260 - 5 Year Anniversary Retrospective Redux 1 - Parasyte

Come join us as we celebrate 5 years of podcasting! dakazu’s made a top 5 list of the most bizarre/interesting manga he’s ever talked about and we take a look back at one of our first Retrospectives ever, Parasyte!

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Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Intro Song: “Let Me Hear” by Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas from Parasyte -the maxim-, Opening, Reflecting on 5 years, Introductions
• 00:02:09 - To celebrate 5 years dakazu picked the top 5 most bizarre/interesting manga he’s ever talked about
• 00:03:23 - dakazu starts his list with the ghost writer scandal from Kirby of the Stars
• 00:07:26 - Joshi Kouhei was divisive for it’s unique story telling and over-the-top fan service
• 00:11:37 - dakazu recalls amazing behind-the-scenes reveals from ex-porn star Nayuka Mine’s memoir Sexy Joyuu-chan – Girigiri Mosaic
• 00:14:12 - Morgana has A LOT of question about dakazu’s #2 choice SXMCN
• 00:16:46 - X-Power Yojigen Nikutai Shinka might not even classify as an actual manga and might be an advertisement for a scam but it tops dakazu’s list
• 00:27:35 - We discuss the Japanese cultural reverence of Oda Nobunaga
• 00:30:42 - Next Episode Preview and Rundown: Manga in Motion for A Letter to Momo, we’ll be reviewing Hiroyuki Okiura’s 2011 anime drama
• 00:32:31 - Main Segment Retrospective Redux: Parasyte, Transition Song: “IT’S THE RIGHT TIME” by Daichi Miura from Parasyte -the maxim-, we revisit Hitoshi Iwaaki’s classic horror series about a boy getting infected by an alien organism that replaces his right arm
• 00:34:12 - After reading Parasyte for the first time Morgana expresses her disappointment with the female characters being mostly plot devices
• 00:38:18 - We discuss Migi’s abrupt change in relationship with Shinichi towards the end of the series
• 00:39:55 - Morgana really liked Shinichi because he reminded her of Yusuke from Yu Yu Hakusho
• 00:41:55 - Morgana talks about the fascinating logic the parasytes have that conflict with human morals
• 00:43:52 - We discuss the horrors of human nature that happens at battle between the army and parasytes at the municipal building
• 00:45:51 - An exploration of moral choices weren’t what Morgana expected to read about in Parasyte
• 00:48:34 - Morgana was surprised Shinichi was able to keep Migi a secret throughout most of the series
• 00:50:04 - We comment on how the series ends without any focus on the parasytes
• 00:52:55 - We explain how the certain plot points had be contrived with the modernization of the anime
• 00:55:31 - After rereading Seamus thought many character arcs reflected the growth of a child
• 00:57:29 - Old lady Mitsuyo and small town girl Makiko were female characters we really liked
• 00:58:53 - Morgana wished the series explained the origin of the parasytes
• 01:01:11 - After rereading Darfox noticed the repetitive pattern of female character deaths throughout the series
• 01:04:10 - Now Darfox has stronger feelings towards the philosophical questions about overpopulation raised in Parasyte
• 01:07:53 - We discuss the influence of Japanese culture that impacted the way the government reacted to the existence of parasytes
• 01:12:18 - We appreciate that despite it’s serious story Parasyte had a lot of comedic moments
• 01:16:12 - We explore the varied personalities of the different parasytes throughout the series
• 01:17:15 - Morgana is confused why the story abruptly stops following Yuko after her run in with the Shimada parasyte
• 01:18:17 - dakazu talks about the various Parasyte spin-offs stories from Neo Parasyte Volume f, Neo Parasyte Volume m, Parasyte Reversi, and Neo Kiseijuu f
• 01:24:38 - We discuss the reluctance of exploring older manga and anime in Western audiences
• 01:26:58 - Darfox comments on the realistic portrayal of violence in Parasyte
• 01:27:59 - Iwaaki gave thoughtful responses to reader questions but also admitted to cutting his finger with a knife
• 01:29:21 - dakazu praises Iwaaki for his creative process that led him to end Parasyte despite it’s popularity
• 01:32:16 - During the original retrospectives Seamus made correct predictions about what would happen in the story
• 01:34:46 - dakazu recalls the existence of a hentai doujinshi shipping Uda with Tamura Reiko
• 01:39:18 - We praise Iwaaki’s use of different techniques to make a wide range of art
• 01:43:27 - Morgana liked how Migi and Shinichi would take time to strategize
• 01:44:38 - Darfox had some slight complaints about some ham-fisted direct translations
• 01:47:43 - Seamus thought Parasyte stood up well for rereading besides the final confrontation between Goto and Shinichi
• 01:49:55 - dakazu is considering revisiting Iwaaki’s current manga Historie
• 01:51:58 - We tease a future episode about fantasy manga publishing
• 01:54:35 - Seamus promises to catch up on Ooku: The Inner Chambers, Social Media Rundown, Sign Off Song: “wish men” by sunbrain from Beet the Vandel Buster