A review by ajt_99
Uzumaki by Junji Ito

challenging 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

A masterpiece of horror, layered with mystery and a sense of inescapable dread. It evokes the Lovecraftian feeling of being faced with incomprehensible forces far beyond anyone's control, with the characters simply having to try and survive the challenges they are presented in each new chapter rather than fight against them or even understand them. Ito's art is incredibly detailed and gruesomely imaginative, being able to warp commonplace images, objects, and even our own bodies into ghoulish, hideous forms, the images of which will burn into your brain forever and make you both anticipate and fear every turn of the page. Every chapter introduces new ways in which the
concept of the spiral is permeating and changing the town and people of Kurôzu-Cho
, and each is terrifying in ways that are distinct from the last. The only minor criticism I have of the book is that most of the characters, while not bad, are often come off as flat. However, I do acknowledge that the point of the book isn't necessarily the characters' journeys, but the display of horrific images and making the characters (and readers) react to said images. An easy recommend to any and all horror fans.
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