wends_nblw's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
As I continue to read more and more of Ito's work, I've come to the conclusion that I just don't get the hype. Don't get me wrong, Ito's art style is gorgeous. The attention to detail, the wonderful shading, the lifelike expressions. It's beautiful, but I need more than just art. I think I'd do better with a full-length manga rather than a collection of stories by Ito.
Now, this one was gross. Not in a bad way either. The oil chapter had my stomach turning and bile tingling up throat; I Hate grease with a passion. It did what was intended. I still feel ill as of writing this review. And I rather liked the hanging story and the puppet one too.
Perhaps I need to find a way to make a collection of my own, filled with the short stories of Ito's I actually adore.
Now, this one was gross. Not in a bad way either. The oil chapter had my stomach turning and bile tingling up throat; I Hate grease with a passion. It did what was intended. I still feel ill as of writing this review. And I rather liked the hanging story and the puppet one too.
Perhaps I need to find a way to make a collection of my own, filled with the short stories of Ito's I actually adore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicide, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Child death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Medical trauma
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism
vickyt1998's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
fantasmariana's review against another edition
5.0
Estas historias me provocaron repulsión, sorpresa e incomodidad, por eso le doy 5 estrellas por todas las cosas que me hizo sentir.
Definitivamente me estaba perdiendo de algo muy original y extraño, ¡qué ganas de leer más cosas escritas por Junji Ito!
Definitivamente me estaba perdiendo de algo muy original y extraño, ¡qué ganas de leer más cosas escritas por Junji Ito!
dana_naylor's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Creepy.
I found “Fashion Model” funny. It’s the first time I’ve understood how horror can be funny.
“Hanging Blimp” makes a good ghost story in retelling it.
Some of the drawings in the stories get especially creepy. I’m looking at you, “Shiver” and all those creepy holes!
I especially liked the commentary after each story and the sketchbook pictures.
I also enjoyed “The Marionette Mansion” and “The Long Dream”.
I found “Fashion Model” funny. It’s the first time I’ve understood how horror can be funny.
“Hanging Blimp” makes a good ghost story in retelling it.
Some of the drawings in the stories get especially creepy. I’m looking at you, “Shiver” and all those creepy holes!
I especially liked the commentary after each story and the sketchbook pictures.
I also enjoyed “The Marionette Mansion” and “The Long Dream”.
erinaries's review against another edition
4.0
so good. genuinely the nastiest thing i've ever read.
saramarie08's review against another edition
4.0
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
A collection of short stories by the famed horror mangaka, which include: a creepy recording of a singer from beyond the grave; a curse that causes many small holes to open up on the skin; an alien-looking model cast in an independent film to the detriment of cast and crew; giant replicas of people's faces chase them and try to hang them; a mansion with a family strung up like marionettes; a man with a nighttime dream that gets progressively longer; a girl who experienced trauma that left her mind shattered is coaxed into marrying and procreating to continue a family line; a residence above a barbecue restaurant drips with oil, and the proprietor may be using that to season his family members; and a bonus revisiting to the alien model storyline with a girl who is afraid cropped photos of her will result in her limbs being severed.
As story collections go, this focuses more on the horror aspect with the people turning into horrific monsters, rather than the psychological horror that was in many of the stories of Venus in the Blind Spot. One of the hallmarks of an Ito scary story is to have the shocking reveal within the last few pages, leaving little room for any sort of closure or resolution. Some readers are fine with this, but it can leave some of the stories with really unsettling (not in the intended way) consequences. In "Honored Ancestors", as in the short story of "Venus in the Blind Spot", there is some uncomfortable implied rape in the reveal that isn't dealt with before the ending. Unfortunately, many of these themes of bodily harm are a major hallmark of the Horror genre, so any Ito collection should be carefully considered to make sure it is good for your collection and your students.
Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12
A collection of short stories by the famed horror mangaka, which include: a creepy recording of a singer from beyond the grave; a curse that causes many small holes to open up on the skin; an alien-looking model cast in an independent film to the detriment of cast and crew; giant replicas of people's faces chase them and try to hang them; a mansion with a family strung up like marionettes; a man with a nighttime dream that gets progressively longer; a girl who experienced trauma that left her mind shattered is coaxed into marrying and procreating to continue a family line; a residence above a barbecue restaurant drips with oil, and the proprietor may be using that to season his family members; and a bonus revisiting to the alien model storyline with a girl who is afraid cropped photos of her will result in her limbs being severed.
As story collections go, this focuses more on the horror aspect with the people turning into horrific monsters, rather than the psychological horror that was in many of the stories of Venus in the Blind Spot. One of the hallmarks of an Ito scary story is to have the shocking reveal within the last few pages, leaving little room for any sort of closure or resolution. Some readers are fine with this, but it can leave some of the stories with really unsettling (not in the intended way) consequences. In "Honored Ancestors", as in the short story of "Venus in the Blind Spot", there is some uncomfortable implied rape in the reveal that isn't dealt with before the ending. Unfortunately, many of these themes of bodily harm are a major hallmark of the Horror genre, so any Ito collection should be carefully considered to make sure it is good for your collection and your students.
Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12
mdettmann's review against another edition
4.0
Another stellar and sinister story collection with added author commentary that was just delightful!