A solid collection of stories. Not my favorite collection by Junji Ito but it definitely has some quite terrifying stories. Artwork is amazing as usual. I think my favorite story in the collection was the title story "Deserter." Highly recommended for any horror and Junji Ito fan.

Well done series of stories with quality handiwork to match. My introduction to graphic novels, and did not disappoint!

Junji Ito did not disappoint. The story collection had everything I've done to expect from his books.

A nice collection of episodic horror stories created with expert tension and creative premises. The overall feeling was very Twilight Zone-esque where nothing is ever really wrapped up and you’re left with an unsettled feeling. I would recommend this collection for horror fans who want to read in short chunks rather than binge a whole book in one sitting.

3.5, rounded down because a couple of stories left a bad taste in my mouth even for horror. I have to hand it to Junji Itoh - he always gives me new fears that I didn't know I had. That said, the two final tales in the volume, both of which deal with forms of bullying, were a bit too on the nose with their casual cruelty. Gore? Fine. Lots of tiny holes? Bring it on. Tormenting a child? Um...

Another great horror novel by Junji Ito. I always look forward to his works. It was nice to read some of his earliest works. His art style has drastically changed from then to some of his more current works. But I definitely enjoyed reading it.

Another stunning collection of short graphic horrors from Junji Ito. It's difficult to choose a favorite, but the title story really blew me away. The art was, as always, viscerally terrifying and the plots were creative and wild. Ito remains a force to be reckoned with when it comes to his own special brand of horror.

A collection of short stories featuring some of Junji Ito's earlier works. The master of horror manga will set your teeth on edge with these short succinct stories. In fact, it may be the quick paced narrative that makes these tales seem even more spine chilling than Ito's usual longer books. The shorter format allows Ito to express some of his weirder ideas, leaving you with goosebumps. In just a few pages, the author is able to achieve that unsettling feeling that makes the ending linger in your mind.

I was unfamiliar with this author/ illustrator until my teenage daughter asked for some previously published titles. I was delighted to have the chance to preview this title. I was surprised that I liked it as well as I did. I do like a good horror genre and this one definitely fit the bill. I can see the appeal to teenagers. The story lines were easy to follow and the drawings added to the horror of the story. And I was not expecting the stories to end as they did which is not an easy thing to do when you have grown up with horror. Overall a great book. I believe I would much prefer the book as a hardcover edition rather than the digital copy I read. I think the book details would add to the tension and darkness that you couldn't get from the app on my phone. I am on the fence about adding it to a middle school library, but I think it would make a nice addition to a high school library for manga fans, especially those who like a little bit of fright.

As always Ito has cemented his title as the master of horror manga, each tale somehow managing to be creepier than the last.
To be able to see and experience his earlier works gives new perspective on other much loved takes of his like Uzamaki and Remina.

Vengeance is a common theme running through Japanese horror in general, but I'll be the first to admit that it's not always done well. Ito retains perspective and realism in his work despite weaving fantastical tales of terror, this is what sets his work apart.

I was previously only familiar with his recent and more established works, to be able to see where his career started and to trace back the way his art has developed makes the rest of his work much more enjoyable for me.

This collection of short stories will give a reader a lot of insight into the work of Junji Ito. While I enjoyed the spooky, creepy stories in the book, they all felt unfinished. This is probably because Junji Ito intentionally leaves it open-ended, you can assume what happens to the characters, but there is no real resolution. I like the collection, but if you're not a fan of his work already, I don't think you would enjoy this. There is too much in too short of a time period. Still very much in line with his work and even for his early stuff, well done.

3.5

A new collection of short stories from the Manga Master of horror and suspense!

Personally, I didn't think the average caliber was as high as usual, but there were a couple golden tales here!

I'm a big Junji Ito fan and was excited to read this new work by him. It's a collection of thrilling short stories in his iconic style.
It's definitely not going to be my favorite of his works though. The stories are short and quick with his usual level of frights and chilling ideas, but it's not the slow drawn out terror storylines he's well known for. Several of these could have been drawn out into longer tales.
They're good, it was well worth the read, just wish some had some more weight to them.

Ito was an author that started my love of horror manga. I didn’t know it existed until I spotted his books at the library. The Spiral series started it all and I never looked back. These tales definitely give me goosebumps.

This is a collection of short stories and they do not disappoint. You get the full effect of that horrifying creepiness with only a few short pages. They get their point across quickly and they are just as unnerving.

Deserter was a creepy collection of short stories and I really found myself enjoying every single one. Some were better than others but I liked them all. Bio House being my favorite story of them all. These were all deliciously evil and definitely worth the read.

* I received an eARC/e-galley of this book via Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Junji Ito does it again! This collection of stories is just as creepy and disturbing as you would expect from this master of horror. What is so great about this collection is the mix of supernatural horror with that of just the disturbing things that humans are capable of. This was the perfect read leading up to Halloween and has set me in the spooky time mood better then any horror movie. This collection of short stories is great to pick up and read one or two each day to make the uneasy feeling last longer. Going to reccomend this one to those that enjoy horror and amazing art!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
I’ve been a big fan of Junji Ito for as long as I can remember and in that whole time, he has never disappointed me with his stories. This highlights some of his earlier works, but shows that he has always been a master of horror. With twelve stories included, there’s bound to be one for everyone.
Bio House: The collection starts off weird with this blood and bug centered story. The plot is lighter than usual but it’s a good opener.
Face Thief: The new girl in school notices identical twins in the back of her class and is reluctant to be friends with one of the girls, especially after finding out they are not twins. Excellent supernatural story that is lighter of the horror.
Where Sandman Lives: An interesting tale about someone trying to escape from dreams. I don’t know how to really describe this one other than I loved it.
The Devil’s Logic: A quick shot, even for these collections, shows what happens when a young girl takes her own life. This is definitely one I’d love to see expanded.
The Long Hair in the Attic: Cursed hair. I feel like I’ve seen this story before by Ito, so it’s not one of my favorites. It’s still a good horror story though.
Scripted Love: No supernatural elements here, but the horror lies in one person desperate for another’s affection. Absolutely loved this one.
The Reanimator’s Sword: A young man stumbles across someone who can bring people back to life. A great story that really felt developed.
Father’s Love: What is behind the siblings’ headaches and how is it related to their father? I thought I knew the direction this story was taking but it took a left turn and I loved the end result.
Unendurable Labyrinth: Two girls get lost hiking in the woods and come across some severe monks. What could go wrong? Great story, though it had a bit of a subplot regarding one girl’s backstory that seemed a little weak.
Village of the Siren: A legit demon story that takes place in a half abandoned town when hundreds of infants are going missing. My favorite story in this collection.
Bullied: A woman feels guilt for bullying a boy in her childhood, but thinks she finds redemption. An odd story with what I feel is the most terrifying ending.
Deserter: A man hides out for over 8 years, thinking Japan is still at war. It’s a love story and a story of revenge, but also a tale of it going wrong.

It's so fun looking at Junji Ito's earlier works and seeing how different they are to his more current stories, both from a writing perspective and from an artistic standpoint. Many of the stories in this collection read more like recitals of urban legends rather than the more sprawling, eldritch tales that he's more renowned for, and it's fascinating looking at how his style has developed over time. This may be early Ito, but rest assured it is still a phenomenal read, and I highly recommend this volume.

Another great work by the master of horror manga!! What can I say? If you know Junji Ito, you know what I'm talking about and if not, well, what are you waiting for!! A must read for every horror fan even if you don't read much manga, try it, trust me!

I really enjoyed this book! I haven’t read a ton of Junji Ito before so I was excited to see some of his earlier work. As always, the illustrations are amazing, although not as whimsical as his later work. The stories are always so original and haunting. My favorite was Deserter but they were all good. I would highly recommend to anyone who likes Japanese horror or wants a unique Halloween read.

No spoiler review!
Thank you Net galley for ARC
Story 1: Bio house
A scientist obsession with genetically modiying organisms and blood. it’s creepy and a fresh story . Personally enjoyed it but wanted more backstory from anatagonist 4/5

Story 2: Face thief
Someone in a school is good with stealing others look! And by that I mean stealing their face. Who is she where did she come from? How should they tackle her? 5/5

Story 3: Where the sandman lives
Someone from Hirano dreams wants to enter into reality! Who is he ? 5/5

Story 4: The Devil’s Logic
What is it that make people kill themselves. This story is short and not spooky at all. I wish somebody else could be added to it. 3/5

Story 5: The long hair in the attic
Something is wrong. Imagine if your hair has its own will to grow. This story is creepy and is something we have seen before in TOMIE. I loved it. 5/5

Story 6: Scripted love
Love story that ends in a betrayal. 3/5

Story 7: The reanimator’s sword
A sword that bring dead back to life. I loved this story! 5/5

Story 8: Father’s love
Twisted story of Father’s love for his children that killed them. Spooky and creepy. 5/5

Story 9: Unendurable labyrinth
This is a story of monks who mummify themselves but why ? 5/5

Story 10: village of siren
Abductions of infants is happening in the village but why? Finally a demon story 5/5

Story 11: Bullied
A revenge from the past. 5/5

Story 12: Deserter
Love story but Creepy. 5/5