Skyhigh

I’m not sure why it is that whenever I chose a manga at random I seem to end up with something creepy and/or gory. Suffice to say Skyhigh, despite its somewhat misleading name, is probably the most gothic of gothic horrors I’ve come across since… er… Goth. Then again, seeing as it comes from the pen of the same mangaka who gave us “Alive”, "Blue Heaven" and "Jiraishin" maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. The ten stand-alone stories that make up the two volumes essentially focus on the particular character’s death, events leading up to it and the choice they make upon meeting Izuko. Seeing as they’rearriving at the Gate of Grudges, it’s hardly likely their passing was a happy one, even though they are at first unaware of what is going on and rely on Izuko to fill them in. Unfortunately, even though Izuko is the only constant in the stories, we’re told nothing of her background or why she’s the Gate Keeper. She just is, deal with it. It’s a shame really, because that could have provided an interesting side-story and fleshed it out into a few more chapters. This doesn’t mean that the overall story is lacking – anything but. You’re mired knee-deep in just about every negative human emotion and action imaginable right from the start. Envy, Hatred, Depression, Murder, Greed are all mixed together and served up with a liberal dose of vengeance. Given it’s gothic roots, Skyhigh’s artwork is dark and stark and yet finely detailed at the same time. The mangaka fills each panel with effective imagery, especially when it comes to conveying emotion. However, and maybe it’s because I’m getting old, I did find it a bit heavy-going on the eyes after a bit. Is there a downside? Well, it’s a gothic horror, so brace yourself for copious amounts of blood, nudity and sex (tastefully done, of course), as well as some fairly interesting plots. In that regard, it doesn’t really pull any punches, nor does it apologise for not doing so. If dark and gory isn’t your thing, I’d say avoid this. If you liked works such as Goth or Alive, you’ll probably enjoy this too. It’s certainly not one to read if you’re looking for something that’s feel-good or uplifting. However, you could easily argue that without those elements present, it would lose its gothic and slightly surreal edge and become another “Jigoku Shoujo” spin-off (or precursor), which it very much isn’t. The individual stories also make the flow of the overall tale a bit stop-start, which could have been overcome by expanding on Izuko’s character and thus providing a bit more continuity to the stories., but that’s just me. Overall? It’s grim, graphic, gory, gothic… and pretty darn good too.

Tsutomu Takahashi is an extremely underrated mangaka. His works have only the smallest of niche followings in the west. This is in spite of the fact that not only did he mentor Tsutomu Nihei (who is much more famous than he is), he has produced a very large body of work over the years; unlike some artists who stagnate, relying on their old franchises and/or having any new projects be very underwhelming, Takahashi has arguably only gotten better and better over time. Skyhigh is a short story anthology that focuses on people who were murdered or who have lingering feelings of resentment. The Guardian of theGate of Grudges, Izuko, offers them three choices: they can go to heaven and be reincarnated, they can choose to roam the earth forever as a ghost, or they can possess someone and go and kill one person, at the cost of being sent to hell for all eternity. Skyhigh is a seinen manga, meaning it's aimed at an older male demographic. As is typical of series in that demographic it's relentlessly brutal and griml. The stories are very often extremely tragic, featuring graphic violence and sexual content that really shows the dark nature of humanity. Often the people who end up at the gate are so full of hurt, rage and bitterness that they are unable to let go and end up choosing the third option, but the stories where the characters choose the other two are made even more memorable in light of this fact. Skyhigh is a very good example of how important the art is to a series. The stories, by themselves, are decent and have good ideas, but it is Tsutomu Takahashi's exceptional draftsmanship and storytelling that brings them to life and gives them their power. This is an older work of his, dating back to 2001, so it is not representative of his current ability, but even before I saw his more recent work, I was still very impressed by the art in Skyhigh. Takahashi has a very unique, instantly recognizable style, often referred to as being "sketchy" due to his frequent use of thin lines and thick blacks. This in no way is indicative of laziness or lack of talent however, it's merely a set of stylistic decisions. Indeed, Takahashi is much more skilled than the majority of mangaka; all of his characters look completely distinct, and his facial expressions are incredibly powerful. If I had one complaint to make is that he goes a bit over the top at times, which in retrospect may make it hard to take the darker moments seriously. But that's pretty damn subjective. Overall Skyhigh is a great read if you are looking for something dark and different with amazing art.

First review I'm writing, so I apologize if it's too short or lack of any information. ART - 9 The manga has some pretty cool art, it's very dark and dirty like a pretty emotional sketch, different from every manga I have ever read. STORY - 8 It is good but I thought it delayed too much to finally develop the "main story". It made me think about life, reincarnation and stuff. CHARACTER - 7 Characters are pretty unique although their stories may be a bit rushed or kind of poorly developed.ENJOYMENT - 7 Art is cool as I said, unique, story is great with a different theme, but IMO lacks a bit of character development. OVERALL - 7,5 Definatelly this manga is not a waste of time. Maybe if you never thought about life after death, the story can open your mind about this matter. Art is great but a bit dark if you are used to lighter drawings.

Another solid work from Takahashi Tsutomu, once again capturing the drama and emotions of human life. As seen in the synopsis, this series revolves around what happens after death. The gatekeeper, Izuko, presents the recently deceased with three choices at the moment of their passing. Skyhigh explores this premise in a variety of ways, showcasing the different emotions and circumstances of both the dead and those they leave behind. Despite its simple premise, the writing manages to bring enough variation to keep each chapter engaging. Takahashi Tsutomu effectively captures the range of emotions experienced by the dead as they reflect on the world they’ve left behind.However, since each chapter presents a new story, there is little character development, making it harder to form an emotional attachment. It’s compelling to see different portrayals of death, but none of the stories resonated with me on a deeper level. Takahashi Tsutomu’s art always carries a distinct style that enhances the storytelling. In this series, I particularly liked how he illustrates hair—using bold, thick strokes that make the character designs feel more dynamic. If you've read Zankyou, you'll notice a similar approach not just in hairstyling but also in the use of bold outlines. This technique adds depth to the artwork and brings a sense of motion to each sequence. The heavier lines also create a feeling of isolation or suspense, further intensifying the mood of certain panels. His approach to large panels is equally impressive, whether through highly detailed backgrounds with cross-hatching or carefully composed shots that emphasize emotions. Close-up facial expressions are especially well-drawn, adding weight to the characters’ feelings. Overall, it’s a short yet solid read—just 10 chapters, making it perfect for a single sitting. The simple plot keeps it easy to follow, while Takahashi Tsutomu’s distinct, detailed art elevates the storytelling. Plus, there’s a sequel (which I’m still reading), so I’m curious to see how the story develops. If you're a fan of Takahashi Tsutomu’s works, whether for his art or storytelling, this is worth checking out. Or if stories about the afterlife catch your interest, this series might be worth a look.