I loved the art style of this graphic novel. It really helped push the story over the edge. This was such a great lead in to the film.

Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is a one-shot manga, prologue of & in collab with the film with the same title. I’ve never heard of a comic & film collaboration, so I was immediately intrigued.

This was a pretty horrific and twisty short, and it definitely got me curious about the film. Very creepy and worked for what it was designed for.

I absolutely loved this manga. I had a feeling about certain characters and felt like it was a little predictable on that part but other than that I really enjoyed this. I loved the art style especially the black and white almost watercolor we get with the first three pages. I also actually loved Chi. All she wanted was to be loved by her only friend. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The fact that it’s a sort of prequel to a film about Chi makes me want to watch it.

I never read anything like it before! It is my first manga by this author and horror manga and I am pleasantly surprise! I was enthralled by the story and sucked in from the first page. I could feel the atmosphere; creepy, strange and unexpected. I also love the many emotions I got from such a short story (since I wasn't expecting it) and by the end I wanted more. I will read more of the genre and from this author.
I recommend for lover of horror, but definitely check TWs.

Review of Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan by Shuzo Oshimi

This was my first manga by Shuzo Oshimi, and I went into it with zero expectations. Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan turned out to be an incredibly fast read—I finished it in just 30 minutes. At first, it felt too short, and I wished the story had been more fleshed out. Only after finishing it did I realize it was a one-shot piece created for a Japanese film. Despite its brevity, the story was quite interesting. While it’s not my usual cup of tea when it comes to Japanese horror, I thoroughly enjoyed it and saw great potential in its premise and character arcs.

One of the strongest aspects of the manga is its social commentary. I interpreted it as a critique of rigid societal norms and the harsh consequences of imposing unrealistic expectations, especially on the young. Chi-chan starts off as a cute, innocent girl with an unusual but harmless hobby: collecting bugs. She never kills them, yet she is severely bullied and punished for simply being different. Over time, society’s rejection and the loss of her only friend push her into isolation. Eventually, she is labeled as a violent psycho, but through flashbacks, we see how she was shaped by the cruelty of others.

Interestingly, the real "psycho" in the story turns out to be the boy who initially appears to have good intentions. He is praised by adults for trying to "fix" Chi-chan and reintegrate her into society, but in reality, he harbors disturbing and sinister traits. However, even he is a product of his father’s domineering ideology and expectations. While this doesn’t excuse his actions, it reinforces the manga’s central theme: the true evil isn’t Chi-chan, but the toxic social standards and narrow-minded perceptions that break individuals before they even have a chance to grow.

Visually, the manga is stunning. Oshimi’s artwork adds an eerie yet melancholic atmosphere that enhances the story’s emotional weight. If anything, I wish this had been a full-length manga, as there was so much more to explore.

Overall, Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is a short but impactful read. It might not be the most terrifying horror manga, but it offers a compelling reflection on the damage caused by societal pressures.

Before the 2024 thriller Toxic Daughter premiered, there was Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan. Now, Kodansha Manga is releasing this single volume, penned by Shuzo Ozumi. Across the chapters, we learn the harrowing backstory of the film’s scissor-wielding star. The manga follows a pair of schoolkids: shy artist Yua and her crush Koudai. When Koudai decides they should team up to encourage prodigal classmate Chi to return to school, things come unspooled. Chi is bug-obsessed and weirdly violent, and takes a pair of scissors to any she deems her foe. But when her actions begin to harm others, it becomes apparent that the real villain may be hidden in plain sight.

You don’t need to have seen Toxic Daughter to appreciate the prequel manga. It’s chilling, gory, and unsettling. But it’s also a stunning piece of work, all about the horrors that lie under the surface of everyday life. Thriller lovers will want this on their shelves.

Rating: 3/5 stars

The story about Chi is dark and sinister. Chi likes bugs but only when they’re dead. She’s an outcast and a borderline drop out.

I really liked this story and the subtle plot twist towards the end. Unfortunately there is some SA involved in this manga that is shown without any trigger warnings so beware. Other than that I found it very interesting and enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Dare I say, one of my favorite Shuzo Oshimi mangas

I am a very big fan of Shuzo Oshimi and got so excited to see this available early.

☆ thank you to kodansha comics & netgalley for the preview arc! review is my own ☆

shuzo oshimi has such a beautiful way to tell a story that leaves you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. thrilling and suspenseful to the very core with twists in plots that grab your attention. this story is purely a highlight of the wonderful storytelling that shuzo brings to the table with every release of his. this story will solidify itself alongside shuzo’s other releases well, carrying the same haunting tales of the dark sides to humanity.

I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised with the story and liked the horror elements throughout. It was super creepy and I would be interested in reading more from this author!

Uh, okay. So, I definitely don't understand what I am feeling right now. Too much. This is too much, it's Iike there's a physical block on or near my heart. I have literally just finished reading this book. I am not happy. I am not happy. I was expecting for this to be predictable because it was obvious that something was very wrong with them. But I didn't expect things to fly from every direction! I honestly don't understand what's worse, the betrayal or the misfortune. It's all just so upsetting.

I guess it really does ring true when they say that humans are the most terrifying of monsters. Evil knows no age.

From an objective standpoint, this IS horror. It fascinates me how something drawn in black and white could evoke such multitude of emotions. Chi peeking through the class window was utterly creepy. The hard blank stares indicate that maybe this person isn't in the right state of mind. Yet there's something so gentle and fragile about how the entire Manga was drawn.

This was a bit of a disturbing read, please be warned about several triggering issues, I'm honestly not in a good place yet I'm in awe of the author for what they have created. Great storytelling!

A girl named Chi hasn't been going to school, so Kodai wants to become her friend to get her to come back with the help of Chi's childhood friend, Yua. When they succeed in their mission, they didn't know what was in store.

For a standalone manga, Toxic Daughter packs a punch. The art is amazing, The story telling is great.
100% recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oofa doofa.

What the heck?

This goes in some crazy directions. Little girl who loves bugs and is off kilter refuses to go to school. Shy girl who's her bestie in their childhood, tries to talk to her again because a "hopeful" boy in her class pushes for it. Things get creepier as we go on, sexual assault, brutal near death experiences, and yeah...only to turn out this is a prequel to a Japanese movie? Right....well I was never bored but this is a odd freaking manga.

Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is about two childhood friends who have grown apart over the years. Yua seems to be a well-adjusted, regular girl who has a secret crush on the school's golden boy, Kodai. Chi is a seemingly neglected and isolated wild girl who is obsessed with dead insects and birds. The story starts when Kodai convinces (and takes advantage of) Yua to get Chi back into school.

From the first page, I could tell this manga was going to be amazing. The art style is beautiful and really unique and the plot itself made it even better. Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is a really emotional and unsettling story and I can't wait to read the rest of it. I would highly recommend this manga to those who are into more psychological horrors/thrillers for sure!!

This was the perfect introduction to the series and it leaves you wanting to read/know more. The story starts off really sweet and seemingly innocent but then takes a really sinister and dark turn and you're really thrown into it. It's twisted and there comes a point where you can't stop reading and even though it gets worse and worse you're forced to keep watching and reading. The ending was really shocking and left me feeling so uncomfortable and, to be honest, I'm still processing what happened. I definitely won't be forgetting this anytime soon.

Thank you so much to the publishers, authors, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC/copy of this book in exchange for a review :))

The art was amazing and I knew from the start And cover I'd love it.
This was a super quick read for me but it had a few twists I definitely didn't expect which honestly blew my mind.
The guy honestly disgusted me and I'm content with what happened to him in the end.

3.5 stars, I really enjoyed the premise of this manga I just wish it could have been longer to explore more of Chi and Yua's relationship and history.

If you watched the 2024 horror movie “Doku Musume” by Eisuke Naito, i would highly recommend you in picking this manga! This one shot manga is served as prequel of the movie.
The narrative of the manga centers on Yua Hayakawa, who once cherished her childhood friendship with Chi, a girl who is fascinated by collecting dead insects. Years passed, and their bond faded, and Chi becomes an outcast that rarely attend school.

This manga offers an intimate exploration of Chi’s backstory and events that leads up to the movie. I find this manga presents a broader narrative that delves deeper in horror elements on the movie. Both mediums has a distinct storytelling yet complementing each other to enrich the chilling narrative of Chi.

Oshimi’s artistry in this manga is evocative and haunting. It really immerse the readers in where innocence intertwine with malevolence, enhancing the overall feeling of despair.

Wow. This manga completely blew my mind. To be totally honest, I was drawn in from the very first glance at the cover: it instantly told me this would be something dark, intense, and right up my alley. And I wasn’t wrong! Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is a gripping, unsettling, and emotionally charged story that I couldn’t put down.

The plot revolves around two childhood friends who have grown apart over the years: Chi, an odd, isolated girl with a fascination for dead insects and the wilderness, and Yua, her former best (and only) friend. As teenagers, their lives have taken very different paths, but things shift dramatically when Chi refuses to attend school. Enter Kodai - Yua’s secret crush, the golden boy of their class - who proposes a manipulative plan to coax Chi back to school using Yua as bait.

At first, it seems like their plan might actually work. Kodai and Yua approach Chi with smiles, cakes, and an outward show of kindness, all while ignoring her peculiar habits and awkward behavior. But Chi, true to herself, doesn’t conform to their expectations. One moment in particular - where Chi accidentally harms Yua - acts as the breaking point. What started as a seemingly harmless scheme quickly spirals out of control, turning dark and chaotic. Yua finds herself trapped between Chi’s unfiltered wildness and Kodai’s increasingly volatile intentions.

This story is beautifully twisted and emotionally raw. The more I read, the harder it became to tear myself away. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion: you know disaster is coming, but you can't look away. And just when you think you’ve figured it all out, the ending delivers a shocking punch that leaves you needing a moment to process everything.

What also makes this manga exceptional is the impeccable artwork. Shuzo Oshimi’s illustrations are haunting and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the eerie tension and emotional depth of the characters. Every panel feels deliberate, adding to the creeping sense of unease throughout the story.

Overall, Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is a masterful piece of psychological horror that explores the darker sides of human relationships, manipulation, and alienation. It’s unsettling, unforgettable, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys manga that dares to push boundaries.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing this incredible read!

It lacks impact compared to some of Oshimi's other works, although it dutifully serves as cinematic prequel to what seems like a by-the-numbers J-horror film.