In a world filled with countless manga titles, a significant number of captivating stories remain incomplete, leaving readers yearning for closure. The anticipation of discovering the best plots and relishing in the completion of these narratives has become an enduring challenge, with no end in sight. The manga community finds itself grappling with the uncertainty of when, or even if, these works will ever be revived.
This disheartening reality is not unfamiliar to manga enthusiasts who have often embarked on exciting journeys, only to be left hanging without knowing if the story will ever reach its conclusion. The reasons behind these unfinished tales are varied and diverse, encompassing a range of circumstances that readers must accept and come to terms with.
One prevalent factor contributing to incomplete manga is some authors, despite their undeniable talents, find themselves entangled in the complex web of life’s obligations, rendering them unable to continue their work. The demands of personal responsibilities or overwhelming professional commitments hinder their ability to dedicate the necessary time and energy to their manga projects. Consequently, readers must navigate a landscape of unfulfilled potential, clinging to the hope that these creators will one day return to the stories they started.
However, there exists a distinct case that surpasses ordinary creative struggles. In this particular situation, the manga remains incomplete not because of external factors, but because the creator was too scared by their own creation.
Ptsd Radio Manga
“PTSD Radio” is a horror manga created by Maasaki Nakayama. It began publication on July 7, 2010, and has since published six volumes, which are accessible physically as three omnibus edition copies, each containing two volumes.
According to ComicBookWire, the long-awaited final two volumes are slated for release on January 17, 2023, and May 9, 2023. This particular manga has been shrouded in mystery since its last update in 2018, leaving fans in suspense as to its future. Speculation surrounding the sudden hiatus began circulating due to unsettling reports surrounding the author. It is alleged that while working on the manga PTSD Radio, the creator experienced a series of unnerving incidents and chilling visions, ultimately leading to their decision to halt production.
Curiosity abounds regarding the nature of these spine-chilling occurrences and whether the manga’s content was genuinely so terrifying that it prompted the author to abandon their work. Well, the answer appears to be, yes. The narrative of this manga is so seamlessly crafted that it manages to elude many readers’ awareness of its truly hair-raising nature.
Nakayama’s magnum opus, PTSD Radio, emerged as a bold departure from conventional storytelling. The idea took shape from his fascination with the complexities of trauma and the scars it leaves behind. Inspired by real-life accounts of people grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder, Nakayama sought to delve into the haunting aftermath of trauma, weaving a tale that would resonate deeply with readers on an emotional level. While for the visuals of the manga alone, it is already creepy and uncomfortable to look at as Nakayama uses distorted shapes and radio-like human expressions on them.
The Plot
The story begins by introducing Kazuki, a mysterious main character who carries the weight of his troubled past. While seeking comfort, Kazuki discovers a late-night radio show called PTSD Radio, hosted by the mysterious Eris. As the tales unfold, the line between what is real and what is supernatural becomes increasingly hazy, immersing both Kazuki and the readers in a world where nightmares become real and the darkest corners of the mind come to life. And so, the story continues from there.
Read more: A Manga Created by a Murderer With a Taste for Human Flesh
The Inspiration Behind the Manga
In the creation of this manga, Nakayama drew inspiration from personal experiences that shaped his storytelling. One particular incident stands out:
During the process of writing, Nakayama encountered a challenging situation when he rented a workspace and hired an assistant to expedite the completion of a chapter. Unexpectedly, a dispute arose with his elderly landlord regarding the payment of rent. Witnesses recall the unsettling moment when the landlord’s face contorted with a mixture of anger and an eerie smile. This unsettling encounter became the foundation for one of the chilling characters depicted in Nakayama’s manga.
Despite the mounting eerie incidents, Nakayama remained focused on meeting his deadlines and chose to ignore the unsettling occurrences. However, the disturbing events persisted, not only affecting the author but also the members of his staff. They began to encounter scratching noises emanating from ceilings and attics, detected a pungent odor of raw sewage near the building, experienced sudden power outages, and even reported witnessing mysterious shadows lurking around the premises. Consequently, some staff members opted to resign, unable to cope with the unnerving circumstances.
If these occurrences seem commonplace in the realm of horror experiences and one might assume that authors often endure such situations due to the extensive duration of their work, this particular case defies that assumption. Remember the assistants who reported seeing dark shadows within the workplace? Well, anyone who came into contact with these entities, be they fully formed individuals or mere crows perched at shuttered windows, either resigned or fell ill. Even Nakayama himself was not spared from the strange effects. He suffered an unexplained swelling on one side of his face, resembling a balloon, while his body temperature plummeted. Furthermore, after illustrating a scene depicting someone vomiting blood and demonic beings emerging from it, Nakayama developed Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) as reported by CBR.
The chilling manifestation of these events mirrored the story within the manga itself, as it revolved around the author’s own experiences. Here are a few excerpts from the dialogues of the author:
Black Gelatinous blood blisters formed all over my lips, tongue, and gums wouldn’t stop bleeding. On top of that, my body was covered in hematomas and I started seeing blood in my urine and stool. I knew this was no joke, so I got checked out at the hospital and …
These scary and profoundly unsettling incidents served as the primary inspiration for the creation of PTSD Radio, leaving both the author and the staff shaken to the core. The distressing encounters were so intense that they ultimately drove the entire team to quit their involvement in the manga. Strangely enough, once the decision was made to cease production, all inexplicable horrors and sightings abruptly ceased, and a sense of relief washed over them.
To conclude the manga, Nakayama’s final panel depicted a “ghost” character breaking the fourth wall, sternly warning against further discussion of the story: “We won’t allow you to say anymore.” ─ the exact words in the last panel of the manga.
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