Following the success of Tokyo Ghoul, it is no surprise that fans have been waiting on pins and needles for the next manga from Sui Ishida. In many ways, the first volume of Choujin X — officially translated by Jan Cash with lettering by Snir Aharon — takes similar themes from Tokyo Ghoul and improves upon them, while still making this new series something entirely unique.
Choujin X takes place in an alternate version of Japan where super beings called Choujin make a sudden appearance and throw the world into chaos. Tokio and Azuma, the series’ protagonists, are average teenagers performing good deeds around the city, even though Tokio feels like he’s lagging behind in comparison to his much “cooler” friend. During one of their excursions, they become entangled in a fight with a rogue Choujin. After a series of bizarre events, Tokio is transformed into a disfigured bird-like Choujin. With his newfound powers, Tokio is forced to learn how to properly harness his abilites, and mentally grapple with his physical changes.
Much like Tokyo Ghoul, Sui Ishida has shown that he has a knack for incorporating body horror into his work. Choujin X follows the physical and emotional effects of a person forced to change against their will. Choujin X takes a different approach, however, as Tokyo Ghoul tackles the same theme it did fall into the trap of becoming, at times, a pity party for its protagonist whereas the main protagonist of Choujin X, Tokio, seems to handle his predicament with a stronger resolve.
It helps that the first volume of Choujin X has its own brand of dark humor that lightens the dark and bizarre scenarios pushed onto the reader. There’s a good word to describe this debut volume of Choujin X — bizarre. Even when the manga seems like it’s being strange just for the sake of it, it’s an off kilter work that breaks the mold for this type of story. The manga also suffers from tonal whiplash, grim-dark and brooding one second and then wacky, in-your-face dark humor the next.
Despite being somewhat murky, Choujin X’s is paced perfectly and every panel pops but does not feel cluttered with needless detail. The character designs are dynamic, bursting with personality, and there are beautiful moments where the line work and use of shadow are equal parts comedic and unsettling.
Choujin X provides some nice variation with its character designs, whether it be the doe-eyed Ely, or the wild-eyed Chandra — there is bound to be a character that catches readers’ eyes because of Ishida’s signature stylization. The standout character has to be Tokio when he changes into his vulture monster Choujin form. The front cover, while striking, doesn’t do the paneling inside the book justice.
Choujin X may not have many unique concepts at a glance, but beneath the surface, this new series is promising. Choujin X is grotesquely funny at times, filled with memorable characters, and a plot about finding one’s place in the world — even if they have to become a bird monster to do so.
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