Over the years, I’ve read countless horror manga, as you can see on my list of the best horror manga of all time.
Yet, there’s something special about the works of Junji Ito. Ever since I first read Tomie a decade and a half ago, I’ve been a fan of his.
His works are full of body horror and often feature phobias, fears and obsessions. It’s often the mundane that gets warped, becomes twisted and ultimately deadly. If you’re interested to learn more about the themes and the style of his work, check out my article on why Junji Ito scares us.
These days, many of his works have been translated into English and are available to a wider audience. For this reason, I created a ranking of all the available Junji Ito books.
24. Stitches
Stitches is not your typical Junji Ito book because it’s not a manga. Instead, it’s a short collection of supposedly true ghost stories by Hirokatsu Kihara, each accompanied by illustrations from Junji Ito. This follows an old Japanese publishing tradition of illustrated short stories that was popular in the past.
It’s definitely an interesting piece of work, and Junji Ito’s illustrations are excellent as always. The book even ends with one of his previously unpublished one-shots, which should be a selling point for fans.
Unfortunately, the problem lies in the stories themselves. Most read like brief vignettes rather than complete narratives. Characters aren’t named; the tales fizzle out instead of delivering satisfying endings, and none of them are particularly scary or well-written. Whether it’s due to the source material or the translation, they lack the tension and atmosphere that make Ito’s work so enduring. Even the included one-shot feels forgettable.
Stitches is a curiosity worth checking out for completionists, but most readers are better off moving on to the stronger Junji Ito books.
23. Dissolving Classroom
Of all the Junji Ito books, Dissolving Classroom might be the strangest, though not for the right reasons. The premise centers on Yuuma, a polite young man whose constant apologizing is more than just a personality quirk. Every apology hides a bizarre supernatural power, one that leads to grisly consequences for anyone unlucky enough to cross his path. Following him is his younger sister, Chizumi, a gleefully cruel child who seems to revel in the chaos he creates.
Ito fills these stories with the kind of imagery that makes his horror so infamous: skin melting away, brains turning to liquid, and human bodies collapsing into shapeless sludge. At first it’s shocking and grotesque in all the right ways, but after the opening chapter, you’ve essentially seen the trick. Most of the remaining stories follow a predictable rhythm, and even the final chapter that tries to change things up doesn’t land.
The tone wobbles as well. Yuuma’s obsessive apologizing comes across as absurd rather than eerie, and Chizumi’s over-the-top psychopathy makes her nothing but a caricature.
There are moments here that showcase Ito’s skill for stomach-turning horror, but they’re buried in a structure that quickly becomes formulaic. Unless you’re a completionist working through every Junji Ito book, this one you can safely skip.
22. Soichi
Soichi has become one of the most familiar faces in Junji Ito’s bibliography. He’s a grinning, nail-chewing boy with a taste for curses, bizarre rituals, and elaborate jokes. His misadventures blur the line between grotesque horror and absurd comedy, but lean far more toward the latter.
Across these chapters, Soichi turns everyday situations into chaotic spectacles. Relatives, classmates, and even strangers alike find themselves the unwilling targets of his schemes, often involving the arcane, strange disguises or hexes. Yet, in true karmic fashion, his tricks almost always backfire.
There are certainly highlights. Mannequin Teacher (Teacher of Cloth in the VIZ translation) stands out for its sheer weirdness. As a whole, however, the tone of Soichi’s stories never quite resonated with me. They feel like exaggerated slapstick cartoons, and lack the creeping dread and psychological bite that I value in other Junji Ito books.
Personally, I see Soichi more as an annoying side character in Ito’s world, and whenever I encounter him, I can’t help but sigh. For fans of dark comedy and grotesque gags, I am sure his antics can be quite entertaining.
21. Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu
Judging Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu alongside his horror works feels unfair. It’s a pure comedy manga, worlds apart from the dread and body horror that define other Junji Ito books.
The premise is simple but charming: horror manga artist J moves into a new home with his fiancée A-ko. Soon, A-ko brings her family cat, Yon, and adopts Mu, a fluffy Norwegian Forest cat. What follows is a lighthearted chronicle of Ito’s real-life struggles to adapt to life with two mischievous felines.
What makes this book memorable is the presentation. Ito applies his signature horror aesthetic to otherwise ordinary, often adorable cat antics: wild, bulging eyes, exaggerated facial expressions, and unsettling close-ups. The contrast between his eerie art style and the gentle subject matter creates a kind of comedic dissonance that’s hard not to smile at.
That said, this isn’t a standout in the grand lineup of Junji Ito books. It’s a quirky experiment and a heartfelt homage to his cats, but it lacks the tension and atmosphere that make his best works so gripping. For completionists or cat lovers, it’s a fun curiosity. For everyone else, it’s nothing more than a short, amusing detour.
20. No Longer Human
No Longer Human is an adaption of Osamu Dazai’s novel by the same name. It’s a work that deals heavily with topics such as suicide, alienation and depression.
No Longer Human is one of the most popular Japanese novels of all time. It’s a bleak work, centered on a man not fitting into society and his decent into decadence.
Junji Ito’s adaption of the novel is interesting, but it suffers from a major problem. No Longer Human is a character-driven novel, one of internal horror. Yet, if there’s one thing Junji Ito isn’t good at, it’s character work. Many of Junji Ito’s characters are mundane, boring, and even uninteresting. They are only exist as vessels for his stories, for his horrors and for us to witness their demise.
That’s the main reason No Longer Human isn’t working. Junji Ito isn’t able to convey the intricacies of the character, the story, and the internal horror of it. Instead, he turns it outward, showcasing it in his usual style.
While I appreciate the visuals, and love the creepy and eerie mood they create, it wasn’t enough to adapt a work such as No Longer Human satisfactorily.
Once more, I’d say this is a work worth reading for fans of Junji Ito, but fans of the original novel might be disappointed.
19. The Liminal Zone Vol. 1
The Liminal Zone Vol. 1 is one of the most recent Junji Ito books released in English, and it’s a showcase of just how far his illustration skills have come. It’s full of meticulous details and features some of the best artwork in his career. Unfortunately, the narratives don’t quite match the quality of the visuals.
This volume contains four longer stories, giving Ito more space than in his usual short-form horror. In theory, that extra length should allow for deeper, richer storytelling, but in practice the plots feel overblown, and take some awkward turns. Weeping Woman Way delivers some memorable visuals, while Madonna fuses religious horror with grotesque school drama. The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara begins with a genuinely unsettling premise, only to end in a finale that feels more bizarre than frightening.
My personal highlight, Slumber, follows a man plagued by vivid nightmares of murders he may have committed. It’s a strong premise brimming with psychological horror potential, but even here, the story’s resolution veers toward absurdity instead of delivering a chilling payoff.
Like many of the more uneven Junji Ito books, The Liminal Zone Vol. 1 is both frustrating and fascinating. The moments of brilliance and the breathtaking art are weighed down by inconsistent storytelling. For collectors and those who value Ito’s visuals above all else, it’s worth owning. For readers seeking tightly constructed horror, it’s, unfortunately, not a must-read.
18. The Liminal Zone Vol. 2
The Liminal Zone Vol. 2 feels almost like a deliberate attempt to improve on the problems of the first volume, and in some ways it succeeds. The artwork is once again spectacular. Page after page is brimming with grotesque textures, uncanny facial expressions, and the unsettling detail that has made Junji Ito books instantly recognizable.
Two stories stand above the rest: Monster King of Dust and The Shells of Manjunuma. Both pair Ito’s surreal imagination with pacing that keeps the horror tight and memorable. Village of Ether, meanwhile, starts with one of Ito’s most ambitious and bizarre premises, but its spiraling chaos in the final act might be divisive.
Across the volume, there’s a clear sense of experimentation. Ito stretches into longer, more intricate plots, which can be seen as a departure from the punchier short-form horror that built his reputation. This expanded format allows for deeper worldbuilding and stranger concepts, but also exposes pacing issues and narrative stumbles.
Even with flaws, The Liminal Zone Vol. 2 offers enough eerie invention and striking visuals to warrant a spot among modern Junji Ito books. For fans who value atmosphere and art as much as tight plotting, it’s an unsettling and rewarding read.
17. Sensor
Among Junji Ito books, Sensor stands out as one of his most visually striking works. Every page is layered with meticulous linework and an almost ethereal beauty, proving that Ito’s skills as an illustrator remain unmatched.
The plot follows Byakuya Kyouko, a mysterious woman whose connection to an isolated village sets off a chain of strange and otherworldly events. Ito blends cosmic horror with philosophical undertones, weaving in themes of light and dark, humanity’s role in the universe, and the mysteries that lie beyond human comprehension. This gives the story a dreamlike, almost mythical quality that sets it apart from his more isolated horror stories.
Here, fans will still find moments of classic Ito nastiness. We see everything from warped flesh, grotesque insect imagery, and unsettling body transformations. Yet these moments are scattered between stretches of slower, more abstract storytelling. While this approach makes Sensor feel more ambitious and different, it can also cause the narrative to feel disjointed.
Even so, Sensor remains a fascinating entry in Ito’s catalog of works. It’s not his most frightening book, but readers who appreciate bold ideas paired with some of the most gorgeous artwork in Ito’s career will not regret picking it up.
16. Smashed
Among the many Junji Ito books available in English, Smashed is one of the most packed, containing thirteen stories in a single volume. It sounds great, but while the variety is there, the quality wavers from one tale to the next.
Some entries are fantastic. Bloodsucking Darkness is an old Ito standout, The Mystery of the Haunted House is not only creepy but features one of his greatest panels, and Earthbound is haunting in both concept and execution. These are the moments when the collection shows what makes Junji Ito books so appealing.
The rest, however, are almost entirely forgettable. Even with Ito’s masterful art, warped anatomy, and disturbing textures, they can’t deliver on their premises.
In the end, Smashed is a mixed anthology. It’s worth owning for the standout chapters and the consistently strong artwork, but for newcomers, there are stronger points in his bibliography.
15. Mimi’s Tales of Terror
Mimi’s Tales of Terror is one of the more unusual Junji Ito books, leaning heavily into Japanese urban legend rather than original plots. The volume follows Mimi, an unlucky young woman who seems to get entangled in the supernatural wherever she goes.
Across six loosely connected tales, the horror feels intimate and close to home. In one story, a weird woman keeps following her; in another, she finds herself in a basement hiding a dark secret; and in another, she bears witness to a muscle-bound man trying to impress the dead. While each chapter stands alone, they all share the same eeriness.
My personal standout is The Seashore, in which a visit to a beach ends in tragedy and culminates in the best panel of the entire collection.
Interestingly, these stories aren’t Ito’s own inventions, but are adaptations of established ghost tales. This, however, makes them feel not only different but also weaker when compared with his purely original works. Yet his distinct art style elevates them, effortlessly moving from moments of quiet dread to panels that are pure nightmare fuel.
While it may not hold the same legendary status as Uzumaki or Tomie, Mimi’s Tales of Terror offers a fascinating glimpse at how Junji Ito can take existing folklore and shape it into something uniquely his own. For fans who want to explore a more folkloric side of Junji Ito books, it’s a chilling and memorable pick.
14. The Art of Junji Ito: Twisted Visions
Twisted Visions stands apart from most Junji Ito books. It isn’t a manga or short story collection but a lavish art book dedicated entirely to Ito’s visual genius. Instead of panels and narratives, you’re treated to page after page of his most striking, unsettling, and intricately detailed artwork, reproduced in beautiful high-quality print.
For fans used to seeing his work confined to the borders of manga panels, this format is a revelation. Seeing his eerie figures, warped bodies, and grotesque creations on full pages gives you a new appreciation for just how meticulous and imaginative his style truly is.
The book also includes a handful of never-before-seen illustrations tied to unpublished works, making it more than just a greatest hits compilation. There’s also an insightful interview with Ito himself, plus a complete register of his works for collectors.
While Twisted Visions contains no stories, it’s still one of the most impressive Junji Ito books for anyone who values the artistry behind the horror. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to savor his craft without distraction. For art enthusiasts, it’s a stunning gallery of one of manga’s modern masters.
13. Hellstar Remina
Hellstar Remina is perhaps the closest Junji Ito has ever come to fully embracing Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Equal parts apocalyptic and surreal, it delivers a vision of planetary doom unlike anything else in manga.
The story begins when Professor Oguro discovers a mysterious wormhole, and within it, a strange new planet. Naming it after his daughter, Remina, he unintentionally thrust her into the public eye. At first, the discovery seems like a scientific triumph, but soon unsettling patterns emerge: the planet drifts unpredictably, has no stable orbit, and stars near it begin to vanish.
Before long, the truth becomes clear: Planet Remina is alive. Even worse, it’s heading straight for Earth, consuming everything in its path. What follows is a bizarre mix of mass hysteria, cult-like persecution of the professor’s daughter, and some of Ito’s most nightmarish imagery. The planet’s gaping eyes and mouth are unforgettable, while its grotesque surface feels taken straight from a fever dream.
Admittedly, Remina takes a turn into the absurd and even comical in its later chapters. Yet, that wildness is part of its charm. It’s a bold, unrestrained vision of cosmic apocalypse.
Flawed but unforgettable, this remains one of the most iconic Junji Ito books, especially for fans of cosmic horror. The story may lose tension at times, but the imagery alone makes it a must-read for anyone drawn to the grander side of Ito’s imagination.
12. Deserter
Deserter is one of the more recent Junji Ito books published by VIZ, compiling twelve short stories that range from instantly forgettable to some of the most chilling tales in his career. As with many of his anthologies, the mix is uneven, but the high points make it worth owning for dedicated fans.
Among the strongest entries are Den of the Sleep Demon and The Long Hair in the Attic. Both are twisted nightmares that mix eerie atmosphere with grotesque body horror imagery.
Two stories in particular elevate Deserter beyond a standard mix of short stories. Unbearable Maze follows two young girls who stumble upon a secluded mountain meditation retreat, only to discover just how disturbing the place truly is. Its ending is among the creepiest Junji Ito has ever drawn. Then there’s The Bully, a rare foray into entirely realistic horror. With no supernatural elements to fall back on, Ito crafts a story so cruel and psychologically brutal it will linger long after you finish reading it.
While not every entry in Deserter is memorable, the combination of standout tales, diverse tones, and Ito’s ever-detailed artwork make it a worthwhile addition to any collection of Junji Ito books.
11. Alley
Alley is one of the newest Junji Ito books released in English, bringing together a diverse assortment of the artist’s older short stories. The tone shifts from grotesque body horror to surreal social satire, making it an uneven but fascinating snapshot of his early creativity.
Several entries stand out as some of Ito’s most memorable short works. Falling (Decent in the VIZ translation) is a chilling brush with cosmic horror that leaves its mystery deliberately unsolved. The Ward transforms a hospital setting into a surreal nightmare, while Mold assaults the senses with revolting imagery that’s as unforgettable as it is disturbing. Town Without Streets (Town of No Roads) offers a surreal vision of a world stripped of privacy, its concept alone lingering long after the final page. The title story, The Alley, uses a deceptively simple premise to deliver an unexpectedly creepy payoff.
Not every tale in this collection lands with equal force. Some feel like curiosities rather than essential reads. Still, Ito’s impeccable art elevates even the weaker pieces, transforming flat concepts into striking visual experiences.
For completionists, Alley is a must-have among Junji Ito books, and proves even his lesser-known works can disturb and entertain with the right mix of eerie atmosphere and unsettling imagery.
10. Black Paradox
Black Paradox is one of the strangest and most unpredictable Junji Ito books you’ll ever read. It opens with a suicide pact between four strangers, only for our main character, Marousou, to end up with a group of their exact doppelgangers. This bizarre twist leads to the group postponing their plans. What follows quickly spirals in an entirely different direction far beyond anything you might expect.
The opening feels almost disconnected from the rest of the narrative, but it’s also part of its charm. The initial premise gives way to a story that might contain Ito’s most otherworldly and existential ideas, layered with stunning imagery only he could come up with. It’s a work that starts weird and only grows stranger, moving into a realm few horror manga ever attempt.
At six chapters, Black Paradox is one of Ito’s longer stories, and his impeccable art elevates every page. Even when the plot takes its sharp turns, the visuals keep you locked in, from eerie doppelgangers to bizarre different realms.
While the disjointed start might throw off some readers, the payoff is worth it. This is a standout in Ito’s catalogue, especially for fans who enjoy when his horror veers into the cosmic and existential.
9. Fragments of Horror
Fragments of Horror holds a special place among Junji Ito books. Not for its length, however, but for its history. It was the very first short story collection of his to be officially released in English, following only the multi-volume horrors of Uzumaki and Gyo.
At just eight stories, it’s also Ito’s shortest anthology. The content swings heavily from forgettable to unforgettable. Lesser entries like Magami Nanakuse and Wooden Spirit feel slight compared to his best work, yet the highlights more than make up for it. Lingering Farewell (Gentle Goodbye in the VIZ translation) stands as one of the most emotional pieces Ito has ever written, a haunting meditation on letting go, centered around an eerie family ritual. Dissection Girl (Dissection-Chan in the VIZ translation) introduces one of Ito’s most fascinating characters, whose bizarre obsession leads to some of the most unsettling body horror in his entire career.
While Fragments of Horror is not his most consistent collection, its best stories rank among Ito’s finest works. For fans, it’s worth picking up for the peaks alone.
8. Gyo
Gyo, the Japanese word for fish, sounds harmless enough, but in the hands of Junji Ito, it becomes one of his strangest and most unsettling creations. Equal parts grotesque and absurd, this is a story that starts with a bad smell and spirals into full-blown apocalyptic chaos.
The manga follows Tadashi and his girlfriend Kaori during a seaside vacation. Kaori, sensitive to smells, is suddenly overwhelmed by a foul, rotten stench. The source? A dead fish that is found walking on bizarre, insect-like metal legs. This is only the beginning, because soon more sea creatures emerge from the ocean, each propelled by the same unnatural contraptions.
When the couple returns to Tokyo, they find the city overrun. Sharks, squids, and countless other marine horrors flood the streets, bringing with them the so-called death stench. The visuals grow increasingly surreal, with some of the later chapters venturing into truly nightmarish territory.
While Gyo is one of the most creative Junji Ito books, I also found it divisive. The central concept is brilliant, but the attempt to explain the origin of the mechanical legs undercuts the horror, pushing the story deep into the ridiculous. Still, that eccentricity is part of its appeal, and the sheer imagination on display is undeniable.
Supported by some of Ito’s most striking art, Gyo remains a must-read for fans who appreciate his weirder, more experimental side. The imagery will stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.
7. Tombs
Tombs is one of the most accessible Junji Ito books, offering a balanced mix of fan-favorite classics and underappreciated deep cuts. For newcomers, it feels almost like a greatest hits anthology, with widely recognized tales like Slug Girl and The Woman Next Door serving as instant hooks.
The title story, Tombs, is a quintessential example of Ito’s knack for eerie worldbuilding. It centers on a quiet town with a macabre burial custom, and the terrifying consequences for breaking it. The Thing That Drifted Ashore (Washed Away in the VIZ translation) dives into some of his strangest oceanic imagery, while Bronze Statue, an underrated gem, delivers one of the most nightmarish sequences in his short story repertoire.
Even the smaller entries, like Clubhouse, while not as impactful, add variety to the volume’s pacing and tone. That variety is the book’s greatest strength. It never lingers too long in one type of horror, shifting from grotesque body horror to creeping supernatural dread.
While not the most flawless Junji Ito book, Tombs succeeds in being both a welcome starting point and a rewarding visit for seasoned fans, making it one of the more re-readable entries in his ever-growing library.
6. Frankenstein
Among all Junji Ito books, Frankenstein stands out as a rare fusion of classic literature and the artist’s uniquely unsettling vision. Ito’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel is nothing short of masterful. His fine artwork amplifies the tragedy, grotesqueness, and existential dread at the heart of the original, pushing the gothic horror into far more nightmarish territory.
The volume doesn’t stop with the title story. It also includes ten additional shorts, most revolving around Oshikiri, one of Ito’s lesser-known but fascinating recurring characters. These tales dive deep into paranoia, hallucinations, warped realities, and grotesque medical horrors, resulting in some of the strangest and most disturbing works in Ito’s short-form storytelling.
Oshikiri may lack the mainstream recognition of Tomie or Soichi, but his unsettling misadventures leave a strong impression, combining psychological horror with bursts of vivid, surreal imagery.
With its perfect mix of a brilliantly reimagined classic and some of Ito’s most bizarre companion pieces, Frankenstein is both a standout adaptation and an essential addition to any Junji Ito collection.
5. Tomie
Tomie is Junji Ito’s debut work, yet remains one of his most enduring creations. Spanning multiple volumes, it cemented itself as a cornerstone of his career. While Ito’s art in these early chapters isn’t as refined as in his later Junji Ito books, the seeds of his trademark style and morbid imagination are already clear.
The premise is deceptively simple. Tomie, a stunningly beautiful high school girl, is secretly dating a classmate while also having an affair with her teacher. During a school trip, an accident leads to her death. In a panic, her classmates conspire to cover it up, dismembering her body and hiding the pieces. But the very next day, Tomie walks back into class, alive and unscathed.
This is the first hint of the nightmare to come. Tomie is not human. Even the smallest fragment of her can regenerate into a complete body. Worse still, she possesses an almost supernatural allure. Every man who meets her becomes hopelessly obsessed, driven to madness and violence.
Interestingly, Tomie is less a protagonist than a catalyst. Each chapter focuses on those who encounter her, charting their inevitable descent into obsession and ruin. The stories vary in quality, with some leaning more into psychological tension while others dive headfirst into some of Ito’s most grotesque body horror.
Despite occasional unevenness, Tomie remains one of the best Junji Ito books and a must-read for anyone exploring his work. Equal parts alluring and horrifying, she’s an icon of horror manga.
4. Lovesickness
Among Junji Ito books, Lovesickness is one of the most memorable, opening with the haunting urban legend of the Intersection Pretty Boy. The story follows a quiet town gripped by superstition, where chance encounters at street corners spiral into obsession, madness and an unrelenting wave of violence. It’s an atmospheric blend of eerie folklore and bursts of graphic violence, making it one of Ito’s most unsettling long-form pieces.
Beyond the title story, the collection delivers five additional tales, including two darkly comedic yet deeply disturbing episodes featuring the infamous Hikizuri Siblings. These grotesque, bickering miscreants remain some of Ito’s most chaotic and unpredictable creations. Another standout is The Ribs Woman, a surreal exploration of vanity, beauty, and body horror so vivid it’s impossible to forget, and even inspired one of my short stories, Real Art Always Has a Price.
The combination of an atmospheric, gore-laced urban legend and a mix of inventive, twisted shorts makes Lovesickness a standout choice for both new readers and seasoned fans. If you’re seeking Junji Ito books that blend urban legend, madness, and masterful horror art, this one is a must-read.
3. Venus in the Blind Spot
Venus in the Blind Spot stands out for containing some of Junji Ito’s most celebrated works alongside a few lesser entries. While not every story hits with equal force, the highlights are so strong they cement the volume as a must-read for horror fans.
The undisputed centerpiece is The Enigma of Amigara Fault, a modern classic that has transcended manga culture. Its surreal imagery, claustrophobic tension, and disturbing depiction of compulsion make it one of Ito’s most quoted and shared creations. Army of One (titled Billions Alone in the VIZ translation) offers a similar chilling mystery. It’s part urban horror, part biting commentary on loneliness and isolation in modern society.
The collection also showcases Ito’s skill with adaptation in The Human Chair, a masterful retelling of Edogawa Ranpo’s unsettling tale of obsession and invasion of privacy. On the more grotesque side, The Licking Woman takes a premise that’s already skin-crawling and transforms it into a visual nightmare, proving Ito’s unmatched ability to turn disgust into terror.
Though the weaker stories don’t linger long in the memory, the best stories in Venus in the Blind Spot rank among the finest in any Junji Ito book, blending the surreal, the psychological, and the viscerally horrifying in ways only he can.
2. Uzumaki
Uzumaki is widely regarded as Junji Ito’s magnum opus, a surreal, unsettling masterpiece that stands at the very peak of horror manga. Even among the strangest Junji Ito books, this one is in a league of its own.
Spread across three volumes, Uzumaki takes place in the foggy coastal town of Kurouzu-cho, a community slowly consumed by an unnatural obsession with spirals. The story follows high school students Kirie Goshima and Shouichi Saito as they witness increasingly disturbing spiral-related phenomena: grotesque body distortions, unnatural weather patterns, and even architecture twisting in strange shapes.
What makes Uzumaki so unforgettable isn’t just its plot, but the sheer creative audacity behind it. There are no traditional monsters or killers. The villain is an abstract concept, an omnipresent spiral curse that defies explanation. This makes the manga feel uniquely oppressive, as though the entire town is caught in an inescapable, cosmic trap.
The early chapters unfold in an episodic, almost anthology-like format, each presenting a new spiral horror while building an overarching sense of doom. The final volume ties these threads together in a more overtly Lovecraftian climax, which, at least to me, makes it the weakest segment narratively, but still visually and atmospherically overwhelming.
From intricate linework to some of the most grotesque body horror in his career, Ito’s art here is at its absolute best. Uzumaki is as beautiful as it’s horrifying, pulling you into a world you can’t look away from.
In short, Uzumaki isn’t just one of the best Junji Ito books; it’s one of the greatest horror manga ever made, and an essential addition to any horror fan’s collection.
1. Shiver
Of all the Junji Ito books available in English, Shiver stands as the definitive collection, packed with some of his most imaginative, disturbing, and thematically rich short stories. Every entry here feels like a fully realized nightmare, each with its own unforgettable hook.
The volume opens with Fashion Model, introducing us to Miss Fuji, whose grotesque appearance and predatory nature have made her one of Ito’s most iconic creations. The Long Dream delivers a surreal meditation on mortality and dreams. My Dear Ancestors (Honored Ancestors in the VIZ edition) and Glyceride (Greased) push body horror to its extremes, one through a bizarre tradition, the other through utterly revolting body imagery.
The title story, Shiver, takes trypophobia and turns it into a nightmare of paranoia and greed. But the best story of the collection is Hanging Balloons (Hanging Blimps), where giant floating heads hunt their human counterparts in a surreal apocalypse. Equal parts absurd and terrifying, it works as a critique of celebrity culture, an allegory for Freud’s death drive, or simply one of the most original doomsday scenarios ever put to paper.
Relentlessly creative, visually stunning, and thematically layered, Shiver is the Junji Ito book that best captures everything the master of horror does well. If you’re going to read just one collection, it should be this one.
