Junji Ito is my favorite manga author/artist. His stories are twisted, and he beautifully translates them into unsettling, uncomfortable art. This collection of short stories is pretty typical of Ito; some are amazing, others are less so, but altogether, it's a very good collection.

An absolute masterpiece that Im not surprised by. I stumbled across Itos work just a few years ago and have tried to devour all of them. I’ve loved everything Ive read so far and this is no exception. I love horror and Junji Ito has a way of making me so paranoid at night. I loved every minute of this collection

Another masterpiece by Junji Ito. I don’t usually like horror, but Ito is always so inventive and original that I love seeing what he comes up with. Many if not all of his stories have some moral lesson at the end of it and I especially saw that in Tombs.

I loved this fast-paced story collection full of unnerving, spooky tales. This collection reminded me of the spooky ghost stories we told to one another as kids--the kind that linger with you long into the night. I'm brand new to Junji Ito's work, so I can happily recommend this to anyone new to manga, too. Each story is perfect for a quick read between your other books, or burn through the whole book for one long night full of chilling tales like I did.

Tombs is a perfectly adequate example of a Junji Ito anthology. The bite sized stories would be a representative sampler for new readers, and a reminder of old fans of why Ito’s disturbed imagination has earned him a reputation as the paramount horror mangaka of his time. Stalwarts may find this collection too reminiscent of previous collection, possibly even repetitive.

It very much feels like in most of these stories, the author brings us to the climax of the story and immediately ends it, giving no resolution or falling action to speak of. The reader is left saying, "Wait, that's it? What happens?" and what usually follows after that (at least for me) is a loss of interest. After all, why do we care about these characters if we can't see where or how they end up?

I will say that there were a couple of stories that didn't fall into this trap, and I enjoyed these the most. The first is TOMBS, the story that the collection is named for. It follows a Kaoru and her brother who take a drive to visit Kaoru's friend, Izumi, who lives in a strange village. What unfolds is an interesting, frightening story about death and how it has changed a village. I don't want to give any spoilers, as this might have been my favorite story in the lineup, and is well worth going in without knowing much previously.

SLUG GIRL was another one where, while it wasn't my favorite, it told a complete story, and didn't leave the reader looking for more when it was done.

THE STRANGE TALE OF THE TUNNEL was a compelling story, telling the tale of a tunnel that called to people, and into which many of those people vanished without a trace. This had a tragic, emotional beginning, one that really pulls the reader in, and the buildup was great, a slow but steady march into dread and horror. Really liked this one.

Finally, THE BLOODY STORY OF SHIROSUNA was another well-rounded tale, though it floundered a bit in the middle. It felt like there should have been more to it. The author gives us certain information (blood types, and what happens if one mixes them, and other such ideas) but then doesn't seem to do anything with it. Perhaps I just missed it, but it felt like a missed opportunity to do much more with the story.

Out of nine stories, I thought four were good. The rest left me feeling bored and in some cases annoyed. I really need to learn to stop picking up these graphic novel anthologies. The full-length works are more for me.

Creepy bite-sized tales. Each short story gets creepier and creepier the deeper into the collection you go. I couldn't put this down, I compulsively read this cover to cover.

Good and creepy, Junji Ito delivers again! From creepy little fluffs and Tombs that appear all over town, to a mysterious village illness and a house with one window... whatever your interest in the macabre, Ito has something for you in this volume!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I think this collection was overall good, but the short format made some of the stories seem superficial and underdeveloped. Tombs and The Window Next Door would have benefited from a little more time building things up.

The Bloody Story of Shirosuna was the standout for me. Good concept, well-executed and excellent art. Floaters is such a distinctly Junji Ito concept, a concept that I loved, so it also stood out to me, though I felt like the second half wasn't quite as effective as the first.

All of the art is great, of course, but my favorites in terms of visuals were Slug Girl and Floaters. The fish nightmare scenes in Washed Ashore also stood out to me. All of the cover art for each story was excellent.

Overall, I would recommend this collection but I would not recommend each individual story within. Clubhouse and Bronze Statue were a little disappointing in terms of storytelling.

Finally being able to read these stories in English evokes a feeling of the near uncanny valley - you've seen them before but something was missing. (And yet!) It is familiar because as fans we know what to expect from Junji Ito but never know how he will deliver it to us. Through a portal? By air, by sea? Wonderfully grotesque and unsettling, there are moments that may have you checking your nooks and crannies when you're alone. Mr. Ito's collections are always like entering a Willy Wonka factory of horror - and I will never tire of it.

Japan's master of horror has done it again with this collection of macabre short stories. I love Ito's work for its intense characterization and the, of course, horrific art.

Junji Ito is always a treat! How he designs the page, the characters, the stories, they're all so unique and individual. Each stands out on it's own. I also love how he can go back and forth between totally horrifying to totally horrifying and goofy at the same time. A true master of horror.

I loved the story. I loved the art. I loved the horror. This is my first Ito and it absolutely won't be the last either. We are definitely purchasing for our graphic novel collection! Our patrons are going to love Tombs.

I love the way Junji Ito writes horror, especially in short story format. This collection felt like it all tied into the overarching theme of legacy and how we view ourselves vs how we really are. The art was incredible and every story gave me chills.

Horror with beautifully illustrated pages that it'll leave you with chills. The collection of short stories pack a punch and leave an ominous note which leaves the reader with a sense of dread long after they're done reading.

This collection is a horror treasure in the form of graphic novels, with short stories alongside eerie illustrations and creepy storylines full of dread. I never thought I'd be attracted to such unnerving tales of macabre that gave me goosebumps while reading. Readers tread lightly and enjoy this bizarre and wildly creative work.

Junji Ito is absolutely brilliant. Yet another collection of horror stories to shock and scare, and I gotta say these were some of his creepiest.

I picked this one up because I suspect some of these stories will be in the new Netflix special. I've been intrigued by Ito since I first watched Uzumaki in high school.

The short stories in this were really interesting. As with all collections some are stronger than others, but none were bad. My favorite were Tombs, Slug Girl, Floaters, and The Bloody Story of Shirosuna.

I have been curious about this authorvfor a while. In an American context, the short stories have a Black Mirror or Twilight Zone vibe. It's a creepy book and a fun read.

What: Horror manga from the revered Junji Ito
About: collection of shorts featuring Ito's signature themes of body horror, grotesque imagery, folklore run amok
Features: dread, story twists, ink that oozes from the pages
Assets: artwork that stays with readers long after finished
Obstacles: Ito has stated that he never knows where a story is going to go, and that ending stories is a challenge. Often, the artwork and feel makes up for an abrupt story finish.
Who it’s for: J-horror fans, readers who value artistic achievement over story, long-time Ito fans.