The Summer Hikaru Died

Six months ago, Yoshiki’s best friend Hikaru went missing in the mountains and returned not quite right. That is to say, the thing that looks like Hikaru is not quite right. He knows it is illogical to continue on as normal when he knows the truth, but when the monster has Hikaru’s face, voice, and memories, how could he possibly let go?

The Summer Hikaru Died is a creeping, claustrophobic, queer horror manga following Yoshiki, a high school boy living with the monster that took over his best friends body. This series does an excellent job portraying the unease and dread of having a loved one replaced. As well as the internalized turmoil of feeling othered and monstrous. The story being told throughout the series is layered and nuanced and handled with such care. We see the fallout of grief, the exploration of humanity, and the fear/shame caused by homophobia. The beautiful art utilizes shadow and text to convey the intensity of a scene with wonderful creativity. And the writing feels authentic to teens in a small, rural town. I love this series immensely. It is a medium paced horror with slower mystery elements regarding the secrets of the town. I love the dark rural atmosphere and the way it compliments the suffocating tone. The series also has strong themes of love, loss, internalized homophobia and grief that play well with the horror elements. I would recommend this series to anyone that likes queer horror, atmospheric horror, folklore, dark/unhealthy romance, and mysteries.