This is my first graphic novel by Junji Ito and I was sort of....underwhelmed? I'm not a fan of horror usually, but Ito seems to be discussed in reverent tones by comic fans as a horror master. And this just wasn't all that disturbing? Maybe it was the note of hope throughout (and especially at the end) that made this feel less crushingly full of existential despair. Or the fact that the main POV character was a journalist that simply stumbled into most of the plots.

The suicide bugs story was a masterpiece, and Ito's art (especially his faces and expressions) are really well done and disquieting; the three stars would be earned by the art alone. But most of the stories felt like lower stakes, Disneyland rides on rails rater than uncomfortable, scary, disquieting, or terror-inducing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viz Media for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ito's signature art style is beautiful and shines in Sensor's scenes, but there were aspects of the story I wish were more deeply developed. Although this wasn't my favorite of Junji Ito's works, I still enjoyed Sensor and would recommend it to others looking for a spooky, visceral read.

I have previously read four of Junji Ito's published works and although this wasn't my favourite I still had a great time!

A weird, creepy story about a girl who wanders into this village that is covered in golden 'hair' and a reporter who is trying to investigate her story. Cosmic horror only follows.

This (to me) wasn't overly scary or horrifying however there was definitely a sense of dread running throughout. As usual the illustrations were outstanding, with some truely disturbing faces and the odd jump scare that Ito seems to excel at.

Sadly I did feel that the chapters felt very disjointed as they each were about a slightly different horror concept, which made me work a bit harder to follow the plot.

Overall this was a more unusual novel on cosmic horror from Junji Ito that I would reccomend to existing fans.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Viz Media for gifting me an advanced reader's copy.*

The latest release from horror manga master Junji Ito is always an event to look forward to. His latest is perhaps most reminiscent of Uzumaki in that is focuses on a series of connected horror stories tied to a sinister town but instead of killer spirals this time the locus is instead haunted by magma fibres and their connection to the martyrdom of a Christian missionary centuries earlier. More cosmic horror than gore, so likely to appeal to fans of Lovecraft et al.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Not my favorite Junji Ito, but I did like the cult aspect and the interconnectedness of each chapter. The art was, as always, phenomenal.

I've read almost everything Junji Ito has written and this one just struck me as meh. The artwork was stellar as always but the storyline just did not pack a punch.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC.

3 out of 5 stars

Sensor was an amazing read! Delightfully terrifying and had me guessing what would happen next after every page. Each chapter wove a new story arc into the over arching one to bring the cast of characters together.

As always with Junji Ito's work, the art is fantastic and gruesome! Just what I want when going into a manga of this kind!

Another book by horror manga artist Junji Ito. Sensor is a little more sci-fi compared to Ito's other works, but still has the creep factor. Ito's works all have fabulous artwork and Sensor is no different. So much work and detail is put into every panel, each face is so expressive.

I would have liked this title more if there was a little more horror to it, but it was still a good read. I will always jump at the chance to read one of Junji Ito's works!

Another fascinating and somewhat twisted story by Junji Ito. While it does contain the usual gruesome illustrations and highly animated facial expressions we've come to expect, this story has more of an eerie science fiction feel. Not so much a scary tale, Sensor is firmly embedded in the bizarre.
At times I found it a bit hard to follow and the conclusion is left a bit open-ended (not that unusual for a Junji Ito title). I think readers will enjoy the mythical battle between light and darkness, a bit of time travel, and that lingering feeling of being just a bit disturbed.

A young woman goes for a walk and encounters a man who takes her to a secluded village which is covered in golden fibres. This village gets wiped out in a volcanic eruption, and she is the only survivor. She is now covered in golden hair, and people begin to treat her as some other-wordly being. A journalist becomes obsessed with tracking her down and finding out more about her, but she is elusive and keeps disappearing.

As these events unfold, a dark presence begins to establish itself, with a view to capturing this mysterious young girl and bending her powers to their will.

This book has some seriously creepy scenes, and some of the drawings really evoke a sense of horror. Ito's story is more about a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil than a straight-out attempt to scare.

Junji Ito draws absolutely the most creepy faces in the business. Across the board, world's creepiest faces. Absolute tops. You see a Junji Ito face (usually some combination of one half complete immobility, one half super intense or zany, like just the blankest most serene mouths with the most wide-open horror eyes) and you know you are in for some nightmares.

The plot of this was a little meandering and a lot weird, but I cannot fault the very unsettling visuals. Also in Junji Ito's afterword he says: "I have to write a thousand words for this afterword, so I went on and on there about things that didn't really need to be said," and wow, what a mood. I just think he's great.

This was so, so spooky. I've been a fan of Ito's work before, but this is probably my favorite of them. I felt connected and invested in the story and the art sometimes literally made my skin crawl. Eek!

Okay, this was too weird, even for me. I don’t think I’m the authors target audience, if you’re into really weird horror/ science-fiction manga, this is for you. Me, on the other hand, I’m not really sure what I even read, it felt out-of-sorts and staggered making it hard to understand.

Kyoko is taking a walk and stumbles upon some golden volcanic glass. She meets Aizawa who takes her back to the village where he tells her she is the chosen one from Lord Miguel, their god, who will bring on the end of the world. From there, things start getting really weird - ufos, exploding people, suicides and, hybrid human-spiders. Just weird.

This graphic novel wastes no time diving into the bizare. Not a panel goes by before we are shown "angel hair," and quickly following it is a man with knowledge he shouldn't have and a purpose for the main character, Kyoko. Kyoko is how we see this bizarre village, covered in this amagami ("heavenly hair") and the villagers who inhabit it. Kyoko soon learns that she is expected to have been chosen by the amagami and is urged to stay. Staying, however, will bring her (and through her, the reader) more than she ever thought it would.

What follows brings out all of the delightfully twisted wonder and horror that Junji Ito is known for. The artist/author brings forth a level the cosmic horror that Lovecraft could only dream of, weaving the universe into something great and terrible, reaching out with needle thin tendrils of monstrosity to scratch at the back of the mind. The perception altering fear that Ito evokes throughout the story is everything the reader has come to expect and more. From a literal cloud of information to transparent filaments allowing sight far beyond the normal human sight, Junji Ito introduces small, terrifying elements and builds from them a massive structure of dread and creeping unease.

Ultimately, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is an established fan of Junji Ito. The style and quiet, lingering horror is trademark to the author, and anyone who loves his work will love this. That being said, I'm not sure if I'd make the same recommendation for those who aren't familiar with his work. This may not be the best work to simply jump in on, as it asks a great deal of one's suspension of disbelief. Still, the story is weaves is one that I'll be thinking about long after I've closed this book and moved on to the next. It will always be a shining light in the coming darkness.

This was a solid 3 star read, for me. The artwork, as usual, is fantastic, but I did find this story to not be as “horror” and strange as I’ve found and loved other stories of Ito’s. It was a very interesting look at how a group of people, over time, has experienced religious persecution. The stranger parts came in when the religious aspects were somehow implanted by clairvoyant-heightening golden hairs spewing from a volcano. Of course, if the wrong energy gets through, things can get dark, which is sort of the message. Still ultimately enjoyable and I’m 100 percent glad to have read this newest Junji Ito book, but it just doesn’t rank as highly as his past couple of collections have, for me. All fans should definitely still give it a read!

"The true nature of the universe is darkness. The universe is made of darkness."

Ito was one of those authors that I randomly discovered and I never looked back. His twists of GN and horror are something to truly be amazed at. He sucks you into his story with gruesome illustrations and then his words send shivers down your spine. It's perfect. (Perfect for this weirdo)

A woman having her way with the world. Volcanic glass fibers that are hair-like. Shimmery gold that's distracting. Countless flying objects blazing the night sky. Terror is about to reign down on us all.

This was truly f***ing bizarre. It starts off with you glued to the page and never lets up. I started to question everything after reading this and my mind if seriously blown. This was a twisted delight and I loved it.

Honestly, not Ito's strongest. I found it interesting that in the afterward, he takes the time to explain how this was not the book he had set out to write, and how the characters got away from him. That's just how it reads... kinda jumbled, with what feels like a rushed climax.
Too, when you think Junji Ito, generally Horror comes to mind, but this was lackluster in that department as well... it felt more like a scifi fantasy romp, with a couple of "eww" moments.
Overall, entertaining, but not really to expectations.

Really enjoyed this one, up until the end.... it got a little weird (but then I've come to kind of expect wacky things from Ito at this point). The artwork was really good in this one, and I definitely enjoyed the story behind it all.

I don't know what I just read. Maybe my brain is too old or tired to comprehend it. Sometimes Junji Ito goes over my head. I'm sure there will be readers who enjoy the story, so I will still request for my library's collection.

I have never been more afraid of hair in my life. Ito’s latest manga to be translated into English is a ripper of a read, filled with all the horrific elements you fear and love Ito’s stories for.

The concept seems simple; a chosen one with enhanced abilities, dark and light clashing etc., but it’s a roller coaster of a book that blows those ideas out of the water.

Definitely entering my top three for Ito books.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.