INDIA: Can Spirals haunt us? No, today is not the birthday of Junji Ito nor the anniversary of his magnum opus manga, Uzumaki. However, we don’t need any reason to explore his literary spine-chilling work pieces that have bagged a status of a cult following since their release.
The horror genre, since its inception, has been most entertaining for some and fierce for many. Whether it’s a book or a movie, the aura of the genre remains the same, which is to offer the scary dose that release a dopamine rush in our brains (not so scientifically accurate).
Ghosts, serial killers, vampires, monsters, or any demon hiding beneath our beds found its way to scare us through the medium of TV, books, and manga too.
However, such elements in the horror genre now have become a routine effect that fails to provide a thrill. At such time, something unique is needed to explore the imagination of what new can be offered in it.
Junji Ito’s Uzumaki narrate horrors of spirals
So, here comes the unique in your way, Junji Ito’s Uzumaki. No, not Shonen’s unpredictable leaf ninja or, currently the Hokage. It is more than shinobi and tailed beasts.
Uzumaki, which means spiral, is a manga that introduces a mind-bending tale of bizarre things that scream in our subconscious mind and makes us wonder how someone can use something as basic as a tool of horror.
Simply, the manga takes us to a strange world brimming with the curse of spirals; where ever it is, death for sure is guaranteed. In other words, Junji Ito’s horror classic introduces a fear of a spiral that develops among people of fictional city Kurozu-cho.
High school teenager Kirie Goshima take the center stage in Ito’s manga. She embarks on mystery of spirals that results in a chain of deaths. Ito pens and illustrates Uzumaki hiding spirals in every artwork with a menacing story that toys with our minds.
The storyline begins at a simple pace, and as it progresses, you’ll forget how many pages you have flipped. Spirals doesn’t act as an oh-so-scary factor, but the enigma and eeriness of symbols showcased by Ito on each page send chills down the spine.
If you’re a book reader mainly looking for psychological horror or spine-crawling literary stories, then you should definitely try Uzumaki. Yeah! I know it’s not a regular novel filled with poetic words but Ito’s illustrations and the gripping story will surely add something new to your tastes.
For beginners in the manga, reading Uzumaki is a must as it consists of only 3 volumes which will not consume more of your time.
Uzumaki is available on Amazon India at the price of ₹1,749. A deluxe edition compiling all three volumes comes at the mentioned pricing. In United States it can be purchased on VIZ.
Good news! Uzumaki also bagged an anime announcement which will soon be released.
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