Inside Mari, Volume 6

ぼくは麻理のなか [Boku wa Mari no Naka] #6

by Shuzo Oshimi

As Mari grows closer to Yori and Isao, it becomes apparent that the three may not be together for too much longer. The plan always was to join forces to find the real Mari; not collaborate to rescue Isao Komori from his pathetic life.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Mystery, Drama, Graphic Novels, Seinen, Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2015

About the author

Shuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .

Reviews

[Keiko the manga enthusiast ♒︎]

Okay, this is making my head hurt! You never disappoint, Oshimi!

The real Komori is a friggin jerk. But it made sense though, it would be bizarre that another Mari is talking on the phone when they hold the unconscious theory with him. I just doesn't fit—but still, he's a scumbag.

I need to know who Fumiko is though! And if it might be another clue to the phenomenon that occurred to Komori and Mari! Lol, I was only guessing on the previous volume about DNC. But this one kicked my theory out of the park. I mean, yea, not very Oshimi to use the same pattern twice. BUT I need to see the ending though, like right now!!

[Urbon Adamsson]

Had to read this one digitally as it's currently out of stock everywhere.

It's still a mystery where the real Mari is.

The only lead they had was not what it seemed.

And who is Yori really? The friend of Mari that she never really knew.

Still lots of unanswered questions.

[James DeSantis]

A good volume but feels like we're repeating a few of the same steps.

I did find the reveal beyond fucked up. Took out the suspense a bit but also made me hate the main guy even more? Like he's such a piece of shit. Also, the fact that Mari might be having a mental breakdown? Something terrible happened to her as a kid? Yeah, we're def building into something here, and I have a feeling it's going to be scaring by the end.

[Mizu]

More answers are coming to light, as well as a few lies and it's honestly getting so good, waiting is a game I am most impatient at.

[Sol]

Re: my last review, just kidding! I found the rest of the series on San Francisco Libby (Thank you beautiful city of San Francisco!)

But I really am dropping here because I decided that I just don't care anymore. I kind of hate all of the characters involved and I think the mangaka is a bit skeevy. It's not against the rules to write about things that are nasty and personal, but his author notes give me horrible vibes. This story gives me goosebumps in a bad way.

[Sai Fighter]

Review for the whole series:



I read this series because of a video essay by ceicocat called "The Incel to Trans Pipeline and Inside Mari" which I highly recommend.

I read "Welcome Back, Alice" first, which I am glad I did because it really helped me understand the author's ideas about gender before diving into "Inside Mari." Inside Mari definitely feels like a gender exploration manga, but it isn't as straight forward about it as Oshimi's other manga.

This isn't your typical situational comedy gender swap manga (Ex. Ranma 1/2). This really feels like a more nuanced exploration of what it would really means to swap bodies with a teenage girl and all the stuff that would naturally come with it: complex female relationship dynamics, unwanted advances of men, social pressures of filling the role of a woman, school pressures, menstruation, etc. Not to mention at one point, it starts to feel somewhat like a trans narrative. The main character Isao Komori is struggling to decide if he wants to save Mari, be Mari, or just wants her sexually. It really reminds me of another manga, Until I Become Me by Satou Hatsuki which is another gender swap manga that slowly starts to take on a more trans story line. But Inside Mari feels a lot more abstract. The ending is honestly, ambiguous, and has more of a DID vibe which I didn't really enjoy. I would have rather it stayed more on the trans narrative track, but I also get that Welcome Back, Alice fills that narrative a little better so at least there is that. The "mystery" of where Mari is gets solved but its still pretty confusing.

This is definitely interesting. Not totally sure I would recommend but still pretty good.

[47Time]

Old Isao confesses his love for Isao/Mari, but gets shot down hard. Even Isao/Mari regrets having to do it. Later Isao figures out that old Isao was calling him, claiming to be Mari. When Isao and Yori confront old Isao about the deception, the handjob is mentioned. Boy, you can't keep secrets from these people. Yori is first angered by the news, then brought to tears. Isao tries the ol' kissing consolation, but Yori is too distraught. So much drama.

Isao looks through some of Mari's old photos and stumbles onto one that reminds her of the name Fumiko. Mari's mother refuses to reveal what the name means. Isao tries to contact Yori, but her phone is turned off. Her recent experiences have taken her to the edge. Yori now considers ending it all.

[Kastie Pavlik]

I binge read volumes 2 - 9 so this is a generalized review until finale. The story was weird, and uncomfortable and funny at times. The eros commentary at the end of earlier volumes was probably creepier than any single moment in the books. The first volume described this series as having a "scifi" twist, but every volume after that stays a "dark" twist. There is no sci-fi. That mischaracterization made me form a theory that was way off the mark, but I caught the change early and let my imagination take over. I tried more to enjoy the story rather get than figure it out. Without spoiling anything, I did enjoy the entire series, am glad I opted to collect the effort series, and and satisfied with the conclusion.

[The Wrath of Eleny]

The betrayal! so much drama oh my goodness. Well, I'm glad things took a turn from the creepiness of the last volume. The author seems to be self-aware of how icky it was getting. But I guess all of that stuff really needed to happen so that we could see a character arch for the protagonist. He's disgusted by his past self, he's changed, he understands the value of friendships. He knows how disgusting he used to be and hates himself for it there's only 2 more volumes left after this, honestly it can go any which way

[Nicole]

So...I read volume 7 before reading this one and it was pretty easy to piece together what had happened in this volume. I am curious to see where this is all headed and how all these pieces end up coming together in the end...or if they ever do. My favorite part of this though was Mari and her brother playing videos games...I'm glad I went back and read this volume even if it was just for that scene.

[Bonnie_Rae]

Why is the one volume that is out of stock everywhere?!

Anyway - the characters are real scumbags this volume: fake phone calls, trying to keep the main character is this defined box, daring one to commit suicide, the MOTHER hiding some awful secret... the one saving grace was Mari and her little brother playing video games. Still, great volume. This seems to set up massive shifts for all of the characters, so we are nearing what I think is the final, highest climax.

[Brianna Jo♡]

Yori-san is acting weird, Komori is confused by Mari's actions from the last volume and is desperately trying to confess his love and Mari discovers a mysterious figure from her past while searching through old childhood photographs. Who is the elusive Fumiko and what does it all mean??? I'm curious to find out who Fumiko is...based on Mari's mother's reaction, perhaps a dead twin??

[Thomas Hale]

This just gets messier and messier, and everyone is worse off for it. Some particularly nasty conversations and confrontations here, as deeply flawed and sad characters deal with each other's bad decisions. The central mystery has taken a back seat to the character drama, and it's made me a little less invested.

[Fabiana Valentino]

Sigo pensando que Mari es Mari. Komori es una persona desagradable, pero lo entiendo, ya que ha estado recluido de la sociedad por mucho tiempo. Igual decepciona. Me encanta la relación vertiginosa entre las protagonistas.

[Sanne Blomme]

Lies and someone almost dies...

[Jillian -always aspiring-]

2020 Read #553

Oshimi’s art is very visceral, so much so that he doesn’t even need words for his stories in most cases.

[Joss]

El arte y la historia son maravillosas. Me encanta la relación entre Yaori y Mari.

[AB]

3.5

[Valerie S]

Full review is gonna be on the volume 9 log lol

[KarleeXx0]

Super invested..all the drama got me hooked!

[Avery]

4.5

the plot and character development is all actually really thoughtful

[Ivye]

This volume is just...sad.

[ellie]

3.5/5.

[Nix012]

Becoming more unhinged.

[Shizeh]

Très cool

[sarah ingram]

once again the afterword eats and provides cool insight :D

[Rhys]

I hate Isao. I feel like you are supposed to hate him but he is such a loser I hate him so much. Yori sucks too and Mari is starting to get annoying but overall I like the book. 7/10

[Craig Schorling]

This volume has a big realization and then hints at some other ones. The depression and darkness are starting to pile up and it is feeling like we are in for a train wreck of a conclusion.