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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
One of Ito's best collections!!!! I think I may have read ALL of them at this point, I'm not sure. Hopefully not cuz I don't want them to run out. I love Junji Ito, but a lot of his collections have kind of hit-or-miss stories. The good ones make up for the eh ones, but I thought every story in this collection was GREAT and reeeaaaallllyyy creepy. I'd like to own this one!
I loved this collection so much. Each story was more terrifying than the one before, I honestly didn't want it to end.
I guess now I have to buy all of his collection.
I guess now I have to buy all of his collection.
A collection of manga horror stories that are very well done. I really do enjoy Junji Ito's work.
First, I want to say that mangaka Ito never fails to impress me. He’s nothing less than a gift to horror manga fans. And like a large amount of his other works, Tombs is great— probably one of my favorite anthologies by Junji so far.
And as always, Ito’s art is so fire. Grotesquely beautiful. Every panel is full of his trademark artistry that draws you in. While I was reading through the stories, I took a lot of my time admiring those artistic abilities. Even if you don’t like a particular story, the graphics will always pull you in, guaranteed.
In Tombs, some stories work better than others, but you do get a wide variety. Ito’s creative storytelling abilities really shine with this collection. And while some of the stories are eerie and spooky, others read more like a drama— and I liked that, too. The best short story in the anthology is Tombs, and it would be sooooo good as a stand-alone manga. The concept is original, weird, and taboo. It’s the stories like this one that put Ito on a horror pedestal for me. And like so much of Japanese horror writing, it’s steeped in folklore and important themes.
I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5 is because a few of the stories were so abrupt and short, that they felt unnecessary or thrown together. The collection also isn’t completely new because there are a couple of stories here that are well-known if you’re already familiar with Ito. If you are a well-read Ito fan, this anthology may feel slightly less than you asked for, but a gem in horror manga regardless. Everything else? Amazing. I highly, highly recommend. Especially because of Tombs, The Strange Tale of The Tunnel, and Floaters. Add this to your collection immediately!
Below are quick descriptions of each story and my personal rating, so you can skip this part:
Tombs: A pair of siblings are off to see their friend Izumi after she sends them a letter, asking them to come visit the new, strange town she lives in. In this town of odd traditions and death, the two siblings must face their fate after a terrible car accident in this town of tombs. A piece of guilt and grief horror. 5 out of 5
Clubhouse: A trio of best friends decide they want to enter a haunted clubhouse, not knowing its tragic history. When something sinister brings a rift between two of the three friends, the third tries to bring them both back around. 4.5 out of 5
Slug Girl: Rie is concerned about her friend Yuko, who doesn’t talk much anymore. Here’s the story of Slug Girl, about a teenager whose tongue gets turned into a slug. 5 out of 5
The Window Next Door: Hiroshi and his parents move into an old house in a new town. Next to their home is one that’s seemingly empty, with only one window. This window faces Hiroshi’s own bedroom window. What will he see? Who will he see? 4 out of 5
Washed Ashore: Something monstrous washes ashore, pulling a group of viewers towards its carcass. 3 out of 5
The Strange Tale of The Tunnel:
An evil tunnel? Goro returns to a tunnel that brings dark memories nearly 20 years later. 5 out of 5
Bronze Statue: Be careful holding conversations near bronze statues because you never know who’s listening. A story of obsession and vanity. 4.5 out of 5
Floaters: Floating spores reveal some pretty dark shit. 5 out of 5
The Bloody Story of Shirosuna: A doctor takes a job in a rural village that seems to suck the life out of its locals. 4 out of 5
And as always, Ito’s art is so fire. Grotesquely beautiful. Every panel is full of his trademark artistry that draws you in. While I was reading through the stories, I took a lot of my time admiring those artistic abilities. Even if you don’t like a particular story, the graphics will always pull you in, guaranteed.
In Tombs, some stories work better than others, but you do get a wide variety. Ito’s creative storytelling abilities really shine with this collection. And while some of the stories are eerie and spooky, others read more like a drama— and I liked that, too. The best short story in the anthology is Tombs, and it would be sooooo good as a stand-alone manga. The concept is original, weird, and taboo. It’s the stories like this one that put Ito on a horror pedestal for me. And like so much of Japanese horror writing, it’s steeped in folklore and important themes.
I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5 is because a few of the stories were so abrupt and short, that they felt unnecessary or thrown together. The collection also isn’t completely new because there are a couple of stories here that are well-known if you’re already familiar with Ito. If you are a well-read Ito fan, this anthology may feel slightly less than you asked for, but a gem in horror manga regardless. Everything else? Amazing. I highly, highly recommend. Especially because of Tombs, The Strange Tale of The Tunnel, and Floaters. Add this to your collection immediately!
Below are quick descriptions of each story and my personal rating, so you can skip this part:
Tombs: A pair of siblings are off to see their friend Izumi after she sends them a letter, asking them to come visit the new, strange town she lives in. In this town of odd traditions and death, the two siblings must face their fate after a terrible car accident in this town of tombs. A piece of guilt and grief horror. 5 out of 5
Clubhouse: A trio of best friends decide they want to enter a haunted clubhouse, not knowing its tragic history. When something sinister brings a rift between two of the three friends, the third tries to bring them both back around. 4.5 out of 5
Slug Girl: Rie is concerned about her friend Yuko, who doesn’t talk much anymore. Here’s the story of Slug Girl, about a teenager whose tongue gets turned into a slug. 5 out of 5
The Window Next Door: Hiroshi and his parents move into an old house in a new town. Next to their home is one that’s seemingly empty, with only one window. This window faces Hiroshi’s own bedroom window. What will he see? Who will he see? 4 out of 5
Washed Ashore: Something monstrous washes ashore, pulling a group of viewers towards its carcass. 3 out of 5
The Strange Tale of The Tunnel:
An evil tunnel? Goro returns to a tunnel that brings dark memories nearly 20 years later. 5 out of 5
Bronze Statue: Be careful holding conversations near bronze statues because you never know who’s listening. A story of obsession and vanity. 4.5 out of 5
Floaters: Floating spores reveal some pretty dark shit. 5 out of 5
The Bloody Story of Shirosuna: A doctor takes a job in a rural village that seems to suck the life out of its locals. 4 out of 5
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The latest collection by Ito brings a lot more frightening triggers and goosebumps than I thought. Most of the stories really did give me itchy frights. Tombstones, dead bodies and blood, oh my.
“Tombs” - A hit and run haunts a girl when she and a friend visit her faraway friend in her new hometown where tombstones scatters everywhere with a shocking reason.
“Clubhouse” - A sneak into a haunted house will quickly change the attitude of three friends.
“Slug Girl” - A girl’s misunderstood speaking is due to her having a slug as a tongue.
“The Window Next Door” - A couple’s son finds a scary surprise from the window next door to their new home.
“Washed Ashore” - The carcass of a haunting sea creature holds something grotesque inside.
“The Strange Tale of the Tunnel” - A cursed tunnel that took the life of a man’s mother as a child has a secret that will take more lives.
“Bronze Statue” - The selfish and ugly widow of a deceased mayor will use her statues for her own evil intent.
“Floaters” - The discovery of a floating hairball will lead to a strange infestation and invasion of thoughts.
“The Bloody Story of Shirosuna” - A young doctor gets a job in a odd and primitive village and learns how blood runs “very deep” in its roots.
A (100%/Outstanding)
“Tombs” - A hit and run haunts a girl when she and a friend visit her faraway friend in her new hometown where tombstones scatters everywhere with a shocking reason.
“Clubhouse” - A sneak into a haunted house will quickly change the attitude of three friends.
“Slug Girl” - A girl’s misunderstood speaking is due to her having a slug as a tongue.
“The Window Next Door” - A couple’s son finds a scary surprise from the window next door to their new home.
“Washed Ashore” - The carcass of a haunting sea creature holds something grotesque inside.
“The Strange Tale of the Tunnel” - A cursed tunnel that took the life of a man’s mother as a child has a secret that will take more lives.
“Bronze Statue” - The selfish and ugly widow of a deceased mayor will use her statues for her own evil intent.
“Floaters” - The discovery of a floating hairball will lead to a strange infestation and invasion of thoughts.
“The Bloody Story of Shirosuna” - A young doctor gets a job in a odd and primitive village and learns how blood runs “very deep” in its roots.
A (100%/Outstanding)
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Some RL Stine shit right here