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The story of Parasyte puts an average high school boy―Shinichi Izumi―into a world well beyond the limits of his imagination, as a creature attempts to take over his brain. The creature seems to fail but, soon enough, Shinichi realizes that his life would never be the same. The creature has inhabited his left hand, forcing Shinichi into a monstrous world, learning of the species which is now a part of himself.

Shinichi tries to simultaneously live his new life and the life he once had, which proves to be impossible. The story unfolds as he and the creature inside him, named Migi, converse. Shinichi feels ... it is now his duty to do something about the alien invaders feeding on humans. In his journey, he is forced to contemplate the intricacies of mankind and the species, both preexisting and new, with which they coexist on Earth.

This manga puts an emphasis on humanity and the supposed "foolishness of mankind", flipping the term 'parasite' from the alien newcomers to humans. Multiple characters in the manga preach this, saying that these "alien invaders" are not parasites to mankind but, rather, they are the cure to the Earth's poisonous inhabitants: humans.

The manga delves deep into the coexistence of parasites and humans, akin to the coexistence of humans and the countless other species on Earth. "Who has the right to be at the top of the food chain?" "Who has the right to decide whether or not another organism has the right to live?" "Who has the right to decide how to alter the world in which they live?" "Who has the right to use the world to the benefit of themselves?" "Who has the right to live?" Many questions like these are thrown around, in order to highlight the hypocrisy that mankind holds.

Many conflicts present themselves as these "parasites" and humans hold an innate inability to exist alongside each other. Shinichi strikes deeper into parasite society, being told that parasites are merely clumps of cells unable to survive on their own, much like the early stages of human life. He learns that parasites are not above humans or vice versa―he learns that they are the same.

The prevailing theme in all of Parasyte is the humanity and selflessness that mankind holds for each member of their own species. We would put ourselves in disadvantageous situations in order to help one another. We would care for those unable to do so themselves. We would do something for someone else, even if there was nothing to gain from it for ourselves. We spend time and relate with each other, cherishing our moments of life together and caring for those who will carry this behavior of ours on.

Parasyte manages to unfold an extraordinary story with philosophical, contemporary, and social themes, through the lives of seemingly ordinary and average characters. The characters are very realistic, believable, and relatable, being normal people forced to live abnormal lives. The story is a very nice length: not too long and not too short. Not once did I feel the story to be rushed, muddled with inconsistencies, or anything of the sort. The only thing I can complain about is that it is over. I consider Parasyte to be the best piece of work I have consumed, being a very peculiar story with characters I can understand and relate to. Parasyte also gives you lots of things to ponder, leaving behind a very important message to carry with you: "Hold close to something...Until the day you die."