Takashi Nemoto's Monster Men: Review for FoRMATS

This PictureBox Inc edition of Takashi Nemoto’s Monster Men Bureiko Lullaby marks the first time that the Japanese underground classic appears in English. In addition to essays and an interview with the artist, Nemoto’s seminal work of manga contains two stories.

The title story follows Monster Man, a man who is controlled by his autonomous genitals after his body parts have been flipped upside down. However, the bulk of the publication’s collection details the life story of Takeo, a sperm that was birthed into existence after an incident with radioactive exposure. This series represents Nemoto’s truly determined sprit of deviance in which he intentionally exploits indecency to express a surprisingly touching narrative on the relationship between a man and his son (who just so happens to be a radioactive sperm).

The extremely graphic stories and drawing style in Monster Men transgress the traditional manga genre, bringing it into a realm of completely deranged content. Although this madness is singular to Nemoto’s unrestrained aesthetic, the reader quickly becomes complicit in the strange narrative that unfolds.

Described as “beautiful and grotesque all at once," Monster Men Bureiko Lullaby is an essential read for fans of Japanese comics or for anyone interested in wicked tales of debauchery.

Originally published on FoRMATS Facebook page: December 17, 2013