Gyo - The Death Stench Creeps: Vol 1.

Rating Parental Advisory Genre manga Publisher VIZ Media External Links Official Gyo Website

Every once in a while, I pick up a manga just because of its title and end up scoring big. I’d like to say that I scored big with Gyo… But I’m just not sure. At first glance, you get an unsettling urk in your stomach. Quite literally! The cover depicts a rotting fish with decrepit spider-like legs mangled in all different directions. Whether I opened the cover out of morbid curiosity or because I was required to… I’m not sure.

Gyo opens up with Tadashi scuba diving around an old, sunken military ship. Suddenly, a small black object darts by him like a torpedo, nearly hitting him. After a quick escape from two sharks, he’s hoisted up by his girlfriend Kaori. She complains about how bad Tadashi smells and instructs him to brush his teeth every time they kiss. Fed up with his girlfriend’s complaining, they go back to their home in Okinawa.

Even though they’re safely locked away in their home, Kaori still yells her complaints about the wretched smell that no one else can smell. “I can smell it,”” “I can’t take it anymore,” “Tadashi, get rid of that smell!” In fact, all she does is whine and complain about the smell. This leads to a heated argument, after which Kaori storms out of the house, still complaining.

Tadashi, for god knows what reason, rushes after Kaori. He finds her crouched down in a meadow, screaming and pointing at an object in the reeds a little ways away. The shadow rushes by them and disappears into the night.

After another rant from Kaori about how bad it smells, something attacks her while she is in the shower. Tadashi rushes in to find her collapsed on the floor. He sees the shadow rush by him and hide itself behind a dresser. Thinking quickly, Tadashi smashes the dresser against the wall, killing whatever it was. Upon further inspection, it appears to be a moldy, rotting fish with crooked spider-like legs, and the smell is ever present.

Days later, these creatures are popping up everywhere and not just fish. Sharks, Octopi and all assortments of sea creatures imaginable. The walking fish take over the whole island and start a massive, stinking rampage.

Tadashi’s uncle tells him a story about his father creating these machines that would walk if propelled by gas. Then they discover that the fish don’t actually have legs, but these organic devices are playing host to them all. Then it’s left for the reader to put two and two together.

Honestly, there were things about this manga that just absolutely made me want to throw something. For one, Kaori. If I could explain how furious I got every time she talked… I think it would take up a whole page. Her obnoxious ranting every five seconds about the smell made me want to drive an axe through her annoying little face. Seriously, I set the book down one time because it was so bad. I know the author was trying to get a point across… But, holy crap… We got it … It smells.

Another thing that disturbed me was the art. Now, you could see this as a good thing or a bad thing… But the art was so disgusting. The monsters made me ill. The whole idea of the spider-aquatic creature combination is unique and original, but terrifying and borderline demonic. Surprisingly, this manga isn’t bloody… but it doesn’t need to be. You get your gross-fest from the infected limbs and even Kaori towards the end, covered in boils and belching out toxic gas. Even thinking about it now is making my skin crawl. I’ve never felt disgusted by a manga… So I’d say that’s a plus… Just not a very good plus. I actually had a nightmare about the fish monster… I have to hand it to the author though. He’s the first to invade my dreams with one of his repulsing creatures. Over all, I can’’t say I really enjoyed this since its left me with such unsettling feelings…… But I’m not going to discredit its good story. If you have a strong stomach and don’t get creeped out easily, Gyo is the right manga for you.