Zassou Kazoku

[MangaDex]

 

[Cynix9]

This is one of the two works that got cancelled due to Shoji Hiroyuki's death, and the better of the two, in my opinion. It ends at the second-to-last chapter,which is especially shameful because chapter 7 ends with an absolutely insane plot twist that raises so many questions we'll never know the answer to.

Something I really, really like is that the first chapter is just the family inferring and processing the rape, and arguing about what to do next. I think it was a very effective choice to not show the rape (especially if you know this author, frankly he did not have the tact for it) and instead focus on the impact it had on the family. if you've ever had a friend or family member get sexually assaulted, it captures that feeling very well, and the discussion resembles the conversations you have in that situation. Both sides of the discussion (reporting or not reporting) are portrayed rationally, empathetically and in an engaging way. It's such a novel way to tell a rape-revenge story that I'm surprised I've never seen it before or since. The only problem I have is that the son's internal monologue is so self-centered that it unintentionally comes across like he's trying to make his sister's rape about him.