Manga Monthly: Phantom Tales of the Night
Phantom Tales of the Night
Stormy February doesn’t seem very optimistic as bad weather and high tensions within the international community seem to be the topic that everyone is speaking about. As much it is important to talk about these things and try to help whether it’s through donations or wishing people well, it can be overwhelming for some to constantly surround yourself with bad news and worry yourself over it. Please allow me to be your distraction as I reveal that February’s Manga Month choice is ‘Phantom Tales of The Night’.
‘Phantom Tales of The Night’ is a developed story by Matsumi which mixes the main plot with multiple one-shots of horror thriller. The first volume’s release date was on the 3rd September 2019. It’s an uncompleted series, with the 8th volume planned to be on being released on 29th March 2022. It suits more of an older audience of 16 years and up as it does contain some graphic scenes of body horror.
The story begins with a boy, named Tokihito Sasaki. Butterflies have haunted his shadows all his life until one day he sees a horrifying creature and begins to run. He seeks for help and stumbles across a mysterious ‘Owner’ of an inn. His only payment needed for his help was something simplistically strange – a secret.
The story continues on from there as the interactions between the main character and guests come up as single one-shot stories of the horror of the inn. Even though Tokihito Sasaki is the main character of the story, the ‘Owner’ seems to get the most perspective as you follow their ways of dealing with the different participants that come to their facility. The one-shot stories of horror seem to entail the philosophical reflection of common man’s most selfish desires and dirty deeds. The first volume can bring bittersweet endings or deserving consequences for each participant that is involved within the inn.
The main character, Tokihito Sasaki, seems like an open book. He’s young as he still goes to high school student but he doesn’t show much or anything that he feels he must hide or keep a secret. In contrast, the character ‘Owner’ who is not given a official name seems to be completely mysterious and all powerful as he has an ability to coax out the secrets of all the patrons that get involved with his inn. They have two assistants helping him out with his mission – named ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Spider’ who seem to follow any of his instructions. Despite the fact that ‘Sasaki-sama’ is the protagonist, you watch the story of the ‘Owner’ and his two assistants help each other to settle in the next patrons.
I loved this manga, simple as that. The art style really evokes some chilling cold realisations from the reader. It left me breathless and shocked at how some panels reveal shocking plot twists with their incredible fine detail in line art. It also does bring Japanese culture of onsen baths and traditional inns to Western eyes as you follow the hosts of the inn.
If you are an aspiring artist, practicing sketching just one of these panels may help you develop your skills of fine line art, whether it’s through traditional or digital art. It’s a very beautiful horrific aesthetic book that can be enjoyed for most horror fans.