By JP Kalonji
Publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781595828590
Printed under Dark Horse's Originals imprint, Ningen's Nightmares follows on directly from 365 Samurai & A Few Bowls Of Rice, but if you missed that one, don't worry, as this does a great job of standing on its own.
Set in Japan of old, Ningen is a warrior monk from a hidden temple who finds himself at the centre of a plot by a hideous witch named Hannya to resurrect a demonic presence. Hannya is employing several methods to obtain her goal, from bounty hunters to the captured personifications of the seasons, and Ningen needs to thread his way through them all in order to survive. Fortunately he's not alone, which also leads to an unexpected and rather good cultural mash-up.
I bought this one after seeing some examples of the internal artwork, all created in black and white with confident, bold brushstrokes. Kalonji has a gift for contrast and panel after panel is brooding and atmospheric, while retaining a cartoon style that sometimes hints at the genius of Jeff Smith's Bone.
Kalonji clearly has a passion for the genre and I found it a refreshing and surprising read.
And if you liked that: You'll enjoy 365 Samurai & A Few Bowls Of Rice
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