Chapters 1 and 2 of the manga introduce us to the main characters Shuichi and Kirie who first encounter the curse inflicted upon Shuichi’s father who has become obsessed with spirals. Uzumaki (うずまき), known as “Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror” in English, is about a small town Kurouzu-cho whose residents are tormented by a curse that manifests in the shape of spirals. His works leave a lasting impression on readers, and are an inspiration to many horror manga artists as well. The shadows, aesthetics, and downright creepy visuals cannot be translated from manga into animation.

Manga artists have their own style of drawing, and Junji Ito’s is one of the most distinct, so much so that anime adaptations of his work tend to not be well received by fans. There is no explanation or hidden story about the horrors, the ending leaving readers feeling unsettled and even icky, but that’s the magic of it. Many of Junji Ito’s works cannot be clearly interpreted. Terrifying visuals, downright gore, and plain disturbing scenes. What makes Junji Ito’s work so popular is the drawing style.

Many of his works feature body horror and grotesque images, so proceed with caution if that is something you are not comfortable with. He also has a collection of one-shots that are downright scary or disturbing. Other masterpieces he is known for are “Tomie (富江)” about a beautiful girl who drives the men around her insane, and “Gyo (ギョ)” about fish that mysteriously grow legs enabling them to walk on land to attack anything and everything in their way. “Uzumaki (うずまき)” is the title of one of his most notable works.

Junji Ito (伊藤潤二) is known as the Master of Horror Manga. A special surprise to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Toonami.

Uzumaki by Junji Ito