News

Globally, fear has been showcased differently around the world, but Japanese horror stands out. At the heart of this genre lies Junji Ito, a visionary artist who has taken this genre to a whole new level. Traditionally, the horror genre relies on the typical jump scare, but Ito-Sensei has his own ideology.

A panel from Uzumaki. Credits: Viz Media

The manga artist believes in showcasing fear with cultural beliefs and psychological terror sewn perfectly with grotesque imagery that would petrify one with fear. To put it simply, the artist is the Eiichiro Oda of this genre, as his works are renowned among fans of this genre because he can really make you feel unsettled.

As a result, at the end of each work, fans would be compelled to think about the madness they had just read. With meticulous attention to detail and the obsession of taking fear to a whole new level.

There is a lot to be said about consuming a long-run manga series, spending years following the exploits of your favorite characters, and seeing your collection grow. Many of the titles with the most accolades manage to weave these long expansive stories that make them fan favorites and generate a lot of conversation within the fandom.

However, single-volume manga offers its benefits and the often under-touted format forces its creators to make a strong impact within the confines of a short narrative story. Personally, these shorter series make up some of my all-time favorite reads as well as act as perfect starting points to recommend to others who are interested in the medium but are unwilling to commit to dozens of volumes. Furthermore, these titles are ideal for revisits, casual re-reads on a nice day outside, or lounging at home.

In no particular order, here are 12 outstanding single-volume manga releases...

The “will they, won’t they” trope has been a favorite one for romantic movies, essentially since the beginning of the genre. Based on a light novel series written by Kyosuke Kamishiro and illustrated by Takayaki, Shinsuke Yanagi has come up with a series that is based on the concept but moves into an unusual path. As the title suggests, a former middle school couple find themselves under the same roof when their parents end up getting married, without knowing of their children’s past. The results are both hilarious and dramatic.

The aforementioned former couple are Mizuto Irido and Yume Ayai, and as the series starts, the tension is quite obvious. Initially fighting about the title of older, sister or brother, that is, their friction extends to a number of fields, including their performances in the first year of high school, where they attend the same classroom. At the same time,...

The newest collection of stories from the master of Horror Manga, Junji Ito. “Venus in the Blind Spot” contains a few iconic works of the mangaka along with adaptations of Edogawa Rampo and Robert Hichens.

Billed as a “best of” release of some the iconic creator’s work, the newest edition from Viz media exists as the highest quality one to date, an impressive feat granted the publisher’s history with the mangaka. However, the phenomenal approach in presentation becomes marred in the story selection which, many fans would agree, is a far-cry from the most notable work created by the master of horror.

To lead on a positive, the release gloriously frames the art of Ito, with opening pages on glossy stock, highlighting his unique visual approach (these pages also include a mini-poster which is a welcomed collectible). In the vein of previous releases, the book...

Osamu Dazai, born Shuji Tsushima, is one of the most well known figures in Japanese literature, with several hit novels, including “The Setting Sun” and “No Longer Human”. The latter, his last work released posthumously after his suicide, is considered to be his crowning glory and stands as the second highest-selling Japanese book of all time. Dazai himself had a very eventful life, dotted with his alcohol abuse, womanising ways and several suicidal attempts, all of which have been the inspirations of many representations in various forms of written and performed art, including films, manga, anime and more. The latest to tell his story is “Helter Skelter” director Mika Ninagawa. “No Longer Human”, as its Japanese title “Osamu Dazai and the Three Women” suggests, follows the latter part of his life and the three key partners that not only influenced some of his best works but also led to his ultimate demise.

The Canadian virtual festival will include more than 100 features and 200 shorts.

Canada’s Fantasia Film Festival has announced a third and final wave of feature films, as well as details of its panels, talks, tributes and special events.

This year’s virtual edition of the Montreal-based festival, running from August 20 to September 2, will include more than 100 features and more than 200 shorts.

Among the latest titles added to the line-up are Vincent Paronnaud’s Hunted, getting its world premiere, Jorge Michel Grau’s Perdida, getting its international premiere, and Kiel McNaughton’s Indigenous action-comedy The Legend Of Baron To’A, which will be the closing night film.

Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, which runs August 20-September 2 and is being held digitally this year due to the pandemic, has unveiled its final lineup.

The fest has also announced that revered genre filmmaker John Carpenter will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award and will host an online masterclass as part of its virtual events.

New pics selected include Kiel McNaughton’s Indigenous action-comedy The Legend Of Baron To’a, which closes the fest, the world premiere of Persepolis co-director Vincent Paronnaud’s Hunted, Johnnie To’s Chasing Dream, and Finn Wolfhard’s directorial debut short Night Shifts.

Further events will include talks with Mike Flanagan and Mick Garris, Simon Barrett, and Dennison Ramalho with José Mojica Marins aka Coffin Joe.

As reported previously, this year’s fest will open with Neil Marshall’s horror The Reckoning. The online screenings, which will run via Festival Scope and Shift72’s virtual screening platform,...

The horror genre within manga, and by extension Japanese art, has had a long history dating back to the early 17th century with the release of the Tokiwa Scrolls, believed to be painted by Iwasa Matabei. The twelve part collection depicted graphic violence, murder and nudity. However, the art style of ukiyo-e embracing more graphic content did not really become common until the 19th century. Regardless, it can be said that these early depictions were used to both educate and entertain and ingrained a deep fascination with the macabre that is spirited in today’s mangakas who thrive in the horror genre.

This list includes 15 modern titles to offer insight into a world rich with narrative diversity and style for the reader to explore. It is by no means a comprehensive or definitive list of the genre, but reflections of the author’s own personal experiences and love of horror manga.

Viz Media is set to release Bts: Blood Sweat and Tears by Tamar Herman. “In Blood, Sweat & Tears, K-pop columnist Tamar Herman explores the group’s origins, meteoric rise, wide-ranging activism, and close-knit relationship with their fans. With full color photos, spotlights on each member, and a play-by-play of their discography, this book is a celebration of all things Bts and a must-have for fans worldwide!” (Viz Media)

Also being released in august is a new collection of short stories by Junji ito entitled “Venus in the Blind Spot“. Additionally, a compilation of art and notes for the record breaking video game Monster Hunter World will be released as “Monster Hunter: World – Official Complete Works“.

Additional Releases

Several other titles will be made available in August, you can visit the official Viz Media site for additional information and to preorder.

Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – EvolutionFushigi Yûgi: Byakko Senki, V.1The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,...

“Plagued by a maddening anxiety, the terrible disconnect between his own concept of happiness and the joy of the rest of the world, Yozo Oba plays the clown in his dissolute life, holding up a mask for those around him as he spirals ever downward, locked arm-in-arm with death.” (Viz Media)

Before discussing the manga, I feel it is important to note that I went into this being familiar with Ito’s work, and only knowing Osamu Dazai through other media references. As a result, my critique will only reflect Ito’s work and not touch on any comparisons to the source material.

To quickly touch on the quality of the release, Viz Media has given Ito’s work a new life, with the last several collections of his work being bound in hardcover and on superior paper stock. The collected edition of “No Longer Human” is...