“GYO Volume 1” by Junji Ito is a manga graphic novel published by VIZ Media in 2003. This black and white graphic novel is part of the “GYO” series and is intended for a mature audience. With a horror and sci-fi genre, this English-language softcover collection from Canada features the unique and dark storytelling style of renowned artist Junji Ito. This single unit is a must-have for fans of modern age comics.

“Tadashi and Kaori are on vacation in Okinawa, staying at Tadashi’s uncle’s place near the water and using his boat to go scuba diving. Things begin to go wrong when Tadashi encounters a strange shape amongst the sharks he barely escapes from, and Kaori becomes ill from the stench of fish.

Or rather, rotting fish, that are walking up onto land on strange, jointed legs. Neither Kaori or Tadashi have ever seen anything like it, but when Tadashi tries to report the odd fishies, the police don’t believe him. Soon they must believe, because its not just the little guys scampering around, sharks are coming up from the deep and attacking.

Tadashi and Kaori flee to Tadashi’s uncle’s laboratory. Doctor Koyanagi is a freaky-deaky recluse, and offers to dissect one of the fish to discover its secrets of ambulation. In the course of his investigations, Dr. Koyanagi loses his arm to the dead fish.

Meanwhile, Kaori becomes sicker and sicker, eventually bloating up to hideous proportions and sporting nasty pustules. And she’s gassy. If you think belching and farting are funny, you’re going to love this virus. There’s something in the air, and Tadashi and his uncle must discover what it is before Kaori gets any sicker.”