Homunculus

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:28 pm

Have at it, people!

Personally, I like the way that this manga drops lots of hints and suggestions that turn out to be red herrings. For instance, originally you'd think Ito is a lot more sinister than he seems, but when his background is revealed, he's actually rather vulnerable and naive. It can be hard to guess ahead of time what's important and what's not, and in that way I think this manga resembles real life much better than others. It's a refreshing read.

Roadie Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 45 Location: Located

I was curious about ITAG, due to the all caps font I didn't realize it was an acronym while reading. I thought it was a name but it seemed legit enough to warrant a google search. I was a little amused when one of my first google results was drilling related. The actual group's site is here... and for those interested some general information on trepanation.

Interestingly I'd come across trepanation before in either a psych or philosophy class, but it was presented as a method used to cure insanity etc by letting "evil spirits" out of ones head, ie similar to how old european medicine leeched bad blood. If that is an accurate depiction it's interesting how the meaning of the practice has recently gone through a full reversal (ie to sensitive oneself rather than to disassociate from spiritual things).

edit: a quick read shows the left hemisphere of the brain "settles" and more interestingly is supposed to "shrink" after trepanation (though this isn't what they focus on, it is mostly the blood level stuff). Since that is the logical side, I suppose people would have a more creative right side dominated experience of life... though i'm not sure that brain atrophy sounds like something positive. It's interesting how this ties into the "feel with the left side of your body" as the hemispheres control the sides of the body opposite themselves.

Street Musician Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Posts: 302

It rocks. Read it if you haven't.

big idjit Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 280

i like it. personally i like the weird stories and this one fits that. though it might not be weird enough actually. and the left eye thing reminds me of the hong kong movie "My Left Eye Sees Ghosts".

Street Musician Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Posts: 302

OMG I've seen that movie. It's so bad. HAHA.

Street Musician Joined: 13 Oct 2002 Posts: 402

Thanks for doing this, i liked everything about it, it was great.
I really liked the beginning, before the real effects of the trepanation kicks in (the whole "left eye" thing).
The art doesnt look anything like Koroshiya Ichi, thankfully. The ending to Ichi was.. weird. Shocked

Street Musician Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 530

My only concern is that at the current rate you're going to be caught up to the serialization very, very soon. And you will be waiting a very, very long time.

Roadie Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 45 Location: Located

Waiting is all part of the scanlation game. Anticipation makes the meal sweeter, endless clamouring for more releases sours the taste. It is all a fine balance.

To actually post about the series... it is well done, a very humanistic feel to it. It's always nice to see interesting characters who aren't overdone, and the paranormal used used in a creative yet sensical manner. I've always liked it when there are mini-observations of personality just tucked in the details, beyond the obvious plot "point" of things. That's one of the things I enjoy about good fiction in general, ie Tad Williams etc.

Street Musician Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Posts: 302

Watch out, it's !Xabbu!

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:19 am

!Xabbu appears in Volume 3.

Fan Boy Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 2

This is the kind of manga that i truly love. Stories about one's life struggle and winning over it with effort from themselves. Good story, good manga.

Fan Boy Joined: 23 Nov 2002 Posts: 10

phwar, an original story!! The weirdness is uber. Just my cup of tea.

Fan Boy Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 2

I can't wait to see what happens as the story progresses. I think I finally have a manga thats story is so good I'll actually take the time to keep up with it.

Fan Boy Joined: 05 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

I really link this manga. At the end of the first volume it got good. The idea is genius. Can't wait for the third volume for that guy to talk about homuculus...

I just have one weird idea about trepenation- say, since he has a hole in his head now, wouldn't it get infected? Do they put a bandage over it or something? Plus, since history reveals that people have lived the procedure many times, would they think to wrap something across the skull or just let the air come in. I think it's true that the brain has no sense of pain, but what if it gets infected, poked at, etc etc. He can't just wear that hat over it all the time with an open to the air hole, can he??

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:54 pm

I guess they only have hole in their skull. Skin is still there. And its ony tinny winny hole :}