Anyone who reads Tokyo Ghoul and then immediately jumps into Sui Ishida's latest series Choujin X may experience a little whiplash, especially if they were expecting Choujin X to follow its predecessor's footsteps. Choujin X subverts everyone's expectations: it's bizarre, it's wacky, it's unbelievably weird.
It's also hard to predict where the story is going to go, as every new chapter seems to pull readers in different directions. Why might this be, and what might we expect from Choujin X going forward?
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When the first chapter of Choujin X was released, similarities were quickly drawn between Tokyo Ghoul and Choujin X. Both have dark premises, with Tokyo Ghoul ending the first chapter with Kaneki calling his story a tragedy and Tokio, presumably, calling Choujins "something of an affliction." The two protagonists have similar origin stories: both are meek and inconspicuous individuals who just so happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, that's pretty much where the similarities end.
The second chapter could not have been any more different from the first. It was ridiculous and bizarre, and could easily have been a chapter straight out of a different story. Tense and dramatic scenes are juxtaposed against absurdly comedic ones. Ishida's detailed and unique art and shadowing style, making his story look like it came straight out of a superhero movie, is often accompanied by far more simplistic and cartoonish artwork. It's difficult for readers to discern how they're supposed to feel or respond because the tone seems to shift with almost every panel.
Characters like Ely add to the eccentricity of the title. She's a bit of a country bumpkin with an unconventional way of seeing the world. Meanwhile, Tokio's rather clumsy and sincere demeanor is balanced by Azuma's more fierce and impulsive spirit. Chapters with Azuma are often darker and more serious in tone, but since disappearing from the recent chapters, the level of comedy has ratcheted up.
Since completing Tokyo Ghoul, Ishida has spoken about the stress he endured while working on the series. His physical and emotional health took a heavy toll as he tried to keep up with his strenuous deadlines and get closer to Kaneki. Considering the psychological trauma that Kaneki has suffered, it's no wonder that Ishida felt liberated by the series' conclusion. Kaneki and Ishida were both finally freed.
It's perhaps because of the lingering shadow of Tokyo Ghoul still hanging above Ishida that Choujin X is so different. After what he went through working on the series, Ishida may be purposefully trying to steer clear of going down the Tokyo Ghoul route. Choujin X acts as his creative outlet to have the freedom to do whatever he wants, and because Choujin X's irregular publishing schedule allows Ishida to write at his own pace, he can really experiment, allowing him to grow as an artist without feeling restricted to any one specific style.
Another alternate speculation is that, because of the parallels drawn between Choujin X and Tokyo Ghoul such as the main trio in both series, the former could be some kind of parallel or alternate universe of Tokyo Ghoul; a 'what-if' scenario. For example, Choujin X could be viewed as a first draft of Tokyo Ghoul that never got to see the light of day until now, so Ishida is just going ham.
We're still early in the series and Tokio is only in the beginning stages of learning how to use his powers, which may be a contributing factor to the series' light-hearted mood. When Tokio faces more foes and reunites with Azuma in the future, that tone may change again. Despite Choujin X's oddity, it's undeniably entertaining. Choujin X doesn't fit into the same mold as Tokyo Ghoul, and it's clear that Ishida is having fun with the series. Who knows what Ishida will do in the next chapter? Only one thing's for sure: it will definitely be a strange but enjoyable surprise.
