Alt Darling got a chance to chat with Iconic Black horror mangaka Gigi Murakami at Dream Con!

Gigi Murakami

Gigi Murakami is an award-winning manga artist, illustrator and creator,known as “Queen of Horror Manga”. Her work blends Japanese manga art, vintage grind house poster art, and pulp comic aesthetics, while thematically focusing on the dark, dramatic, fantastical, and often introspective. Gigi has a handful of both traditionally published and self-published works, but is most recognized for her supernatural horror manga, RESENTER, which had a one-shot published with Viz Manga.

Resenter

Resenter is a one-shot horror manga that follows Jackie, a Ripper that helps those who have been murdered seek vengeance and starts questioning her actions. An interesting take on grim reaper tales. A longer, self-published chapter is avaiable for purchase directly on Gigi’s website. You can read Resenter here on VIZ or on Gigi’s website.

The Interview

Unfortunately, Our audio for this interview was lost. We have recapped what we could. We asked about the serialization of Resenters which ultimately did not go through with VIZ Media. When asked about why the Rippers motivation differs from that of the traditional grim reaper, she responded that everyone has the urge to finish something and that the urge to help is natural. In the Japanese circuit, she has not experienced any forms of prejudice. As long as you work hard and are focused, you’re generally okay.  However, in the American communities, she feels that there is more of an issue with gender as opposed to race. Her message for the younger alt generations, “Fuck em! Just live your life loudly and proudly!”