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It’s amazing how well older manga series can hold up. Osamu Tezuka’s works, such as Astro Boy, and Fujiko Fujio’s Osomatsu-kun are both perfect examples. But another mangaka and series people might not be as aware of is Cat-Eyed Boy by Kazuo Umezz. The manga can almost feel a bit like a Twilight Zone sort of series, with stand-alone pieces that are connected by a sometimes-supporting-cast-member, sometimes-lead that is the titular Cat-Eyed Boy. Viz Media has localized the series before, and now in 2023 it brought it back again in a hardcover Perfect Edition. It serves as a perfect example about how strong storytelling, evocative art, and great ideas always withstand the test of time.
The Cat-Eyed Boy is basically our window into the world of supernatural occurrences in the Umezz manga series. He’s neither good nor bad, though throughout volume one of Perfect Edition he often engages in heroic endeavors and ones that result, at the very least, attempts to assist or enlighten people plagued by supernatural affairs. Because he happens to show up wherever horrifying things happened, he’s developed something of a reputation as a harbinger of doom, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure situation where people with Stands end up attracted to one another. Because of his roots, he’s more aware of otherworldly elements and may unconsciously find himself near them.
Things begin with “The Immortal Man,” which is a perfect introduction. It cements the Cat-Eyed Boy in the role he typically fits and puts the focus on the situation he — and we — are observing. It’s a situation that makes you wondering what’s going on and why a particular family is being haunted by a certain individual. With “The Tsunami Summoners,” we learn more about the nature of yokai and spirits in The Cat-Eyed Boy’s world, which helps provide a better foundation for the manga. However, each tale here helps offer insight into the sorts of things we can’t expect, while still leaving it a surprise when we discover who antagonists might be in specific situations.
What’s important throughout is that all of these stories are compelling. They’re well-written, timeless affairs. Even when they are presented with more of a historical nature, the situations are still identifiable enough. The art is also fantastic, with the grotesque depictions being fascinating. At the same time, the Cat-Eyed Boy himself is cute in his own way, offering a fun contrast. (At least, I think he’s sort of adorable.) The situations are handled well.
Not to mention Viz Media’s presentation for this release is also great. The cover art is lovely. It’s a quality volume that feels substantial and like it will hold up over years. It also even looks a bit aged, both as a nod to the age of the series (it began running in 1969) and serving to make it feel like a long-lost tome.
The only thing is that the nature of Cat-Eyed Boy means not every story in the manga may resonate with the reader. I really enjoyed this first volume of The Perfect Edition up until “The Band of One Hundred Monsters, Part One.” The characters and storyline in it didn’t click with me in the same way as the others. So for me, that meant about 342 pages of this was absolutely great, but I struggled with the last almost 200.
But truly, Cat-Eyed Boy: The Perfect Edition shows how different manga series can remain relevant decades after being published. The things considered scary here still remain unsettling, and the artistic direction is still unique and haunting. I like to think it is also a reminder of the staying power we’ll see from other creators, as we’ll surely see Junji Ito’s works endure and remain topical in the same way as Kazuo Umezz’s.
Volume 1 of the Cat-Eyed Boy: The Perfect Edition manga is available via Viz Media. An anime and live-action film appeared in Japan.
