365 Days of Manga, Day 147: Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun

NIGHTMARE INSPECTOR: YUMEKUI KENBUN (Yumekui Kenbun, “Dream Eater Inspector/Observer/Dream Eater’s Observations) （夢喰見聞） • Shin Mashiba • VIZ (2008-2009) • Square Enix (Stencil/Monthly G-Fantasy, 2002-2007) • 9 volumes • Occult Horror Fantasy • 13+ (infrequent graphic violence)
In late Taisho-era Japan, people troubled by nightmares go to the Ginseikan Teahouse, where Hiruko, the baku (a dream-eating beast from mythology, in the form of a sleepy-eyed boy) enters their dreams and disposes of their troubles. But tinkering with dreams can have unexpected consequences, whether the customer is a man fascinated with a silent movie starlet, a would-be suicide, a boy without facial expressions, or a woman with a horrible nightmare she feels she must remember…Surprisingly dark for its pretty, spiky-haired character designs, this is one of the best psychological horror anthology manga in the vein of xxxHOLiC (which it preceded) and Petshop of Horrors. The stories are genuinely disturbing, often involving lost loves and fear of failure, and the art is rich and detailed, with baroque 1920s settings and copious use of black spaces reinforcing the sense of claustrophobia. On the other hand, blood and gore are used sparingly. In volume 2 a comedy element is introduced in the form of Hifumi, a humorously decadent aristocrat who hangs around the teahouse, but the series retains its incredible imagination and its relentlessly grim twist endings.

Today’s winner is Steve C. of California! Ahh, California… my former state, now replaced by Washington, home of Sakuracon and Emerald City Comic-Con. I’ll be sending you some manga soon!
At college, I was an English major with an Art minor; I only took two classes in animation. But I’ve always loved all kinds of animation (with a particular fondness for cel-style stuff), and I am now proud to present the short but sweet… King of RPGs Graphic Novel Animation Trailer, featuring art by myself and graphic novel artist Victor Hao! Reach out now, grasp that mouse and click on its blazing-hot RPG fury!