This is my first time reading Junji Ito and I was a bit surprised at how underwhelmed I was by this collection. There were definitely some interesting parts and beautifully drawn panels but overall it felt like a repetitive, mixed bag. I often felt kinda bored reading thru this but maybe this just wasn't for me. Thanks to NetGalley and VIZMedia for the ARC!

Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection is sure to be a hit for manga lovers. Current fans or those looking for new manga that are also horror lovers should find this comic appealing.

Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection is a compilation of short stories that all revolve around a character named Soichi.

Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection
Written by: Junji Ito
Publisher: Asashi Shimbun Publications, Inc.
English Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: July 25, 2023

The main character of these stories is Soichi Tsujii, the unhinged second son of the family. He’s a fifth grader who’s selfish, chews nails, and spouts curses that bring about bizarre happenings. Soichi is established as a character when his cousins, Yusuke and Michina, come to spend a week with his family during summer vacation. Soichi’s two older siblings, Koichi and Sayuri, are warm and welcoming of their cousins, while Soichi is stand-offish. When Yusuke and Michina go to meet Soichi, he just spits a nail at them.

The first story establishes that Soichi avoids being around people and refuses to participate in activities when he’s invited, but he also gets mad when people ignore him. After he gets frustrated with Michina ignoring him, he hammers nails into the stomach of a voodoo doll that he’s made in her image and she starts having stomach pain. He also makes a doll of Yusuke that he puts into a fish tank, and Yusuke almost drowns at the neighborhood pool. As we see throughout the stories, Soichi continues to hold a grudge against Michina, and to a lesser extent, Yusuke.

The 10 stories included in Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection are basically split into stories that focus on Soichi at home with his family and stories that focus on Soichi at school. Of these themes, I tended to prefer the stories that focused on Soichi at home. For some reason, the stories that take place at school or have any connection with the school (such as Soichi’s homeroom teacher coming to Soichi’s house over summer vacation to try to help him) tend to be more “over the top,” and I find I have a harder time utilizing my “willing suspension of disbelief” when I read them. The stories not connected with school tend to feel a little more grounded in reality. I know, that sounds kind of strange, since these stories utilize ideas and concepts that aren’t necessarily realistic, but the stories of Soichi at home feel a little more realistic in nature.

I have to say that I didn’t really like Soichi. I’m sure that was intentional, but he’s depicted in such a way that there are absolutely no redeeming qualities about him. There are the occasional fakeouts, where it looks like Soichi might be doing something that isn’t all about him, but it turns out that no, what he’s doing and his reactions are about him. I’ve seen several writeups about this series referring to Soichi as “uncanny” and “hilarious,” but to be honest, I didn’t find him to be a hilarious or amusing character. This is probably a sign that I’m not really in the target market for Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection.

When it comes to the art, this volume has the style and feel that readers have come to expect from Junji Ito. As I read more and more of Junji Ito’s works, I’ve come to find that he has a limited amount of facial designs that he uses for characters. It’s gotten to a point where I can look at a character’s face and recognize that the exact design (or a very similar one) was used elsewhere in Junji Ito’s work.

I do have to give credit for the fact that all the stories in this volume focus on one character. In other Junji Ito story collections I’ve read, they’re usually made up of several unrelated stories. The main exception Lovesickness: Junji Ito Story Collection, where there were two stories that focused on the same group of characters, but the rest of the volume contained unrelated material. Through some of the dialogue in the various stories in Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection, it’s clear that at least one year passes by the end of the volume. While the stories may not make up an overarching story, at least they’re telling a linear story and not skipping around in time. I just wish that I liked the character that these stories focused on better.

If you’re a fan of Junji Ito or are a fan of horror manga, then you might find appreciation for Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection. While this isn’t necessarily one of the worst Junji Ito release I’ve read, it’s also not among the best one I’ve read, either.

Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the eARC!

This is my fourth Junji Ito collection, and I wasn’t disappointed! If you could see all my notes about this book, you’d just get a stream of consciousness list of “OMG”, “ew, gross”, and “OH NO”, which I think is pretty accurate for Junji Ito.

Soichi is a weird little kid who sucks on nails “for the iron”. He’s macabre, obsessed with curses, and wreaks havoc on his family and friends. Combining his pranks with Junji Ito’s art is a perfect match. The stories that got to me and bothered me the most were “Teacher of Cloth” and “Soichi’s Petty Curses”. Both were creepy in their own ways, and I love being creeped out. I feel the most creative stories was “Four-Layered Room”. I didn’t expect it to go that way. And the ending to the whole collection…wow. I desperately need another Soichi collection!

Once again the master of horror manga has done it with this latest story collection. While this isn’t my favorite collection there are definitely some gems in here. The last story may have been my favorite. I am definitely likely to recommend this one as well as his others. Thank you to netgalley for providing me with this soon to be released drc.

Soichi is one of my favorite Junji Ito's to date.
Soichi is a straight-up awful, creepy, disconcerting kid. He keeps nails in his mouth and spits them at people. He's like a human nail gun with no safety features.
My favorite part of the Soichi collection is the fact that while each story centers around the creepy kid, each story focuses on a different aspect of his horrifying personality. By the end of the book, one has a pretty complete picture of the horrifying character that is Soichi.
This is a fantastic read.

I have read a few Junji Ito books and at first I thought they were pretty good. There was some definite creepiness to them. But the more I read, the more I'm starting to feel that they're a mixed bag of stories - some are really good and some are really bad. This book is no exception (except for the fact that most of the stories are bad). I don't find Soichi to be a terribly scary or creepy kid. I find him to be more annoying than anything else and I really just wanted someone to punch him in the face. I thought every story had a mildly intriguing premise but then would just end suddenly. There was nothing really scary about any of these. Unless you're a true Junji Ito fan, I don't think I would recommend this one to people.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

Another solid Junji Ito selection. A creepy set of encounters with a weird boy who keeps nails in his mouth and thinks he is a vampire. Is it weird but innocent child's imagination? It's Junji Ito, so absolutely not. (And also, not a vampire.) Deeply unsettling, and very effective.

I've read a lot of Junji Ito at this point, and I'm sad to say that I think this one is my least favourite. I think the tone was quite odd throughout. There was a lot of creepy imagery (particularly Soichi with the nails for teeth), but the stories themselves just didn't quite work for me. I was never sure who I was supposed to be rooting for and the through line got a bit repetitive. With all that being said, I loved the artwork as ever and will continue to pick up Ito's work. This one was just not my fave.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A classic Ito story of an evil little boy and the havoc he wreaks on his very understanding family. The gorgeously unsettling art goes perfectly with the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ for an advanced copy of Soichi. Admittedly, Soichi hasn't been my favorite character in Ito's other collections, but I thought that putting all of his stories in succession painted an interesting portrait of the kid. He doesn't have much supernatural or paranormal stuff going on, he's just a creep. I thought the last few stories of the collection really stood out. Liked this one more than Tomie, but still not my favorite Ito. 3.5/5 rounding up.

I've never read a Junji Ito I didn't like, but I think Soichi is his best new work in years. He's at the top of his game when he's got a creepy little kid to work with, and the titular character is BEYOND creepy. His artwork is always impeccable, and the imagery of Soichi with a mouthful of nails is striking enough to stand next to his most iconic pages from Uzumaki. I thought the last story in the collection was the weakest, and that probably comes down to Ito recycling an old theme he's done many versions of (in this case, the pursuit of beauty and its monstrous consequences), which feels a little stale in comparison to the originality of the rest of the collection, but even despite that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Soichi is horrible!!! The character NOT the book. His antics are extreme: creating a maze within his brother's room, overtaking and replacing teachers, his dead grandpa can't rest until he builds the perfect casket. I'm not sure where his powers come from nor why he is so mean to people. Yet, there are times Ito has us feeling for Soichi. Filled with dark humor and hope for his family unit.

I really enjoyed the Soichi collection. These are some of the best short stories I've read by Ito. Soichi is a great character you love to hate. I understand this character a lot better than before. I love the dark humor and the fact that he never kills anyone. His abilities are pretty amazing stemming from voodoo and hallucinations. I was lol at some of the scenes, especially when Koichi gets the best of him. The stuffed dummies were really creative. I wasn't sure how that was going to play out. Soichi's voodoo nails animate them, then get out of control, turning on their creator. He cares for his family, yet terrorizes his siblings and cousins. I'd love to read more about Soichi and his family. Fun and not as dark as his other works.

I always try to read every Junji Ito book released in the West. I enjoyed this one a great deal. It wasn't particularly scary or gory, but it was a lot of fun. I really like Soichi as a character. He had evil intentions and acted on them but they were more of a nuisance than anything else. One aspect I appreciated is that he acted like a child when he was in danger. I would like to revisit the character again.

I first came to enjoy the work of Ito when reading Uzumaki many years ago. Students in my library continue to be drawn to his work and this is a new storyline/character to add to the repertoire. Soichi is so creepy and it was pretty dark, maybe even more than some of his other works that were sometimes more supernatural creepy than this one, which was more violent/sadistic creepy. All the same, there were plenty of supernatural themes that helped ground the work.

Another brilliant collection by Japanese horror author, Junji Ito. This anthology brings together a number of stand-alone stories surrounding the life of a Japanese family and their strange son, Soichi.

Soichi is an anti-social loner who is entranced by the dark and the occult, and we are kept ever on the edge of our seat about just how much power Soichi wields - is he a jokester with a passion for the macabre, or does he really possess mysterious powers?

Many stories feature Michina and her brother, Yusuke, relatives of the family. Soichi is particularly intrigued by Michina, and we see the power struggle between them in the stories they share together - each takes a turn to tentatively reach out, sometimes with frightening results!

This wasn't the scariest Junji Ito book I have read, but it was still a very chilling reading experience. The reader moves between empathy and disgust for the character of Soichi, as his loneliness and selfishness come fairly intwined, making him a very complex character.

Overall, a 5* read, as Ito never fails to scare me stupid, and capture our worst fears on paper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vix Media for the eARC.
Junji Ito is a relatively new author for me and I have yet to be let down by anything this man has written.
Soichi is by far the creepiest and most unnerving one I have read yet from Ito and it gave me chills just thinking about it. Similar to past stories, each short story revolves around Soichi, a really rather creepy child who sucks on nails, uses voodoo dolls, and curses those around him he doesn’t like.
I devoured this nightmare in just one sitting, compelled to read to see what other craziness Soichi would get up to.
This nightmare inducing collection from Ito is a masterpiece and I can’t recommend it enough to other Ito fans.

SOICHI: Junji Ito Story Collection
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: SMASHED, SHIVER, TOMBS
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781974739028
Release Date: July 25th, 2023
Manga, Horror, Graphic Novels, Short Stories
Sub-Genre/Themes: Family, Curses, “Bad Seed”, Creepy Kid
Writing Style: Whimsical, dark comedy, over-the-top
What You Need to Know: This is a short story collection centered around one of the most disturbing young boys I’ve ever read. Soichi. I would say mild triggers for harming a frog in one story and maybe just a general trigger for child neglect/children with behavioral issues. It might be too much for people who are sensitive.

My Reading Experience: I am so addicted to these Junji Ito short story collections. They are so much fun. I enjoy binge-reading an entire collection while relaxing on the couch with a little snack. The illustrations are pure eye candy. I love that there are always a few panels with a solid jump scare. I turn the page and there will be a full-page, gross-out, or some detailed horror-filled scene of graphic violence. Something to look forward to with each story.
This collection is focused on a character we have met before with his own story in previous collections. Soichi is memorable because he’s so young but so inherently evil. Sometimes, like in this sampling, he’s just presented as being mischievous and maybe misunderstood.
I almost felt sorry for him a few times, almost…because immediately upon experiencing empathy, Soichi would act out again and do something totally bananas. He really is such a little monster. I didn't give it full stars just because I find the other collections more engaging and imaginative when they are not focused on a central character. I like the variety more.

A HAPPY SUMMER VACATION- we see Soichi in his natural habitat when his cousins come to visit. He has a wicked hatred toward them and makes their trip miserable.
A HAPPY WINTER VACATION- *see above haha. Plus Soichi fancies himself a vampire which is disturbing
SOICHI’S HAPPY DIARY- a cousin discovers Soichi’s gross, evil diary. What could be worse?
SOICHI’S HOME VISIT- We learn Soichi is in the 6th grade. His teacher comes to visit. It does not go according to plan. This one is pretty creepy and gross.
TEACHER OF THE CLOTH- A continuation of this situation with Soichi’s teacher. It’s so weird but mostly kind of funny. The illustrations are hilarious.
SOICHI’S BIRTHDAY- This is the one that made me a little sad for Soichi. Because he’s such a menace, people blame him for everything even when he’s not doing anything
SOICHI’S PETTY CURSES- This is the frog one if I remember correctly
FOUR-LAYERED ROOM- I think this was my favorite. It kind of reminded me of Joe Hill’s LOCKE & KEY
COFFIN- The perfect balance of fun & creepy
RUMORS- The best story to go out on. I hate Soichi haha

Final Recommendation: I had to read this on my tiny phone screen through my NetGalley app but it was well worth it. It just makes me all the more eager to get the physical copy. I absolutely love Junji Ito’s work. All of it!

Comps: Joe Hill’s LOCKE & KEY, BERSERK Kentaro Miura, Shuzo Oshimi

If Tomie is Junji Ito at his most creepy and unsettling, then Soichi is him at his most zany. The grade-schooler with a unique nail-biting habit is always causing mischief upon family and classmates. However, he’s no Dennis the Menace or Bart Simpson; Soichi’s a lot more demented with his pranks! And his level of troublemaking is on full display in VIZ Media’s release Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection.

Showcasing ten stories featuring the titular character, the tales spun here give readers a solid idea on what kind of bad boy he is. Alas, he’s no dreamboat bad boy, no thanks to his creepy mannerisms. Nay, he’s a bad boy who probably should’ve been sent to juvie long, long ago! From terrorizing cousins and brothers to even his teachers, Soichi demonstrates just how far he’ll go to pull a prank!

His family, the Tsujiis, certainly deserve an award for putting up with his mayhem. Nailing straw dolls to trees, spitting nails at those who disrespect him, and even forcing his brother to go to extreme lengths to soundproof his room are all solid examples of how bad this kid really is. Thankfully, even when it seems like Soichi has the upper hand, karma has a way to shove the bastard down to the swamp and ceremoniously unclogging the drain. It’s this aspect that makes reading this collection of stories more laugh-inducing than give Junji Ito fans the usual creeps.

Mind you, this is Junji Ito we’re talking about. So naturally, his creep-inducing means is still on display here. In the two-parter “Soichi’s Home Visit” and “Teacher of Cloth”, Soichi’s home room teacher is transformed into a human-sized stuff doll. On top of him sharing the same mannerisms as Soichi, the teacher also moves and talks in ways that are fairly unsettling. “Soichi’s Birthday” also places a creepy (and somewhat missing) great-aunt to torment his cousin Michina, all for the sake of Soichi feeling good about himself.

But instead of leaving his readers with unsettling emotions, Junji Ito instead goes for the funny bone. Reading as a prank goes haywire in “Soichi’s Petty Curses” results in some hilarity, with him almost losing his head in the process thanks to a vengeful groundskeeper. “A Happy Summer Vacation” gives Michina a chance to have Soichi’s nail-sucking habit backfire horrifically, albeit in a way that makes it hard to feel sorry for him. And even when it looks like he has the upper hand, “Teacher of Cloth” ends with Soichi delightfully being the butt of the punchline.

The collection saves the best for last in “Rumors”, where Soichi finds a way to make himself look more appealing. It starts off with some small good deeds, only for it to snowball into unbelievable acts of heroism. All of it leads to a big cameo from another one of Junji Ito’s creations, who inserts herself into the story in a way that’s both frightening and hilarious. (Let’s just say Soichi learns the hard way why he should never take someone’s picture without permission.)

While The Liminal Zone and Tombs showcase Junji Ito at his creepiest, Soichi demonstrates his knack for dark comedy. Although one can easily find humor in some of Ito’s scarier works, he fully goes into wacky territory when Soichi is the star of the story. It won’t change the minds of those who’ve been frightened by his previous works, but Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection is proof that Japan’s king of horror is no one-trick pony.