Reviews with content warning for Cannibalism - Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror

loved this - not quite as much as the tomie series, but still. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if shuichi was the protagonist - I just didn’t care about kirie quite as much as him. I loved his characterization much more and I think this story from his perspective would be very compelling.

I wasn’t scared of uzumaki but that’s more telling about me than it is about ito. the story was certainly creepy as hell but I just never get scared of supernatural or unrealistic horror. anything realistic (or more realistic sci-fi or fantasy even… like the invisible man film really scared me even though the science doesn’t exist) will get me. so I definitely wasn’t disappointed by my lack of fear, it’s very normal to me. the story was definitely creepy though. I would love to pick ito’s brain — what on earth is going on in there?

artistically, ito really excels in body horror & conveying emotion/story through the eyes. the panels containing one or both of those elements are my favorite and have definitely stuck with me. I also think people ignore his comedy when praising him, like of course he is clearly a master of horror but he’s also quite funny if you pay attention!

a little thing that I really enjoyed throughout reading was the little tiny spirals in the background of panels. they’re unnoticeable if you’re not looking, but from the beginning there are spirals in the blades of grass and wood grain - it’s really some fantastic subtle storytelling on ito’s part. as an artist I really loved that attention to detail.

finally, I loved how the story itself was also a spiral… you don’t realize it at first, but when it hits you… damn.

Content Warnings

booksandteatime's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.5

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keen's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense 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? No

2.0

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finleyfrogreads's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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sarahweyand's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.75

Behold, the first book I've ever read that has made me physically afraid to turn a page. The first book to make me go "EUGH!" out loud and have to put down the book for a minute. Some panels have certainly be burned into my mind forever.

Thank god these panels are done in black and white, although it might be scarier that way. Each page and each panel are so detailed and intentionally placed and drawn, consuming this book was to take in a work of art. Each chapter was unique and horrifying, and the thread that connected them all equally well done.

I don't know what could have made this book five stars, but after I was done I was left feeling tired and kind of icky, like it could have been the beginning of a reading slump if I didn't already have another book I was currently reading. I'm excited and also dreading reading more by Junji Ito.

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