365 Days of Manga, Day 144: Anzu: The Shards of Memory

ANZU: THE SHARDS OF MEMORY (Anzu: Kioku no Hakuhen, “Anzu: The Shards of Memory”) (ANZU〜記憶の薄片〜) • Kirikaze • Icarus Publishing (2007) • France Shoin (2004) • 1 volume • Occult Adult • 18+ (nudity, graphic sex)
A gaggle of cheerful Comiket-attending schoolgirls (and a cross-dressing boyfriend) enjoy their youthful school days while their student council president is serial raped, gets pregnant and commits suicide. The rapists then turn their attention towards the “heroines” and psychic powers, martial arts, and completely unexplained flashbacks to some ninja war start flying fast and heavy in this completely nonsensical and plot-heavy manga. The art is intermittently charming, but generally dated and extremely busy. The sex is mean and brutal. And despite there being a lot of it, there isn’t a plot so much a series of ridiculous events that might involve the same characters. The only consolation is that, in the end, the rapists are suitably punished. (Review by Derek Guder)

Today’s winner is Ryan C. of West Virginia. Congratulations, Ryan! Today’s adult manga review was written by Derek Guder, one of my Manga: The Complete Guide collaborators. As usual with the adult reviews, the front cover itself was so, uh, adult, that you’ll have to be content with this small excerpt of it.