3.5/5 Stars, rounded up to 4. I am always impressed at how much world-building the author can get across just in the unsettling nature of his art style. I find myself often frustrated at how short some of the stories are, as I have enjoyed Ito's Uzumaki and its focus on a specific town plagued with a particular problem. His short story collections are a practice in patience for me, as I often enjoy the premise of the short stories and wish there was more to enjoy. However, I would say that this isn't necessarily a negative criticism, as this has never stopped me from reading the next collection that I can get my hands on as soon as I can.

I especially loved the horrifying imagery in 'Town of No Roads'. I thought this was the most powerful story in the collection by far. There were so many unsettling layers to peel away, really leaving me as the reader feeling like I was also journeying into this strange ramshackle town built of people's homes. I loved the detail of the masks and the very external struggle for privacy or to escape the need for privacy.

Well worth the read!

Junji Ito's latest work plunges readers into a realm of unsettling horror, featuring tales of grotesque transformations, otherworldly entities, and inexplicable phenomena. Ito's imagination is both disturbing and captivating, with artwork that adds a level of unrest only he could create. While some narratives may lack narrative cohesion, their unsettling atmosphere and nightmarish imagery are sure to haunt readers long after the final page.

While not as strong as its predecessors, "Alley" still stands as a titan of horror manga, and perfect for anyone unfamiliar with Ito's work.

With ten eerie tales, Alley is a fascinating look into Japanese fears. With serial killers, ghosts and demons, most horror sub-genres are represented. My favorite story, Blessing, even has a mystery to solve within it. Many of the stories are unique enough to be remembered long after the story is finished.

Whether you like horror or Japanese culture, Alley is a good choice. At 344 pages, there is plenty to like within its pages. 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for providing me with an advance review copy.

Not my usual read but I liked it a lot. The stories are creepy, and the illustrations are great. Most of the stories are quite short and have a satisfying ending. I enjoy horror in general, and this was a great new format for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, VIZ Media, and Junji Ito, for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was really looking forward to Alley, as I am a huge Junji Ito fan, and he did not disappoint!
While I didn’t find it as dark as some of his other work, it was still a very enjoyable read that I found very difficult to put down.

I do wish some of the stories were a bit longer, as I was interested to see where they would go, but overall, all the stories were masterfully illustrated, and extremely well told.

My favourites from this collection were: “Blessing”,“Town of No Roads”, and “Memory”.
I highly recommend it for any fans of Junji Ito, or for anyone who wishes to start reading horror manga.

Thank you to Junji Ito and VIZ Media via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Viz Media for the ARC! Alley gathers 10 disturbing stories from the mind of Junji Ito. These haunting tales include an icecream craze that's not your typical soft serve, a story that speaks of the dangers of too many eyes on our lives, a father that digs too deep into the ground to start a hot spring bath house, and a closed in alley where the sounds of children echo in the night. These stories are sure to please horror fans as well as fans of Junji Ito, with artwork that will haunt your dreams!

This book is pretty different than Junji Ito's usual short stories. It's a collection of short stories, more like Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark than Tombs or Smashed. The stories are incredibly short, weird, and haunting. Even having read the description, I was expecting more story to each, but honestly, they grew on me quickly. They're just fun. I really enjoyed this collection.

Thank you to Junji Ito and VIZ Media via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first foray into Junji Ito and i really enjoyed it! I’ve been hearing about his work for years and this collection did not disappoint. His illustrations are eerie and well-done. His stories are unique and gripping. My favorites from this collection were “Blessing”, “Town of no Roads”, and “Memory”.

I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who loves horror and is looking for something with a visual component.

Junji Ito's collections have been very hit or miss for me so I wasn't sure what to expect from this newest batch of stories. I am pleased to say that this is one of my favorite collections of his that I've read so far. I found all of the stories to be sufficiently strange and creepy. Some really pulled me in. My only complaint is that they all end pretty abruptly and don't really have a conclusion. I was left with "wtf just happened?" Still, that didn't really detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. If you're a fan of Ito's work then I think you will enjoy this new collection as I think it's one of the strongest from the more recent years.

Thank you to @NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is another solid set of Junji Ito short stories filled with body horror, psychological thrills, and a general sense of grossness and dread. Standouts for me are "Alley," "The Ward," "Descent," "The Inn," and "Memory."

This was a really great introduction to the Junjo Ito universe. It wasn't as dark and memorable as a lot of his other work, but that didn't make it any less memorable or enjoyable. These were easily digestible stories with interesting characters.
If you have a friend who wants to get into Ito's work and you're not sure how well they'll deal with horror, I highly recommend this collection as a starting point.
Really great stories and I never knew what was going to happen next.

It's probably the best Junji Ito collection I have read in a long time. Some really fantastic artwork with some creepy storylines that rival Uzumaki. If you're going to pick just one new Ito collection to read, make it this one.

This was my favorite Junji Ito collection published in the last few years. As always, there were at least a couple of stories (and images) that will haunt me forever, which is really what I'm looking for in a book.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley

This Junji Ito collection is fantastic as they always are! I am a huge Junji Ito fan and this one has some great disgusting body horror. Fun and creepy!

Another wonderfully unsettling collection from Junji Ito (although I believe this is a reprint). Stories are stronger in the first half/two-thirds.

I think I've read too many Junji Ito stories, and maybe that has caused a sameness to settle in. It feels very rote. His art is still great, but I didn't really enjoy this one. His later works don't seem to hit as hard for me. Hopefully, the next one will be better.

Another fantastic and disturbing set of short stories. I really enjoy Junji Ito's work, even if it makes my skin crawl.

Both the writing and artwork were strong in this collection. While nothing quite took my breath away, stories that stood out to me were “The Ward”, “The Blessing”, and “Memory”. The stories overall were (as usual) disturbing, chaotic, and masterfully illustrated.

Classic Junji Ito. A must read for his fans who will not be disappointed with the story and art style throughout his volume. There are some amazing panels.

Junji Ito is back and better than ever. Alley is a collection of 10 truly disturbing short stories. I cringed, I grimaced. I had a fantastic time and I cannot wait to see what this man comes up with next.

Thank you to VIZ Media and NetGalley for the eARC!