Doujin Review - Strange by sumiya
An unsettling doujin that has all the hallmarks of a great osananajimi story, with the light brushstrokes of psychological horror, and an unnerving statement on hookup culture.
Review by Miyu.
There's something to be said for honest titling because Strange by sumiya is, indeed, quite a perplexing read. On the face of it, this osananajimi doujin has all the standard tropes—a chance encounter with an old friend, rekindling the flame, and a night of passionate sex. But Strange leaves the reader with a deliberately unsettling feeling, one that only grows the longer you think about the actual story.
What is sumiya really saying as a storyteller—and is this sexy doujin just the carriage for a far more unsettling narrative?
Strange, by sumiya
An unsettling doujin that has all the hallmarks of a great osananajimi story, with the light brushstrokes of psychological horror, and an unnerving statement on hookup culture.
About Strange Doujin
During a night out with his friends, Asahi runs into his supposed childhood friend, Yotsuji Sayoko. We say supposed because, although Sayoko claims to know Asahi, he can't remember the details of their childhood. Instead, he's drawn to her beauty and driven by both his sex drive and desire to compete with his friends (who are all equally gunning for a shot with this black-haired beauty).
Sayoko takes the initiative at a love hotel, where Asahi's thoughts are consumed by desire, resulting in some truly hot sex, with delightful cunnilingus (fellas, make sure to pleasure your girl!), and amazing mating presses.
Chemistry: The Unsettling Along the Strange
Sayoko certainly has the "yandere" eyes, but doesn't quite fit the stereotype, and that's definitely part of what causes that unsettling sexual appeal. The chemistry between Asahi and Sayoko has all the rekindled passion of long-lost friends reunited, with fiery sex and sticky orgasms. sumiya's artwork is fantastic, with incredible detail in Sayoko's hair and her adorable expressions; and Asahi has the gentle, doe-eyed look of a "normal" guy—it's pretty easy to self-insert into his position.
The final kicker in Strange is the ending, linking back to the doujin's title. After all that vigorous sex, with plenty of delicious creampies, Asahi has a moment of existential crisis, where he realizes that he doesn't actually know Sayoko (or does he?)
The final panel of Strange repeats the same statement with the same pose as the opening: Sayoko states her name and her supposed relationship to Asahi, now with her breasts exposed and just as captivating as those "strange" eyes. Whether she's a complete stranger or not is left for the reader to decide—either way, the result leaves this doujin stuck in your brain like a burr, turning the panels over, trying to digest the hidden narrative.
Final Thoughts on Strange Doujin
sumiya absolutely delivers on the title's premise, taking a standard osananajimi setup and embracing psychological horror. Strange is, ultimately, a criticism of the men who go hunting for sexual conquests—Asahi and his friends were looking to 'score'; but we never question if a woman might also be out "gunning" for a lay. The manipulations that men use are almost expected by society; but a single lie from a woman is able to transform what would otherwise be an uninteresting plot into something truly fascinating.
With incredible artwork, passionate sex, and an unsettling narrative, Strange is the rare type of doujin that we'll be thinking about long after the final pages—and for hentai of any sort, that's the highest praise we can give.
Sheepish Dreams gives Strange a 5/5.
© sumiya / FAKKU!
Sample images have been used in accordance with the United States Copyright Office Fair Use Section 107 and the European Union Information Society Directive Article 5.3(c).
