Inugami Hakase

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Underrated ero-guro artist Maruo Suehiro whose early works regularly make an appearance in plenty "Most disturbing anime" videos on YouTube. First things first, "Inugami Hakase" is not ero-guro. Yes, it is grotesque, yes, it is violent but eroticism does not play an essential role although it still exists on the outskirts. Instead, skilled illustrator that he is, Suehiro shows off his matured art style and plays with images of occultism. Visually the result is quite expressive. Panels are rarely wasted.

While Suehiro's older works are like a fever dream that ooze of (extremely) dark hum,or but still manage to convey genuine feelings about the yearning for ... human connection albeit hidden under layers of disgust and horror "Inugami Hakase" is different. It does not seem to have an interest to say much about anything at all which is not to say there is nothing to enjoy about it. Thnk of a much more cynical "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders" with fewer body builders and more dread. Pacing is tight, tension is high and the panels effortlessly flow into each other. Signs of a seasoned mangaka who knows what he's doing.

In the 90s Suehiro tried his hand at more easily accessible works with broader mainstream appeal as opposed to his ero-guro ways of the prior decade which were mainly plattformed by legendary avant-garde magazine Garo that was long past it's prime. While he never established himself as a major figure in the mainstream he still saw some success, this work being published in a bnig magazine like Young Champion being a sign of that. In some ways "Inugami Hakase" feels like a test run for "The Laughing Vampire" which Suehiro would produce a few years later and is arguably his best work. It's worth a read for that reason alone, especially of you're a fan.