Aug 29, 2019
This review doesn't contain specific spoilers, but I will talk about the plot in broad strokes.
Black Paradox, published in 2009, is your standard Junji Ito fare. That is to say, this manga is delightfully eerie and uncomfortable. Unlike something like Uzumaki, Black Paradox isn't particularly nausea inducing, though there is quite a bit of body horror as you'd expect considering the author. The included one-shots, The Licking Woman and Mystery Pavillion, are also worth reading though I won't get into them as they're both a single chapter.
Black Paradox concisely depicts the trials and tribulations of four young people who, while not being familiar with one
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another prior to the story, form a suicide pact and stumble upon an otherworldly mystery involving spirits, doppelgangers, cool rocks, and the Japanese energy industry. While these things might sound unrelated, they all interact with one another to varying degrees. Much like other Junji Ito stories, the specifics of the various phenomena and mysterious aren't really explored in depth and a lot is left up to the individual interpretation of the reader. This of course can be pretty hit or miss, but if you've already read anything by the author you'll know what to expect. Personally, I was left wondering how some aspects of the story related to the main plot. Part of the fun is trying to figure that out and coming to your own conclusions, for sure, but whilst reading some things did feel a bit superfluous. The art is pretty standard, it complemented the story and helped create a gloomy otherworldly atmosphere. Naturally, the body horror was disgustingly depicted. Additionally, I really enjoyed the character design and how they were depicted on the page.
The characters were, perhaps unsurprisingly, mostly bitter and apathetic people. Considering the situation the four main characters find themselves in at the beginning of the manga, this is understandable. Each have their own personality and motivations and they behave in ways that are pretty consistent. One particular aspect of characterization in Black Paradox that I want to call attention to is its depiction of the impacts that greed have on people. You're left wondering whether many of the characters are becoming worse people, or if their greed and selfishness is simply bringing out aspects of their personality that was already there. In that, the characterization really shines.
Overall, I enjoyed Black Paradox. It felt pretty average as far as Junji Ito stories go, and didn't stand out to me in the way that Uzumaki and Hellstar Remina did. That, I think, isn't a bad thing. After all, not everything can be great otherwise you wouldn't have a reference point. I wouldn't start someone on Black Paradox if I wanted to introduce them to the author, but I'd definitely recommend they read it. It's length is a strong point, as the story was small enough to be contained within six chapters.
If you've got some time to spare and you're in the mood for some spookiness, give Black Paradox a read. 7.5/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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