EPTBut I don't tell you this to explain my position on manga/anime, but rather on how amazing this particular manga is. Despite being in a medium that is not my favorite, it is easily one of my favorite stories of all time.
Homunculus
Homunculus is a story written and drawn by Yamamoto Hideo, known for other works like Ichi the killer.
Horror and dark stories are his area of expertise and this particular manga might very well be the pinacle of this.
When I say horror, you might think about gore, but nothing could be further from the truth. This story places its focus on psychology, the human mind, memory and guilt.
In Homunculus, the main character (Susumu Nakoshi) has fallen on hard times. He has begun to live in his car, parked on the street between an expensive hotel and a park where the homeless set up their tents to spend the night.
When his car gets towed and he is faced with a fine he can't pay, he is given an offer by a medical student to undergo a medical procedure known as a trepanation.
A trepanation is a producer where a small hole is drilled into the skull. The change in pressure on the brain should result in all sorts of changes like an improved memory, higher intelligence, a greater sense of empathy or six sense like powers.
Of course, all these effects are said to exist by supporters of this procedure. Trepanation has no known benefits to humans.
To find out once and for all what the deal is with trepanations, this medical student wants to observe the effect that it has on our main character.
Whilst initially he appears unaffected, a side effect rears its head. Since the procedure, whenever he closes one eye, he sees people warp into strange forms.
These strange forms are called "homunculi."
Figuring out the secrets behind these homunculi, what they mean for him and what he should do about them form the center of the plot as we dive deeper into the main characters history and what has driven him to becoming homeless.
The last major strength of the series that deserves mentioning is the excellent art. Some manga artists will slack on their quality for some scenes, but not this guy. Ever panel in itself almost feels like a piece of art, with the single pages standing out as a real display of just how great an artist the man behind the manga is.
![[image loading]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx1zmkmJPJ1r4xqamo1_500.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WHEd3vppyY8/TIgo6VTFQaI/AAAAAAAAAm4/3P04PRTwFk8/s1600/Homunculus_01-218.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://galeria.ramenparados.com/albums/userpics/10001/homunculusbanner3.png)
For those that are interested, you can read here:
http://mangafox.me/manga/homunculus/v01/c000.1/1.html
For those that have already read the manga, feel free to share your opinions on this incredible story.
