Orochi: The Perfect Edition, vol. 1 | Review

Orochi: The Perfect Edition, vol 1
By Kazuo Umezz
Viz Media, $26.99
Ages 16 & up

From the creator of The Drifting Classroom comes another collection of horror with twists and turns that will leave you wanting to keep all the lights on.

This series, which was originally published in 1969, centers on the titular teenager, who is gifted with mysterious powers. Orochi finds herself using her powers in intersecting stories that usually end with horrific consequences for those involved.

In the first story, “Sisters,” Orochi encounters two sisters (ages 16 and 17) who are cursed to become ugly once they turn eighteen. This curse affects only the women in their family (of course please ignore my side eye). We witness how the curse has afflicted the girls’ mother, while we do not see her physical appearance.

In the second story, “Bones,” Orochi uses her powers to resurrect a man after a tragic accident. After the man has died, his lover struggles to move on by marrying another and has a child. Once he has returned to the mortal world, we learn that his resurrection is not the only thing that results in a dire conclusion.

And this is all in the first volume, with more stories to come.

The manga was a page-turner with enough shock value to make your head spin. The artwork is classic Umezz, and fans of this iconic mangaka, as well as those who are fans of the horror genre, will find themselves amazed and, at times, disturbed by what is being presented. There is a scene involving the death of children that absolutely horrified me and may be traumatizing for some readers.

Orochi is fascinating for those who are fans of the works of Junji Ito, as well as fans of the horror genre. I wouldn’t recommend it for sensitive readers, but if you are not fazed by extreme gore and shock, this is perfect for you.

Filed under: Manga, Reviews