Welcome to the NHK (Manga)

A story revolving around a depressed recluse who hardly leaves the house and has little social contact is never going to be plot heavy but Tatsuhiko Takimoto manages to generate enough twists, turns and cliffhangers without ever really venturing out side the head of it’s main protagonist.
The dark humour is apparent from the very beginning where nothing is taboo as societies norms are, apparently, torn apart through the eyes of a crazed otaku. The majority of the laughs are to be had at Satou’s inability to cope with other people and his environment but there’s a more subtle level of tragic comedy, at the levels of denial he is willing to undertake to avoid such stressful situations, to be found throughout the manga.
The humorously over-the-top illustrations of Satou’s face as it contorts in anguish are a regular feature and are drawn in a very individual style with our hero often appearing to be decomposing with embarrassment.
As the story progresses Satou’s develops relationships with other deranged individuals and the bizarre reasons they have for being so demented are explored with a keen understanding of psychoanalysis and sociology allowing for a viewpoint that is fresh if a little hard-going at times. The insight into the minds of the young adults as they struggle to cope with the expectations and demands that come with maturity is handled skilfully and delicately, despite the often warped and sometimes crass situations.
The comedy all but disappears during the middle act of the story as Satou plunges deeper and deeper into despair. As things take a less surreal turn, the writer seems more concerned with exorcising his own demons through the analysis of Satous fragile condition which can leave some of the chapters feeling a little flat.
The underlying romance elements are superbly done and takes the usual “will they/wont they” dynamic to new levels, forcing the reader to question if the romance element indeed exists at all as the protagonists struggle to get to grips with their very existence let alone each other!
The “love story” becomes more prevalent in the latter half of the manga and eventually proves cause for the return of the humour towards the end as the writer attempts capture the magic of the opening acts. Unfortunately, despite delivering many excellent points of thought, it never really reaches the manic heights laid down in the opening chapters. Although, that said, it keeps the reader thoroughly gripped throughout as the intriguing and complex characters collide and self-destruct with only fleeting moments of hope or clarity.
You are sure to find an idiosyncrasy of your own reflected in one of the neurotics on display as it demonstrates how ultimately we’re all a bit messed up in our own way!