Senno Knife - Mantis Woman Manga

Mantis Woman is a darkly surreal shōjo horror anthology by Senno Knife — published in English by I.C. Entertainment (Studio Ironcat) in 2003 and serving as a rare, highly sought-after single-volume artifact of late-90s Japanese urban legend horror.

The collection gathers six unsettling, standalone tales that transform everyday items and mundane high school life into sources of grotesque, inescapable dread. Readers are pulled into a nightmarish landscape of decapitation, cursed artifacts, possessed dolls, and vengeful spirits lurking just beneath the surface of normal society. In the titular story, a quiet student investigates a string of horrific beheadings at her school, only to discover a terrifying figure lurking behind a new teacher's doll-like facade. From a cursed koala plushie that demands love with extreme violence to a sinister wish-granting gumball machine from hell, each vignette operates like a feverish, unpredictable nightmare. Senno Knife builds tension by taking innocent, familiar scenarios and twisting them until they erupt into stomach-churning horror.

Where many classic horror titles lean into pure slasher tropes or western-style gore, Mantis Woman relies on a unique blend of shōjo aesthetic elegance and psychological uncanny dread. The single-volume anthology operates like a collection of modern dark folklore tracking the bizarre, disproportionate prices paid by ordinary people. Senno Knife's artwork stands out for its distinct, doll-like character designs paired with heavy atmospheric shading and shocking, surreal body horror. Characters are rendered with wide, delicate eyes and fashionable late-90s sensibilities, making every sudden shift into grotesque imagery feel like a jarring, cutting piece of art that sneaks up on the reader's psyche.

The standalone volume serves as a vital artifact for collectors of rare, out-of-print 2000s manga releases and obscure Japanese horror. It highlights why Senno Knife remains a cult favorite among underground horror enthusiasts, proving that the most lingering discomfort often lives at the intersection of delicate shōjo beauty and violent urban dread.

Other Notable Works Senno Knife: Bizzarian (Erotic horror anthology), Eden (Cult vintage horror single-volume)
Comparable Peers: Junji Ito (Master of body horror and urban folklore), Hideshi Hino (Pioneer of surreal, grotesque manga terror)

Series Details
Japanese Name: カマキリ女 (Kamakiri Onna)
English Title: Mantis Woman
Story & Art: Senno Knife
Original Publisher: Bunkasha (Monthly Horror M)
English Publisher: I.C. Entertainment / Studio Ironcat
Release Years: 2003 (English Edition)
Volumes: 1 (Complete)
Age Rating: Older Teen (16+) / Mature (18+)
Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Urban Legend, Shōjo

Comics & manga are assumed VG+ or better unless otherwise noted. No broken spines, no writing, no stickers, and may have light shelf wear. Mid-2000s or earlier manga may have slight yellowing due to the age of the paper. All manga and comics are assumed to be pre-owned.