GENRE: BL: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Slice of Life

MANGAKA: Mokumoku, Ren 

PUBLISHER: Young Ace Up, Kadokawa

PUBLISHED: Aug 31, 2021 – ongoing (1 Vol)

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu or The Summer Hikaru Died is a soft horror. And by that, I don’t mean it isn’t scary because it starts off with some cosmic horror melted face and has uncanny moments galore—yet it is still soft, gently taking us through murder mysteries and horrifying happenings in a small village.

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu is about Yoshiki and his best friend Hikaru. Or not. Because Hikaru is dead and that’s not a spoiler—it’s in the title. Part of a tight-knit community, they live in a small village with a forest nearby. Perfect setting for creepy shenanigans. 

Yoshiki realises his best friend has been acting differently of late. He says things with the wrong intonation, reacts to things out of character. This leads Yoshiki to ask Hikaru why he has changed so much since he disappeared for a week in the forest. Hikaru proceeds to melt, begging Yoshiki not to say anything, not to do anything, because he just wants to live as a human, and he doesn’t want to kill Yoshiki. Which. Okay.

If you’re thinking the reveal comes a bit too quickly, don’t worry. This manga has a lot to show you; every chapter is filled with uncanny moments, reveals about the creature that looks like Hikaru and what its descent from the mountain could mean.

Bodysnatchers, Shapeshifters, and the Self

As is expected of stories about bodysnatchers and shapeshifters, the theme of what makes a person themselves and how they navigate their community or their original’s community are explored. This is shown through ‘Hikaru’s’ reactions to eating food as it is the first time this creature to experience these things. There are also moments when we see Yoshiki interact with the other villagers and how they react to the change in ‘Hikaru’.

The creature that has taken on this new skin struggles to fit itself inside the box that is Hikaru and Yoshiki is forced to confront what it means that this creature is wearing his best friend’s face and he is the only person who is aware.

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Has Bomb Art  

The characters are drawn with such emotion! Whether it is the terror of victims-to-be or the grief on Yoshiki’s face or ‘Hikaru’s’ full-body joy at the wonder of mundane human life—it is all full of emotions. And when it gets creepy? It is absolutely terrifying. Panels that seemed innocuous at first will reveal their uncanny nature the longer you consider them. You will be haunted. But in a good way!

What makes the art in this manga so great is not only the expressions but also the lived-in feel, the clutter, and the atmosphere it gives the story. As the shrill buzzing of cicadas fills the page, you not only step into Japan’s countryside but also feel the heat, feel the stuffiness. The oppressive buzzing gets louder and louder until you are right there with Yoshiki. Completely alone with this creature that has taken your friend’s face. And there is nothing that could save you from it.

BL Horror and Its Problems

BL already has a bad rap and horror does too; it only makes sense that the subgenre of queer horror in the manga industry would have some issues. From what I have read or simply encountered, a lot of queer horror manga rely on sexual violence, body horror—read: amputation kinks—gore, and cannibalism and it gets old and annoying real quick.

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu, goes against the trend and brings us some semi-wholesome horror that does not let the horror be a consequence of the queerness. The BL in this has been pretty low-key, so far, but it is percolated throughout the story, colouring the relationship Yoshiki has with his late best friend and the creature wearing his face.

If you were weary of this manga because of the presence of both BL and horror, don’t be.

As for the queer aspect of the story—which is treated as a side plot to the main horror—it is the soft yet all-encompassing thing of teenage feelings. Wild emotions all shuttered up behind nonchalant expressions of boys trying to be cool, stay safe. The creature is upfront, candid in its feelings, and it is both terrifying and adorable. As for Yoshiki, he is in the throes of grief and love and this is portrayed with such tenderness for a character that is clearly hurting with no one who could possibly understand his situation.

Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Rating

Before I even finished the first volume, I knew this was going to be one of my favourite manga series. This manga is a solid 9/10 even if MAL gave it 8.09. The only drawback, I would say is that the manga takes a while to build up some of the side plots—in fact, the investigative part of the mystery does not start in volume 1.

 Volume 2 is not out yet but the manga has been serialised beyond volume 1. I can’t wait for the next installment!