penetrate Shin's left hand before it matures. Shin wakes up the next morning and finds that his left hand is now a flexible, morphing entity, with eyes and a mouth, who talks. Throughout the story, Shin befriends 'Lefty', who can fortunately turn himself into miscellaneous sharp objects used for stabbing other parasytes. The parasytes he fights have matured in their victims head, and the head is actually the part of the body that morphs into knives and what-not (very Terminator 2 reminiscent). Great sound effects (i.e. the 'crack' that is made when a parasyte morphs from it's normal state into it's sharp-object state), nice artwork and a storyline that should have been made into a movie by now make this series a nice one to purchase. If you're into anime and manga, concider checking this one out.

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Parasyte, Vol. 10
Hitoshi Iwaaki
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1931514100

Book Description

Our planet has been invaded by Parasytes -- alien creatures that take over their hosts' bodies and turn the victims into killing machines. So far, they've had the upper hand. Their ability to morph their appearance and blend in, combined with their super-human strength and regenerative powers make them nearly unstoppable. The Japanese government is now striking back. Shin, one of only two humans to co-exist with a Parasyte, has been recruited to join a military raid on the Parasytes' stronghold. But he's not the only civilian involved -- a serial killer who makes Hannibal Lecter look tame has been released from prison to join the assault. As the hunter becomes the hunted, the line between good and evil grows even more blurred

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Parasyte 7
Hitoshi Iwaaki , and Hitosi Iwaaki
Manufacturer: Tokyopop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1892213710

Book Description

The alien Parasytes have hired a private investigator to study Shin, the one person who is a threat to their plan. When Shin turns the investigator against his employers, the Parasytes will stop at nothing to see that their secret doesn`t get out!

Book Description

What is Tamara Rockford up to? That's the question that everyone is asking in the latest installment of the cult classic sci-fi manga, Parasyte. The other Parasytes think she's conspiring against them, the detective Kuramori thinks she slaughtered his family, and Lefty suspects that she holds the key to bringing peace between Parasytes and humans. When everyone converges in the public park, things are bound to get nasty. Can Tamara's message of peace be heard in the midst of so much hatred?

Customer Reviews:

Things are getting interesting..........2002-09-24

It has to be said you can't just pick this series in the middle. It's like picking up a Stephen King novel dead center and missing all the character build up. It's worth reading just to watch Shin evolve and wonder at all the pain and loss he endures. Read the other 8 if you haven't already, because this isn't an American comic. This is some of the best manga writing I've read in a LONG time. It's about survival of the fittest, evolution at its strangest, what makes us human, and why that's a good thing. It does it without being preachy or asinine, which I love even more. This is the stuff that makes you THINK.

ANYWAY:
With the death of Kana, Shin finds strength in his resolution to kill Parasytes. The chink in his armor, as ever, is Tamara Rockford, the inquisitive Parasyte. She is the one Parasyte who questions the Parasyte origins and tries to figure out how the are meant to survive.

But Tamara has given birth to a human baby, and she is stricken with "feelings" she cannot identify herself. In #9, Tamara and Shin have a final showdown, and there is inner squabbling amongst the Parasytes. Sara, constantly worried for Shin, sees a side of him she hadn't seen before, and the police recognize him as the "friend" who helped the Private Detective.

This is purposely vague on my part, since I think it is the fine details of this manga that keep me glued to it. I've read this manga since its original debut in "TokyoPop" magazine, and I just can't get enough of it, despite the so-so drawing style.
READ IT! It's WORTH it!

The Climax?.......2002-07-10

Things begin to move fast as we near the end of the Parasyte manga by Hitosi Iwaaki. By this time, I highly suggest you read these books over a few times in order to understand everything. I guarantee that if you haven't read the preceeding volume (which I personally haven't) you will be very confused for a while. But on to the specifics... (spoiler alert!!)

Shin comes to a crossroads where he finally faces Tamara Rockford for what may be the last time. He, Sarah, Tamara, and Inspector Hirama all gather at a park.... that is, at the end of the book. Before that we must cover an interesting but somewhat unnecessary fight between Tamara and a few Parasytes, while Kuramori writes up a report on the Parasytes and Sarah follows Shin. We're treated to a few pictures of Shin as a kid as Tamara checks into Shin's house when he's away, and Shin struggles with himself again, although not as bad this time. My personal favorite part is when....well, I don't want to spoil it for you than I already have.

Book Description

Shin try's to morn Kana and his apparent lack of emotion over the loss worries him. Fearing that he`s losing his humanity and slowly becoming a parasyte, he struggles with the way he`s losing control of his life. While visiting the site of Kana's death he and Lefty become aware of Kuramori, the private investigater, hired by Ryoko Tamura. Meanwhile, Hirokawa`s political reach builds, putting Shin and his friends further in danger. This intelligent story, gritty action, and wonderfully drawn manga is accessible to manga fans and non fans alike. Find out why Parasyte is one of the best stories of alien invasion ever written!

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