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Where do I begin with Junji Ito's work?
- Thread starter Professor Renegade
- Start date
Messofanego
Banned
Army Of One gave me chills. More so than Hellstar Remina which started to get goofy with the low-gravity chase across Earth.
TheTylerRob
Member
Is there a collection of his I can buy? Definitely my manga author.
Aizo
Banned
It is so beyond the volume in which it's included for sure. Hellstar Remina is okay, but that story is fantastic.
Of short stories, you mean? Fragments of Horror is pretty good! If you can read Japanese, Chinese, or Korean, your options are much more plentiful.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
Good suggestions so far.
There's also been a big collection of Tomie stories released, which is some of his earliest work. Worth getting if you're a fan after Uzumaki, Fragments of Horror and Gyo.
There's also this, which is more comedy but a fun read, especially knowing his normal work:
This is what I started with! Love it.
Yes I have, I still think Uzumaki is his best piece of work, especially since it is of ample length to flesh out the characters, the world is fully realized, the ending is satisfying etc. Of course there really is no wrong way to start, just that the earliest Tomie work has art that can be considered pretty bad in comparison to everything from recent years. I can imagine that if I had started with his recent work I would never have gone back to discover Tomie. In terms of recurring themes and characters, Tomie is by far my favourite.
Oyashrio-Sama
Member
Uzumaki Is probably his best long form work. Each chapter is sort of its own small story that feeds into a far bigger narrative. I also feel it has some of his best characters. I would start with that.
I would then move on to...
Gyo
Tomie
Dissolving Classroom (This one is bizarre as all hell)
Then move to his short stories.
You can get a good collection of them in the book Fragments of Horror.
I would then move on to...
Gyo
Tomie
Dissolving Classroom (This one is bizarre as all hell)
Then move to his short stories.
You can get a good collection of them in the book Fragments of Horror.
MarioLuigi
Banned
I recently finished all of his works and I was sometimes left a bit......dissatisfied after the conclusion of some of his short stories. I guess that's the whole point, horror is far more terrifying when it is mysterious and unknowable?
But his art work and body horror is second to none. I would recommend his entire series just for that alone.
But his art work and body horror is second to none. I would recommend his entire series just for that alone.
Radical Dreamer
Member
Uzumaki is his best work imo. Junji Ito is a god.
S
SLoWMoTIoN
Unconfirmed Member
How shit was the anime adaptation? I heard it was pretty bad but I kinda feel like watching it.
MarioLuigi
Banned
Oh mate, don't do it to yourself. Watch SuperEyePatchWolf's video on it. It makes a mockery of Junji's work!
S
SLoWMoTIoN
Unconfirmed Member
I'll just take your word on it.
mango drank
Member
Googled for what Junji Ito stuff I should read first, and this thread came up as one of the top results.
I read through Gyo. Was all right. A mix of B-movie eye-rollers but also some deeply disturbing ideas and imagery. I kept thinking throughout that there was so much audio Ito was trying to get across, and so much that would've worked better in motion as an anime / movie. Then I found out they made an anime out of it and got excited ... until I found out it got middling reviews, bleh. Anyone see it? Is it worth it?
Back to the manga: I'd read the short story at the end, The Enigma of Amigara Fault, way back when. Still hella disturbing today.
I might try some of his short story collections next.
I read through Gyo. Was all right. A mix of B-movie eye-rollers but also some deeply disturbing ideas and imagery. I kept thinking throughout that there was so much audio Ito was trying to get across, and so much that would've worked better in motion as an anime / movie. Then I found out they made an anime out of it and got excited ... until I found out it got middling reviews, bleh. Anyone see it? Is it worth it?
Back to the manga: I'd read the short story at the end, The Enigma of Amigara Fault, way back when. Still hella disturbing today.
I might try some of his short story collections next.
Werewolf Jones
Member
The Gyo OVA is shit. His works aren't fit to be adapted, the transition doesn't do them justice.
IfuckinghateReddit
Banned
Nope. Gyo has a translation and the Museum of Terror collections are great.
Thing on a Spring
Member
You should be able to pick up 'Smashed' and 'Shiver' for a decent price on Amazon. His Frankenstein adaptation is pretty good too.
Dav-Kripler
Member
This was what I immediately thought when I saw that title. It really is damn good.
Dav-Kripler
Member
S
SLoWMoTIoN
Unconfirmed Member
Alternatively try Franken Fran.
mango drank
Member
I bought Shiver last night, read through a bunch of the short stories. Big iPad + Kindle app is a great format for these. Fashion Model, Cursed Frame, Shiver, Hanging Blimp, Greased / Glyceride. All great. I will never forget the infamous panel in Greased. And Hanging Blimp is probably my favorite short story so far.