A review by offservicebookrecs
The Liminal Zone by Junji Ito

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Widely considered a master of the horrible and the macabre, Junji Ito returns with four tales from the depths of COVID lockdown to help you have a hard time falling asleep at night. From elite Catholic boarding schools, to tear-soaked villages, to a deadly forest, Ito will leave you dreading and begging for more through his classic storytelling and manga style. 

Though I have been aware of Junji Ito and his works for years, this was the first time I have actually sat down and read one of his works (having never watched any of his animated adaptations, either). Though horror is not my go-to genre, I really enjoyed (?) and/or was drawn to these one-shot horror tales and the delicate, yet grotesque way in which the stories were captured through the manga panels. I like that though the stories definitely all share a paranormal elements, the 'real-life aspects' of the story are just as creepy, if not more so, than whatever spooky skeletons or undead spirits are currently haunting the poor people of Ito's world. I will definitely seek out more Ito titles int he future to add some variety to my normal reads!
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