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When it comes to horror manga, Junji Ito reigns supreme. With his bone-chilling stories, he has carved his niche in the genre. FromTomietoGlyceride, his works induce fear and disgust within the readers. This holds especially true with his use of grotesque imagery and phobias. His illustrations outline fear most unusually. However, this extends to his inspirations as well.
His works underscore an array of emotions ranging from fear, disgust, and revulsion. Moreover, his blend of societal turmoil with body horror sets his work apart from other mangas. While he has quoted Western authors for his inspiration, there’s more to it as he revealed in an interview.
Junji Ito’s works highlight the use of body horror.
Junji Itois a celebrated name in the genre of horror manga. FromTomietoHellstar Remina, his works instill fear and terror in every sense. His works differ from most horror mangas in his use of body horror. This comes as no surprise considering his medical expertise. His stories capture the essence ofgrotesque and macabreelements perfectly.
This holds for his magnum opusUzumaki,especially the infamous spiral scene. Frombody contortionsto popped eyeballs, the manga is nothing short of a masterpiece. Furthermore, his medical expertise and knowledge of anatomy outline his finesse’ as a manga artist. InDear Ancestors, he takes it up a notch with the idea of a human centipede. However, there’s more to it.
Hideo Kojima Revealed the Manga That His Close Friend Junji Ito Recommended to Read and That Wasn’t Surprisingly His Magnum Opus Uzumaki
In an interview withThe Japan Times, Ito revealed the reason behind his fixation on the human body. He quoted:
I believe that the human body, with its complex and incomprehensible mind, forms the basis of all horror. Anxiety is an emotion all animals feel, but the anxiety felt by humans, with our highly evolved brains, is unfathomable. The human body is a symbol of that bottomlessness.
InUzumaki, the fear and terror centers around the spirals that plague the town. Ito’s storiesarent constrictedto the genre. On the contrary, they encapsulate the social evils along with the ever-looming fear. The characters also reflect a certain sense of ” insanity” in the mangaka’s works.
The characters grapple with the themes of insanity and fear in the stories
From the ever-looming spirals to the grease-laden restaurant, the characters grapple with fear. Most of Ito’s stories are a blend ofsocial evilsfused with themes of fear and insanity. While insanity is somewhat translated into madness, it is quite the opposite. His works reflect depravity in every sense. Such is the case with Kuriko inThe Bully.
WhileThe Bullyis devoid of ghosts and supernatural elements, it remains one of the most disturbing works by the author. It outlines the deep, dark, anddisturbing elementsof the human psyche. The mangaka uses insanity to underscore human psychology. He noted:
Our minds can become distorted by us placing unreasonable expectations on others or by us striving to live up to theirs, fostering an excessive sense of inferiority. I believe a common trait among my characters is their dependency, which can spiral into insanity and psychosis.
TheEnigma of Emigara Faulthighlights this very insanity and depravity of society. On the other hand,The Bullyshakes up the readers in terms of the extent of human mind.
Junji Ito’s Contribution to the Creation of Jujutsu Kaisen is the Perfect Reason Why Gege Akutami Shouldn’t Give it a Sequel
All in all, Ito’s use of horror in his works instills an array of emotions ranging from disgust to fear, and terror. While most know the author as a horror mangaka, his other works are worthy of recognition. Most of his stories outline the complexity and depravity of the human mind.
Tomie,Uzumaki,Glyceride, and other works by Junji Ito are available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
