Rage, Resentment, and revenge. These are the feelings of those who may seek revenge. But is revenge necessary? If so, what is the cost?
RESENTER, the latest work from rising manga star Gigi Murakami, is the current talk of the town in the manga community. Known for her distinctive style, representation, and top-notch storytelling, Murakami continues to push boundaries in the manga space, weaving compelling horror narratives and spectacular art that captivate all who read her work. Following the buzz generated from her previous works, including the manga short Mix Tape Reel: Everything I Ever Wanted and The Soul Stealer, a collaborative project between filmmaker, animator, and editor Kevin Fermini. Murakami releases her one-shot manga RESENTER in collaboration with VIZ Media that takes readers on a dark, supernatural journey asking readers, “What’s the cost of revenge?
RESENTER starts its story by introducing us to Jakie, a young woman in the afterlife who has the role of Ripper, an otherworldly, formally human being who works with those who have been murdered offering them a unique service. After a tragic hit-and-run, 52-year-old Gregory Brown enters the death zone, where Jakie offers him three choices: accept death and reincarnate, bind his soul to the death zone forever in exchange for revenge through Jakie, or join the Rippers himself. After a little deliberation, Gregory chooses revenge, setting Jakie on a journey that forces her to question the nature of vengeance, its cost, and its impact on those who carry it out. Ultimately, Jakie rises to become a great Ripper, yet the questions surrounding revenge remain as elusive as ever.
RESENTER is a compelling story from the first few panels of the manga. As you turn to the first page, it’s dark, dingy, and moody while black silhouettes are faintly outlined evoking an ominous tone. A low-resolution cityscape greets you as you take in the narrator's thoughts.
When setting readers up for a new world, some writers struggle to introduce the story and necessary world-building, however, Murakami’s approach to this was phenomenal. She primes the audience for the larger story with enticing visuals and a premise that sticks to the reader's mind throughout the story. It’s a great way to explain the world quickly without it feeling like a large exposition dump. As the story continues off the first page, Murakami’s pacing and ability to take you through her world continues this trend of setting the mood and getting you invested in both the premise and the characters.
The cast of RESENTER is small with only a few main characters to follow, but each character introduced drives the story forward and informs the plot. Our main character Jakie is reserved and straightforward with an inquisitive spirit, she is an interesting protagonist to follow throughout the story. Jakie’s calm and grounded demeanor compared to her mentor Rhea or the deceased soul Gregory almost gives us a neutral set of eyes to examine the story’s events. Speaking of Rhea, against Jakie’s more pragmatic disposition, Rhea’s lighthearted, nearly whimsical character is fun to see play out on the page. Gregory, the deceased soul in question is overburdened and anxious, so when we see Jakie interact with him his self-effacing and high-strung nature is on full display. The portrayal of Gregory’s murderer was smart in its execution. Elenor, Gregory’s killer is an anxious and skittish teen who appears disheveled and bears an unkempt appearance. You instantly feel conflicted about the fate of this haunted teen with a grim past who is in the most unfortunate circumstances. Each character advances the story and continues to expand upon the questions posed on that first page.
The narrative of revenge isn’t a new story topic in any genre or medium, but what makes RESENTER stand out amongst the many other tales that inquire about the nature of revenge, is that the story largely leaves the question of revenge, its purpose, and morality regarding the topic to the reader. It is up to you to decide what justifies revenge or if there is any justice in revenge in the first place. This is an expert move on Murakami’s part as this narrative device helped expand the reading experience. The reader is now an active participant in the native rather than a passive observer. You have the voices of Jakie, Rhea, Gregory, and even the “antagonist” in the story to assist the reader in exploring their thoughts on the premise. However, in the end, as you are left to ponder these questions surrounding revenge, the answer remains as elusive as ever.
The art of RESENTER is a master class in horror art as Murakami intricately lays each line, and pencil sketch onto the page. The influences are front and center but done in a way that only Murakami can execute them. As a long-time fan of horror manga, reading RESENTER felt like an homage and a rendition of some of my favorite mangaka such as Junji Ito, Kentaro Miura, and Kanako Inuki. Each panel of swirling souls, haunting cityscapes, and stunned faces showcased Murakami’s mastery of suspenseful paneling and the page-turn. As suspenseful and terrifying as her art can be, there are also a few moments of peace within her story that are done just as beautifully.
Although there isn’t much to critique of RESENTER, a few issues stuck out to me during my read. I definitely would have loved more explanation about the significance of certain items presented in the manga. This introduction happens in places in the one shot and both times I asked myself aloud, “What is this for”? More elaboration on those aspects would’ve added to the incredible world-building already present. However, this minor confusion doesn't take away from the amazing quality of RESENTER in the slightest.
Gigi Murakami is a brilliant mangaka who clearly studies her craft and loves the art of making manga. Her talent and skill as a sequential artist are unmatched, from her seemingly effortless storytelling to her stunning artwork. RESENTER not only pays homage but brings fresh takes and styles to the horror manga space; from its effortless representation of featuring a black protagonist to its thesis on revenge, RESENTER isn’t just a visually appealing book, it’s a brilliant statement piece from Murakami. If you haven’t taken the time to enjoy Murakami’s other works, please visit her website, Gigimurakami.art/ that’s hosts her artwork, an official store with both digital and physical copies of her other manga, a gallery, and even an exclusive club for website members. Additionally, you can read RESENTER for yourself on VIZ Media’s website here. Gigi Murakami is such a splendid and luminous voice in the horror manga space, and I cannot wait to see where she and RESENTER go next!
