A review by adorableautist
Deserter: Junji Ito Story Collection by Jocelyne Allen, Masumi Washington, Junji Ito

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

4.0

Junji Ito's earlier works, while occasionally rough around the edges, really illuminate how enduring his talent for unsettling stories is. These early stories lack a lot of the otherworldly or "eldritch" horror that characterizes much of his most recognizable work, instead evoking the quality of uniquely twisted urban legends. Still, Ito's mastery of pathos, body horror, and ecstatic madness, along with his penchant for young moralistic heroes trying to withstand a world of nihilistic horrors, gives this collection a quality that is uniquely his.
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