Here’s my take after reading 80 schizophrenic chapters of Boku wa Mari no Naka (I’m inside Mari) Shuuzou Oshimi.
How would I put this… Mari no Naka is not your typical body-swapping manga since it is not a body-swapping manga. It is a story that dives into the psyche of the characters and their actions given the circumstances similar to other of Oshimi-san’s works.
In this mind-bending story, we are looking into the eyes of Mari Yoshizaki a seemingly perfect high school girl that everyone adores, and Isao Komori one particular college hikikomori (reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life) who is obsessed with Mari.
The story started after one incident where Mari was on her way home from the convenience store and was being followed by Isao when she suddenly passed out and woke up not Mari anymore, but “Isao” in Mari’s body.
There are only a few out there who would appreciate this kind of story about deconstructing the human psyche’s inner workings through the experiences portrayed by the characters. And I am one of those people, as the story for me exposes each of the character’s darkest secrets truthfully in their way.
Mari’s character is one of the most interesting characters out there as she can create a sense of open mystery for you to uncover throughout the story up to the last volume which held me as a reader to finish it in one go.
The supporting characters Isao, Yori, and the others complement the evolution of Mari through each chapter of your read.
As with every Oshimi manga, the art is based on the reader’s preference, but it wonderfully works for me. It is the perfect art to push the story to stand out more. But keep in mind that there is sexual content in the story so this is not for the young audience.
All in all, if you are looking for an unconventional story that keeps you hooked with the thrill of solving a mystery and not afraid to experiment with new genres. Mari no Naka is the one for you.
With that said, I give Boku wa Mari no Naka 9 chocolate bars out of 10.
