365 Days of Manga, Day 38: Nightmares for Sale

NIGHTMARES FOR SALE (Akuma no Okimse–Shadow & Maria, “The Devil’s Shop–Shadow & Maria”) (悪魔のお店–Shadow & Maria) • Kaoru Ohashi • Aurora Publishing (2007-2008) • Asahi Sonorama (2002) • 2 volumes • Shôjo Horror • 16+ (language, graphic violence, brief nudity, sexual situations)
“Shadow’s Pawnshop,” a store run by the handsome Shadow and his mysterious, childlike assistant Maria, sells people their dearest dreams…but the results are always tragic and horrible. Keiko, a girl tormented by false friends, ends up getting gory revenge; Yukari, a supermodel, is cursed with the loss of her looks; and another girl, Kaya, becomes attached to a strange young boy who is abused by his mother. Although there is no real continuity or frame story, the stories share similar shôjo themes–boys, friends, looks, parents, neuroses–which almost invariably lead to grim, nihilistic twist endings. The mood is impressively bleak, but the stories eventually become repetitive, and the plain art (despite Ohashi’s gnarled, contorted poses) contributes to them blending together.
* 1/2 (one and a half stars)
Kaoru Ohashi is the twin sister of the mangaka Kei Kusunoki. (Manga artist twins — sounds like a good basis for a… MANGA SERIES! -_- ) I first discovered Kusunoki’s work in the ’90s through VIZ’s translation of “Ogre Slayer”. Their styles are almost identical, and they’re both good at drawing horrible and ghoulish things, but this isn’t one of their better works.
Today’s winner is Lauren P. of Texas! Congratulations, Lauren!