Toxic Daughter subverted my expectations. From the creepy cover, I was ready for pages of spooks, gore, and blood. And while there is some blood, the story itself gets unexpectedly dark. Though Chi-chan is a strange girl with violent tendencies, you start to feel sorry for her as the story unfolds. We get hints of her upbringing and a life full of bullying. It's a story that makes you question how people are vilified based on their appearance and unconventional lifestyles. While I liked it, it left me unsatisfied. Character motivations were not very clear. Why do two classmates take it upon themselves to help Chi-chan? Why is Chi-chan obsessed with scissors? What makes her act this way? If this were a series, I would keep reading just to learn more about this bizarre character.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR R-PE AND SA BASICALLY ON PAGE. (No actual depictions of genitalia or nudity but it's very clear what is happening and that it is non-consensual).

This was an interesting manga. I'm curious as to what exactly is going on with Chi and why she is like that.

I'm not sold on her title as toxic daughter, to me she didn't seem toxic. I wonder if her parents are that way because of her or the other way around, I'd be curious to find out in another issue (This is currently a one-shot)

Kodai got what he deserved. Chi could clearly see it way before everyone else. Kodai's family are toxic too. I'm with Chi on this. I'd definitely check out more issues of toxic daughter because I want more back story and I liked the art work. I think I'd prefer to read this in full manga format, I don't think it translated well to PDF. It may be fine fully converted to ePub but I would suggest picking this up in paperback, manga style where it's read right to left.

Toxic Daughter is a billed as a Shonen manga but I really don't think it's for a young male audience. I feel like it's either Seinen because of the violence throughout and the depiction of SA and r-pe, or Josei because the hero in this story is a girl and Josei can be gritty and contain such themes now.

3.25 stars

Wow, thanks for the chance to read this, it’s my first manga by Shuzo Oshimi and I’m excited to explore more now! Even though this was very short, I was very invested and the storyline was really intense. It made me feel horrified and moved at the same time.

For my liking this was way too short. I would have loved to see more of Chi-chans home life, but maybe there is more of that in the movie itself. I liked the art and the idea.
Prequels often explain a bit of the characters background but there is nothing like this here and overall this felt like something that just wants to shock the reader with no depths to the story.

notreally to my taste, but surely someone will like it.

thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc!

I picked up this book because the cover and title gave me that 2000's era horror vibe, and it did not disappoint.

Manga has always had a talent for picking up that magical sense of the transition between childhood and adolescence, and Oshimi proved a master of the craft in this book. Chi-chan reflects the sense of the childhood friend you gradually move away from, the one who isn't quite right. Kodai reflects the kid who seems to have it all together, who knows exactly what he is supposed to do it, and magically does it at the right time. Yua as our protagonist, represents the reader, torn between two friends.

While it's easy to see Chi-chan as the misunderstood villain in this piece, Toxic Daughter Chi-chan is a great story showing the coming of age of children still capable of blatant cruelty compared to the smiling masks we adopt as we "grow up."

Toxic Daughter is one of those stories that’s as unsettling as it is captivating. From the very beginning, Chi’s character stands out as a bizarre, almost spectral presence. Her odd fascination with bugs, combined with her strange haircut and despondent eyes, immediately sets her apart from the other kids. The panels that show her lurking just outside the social circles—both literally and figuratively—are haunting, giving off that sense of otherness that makes her feel like an outsider in a world she doesn’t quite fit into.

Then comes Kodai, whose true motivations for wanting Chi back in school are unclear and, honestly, pretty unsettling. His overly pushy and smiley demeanor toward Yua gives off some serious spidey senses, and his actions towards Chi feel off, though it's hard to pin down exactly why. This creates a tense atmosphere where you’re constantly questioning what everyone’s true intentions are.

There are actions taken by the children that are deeply disturbing, and it’s hard to shake the lingering discomfort they leave behind. Toxic Daughter is a prequel, and while that adds an element of mystery to the story, it also left me wanting more. Specifically, I wanted to understand Chi more—why she is the way she is, what makes her tick, and what’s behind that eerie, quiet demeanor. The lack of clear answers in this volume only deepens the intrigue, but I hope we get more in the next installment.

Ultimately, this is a dark, thought-provoking story that keeps you on edge. If you're drawn to psychological tension and unsettling characters, Toxic Daughter will definitely leave its mark.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga

This was different and had an unsettling vibe to it, I didn't much enjoy it myself but I am interested in seeing the film based off of this book

Yua and Kodai team up to reach Chi, a disturbed girl with an obsession for dead bugs, to convince her to come back to school. Yua and Kodai’s relationship takes a dark turn resulting in a violent ending to the story.
The artwork complements the story, with detailed illustrations that capture the emotional intensity of the plot.

Readers be aware of mature themes!

3.5 rounded up. A horrifying and disturbing manga - trigger warnings for SA, bullying, and animal abuse. I've read Blood on the Tracks by Oshimi, and if you enjoyed that series this manga has the same beautifully creepy art style, particularly the chilling facial expressions and focus on the eyes. The story is quite fast paced, and a lot is unexplained and left to the reader to interpret. Even though I haven't watched the movie Doku Musume (Poison Girl), which this is a prequel to, I didn't feel that this hindered my enjoyment or understanding. Definitely give this one a read if you like creepy horror, but do be aware of the triggers.

I have to say I am obsessed with this horror manga and while I hate spoilers I am so glad that Kodai got what he deserved thanks to Chi. I am not sure if I would call her toxic for that act alone but I digress. This was such a good and creepy manga and worked so well at tying into the movie so well and the perfect prelude to it.

The art style suits the story so well and I loved the pacing of this one as well. You can definitely see Oshimi’s style coming through as well. This is perfect for fans of their work but horror fans in general as well.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

How does someone approach a family that hoards and with a daughter who spends her days collecting bugs and not go to school. Chi-chan is that daughter and when Hayakawa and her friend Kodia go spend an afternoon at Chi's home, hoping to get her back to school, things go horribly wrong.

I do love the cover of this volume, but the story just didn't connect with me. I didn't get much connection from the characters, right from the beginning the boy that the main character has a crush on was so obviously "helping" just to look good and it really bothered me. Perhaps had it seemed more real I would have gotten it.

Just like any other Shuzo Oshimi manga, this one is weird, creepy and disturbing, so if that is your vibe, I highly recommend you give this a go. The artstyle, as always, is stunning and adds on to the disturbing ambience of the whole story. Never disappoints.

It was my first work of this mangaka and I didn't know what to expect. I have to say, I enjoyed it, despite all the dark aspects it moved. The scene where Chi looks through the classroom door actually creeped me out. I honestly don't know why the teacher let Chi into the classroom, among other students, with her clothes being... torn and full of bugs. Koudai felt suspicious to me from the begining, I couldn't understand why he was trying to get Chi to come back to school (was it really only for a reward...?). There were more pictures than dialouges, but the artwork was really well done. The SA moment at the end caught me off guard, so beware of that, because there are no trigger warnings. But this is horror after all, yet the way it was drawn, so soft and fragile... With such a good storytelling, I will definitely grab other pieces of this mangaka's works.

Thank you to the publishers, authors, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a review.

Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is a manga prequel to Doku Musume (Toxic Daughter/Poison Girl), the 2024 Japanese horror film that brings Chi-chan to life. Telling the tale of Chi-chan and the events before her disappearance.

Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan is my first manga by Shuzo Oshimi, and while the art style is gorgeous, it might be my last. While seeming like a horror manga, it still gives an air of unsettling and creepy feelings throughout.

I was not prepared going into Toxic Daughter, and was not expecting everything. Truly packing a punch, with storylines about adolescence, bullying, and more. It felt rushed, and while it is a prequel, I was just confused throughout. It starts with a horror-esque story, but, to me, fails in the end.

Kodai never sat well with me, and the way he persuaded Yua to make nice with Chi just rubbed me the wrong way.

There was so many different storylines to follow, and there was no answers. Why is she obsessed with bugs? What happened with her parents and family? I understand this is a prequel, but I have no interest in continuing.

There should be trigger warnings going into this, but there was none. Please read the reviews and proceed with caution going into the manga.

Overall, I would recommend for Japanese horror manga fans and fans of Doku Musume.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing this eARC!

I knew right away when I saw that Shuzo Oshimi was the author I would enjoy the story and the art would be fantastic. While I was right on both accounts, the story itself was very fast, and I wonder if - since it is a prologue - it is necessary to watch the movie that this manga is tied to in order to fully understand and appreciate the story.

Shuzo Oshimi is my favorite mangaka, and I have therefore been looking forward to this release. I liked this, but it was not my favorite from Oshimi.

Here is my full review in norwegian:
𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 er en one-shot manga, og en prequel til den japanske skrekkfilmen 𝘋𝘰𝘬𝘶 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦. I 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 får vi høre om karakteren Chi-chans skrekkelige origin story, fantastisk illustrert (som alltid) av min favoritt-mangaka, Shuzo Oshimi. Denne utforsker utenforskap og annerledeshet, i typisk Oshimi stil, med en klassisk japansk skrekkfilm-feeling!

Jeg har ikke sett filmen mangaen er tilknyttet, men Shuzo Oshimi er min absolutt favoritt mangaskaper, og jeg vil lese alt med hans navn på, i hvert fall om det er snakk om en skrekkhistorie! Og jeg har derfor sett veldig frem til denne utgivelsen. Så når jeg så at denne var tilgjengelig på NetGalley, var det ingen tvil om at denne skulle leses!

Og jeg får veldig lyst til å se filmen nå etter å ha lest denne mangaen! Karakteren Chi-chan er godt skrevet, og både skummel og skremmende, men også tragisk og trist. Oshimi har skrevet en enkel, men god, bakgrunnshistorie til Chi-chan. Derimot blir handlingen i seg selv litt enkel.

Men jeg vil på mitt sterkeste anbefale de av dere som ikke har lest noe fra Oshimi tidligere, å gjøre det! 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 er nok ikke riktig manga å starte med, men Oshimi har heldigvis flere utgitte serier på engelsk!

𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 får av meg TERNINGKAST 4!

Shuzo Oshimi (known for Blood on the Tracks) and director Eisuke Naito deliver a chilling one-shot manga that combines psychological horror with emotional depth. The story’s atmosphere is thick with tension, and Oshimi’s art perfectly captures the unease that builds throughout.

What stands out is Oshimi’s ability to explore the complexities of trauma, guilt, and the darkness within, all while maintaining a slow-burn suspense. The tension between the characters, combined with eerie visuals, makes Toxic Daughter a gripping read that lingers long after you’ve finished.

In principle, I like the concept of mixing two types of media, in this case manga and film, to tell a story, but if we take this volume on its own, we're left wanting more.
We find Shuuzo Oshimi's style and themes, with psychology and a very human and realistic horror for many women.
Graphically, it's very good, thank you Oshimi, even if I find it a little lighter than what he's used to.
I didn't have a good feeling about the boy from the start (always beware of goodguys).
Unfortunately, we don't get any answers about why the crosses are there, or about these adults who look half-amorphic half-scared of Chi in her home.
It's good publicity for the film Poison Girl (Doku Musume), but as a book in its own right, I wasn't totally convinced.