Series
Parasyte is an eight to twelve volume horror and science fiction seinen manga series written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaaki. I say eight to twelve because the series has been published quite a few times since it first ran in 1990-1995. The volume count has been ten and twelve, but its most recent publication by Del Rey was eight volumes. I bought the eight Del Rey volumes. Each publication translates names differently (Tokyo Pop called Reiko Tamara and Migi Lefty.). I use the names from the Del Rey publication on this site.
The series is about an invasion of parasites. Different series synopsis have called it an alien invasion of parasites, but Iwaaki has stated in interviews that the parasites may or may not be aliens. They simply fell from the sky, so one would assume, but I don't want to spread incorrect information as fact. They take over humans by entering their ears or noses and taking over their brains. Once a parasite successfully takes over a human, it receives a signal from its brain to kill and eat the species.
The series' protagonist is a high school boy named Shinichi Izumi. A parasite attempted to take over his body, but he was wearing headphones at the time and the parasite couldn't get to his brain. It burrowed into his right hand instead. Shinichi soon realizes that his right hand is controlled by a parasite, and the two learn to coexist together. Other parasites feel threatened by Shinichi and his parasite (Migi, named after the Japanese word for "right") because Shinichi still has his brain intact, and they try to kill them. In addition to simply fighting to survive, Shinichi and Migi attempt to slowly save the world and humanity by fighting off the parasites.
Parasyte was the first manga series I ever bought, and the first series I ever completed. I finished each volume in one sitting. I just couldn't put them down, and I impatiently waited for the next volume to come out. The plot is so intense, and the characters are absolutely fascinating. Something else I enjoyed is that the series deals with such deep issues like self sacrifice, each species' right to survive, and environmental awareness (Some see parasites as an antidote to the earth and a poison to humans.). I like that the series left me asking questions about life. There is so much in Parasyte to enjoy, and I would recommend it to anyone.