World Apartment Horror: The Underrated Collab Manga by the Creators of Akira and Perfect Blue
Apartment hunting in Japan as a foreigner with the Japanese linguistic skills of a fetus is a literal nightmare: nothing is more mortifying than to Google Translate every word of every document involved.
But, everything turns out alright in the end - in most cases. Renting is a real headache though, and the manga World Apartment Horror knows that, indeed, it can become the worst possible thing, especially if the poltergeists and yakuza disturb your peace on top of not paying rent.
Released in 1991, World Apartment Horror is a bizarre and obscure oeuvre by the film mogul Satoshi Kon, known for his oeuvres Perfect Blue and Paprika. It’s a niche essential for followers of Kon’s abstract and existential paranoia horror, but nonetheless a strange read.
The manga is divided into four short stories, which are all different. The first chapter is based on the comedy-horror movie by Katsuhiro Otomo, the father of Akira and Domu, titled “World Apartment Horror” and is basically the manga adaptation of it: on the menu is eviction, yakuza, and a heinous spirit. Satoshi Kon also worked on the film - the specifications of it are blurry, but it proves how much passion these two geniuses have for their projects.
The three other chapters are respectively titled Visitors, Waira, and Joyful Bell, and though they follow entirely different paths, they are very enjoyable. Consider this a light read, but don’t be surprised by the absurdity and the wide spectrum of emotions: after all, it is a Satoshi Kon creation.
As expected, the art is beautiful and timelessly challenging; Kon would never pick up his pen for something mediocre. Twisted, unsettling, but orchestrally detailed, it’s a must-read for hardcore fans.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
