It’s time to get a bit spooky with this manga review, as we were provided a copy of Strange Pictures Volume 1 from Titan Manga! An adaptation of the hit Japanese novel series by Uketsu, this mystery series has a twinge of horror to it. Will readers uncover what’s hidden in plain sight?
About Strange Pictures
As the title implies, Strange Pictures is a novel that links seemingly random characters into a narrative revolving around a series of pictures. While disconnected at first, as the chapters continue, it’s obvious that things are not what they seem. What follows is an anthology of different mysteries that unfold into a bigger plot.
The first volume dives into the first portion of the original book: While investigating unusual occurrences with his friend Kurihara, Shuhei Sasaki takes notice of a blog that seems to end abruptly. A series of pictures are included in the blog entries, but Shuhei doesn’t know what to make of it. As the story continues, he realizes there’s something more sinister (and yet heartwarming) regarding the subject matter. Will he get to the bottom of this cold case?
An Interesting Investigation
Reading the original Strange Pictures, it was unique to solve the cases as they presented themselves. The use of pictures in the novel was.. well, novel, and it had an intriguing hook that connected to the rest of the chapters. However, it felt that chapters ended quickly and the pacing was all over the place.
With the manga adaptation, there’s more room to breathe with the storytelling. This first volume only covers the first section (with an introduction to the second in order to garner interest in the next volume), which means we can see the train of thought of our chapter’s protagonist.
The fact that this is a visual medium makes the picture gimmick more appropriate for the story. The paneling makes for a great mystery too, as there isn’t too much revealed until the end. This means that readers can visualize and imagine the logic of the protagonist easily, which makes for an addictively absorbing read.
The Game is Afoot
That said, I feel like the manga version of Strange Pictures still has some flaws of its source material. The leaps in logic can feel jarring, and even with a more visual release, the resolution can feel a bit unsatisfying. The contrast between the manga and pictures from the novel feels distinct but also makes the other pictures look simplistic compared to the nice art of the characters in the present day. I think this is an intentional choice, but it would be interesting to have changed either style to match the other.
Regardless of these minor issues, Strange Pictures Volume 1 is a great adaptation of the novel, and those who love solving mysteries will enjoy this slightly scary story where everything is not as it seems.
Rating: 4 out of 5 UwUs
Strange Pictures is available now physically and digitally. For another manga review deep dive, check out our review of Ao Ashi 3-in-1 Volume 1. Stay tuned for more manga and anime reviews here on Miso!
