Shiver: Junji Ito Selected Stories

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Shiver: Junji Ito Selected Stories

A collection of Junji Ito‘s horror comics.

This is a great collection of Junji Ito manga. You get a wide selection that even include some of his most iconic works, like Fashion Model and The Long Dream. I love that Ito did a bonus follow with Fashion Model: Cursed Frame. Some of the other stories aren’t that scary but Greased is the stuff of absolute disgusting nightmares. Actually, if you have trypophobia you should really just avoid this book like the plague. Otherwise I’d fully recommend this to fans of Junji Ito who want to read more of his shorter one-shots.

Available from VIZ.

~dakazu

Fort of Apocalypse

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Fort of Apocalypse

A horror manga about a group of delinquents in a juvenile correction facility who have to survive a zombie apocalypse.

A decent horror series. There’s some tense storytelling and interesting characters from Yuu Kuraishi and really grotesque monster designs from Kazu Inabe. The same creative duo went on do make Starving Anonymous and Denjin N, both of which are decent horror manga.

Fort of Apocalypse is a little similar to I am a Hero in the sense that it starts with regular zombies and then they evolve into more monstrous designs. I think Inabe deserves a lot of praise for his “creepy monster pasta” drawing skills. I recommend this if you’re looking for some good horror art.

Available from Kodansha Comics.

~dakazu

Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist

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Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist

A manga about a veteran novelist who plagiaries the work of a woman. When she commits suicide he is visited by a woman claiming to be her twin sister. What does this woman want and is she who she claims to be?

We’ve discussed this in a recent episode.

This book is more of a psychological thriller than a violent horror manga. Asumiko Nakamura draws equally elegant and erotic art. While the story itself might suffer from some confusion Nakamura’s artwork alone makes this series worth reading.

Available in English from Vertical.

~dakazu

Remina

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Remina

A horror manga about a mysterious planet that gets named Remina after the daughter of the astrologist who discovers it. When the planet reveals itself as a planet eating monstrosity headed towards Earth, people’s fears turn them into a vicious mob blaming Remina and her father.

This is an absolute banger from Junji Ito. It might be one of his few science fiction themed horror series but it’s fantastic. There’s some real cosmic horror stuff happening with the design of the hell planet Remina, terrifying mobs revealing the ugliest of humanity, and strangely comedic world ending situations as Remina escapes hundreds of pursuers pushed by winds and low gravity. The only scenes that bothered me a bit were some extended torture scenes of Remina being restrained and whipped. Still, I personally think Remina is fantastic and might be my go to recommendation for Ito’s work, only second to Uzumaki! It will be available soon in English from VIZ!

~dakazu

Homunculus

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Homunculus

A manga about a man who undergoes trepanation, a surgical procedure of drilling a hole in the skull, and becomes fascinated with the strange visions he begins to see.

Homunculus is a really interesting manga. It really explores this real life hypothesis researchers have about trepanation expanding your sixth sense. After the skeptical main character undergoes trepanation for money, he begins seeing people as strange forms or homunculus that reflect their inner selves. As the story enfolds the man investigates other homunculi while his mysterious background is slowly unraveled.

Homunculus is also a series that’s filled with some problematic content. There’s a story arc that covers some intense sexual assault and there’s a pretty outdated portrayal of a transgender person. Creator Hideo Yamamoto is known for his violent works like Ichi the Killer so I expected this book to be similar but since this series started in 2003 it more or less reflects the time period. I will praise Yamato for his fantastical designs for the various unique homunculi that are tied to character’s backstories.

It was recently announced that they’re adapting this into a live-action movie in 2021. I’m hoping buzz around the film will help Homunculus get an official English release!

~dakazu

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service

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The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service

A manga about five college graduates who form a company that deals in solving the problems of the dead.

We’ve discussed this on a recent episode.

I know Morgana loves this series but I finally got a chance to read it and I can see why. I love the cast of characters who each have a unique ability that writer Eiji Otsuka created. Each member of the group in versed in a different skill that helps them track down and solve problems of their dead clientele. I also enjoyed Housui Yamazaki fun horror art when the corpses rise to seek revenge. While the series starts as episodic mysteries that jumps from case to case, the 2nd volume is one long story arc that heavily involves the backstory of one of the core members. I really enjoyed that longer story in the 2nd volume so I hope the other volumes will also be longer deeper stories. I look forward to reading more!

Available from Dark Horse Comics.

~dakazu

316 – Manga in Motion 44 – Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

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316 – Manga in Motion 44 – Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

Our October Extravaganza continues this week as we review the 2000 animated feature, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust! The hosts talk about watching the movie together, Morgana geeks out about vampires, dakazu is shocked at how many parts John DiMaggio played, and we start a Darfox fire alarm beep counter! Also, dakazu talks about the end of BEASTARS!!!

Continue reading →

PTSD Radio

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PTSD Radio

A collection of short creepy stories.

Masaaki Nakayama is very similar to Junji Ito with his ability to draw creepy horror. But Nakayama focuses on even shorter stories than a normal manga chapter. Each story usually presents a setting and victim, and then they see something horrible and it ends. It’s a different kind of scare that honestly didn’t effect me as much. While I appreciated Nakayama’s ability to draw really creepy images it never personally unnerved me. I may be numb to his brand of scares but in that sense this book might be good for someone looking for a milder horror series.

Available from Kodansha Comics.

~dakazu

Ultra Gash Inferno

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Ultra Gash Inferno

A collection of Suehiro Maruo‘s erotic grotesque comics.

We’ve discussed this on an older episode.

While I am very vocal about a lot of the awful manga I read, I rarely have to give a content warning for just the sheer amount of graphic violence that’s drawn in this book. Ultra Gash Inferno is not even a Japanese release either. Creation Books collected Suehiro Maruo‘s most extreme comics for a Western release. This is not for the faint of heart and only for fans of Maruo looking for his most ero-guro works.

~dakazu

Dissolving Classroom

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Dissolving Classroom

A collection of horror stories revolving around a young man named Yuuma Azawa and his sister Chizumi.

This is an enjoyable newer Junji Ito work. The majority of the stories involve Yuuma and Chizumi causing people around them to dissolve. There’s a great dynamic between the creepy Chizumi who wants to suck brains and her quiet apologetic brother Yuuma. Both siblings blame each other for the horrors that befall people around them but it can also be interpreted that neither of them is innocent.

Ito delivers a lot of visuals of humans dissolving as viscous fluids flow out of eyes, noses and mouths. If you’re sensitive to those kinds of visuals I would suggest skipping this book. Otherwise this is another entertaining horror manga from Junji Ito that I would recommend.

Available from Vertical Comics.

~dakazu