Recent Reads: Uzumaki (Patreon)

Hey everyone!

I really like to give updates on current comics and graphic novels I'm reading. I just finished this one tonight, 'Uzumaki'.

This actually marks my FIRST manga. I remember someone recommending I check out a creator named Junji Ito while looking for inspiration. A quick google search of his name brought up some INSANE images. I had to get my hands on one of his works.

 'Uzumaki' is a story about an unfortunate town plagued by spiral symbols around every corner, turning it's inhabitants mad, and often WORSE. 

The first thing I had to get a handle on...was how to read it! Being a westerner, I'm used to reading right to left. It was weird reading a book, essentially backwards but I got the hang of it soon enough. 

Secondly, I was so fascinated with the imagery and world building. The book has an incredible amount of detail that I'm really taking note of in my own work. I think it pays off so well to really make sure your world seems real and lived in.

And of course, Ito REALLY lays on the body horror, with people contorting and twisting themselves into the most painful looking monsters imaginable. There are so many images burned into my brain I don't think I'll ever lose. I didn't want to put it down as my compendium seemed almost like a serial, each chapter telling different story going on in the town somewhere.

At the same time, it  was a bit frustrating. I kept saying to myself, "WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE STILL DOING IN THIS TOWN?! GTFO! PRONTO!" After the third crazy death, I'd be seriously considering moving to a hole in Tokyo somewhere. Yet, the main characters seem to just brush every inconceivable occurrence off as nothing until the next insane thing happens in town.

Despite that, I truly enjoyed most everything else about this book. And what a great springboard into horror manga! Can't believe I'd ever dip my toes in these waters but I did and I'm looking forward to the next Ito book I get my mitts on, this guy knows what's up. This one gave me so much inspiration to keep going with 'TSWWS' and to keep thinking about all the opportunities within it for some really disgusting...errr...memorable moments.

If anyone has any other horror manga they'd like to recommend, please feel free to share! Hope you all have a great weekend!