Fragments of Horror (Junji Ito)

Junji Ito is amazing. His stories are actually creepy and weird, and interesting. I mean, they will creep you out! He himself cites H. P. Lovecraft as one of inspirations and it shows, but not at all in a pandering or derivative way (as some fans of Lovecraft can sometimes be). His stories in this collection are vignettes of terror, and while reading them I was reminded of watching episodes of Tales From The Darkside when I was a child, with the main difference being that these tales are never really corny or cheesy. Some are actually a little gory and adult or sophisticated in tone. There are certainly some 'episodes' that are scarier than others. 'Magami Nanakuse' is of a seemingly less serious tone, or is maybe simply less frightening than 'Futon' for example. 'Gentle Goodbye' is melancholy and alienating, and 'Dissection-Chan' and 'Blackbird' are outright disturbing. But I'm sure you'll have your own favorites. I think the thing that makes Ito's works so appealing is that the artwork - the expressions - as well as the human dialogue and reactions are very realistic and believable. Through his talent, he allows the reader/viewer to actually ACCEPT situations that are insane and horrifying, which is something that is very much lacking nowadays in modern American cinema and literature. The reader is pulled in from the very beginning, from the opening line the tone and believability is set, and this is carried through at a steady and proper pace until the story reaches it's crescendo. It's never heavy-handed or excessive, though - in true horror story fashion - many of the endings are startling twists or peaks of terror. I was describing some of the stories to friends of mine (who had told me that they weren't planning on reading these - I never give away spoilers otherwise), and they all always react with a disturbed grimace or an expression of disgust. So you know this is good. :) Junji Ito is a good artist and a wonderful storyteller, and this collection won't disappoint. If you're looking for a collection of modern horror stories that are actually unique and different and completely unpredictable, this is the book to get.

I have almost all of this author's books very good

So Junji Ito ... my wife is addicted to his writing and manga ... so when he was at SDCC ... I knew I was in trouble. So we went to his speaking engagement and the man is really brilliant (honestly I had no idea who he was prior to this) ... I felt bad for him because his hands are very badly gnarled because of years of drawing. But no one can take away the horror he inspires with everything he writes and draws. He creates horrors that give nightmares horrors ... the things he writes and draws is amazing and terrifying and beautiful at the same time. The stories are all enthralling and tell tales that will give you nightmares but you will soon realize that even your nightmares pale in comparison to the nightmares he is writing. It's truly awe inspiring to be honest. One day we will lose this horror genre master but for now, I recommend everyone buy his books and be both inspired and terrified.

Anthology series and short stories has always been my favorite medium for horror whether it be literature or comics/manga. This is hands down one of the best anthologies of comics, each containing a unique story, I have ever owned. The stories are very Lovecraftian in a sense that they read more like weird tales, since some of them are so bizarre, are not overly gorey, and leave you with a very unsettling feeling. This book was Junji Ito's return to horror, for he had not had a horror book released for American audiences since Gyo which originally came out well over a decade ago. Nearly every story in this book is 5 out of 5, which such a wide range of topics and some are so bizarre that they are hard to describe in a review. The book is greatly priced and should be on the shelf of any horror or manga fan. The book has a lot of re-read value too since the art is so beautiful and some of the stories so short and poignant. Highly recommended.

Junji Ito has been on hiatus for far too long and I am personally glad to see him back, because there's something about the weird and/or macabre tales he crafts coupled with his unique art style that appeases some inner horror need in a way only those black-and-white love letters can. I had recently watched Tokyo Fish Attack! (again) and read Gyo not too long before (again) and was thinking how some Ito would be great, then I stumbled across Fragments of Horror. It seemed like providence, or some 224 page horror equivalent anyhow. One of the issues we have always had in the US is getting Ito translated and especially for random shorts, so I personally love these types of collections and think that a lot of Ito's work would benefit from the same treatment. Here, you have some work that reminds me of a few of his older entries collected in things like the Museum of Terrors, or like some of the shorts such as Blood Bubble Bushes. (FYI, you can find the uncollected works translated by some caring fans online if you are so inclined, plus you can purchase several collections.) For those unfamiliar with his works, you can check out more Uzumaki (this can be purchased in 3 books, or in a 3-in-1 volume), Gyo (this was also made into the anime film, Tokyo Fish Attack!, and has two parts), Museum of Terror 1 - 3, Tomie (which is located in several shorts and has spawned numerous movies), Hellstar Remina, Voices in the Dark, and much more. Why Ito? Because he explores horror in sometimes terrible, oftentimes bizarre, and sometimes unnerving ways. Things like Uzumaki have a Lovecraftian feel to them, which Ito credits as the inspiration for some of his work. There are times when I think, "that is an amazing twist," and others when I think, "how did you think of that?" I always come back and I always buy what I can procure, and that is because of the unique way everything is presented. Honestly, I never thought black-and-white would be unnerving, but he sometimes takes the opportunity to prove me wrong. For fans, this is a good addition and something waited for. For those considering Ito for the first time, this woudl not be the thing I would initially reocmmend. Try out some Uzumaki or one of the Museum of Terror collections, take your time and set the mood, actually injesting the imagery along the wording and moments, and enjoy. Very worth it.

Overall this is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it, especially those who are fans of Junji Ito's previous works. The only reason I am giving the book 4 stars as opposed to 5 is I found the stories to be hit or miss. Now when a story hits, it will get you at your core. When it misses, there are still some aspects in the story that will be interesting. Without spoilers here are what I felt about each chapter... The Futon - Hit. Starts off a little weird, but the ending got me good. Wooden Spirit - Miss. Its just a really bizarre story without any real substance or stakes for the characters Tomio: The Red Turtleneck - Hit. This story is gruesome at parts and the creepiness factor is turned up to 11. Get ready to have some chills. Gentle Goodbye - Mixed. Its like a really good twilight zone episode where you can see the twist coming a mile away. Dissection-chan - Hit. The sadistic/masochistic nature of "dissection-chan" is completely engrossing. Blackbird - Hit. Damn you blackbird, you are going to give me nightmares! I loved it! Magami Nanakuse - Miss. Its a very stupid premise. The things that happen to the main character is interesting, but I found the whole thing to be silly and not even remotely scary. Whispering Woman - Hit. Another one of those stories where you know what is coming because of the title, but damn it, it still got me good. The girl's condition is bizarre, but unlike Wooden Spirit, it actually serves a purpose.

Junji Ito's work is brilliant. Stop here and buy the book. If for some reason you're still reading: he delicately weaves the absurd against the mundane, often abruptly flipping expectations to craft stories that horrify. What makes these tales special is that they aren't cliche bogeymen or slasher tropes. They're the reality of life through a different lens. One is about a cheating man and his regret. Another is a woman who fears the death of her father. While a third is about loving a home too much. There are so many unique tales with very human fears. What makes the journey so engaging is the picture of a world that is inches away from the unseen. A bump along the road could lead to its discovery, and inform us of things we never wanted to see. And there are never answers. This is the way the world is. At the end of the book Mr Ito shares he took an 8 year hiatus from horror. This is his return, and he feels a bit rusty. But as a reader, I was amazed at the skill of the pacing, the line work, the editing, and the passion to try new ideas. I've read all of his horror manga, and this rightly sits alongside his very best.

In the Afterword of this book, author Junji Ito wonders if his horror instincts have returned after his eight-year break. After reading through "Fragments of Horror", I want to reassure him and his readers that his creative mind is just as fantastic as it ever was. This collection is great! As usual, Junji Ito's stories blend bizarre, unnerving scenarios with dark images and occasional eroticism. Even the cover is impressive and beautiful. Be sure to peek under the colorful dusk jacket for a different, yet equally cool image. I felt that the first two stories, "Futon" and "Wooden Spirit" were a tad weaker than the rest plot-wise. They're more weird than scary, but they do contain some pretty crazy visuals. "Magami Nanakuse" was more like a dark comedy than a horror tale. It really makes you wonder how in the heck Ito can come up with something so completely... insane. "Gentle Goodbye" isn't a horror story at all, though it does contain supernatural elements. I found it to be sad and sweet. The rest of the tales are Junji Ito's work at its finest again. Creepy, violent, gruesome and captivating. "Red Turtleneck", "Dissection-chan" and "Whispering Woman" were all terrifying and contained unexpected twists and turns to surprise the reader. My personal favorite is "Blackbird", which actually left me with a sick and shaky feeling at the end. Nightmare fuel for sure. Fans of Junji Ito or of horror manga in general will love this. Do yourself a favor and read it alone in the dark!

This is a very attractive book with very interesting art work and overall really good condition! The stories in here have some of my favorite! Some of the tales are very "weird", and not in a bad way! It is a good mixture of strange, unusual, creepy and interesting all in one! I always have to give his work a 5 star for how great it all is!

Da ich großer Junji Ito und auch Horror Manga Fan bin, habe ich mir diesen Manga bestellt. Er besteht aus mehreren "Kurzgeschichten" und für Fans wie mich ist er einfach nur Super. Ich liebe seinen Zeichnenstil und die Geschichten sind einfach nur Klasse.

So good! All the 8 short stories were so interesting. The art is great and very unnerving. Highly recommend for horror fans.

Buen diseño, pasta dura y llego sin imperfecciones

Eu já li várias outras obras do Junji ito e posso falar que essa foi uma das que eu mais gostei, tudo é impecável. Recomendo muito principalmente se for a sua introdução para as obras dele. As histórias são envolventes e você fica totalmente focado, o terror do Junji ito é algo totalmente diferente do terror comum que nós costumamos ver nos filmes ou em vários livros. A capa ela sai e por baixo tem outra, eu achei super interessante, e a capa que fica por cima tem uma textura e dá para ver vários desenhos quando se põe na luz