NO LONGER HUMAN ...clowning around with other peoples' lives

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September 6th, 2021

42 mins 44 secs

Season 3

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About this Episode

This week, we review "No Longer Human," adapted by famed horror creator Junji Ito from Osamu Dazai's semi-autobiographical novel.

It's a deep dive into awful way depression and social anxiety impact the life of a man named Oba Yozo, whose ways of dealing with his problems inevitably drags down anyone with the misfortune of being associated with him.

While "No Longer Human" seems on the surface different from Ito's other work — the monsters are mostly internal rather than external, and the psychologies of the characters are more nuanced — the graphic novel is also full of Ito's trademarks. There are bodily transmogrifications, the strange nexus between horror and comedy, and of course lots of murder.

Also, is this the Junji Ito book that finally turns Raman into a Junji Ito fanboy? Stay tuned...