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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
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
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
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:
No
I only read this book because I found it at a local library. Although I love Junji Ito’s works, his books are very expensive and beyond my budget, so I have more or less given up on reading all of his books. The only book of his that I still hold on hope to read is Tomie. I felt so lucky to have found this book at the library, only to be sad that the library was to be permanently closed soon, but that is another story.
To be honest, I did not expect this collection to be so great because his short stories are sometimes recycled and repackaged from other collections. Also, because sometimes, like Gyo, the short stories are really just one connected story split into many shorts. So, it was a pleasant surprise to find that the short stories in Tombs are varied and really interesting in their own rights. There are only three that I have either read before from other books or seen in the Netflix adaptation.
If you are not familiar with Junji Ito’s works, but you would like to start, I’d recommend this book to you. I have to admit that Uzumaki still reigns as the best for me so far (I’ve only read Uzumaki, Gyo, No Longer Human, Frankenstein and Tombs at the time of writing), but Tombs would still make a great read. If you are a fan of horror, the nasty and slimy, the supernatural, the monster, and the unknowns, you might just enjoy this. It was, as it always is with Junji Ito, an unputdownable page-turner for me.
dark
mysterious
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:
No
Per usual, Junji Ito brings us into his unique world with these mind bending stories. This was the first of his short story work that I’ve read. Some worked being 20ish pages long, but there were a few I really wanted more of. The last being exceptionally unique…one of which I personally would hope he would turn into its own book.
Eerie, bizarre, & at times got a good laugh out of me. 4/5!
Eerie, bizarre, & at times got a good laugh out of me. 4/5!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this one! Definitely one of the better collections Junji Ito has put out in the past few years!
Tombs was interesting! It had some fun storytelling, horrific body horror art, and a satisfying conclusion. Solid story!
Clubhouse - This one was fine. I think this one was probably the weakest for me. It had some potential, but ultimately it was lackluster.
Slug Girl was disgusting and Junji Ito will pay for his crimes aka me having to read this story and have it live in my brain. Horrific.
The Window Next Door...hmm... This one was kinda weird, but I enjoyed it. Beware of weird neighbours, I guess?
Washed Ashore was fine. Gross. But fine.
The Strange Tale of the Tunnel was another ghost story which I didn't love, but it was okay.
Bronze Statue had some fun storytelling and the art was especially nice. Nothing overly memorable, but still well done.
Floaters reminded me of the hanging balloon story and I actually really enjoyed this one. Very original and unique story! Probably my favourite of the collection!
The Bloody Story of Shirosuna was small town horror which is what Junji Ito is exceptionally good at so of course it was well done.
Strong collection of stories from Junji Ito! Look forward to the next one!
Tombs was interesting! It had some fun storytelling, horrific body horror art, and a satisfying conclusion. Solid story!
Clubhouse - This one was fine. I think this one was probably the weakest for me. It had some potential, but ultimately it was lackluster.
Slug Girl was disgusting and Junji Ito will pay for his crimes aka me having to read this story and have it live in my brain. Horrific.
The Window Next Door...hmm... This one was kinda weird, but I enjoyed it. Beware of weird neighbours, I guess?
Washed Ashore was fine. Gross. But fine.
The Strange Tale of the Tunnel was another ghost story which I didn't love, but it was okay.
Bronze Statue had some fun storytelling and the art was especially nice. Nothing overly memorable, but still well done.
Floaters reminded me of the hanging balloon story and I actually really enjoyed this one. Very original and unique story! Probably my favourite of the collection!
The Bloody Story of Shirosuna was small town horror which is what Junji Ito is exceptionally good at so of course it was well done.
Strong collection of stories from Junji Ito! Look forward to the next one!
The original stories are extremely good as usual but I took a star off for repeat stories that are in other collections
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes