*Spoiler alert.*
If you’re familiar with manga and anime (Japanese comics and animations), it’s likely you’ve come across the name Junji Ito. Whether or not you’re a horror fan, his numerous terrifying comics have earned him the rightful reputation as King of Horror Manga. It’s easy to imagine comics facilitating hero and adventure stories, but how exactly do comics work effectively in the domain of horror? How is it possible for Ito to tell horrifying stories that leave lasting impressions?
Part of his effectiveness as a horror manga writer comes from his incredible artistic talent. His drawings remain simple yet detailed enough to evoke real life, but when faced with supernatural and otherwise unexplainable enemies, Ito’s detailed and graphic illustrations create alarming visceral horror in which the degeneration of the body—decay, mutilation, etc.—successfully make stomachs churn. For example, when the strange neighbour is revealed in “The Window Next Door,” the mere quality of her skin and intensity of her eyes is enough to make readers jump after having turned the page. In addition to this, while traditional horror stories tend to focus largely on ghosts, demons, and zombies, Junji Ito is able to produce detailed never-before-seen stories focusing on relatable ingrained terrors that most people have. Commonly, the themes of chaos, the unknown, as well as human vices, limitations, and inevitable demise appear in his work. A good example of a disturbing and unique idea Ito is able to transform into a terrifying story is “The Enigma of Amigara Fault.” It focuses on two characters who, like many others, come from very far away due to a strange uncontrollable pull they feel towards a certain area where human-shaped holes are suddenly uncovered. While the holes are interesting, they are evidently ominous and dangerous—of course, entering one is a bad idea. But somehow, it’s impossible to resist this urge to enter. The two characters we follow struggle with this urge, and eventually give in to this unexplainable thing, knowing full well that nothing good awaits them. And, in true Ito style, their inevitable fate is revealed in alarming visceral visuals.
This particular story plays on fears relating to the unknown, inability to control oneself, claustrophobia, and the dark—common and natural human fears that are often deeply ingrained in our psyche and instinct.
When Ito does use stereotypical horror tropes, he is still able to put a unique spin on his work, rendering his mangas endlessly intriguing. For example, the typical horror-zombie story focuses on a protagonist trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world in which humans are affected by an unknown disease and become living corpses. This kind of horror story is often mixed with action, as the protagonist fights against zombies in order to survive. However, Ito’s take, in “She is a Slow Walker,” is more striking as it shows a more realistic storyline focusing on the inevitability of human demise. In the story, the world is suddenly thrown into despair as the zombie apocalypse begins. Our main character is not unrealistically heroic, and continues to barely live in his apartment with his girlfriend who, after having died following a zombie bite, begins to rot. One day, she turns into a strangely slow zombie who moves only a few millimeters every few minutes. We may assume the main character would immediately throw her out, or tie her up as a safety precaution, but in his long isolation, he evidently loses his grip on reality and finds this amusing. After a while, nothing entertains him, and he is slowly dying from hunger. He doesn’t care about anything anymore. In desperation, he succumbs to his inevitable death, and chooses to turn into a zombie after satisfying his hunger with his former girlfriend’s flesh. Again, this is another instance where Ito’s horrifying art shines.
Through the lens of horror, Ito’s stories also act as a sort of study on the intricacies of humans and humanity, which inspires fascination in many readers. They are more relatable because of this focus, as his stories identify limitations most readers can resonate with. For example, the story above, “She is a Slow Walker,” shows a choice many may naturally make in such circumstances, as they are faced with inevitable death either way. There are no unrealistic heroic actions taken by the main character, like facing a horde of zombies with a fancy sword and somehow coming out on top.
Besides this realistic outcome, Ito’s stories also show instances of human weakness as well as evil. For example, Tomie (a recurring main character whose full story is explored in multiple Ito mangas) effectively reveals as well as inspires heinous thoughts and acts through her supernatural allure (which primarily targets men), psychological manipulation, and hate-inspiring actions. In “Gathering,” lonely men seem drawn to Tomie, perhaps thinking that she may offer some sort of consolation, but they soon go insane over her and become crazed fanatics. They lust over her and desire her, until they can’t resist their urges anymore and attack her, each one aiming to make her his own through attempted murder. However, their blind attacks lead them to stab and wound each other instead. The only one in the story able to resist her charm is the main protagonist, who already loves another woman.
In “Orphan Girl,” Tomie preys on the innocent desires of an old rich couple to have a daughter. The old couple had given up on adopting a child after many previous daughters died one after the other, earning the couple a reputation as murderers. Given Tomie’s ‘unfortunate circumstances’ and her plea for help, they end up taking her in and doting over her. However, Tomie begins to work her magic and plays with the minds of her caretakers, making them believe the horrible rumours about them which ultimately pins them against each other. The mother figure ends up committing suicide, and the father figure falls into the same alluring trap as all men do when Tomie is involved. Like all other men, he tries to consume Tomie and make her his own by killing her. The couple’s maid walks in, planning to murder Tomie as well (as Tomie stands between her and the couple’s inheritance) and witnesses the father figure as he brutally hacks Tomie. To keep the maid silent, he kills her, and eventually also kills himself. And the regenerative evil entity called Tomie restores herself and inherits everything.
Human society is fascinated by crime and murders, and these sorts of stories appeal to those fascinations.
So, if you’re looking for stories that perfectly embody what spooky season is all about, and that can be appreciated long after Halloween has passed, read a Junji Ito comic. In fact, why stop at one? Each comic has its own focus and charm, presenting striking visceral horror, unique and detailed plots, as well as examinations of human weakness and evil. These stories will definitely leave you spooked and unsettled. Happy Halloween!
*All images are credited to Junji Ito.