kstericker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Body horror
Minor: Terminal illness and Sexual assault
sandramarinis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body horror, Death, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Violence, Chronic illness, Gore, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Minor: Confinement and Adult/minor relationship
xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Gore, Blood, and Death
Minor: Infidelity
doomluz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Murder, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Terminal illness
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The final story, ‘Slumber’, legitimately freaked me out. With this one, I got it: the dread of turning the page, the unsettling discomfort looking at the images, the dismayed horror and lurch in my stomach at the final panel. I’m writing this review at 12:30am and can already tell sleep is going to be a struggle. This final story alone warrants a full 5 stars, but the other 3 are so lacklustre that I can’t really bring myself to rate the whole book higher than a 3.25.
I really should stop reading Junji Ito’s standalone stories before bed. I’m usually totally ok with them for the most part but every now and then one will really, really haunt me. ‘Slumber’ is definitely one of them.
Absolutely love it though.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Grief
Minor: Suicide and Terminal illness
evelphysicist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Suicide attempt, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Infidelity
poppythealligator's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Terminal illness
so_many_ocs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Body horror, and Gore
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
the last one was my fave, slumber. this collection features 4 works that Ito made during the first year of C19 lockdown in 2020. the afterward about his experience writing them and having a bit more freedom with length due to their originally being released though the Line Manga App was neat! I learned a new thing about serialized manga, always fun. not my all-time fave, but still a good addition to his collection of work.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Suicide and Terminal illness
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
'Weeping Woman Way' features a couple who come across a town that seems to still utilize the old, mostly forgotten tradition of "weeping women" (professional mourners) at funerals, but after coming in contact with one of the weeping women, Mako finds herself inconsolably sad. The depictions of the weeping women were so chilling and fascinating, and I really loved the idea of this corpse that continues to weep long past her death.
'Madonna' is a religious horror story featuring some incredibly messed up zealots who believe they are on a personal mission to find the reincarnation of the virgin Mary, and I loved the way the ending played out and the twists in this one. Junji Ito has toyed with religious themes in some of his previous works, but this was definitely my favorite example of that theme in his writing so far.
'The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara' follows a couple's trip to Aokigahara's infamous "Suicide Forest" after one member of the couple has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Once arriving in the forest, the two find an unexplainable source of spiritual activity that draws Norio in and begins to create bizarre changes in him. This felt like the most classically familiar style of story from the collection, as it deals with some really bizarre elements and artwork later in the story that were highly unnerving!
'Slumber' is about a young man who has memories of murder every morning when he wakes, but otherwise has no recollection of planning the murders, nor does he have a motive. This was my least favorite in the collection, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it — I only wish there had been a little more explanation regarding the twist, but I've long since learned that sometimes, with Junji's work, you just have to go with the flow!
I highly recommend The Liminal Zone to any horror manga lovers, whether you're brand new to Junji Ito books or have read all of his previous works. Again, I'd say this was my favorite of his books yet, and it made me extremely excited to see what he writes next!
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide