Junji Ito's Most Pessimistic Manga | Black Paradox by Junji Ito Explained | Dark Manga Spotlight

If you're new here, hi! I'm new, too! I'm loreelaiii and I read a lot of manga and korean manhwa. I like to use my youtube channel as a way to highlight the really interesting or enjoyable (or sometimes not so enjoyable) stuff I read. I live in Japan at the time of writing! :)
I'm unsure what to title this video, something like "Junji Ito's The Lorax" or "The Most Pessimistic Junji Ito Comic"... something like that.
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[@ArnSolma]

the first time I read this manga was when I found a half-burnt copy with the latter pages missing in a garbage pile behind my classroom, likely thrown away and burned because the school i went to was a Muslim one and the content of the manga was likely deemed offensive and objectionable. I remember being intrigued by the art and the story, and being frustrated that I couldn't learn how it ended, since i was in a boarding school in a rural part of my country with no internet access. it wasn't until a couple years after I'd left high school that I came across Black Paradox again.

[@loreelaiii]

Woah!! such an interesting story!! you must've had really unique life experiences!!

[@ArnSolma]

@@loreelaiii it was an interesting part of my time growing up. I was part of the Religious Activities Group in the school, so that meant I was tasked with maintaining the student body's faith. Going dorm to dorm every night to make sure everyone did their nightly prayers, reading Quranic verses over the PA every Friday morning, and of course the occasional book burning (which, looking back, was kinda messed up seeing as I was also a librarian at the time). Ironically, that last activity is what introduced me to a lot of interesting books like Soldiers of God, The Eye of the Needle, and a lot of Junji Ito's works. These days, I've mostly left religion behind, but I'm grateful for it inadvertently getting me into manga.

[@JuniperJadePR]

"Junji Ito's The Lorax" is the best description I've seen of this work.

[@loreelaiii]

[@Jjjjjjjjjjj202]

KZbin randomly showed me this on autoplay, didn't expect you to have so little viewers and subscribers. This is good stuff! You're very good at narrating.

[@loreelaiii]

omg aaaaa thank yoooou hehe

[@cesar6004]

8:17 Probably why they have myths about people having their soul ripped out of their butt

[@loreelaiii]

holy shit you're right

[@IamSpacedad]

In the Manben documentary showing Junji Ito working from home, I noticed a few reference books on his shelf. One of them was a book about The Beatles. I immediately thought of this story. Black Paradox are basically a Junji Ito Beatles group. They even change over time kind of like the arc of how the Beatles changed.

[@loreelaiii]

Suuuper neat connection! I hadn't thought of that! I think even the cover used in this thumbnail is very beatles-esque, too! Thanks for mentioning that documentary, I haven't seen it before but I'll definitely take a look. It might be neat to bring up in any future Junji Ito content I might make

[@sucktitles]

I don't often like youtube's changes but really appreciate how I'm getting unseen but good videos recommended lately. I hope that's going to bring back some of its old charm.

[@Arguablyill]

I watched this while getting ready for work and holy hell this was awesome! Your narrating and story telling skills are phenomenal, 10/10 video!! I really hope your channel gets the attention it deserves 💕

[@loreelaiii]

omg stoppppp thank yoou

[@RANima71498]

You got me to sub by your analysis of one of my favorite Junji Ito stories! One small thing that makes this story for me at least is something you surprisingly left out: the reason why they go off in the end to do their usual duty despite knowing the future is because Marisol explains that Doctor Suka will become the eventual scapegoat of humanity since while Paradoxical Night will bring about a technological revolution, his insistence on constantly harvesting Paradoxical Night will be the main factor in his own downfall, where humanity will turn on him after the truth about what it is becomes clear. His final fate isn’t exactly known, but Marisol assures them that it’s “ghastly”.

[@loreelaiii]

Thanks so much for the sub omg!

[@TheKajero]

I dig this explanation, I never really thought of it this way, followed, can't wait to see more manga stuff

[@jerimyjohnston4192]

I buy almost everything I can find by junji ito I liked this story a lot and I thought it was very interesting even for junji ito

[@THE_Dodge_Morningstar]

This was awesome. I’m glad I found this channel

[@rakunato]

Just got this book today.

[@heavenlyl0ve722]

Popped up on my recommended page because I love Junji Ito and currently 13 minutes in. I love your storytelling skills! I am becoming a subscriber of yours and I hope that you grow to be an amazing channel! You have my best wishes ❤

[@loreelaiii]

welcome aboard and thank you so much!!

[@karolisr]

Sometimes the algorithm works.

[@ashrashed4825]

I randomly got recommended your "Children" video and immediately subscribed. I think you are a natural, and the qualities of your videos are stellar. Keep doing what you're doing, and experiment more with your thumbnails, because your channel is going to grow big really soon, I can feel it! Just a small feedback from me: I think I enjoyed your delivery on the other video more because you gave a lot more of your insight and reactions to what's happening in the story, so we could see more of your personality as you narrate the story. It's still a really good video, and I can't wait to see more from you in the future :D

[@loreelaiii]

omg thank you!!

[@kharmacal]

this is nice :) maybe a junji ito analysis series? or stuff like it (ie perfect blue)

[@comradewhisky010]

My hefty thanks to KZbin for randomly recommending me this gem of a channel :)

[@loreelaiii]

omg thank you so much for the kind words 😭😭😭

[@Kuweiyo]

I enjoyed this video. I think I'll subscribe. Keep this up

[@blueboy2976]

I adore this manga ! I've got it for Chrismas with Souichi volume and I read both so fast ! I'm waiting for Dissolving classroom now ! I'm really exited and obssesed with Junji Ito works just like humans with my favorite Tomie 💓

[@pop_dog7034]

What a fantastic video. I really enjoyed it. Happy the algorithm sent me your way as you content seems brilliant.

[@aytoxo]

I love Junji Ito and haven't heard of this manga o_o thank you for that video!!

[@loreelaiii]

Yeah it's one of his nicher ones!! I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[@Twinkdoesdrag]

More Junji summaries, please!

[@jaboulymarouly5314]

Ay these vidz are pretty fkn good, keep rocking it :))

[@loreelaiii]

hehe thank you!!

[@burned_out2419]

to be honest, i find this to be the most optimistic one.

[@Pompomkelrin]

Man youre amazing!! Your speech is so clear and i didnt get bored for a singular second ~(≧▽≦)～ Keep going youre going to make it big!!

[@loreelaiii]

omg hi and thank you!!!

[@KrashyKharma]

Have you checked out his version of No Longer Human? I'd argue it's between that and Black Paradox for most pessimistic/nihilistic.

[@rubinchavarria7173]

Marisol is very close to a Spanish name

[@loreelaiii]

yes ahaha that's my cousin's name actually

[@annah5507]

Bro not the spheres behaving like a hexstone from arcane

[@travonte97]

It was new to me, it was an alternate version of his cosmic horror that I’m used to reading in stories like Remina, or Uzumaki.

[@Youtubwatcher109]

Sound scary and a little sad😔

[@hdcbpxsytahdcbpx]

epic

[@AG-en5y]

I know someone from the us government interested in exploding soul gems

[@Cody27]

Its funny to say but Black Paradox is one of the weird ones haha

[@user-fx7vc9kj7q]

What other mangas you read ?

[@loreelaiii]

My MAL is in the description!!

[@QueenOfFails]

Drifting classroom

[@loreelaiii]

Reading it atm!