Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu
Venus in the Blind Spot

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Let’s be honest here, unless this is you first Junji Ito manga, you know very well what to expect here. His stories are unique and creative, yes, but the style and the quality is also very stable. Meaning that you should expect around the same level of enjoyment as you had from most of other Junji’s works. This is amplified even more by the fact that half of this anthology was already published as parts of different works, so even if you haven’t started *this* manga yet, chances are high you’ve already read parts of it.

My favourite part of this collection was the titular Venus ... in the Blind Spot, which again showcases Ito’s craft with fear as yet another creative way to induct dread in the characters and veil the story in a mysterious atmosphere. For fans of Ito I would also like to point out the Master Umezz and Me story which is more unique one – it’s not a straight out horror story, but instead an autobiographical one-shot, which is certainly something that would of interest to the fanbase.

Overall, while I wouldn’t call this the “Best of Best” collection, it’s definitely a good and entertaining read.

Mod Edit: This review was originally posted for Ningen Isu (38635) and has subsequently been merged into Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu (119021).


Another nice piece of work from Ito Junji. It is seriously a pleasure to read one of his works and feel a hint of weakness to fear and crave his other works.

I really did enjoying reading this one shot.

The story is something new. Something that is different and something that none of us have actually thought about before. As we read the title, 'Human Chair' we suddenly think of a chair that has feelings? A chair that is alive? Well, ... to simply put it we never do think of objects having feelings. But what Ito Junji has done with objects that we've never actually thought about really creeps me and gives me the chills. He's disguised it so well...

'a man used to live in it...' this mean what it actually means.
*Suddenly goes and checks my sofa... surely there isn't people living in my sofa right?...*

As always the art style is very detailed and gives you the eerie feeling. Dark and mysterious, he places great detail on the characters faces. When showing fear, it really shows, with the sweat, the changes in the facial expressions and the way their body is drawn to react, his drawing style really captivates me to read on and to find out what actually happens.

The characters were really average and i've got nothing to say. He has portrayed them very well, they all have their individuality.

My enjoyment in this was good. He could have created it a bit more scarier and tried to make it more atmospheric like what he's done with Tomie, but as a one shot he has done very well. He could have drawn it scarier *laughs* because i know he's very good at that. Then i would have up-ed my score to an 8 or 9 for enjoyment but a 7 will do.

My overall a 9/10
It's Ito Junji, i praise his work a lot and when i found Uzumaki in my book store i was more than happy to read it and buy it. The story is amazingly told and with every horror story he creates such a twist at the end which just makes you gasp at the end because it's ended so quickly! I would suggest reading more of his works so that you'll be able to enjoy it as much as i have.
He is seriously the best horror mangaka ever.

I know i could have enjoyed it more if he had but a bit more effort into it but yes a must read from Ito Junji for all you horror readers :D

Mod Edit: This review was originally posted for Umezu-sensei to Watashi (85533) and has subsequently been merged into Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu (119021).


This is a short story in which Ito Junji relates the influence which Umezu Kazuo had on his art and storytelling.

Story, 7: This isn't a horror story, but it does deal with Ito's influences in horror storytelling. it was an interesting tale about Ito's artistic influences growing up.

Art, 7: There are several panels using horror-stricken faces for comedic effect, which were actually pretty amusing for their over-the-top nature. Other than that, the art is good as always.

Character, 6: Ito and Umezu ... are the only characters that are developed/fleshed out in any capacity, but it was nice to see the more personal side of the author.

Enjoyment, 6: It was a nice read, but I don't know if I'll be coming back to it any time soon.

Overall, 6: I would recommend this to fans of Ito's work, if only to see his influences while younger.

With all the new translations by VIZ MEDIA of Ito's work, which one should you pick up first, after reading Uzumaki? I'd argue it should be a tie between SHIVER and VENUS IN THE BLIND SPOT. I actually own this volume in person, and I am glad I picked it up.

Venus in the blind spot honestly took me by surprise. Now, I have read almost all of Ito's short stories, as well as his long works (Uzumaki, Tomie, Gyo, Black Paradox, No Longer Human, etc.). And I believe this has a great collection of short stories inside of it. Without any further ado, let's just ... jump into those stories:

1. Army of One/Billions Alone (Army Of One is still my preferred title) (10/10): Army of One is well-known for being one of Ito's best short stories to date. It follows a social outcast, named Michio, who is well...A social outcast. He shares an apartment with his mother, and refuses to go outside most of the time.

2. The Human Chair (8/10):

3. Venus In The Blind Spot (7/10)

4. The Licking Woman (6/10)

5. Master Umezz and Me (7/10): One of Ito's satirical pieces, that also serve as a autobiography. The story recalls when Ito first learnt of _____ Umezz, a very popular horror manga icon who created "The Drifting Classroom."

6. How Love Came To Professor Kirida (6/10)

7. An Unearthly Love (?/10)

8. The Enigma of Amigara Fault (10/10)

9. The Sad Tale of Principal Post (5/10)

10. Keepsake (?/10)

I'll get back to writing this review later, but just know this a decent collection. I was largely disappointed with the release of LOVESICKNESS, which covered one of my favorite medium-length stories of Ito's: The intersection fortune telling.

Mod Edit: This review was originally posted for Ningen Isu (38635) and has subsequently been merged into Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu (119021).


Junji Ito. That name the otaku community knows a lot. He is known for several stories involving terror and the psychological of people, in addition to using grotesque art to distress and cause sensitivity to the reader. I'm really looking forward to reading as much content as possible from this author, but this work (The Human Chair) was a mess about what Junji really is a terror of.

As the story is very short and has little complexity, spoilers ... will be prevalent, so be warned.

Basically, Human Chair is divided between past and present, with the present being focused on an author who wants to buy a chair and the past telling a bizarre event.
Well, the history of the past, Human Chair, begins in a good way: a past where a writer named Yoshiko Togawa receives anonymous letters about a "human chair". The author is intrigued and decides to offer the work for a contest, achieving the feat of winning.

Even though they did not know the real author, the community was scared because he was anonymous, even more than an amateur. It was no different with Yoshiko, she had thoughts and paranoia as the pages went on.

However, like most terrors, some coincidence in relation to what was introduced happens. In this case, Yoshiko's husband bought a chair in which he made the author think that such a story became real. And as expected, the moment happens.

Yoshiko's husband eventually sits on the chair and is stabbed to death by someone inside. After opening, the police saw a space in human form, proving that there was a man there. After all these events, Yoshiko isolates herself and is never seen again.

Returning to the present, the carpentry salesman opens one of the store's chairs and shows two bodies inside, which would belong to Yoshiko and the man who was hidden in the past. The seller also mentions that he is a descendant of the couple, who stayed together after the event. The author of the present is horrified and runs away from the place. In the end, she receives an order, a chair, just like Yoshiko, in the past.

I must say that I was disappointed with the manga. It is not bad for the art, nor for the introduction, but for the final execution. I couldn't like this resolution, because I didn't understand the logic of two decomposing bodies inside an object in the house. Such bizarre misses with the horror genre and I consider it much more as a quick suspense to anything else. In addition, the art was nothing special, I did not feel chills, much less any discomfort due to art. It was a disappointment in a way.

However, I still believe that Junji Ito has some useful work. I've heard a lot about Uzumaki and Tomie, they look very promising. I hope I do not regret reading the works of this renowned artist, as I saw nothing remarkable with Human Chair except my wasted time reading this.

Mod Edit: This review was originally posted for Ningen Isu (38635) and has subsequently been merged into Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu (119021).


It was my first Junji Ito manga, the manga is short but the story fits well in it, what show that he can create a precise plot without extend it too much.
The art is quite good, he can shock when he wants, whereas it is still stunning on the human characters.
I confess, I didn't get scaried, but I got surprised and I laughed in the end because it was too unexpected, Even today it's hard to tell the feeling I had when ... I read the last page.
Now I'm a Junji Ito fan, the most part of his works are awesome like Ningen Isu. If you never have read a Junji Ito manga Ningen Isu is one of the best mangas to start.

Español / Spanish
Este recopilatorio de historias cortas representa de excelente manera el estilo de trabajo (Narración y dibujo) de Junji Itou, siendo este muy único. Pero realmente no lo recomendaría leer si esta es la primera obra que te acerca a el autor, sería mejor empezar con sus historias más populares, ya una vez que conozcas más sobre Junji-sensei será muy interesante y divertido leer este tomo, ya que encontrarás anécdotas de su infancia, fuentes de inspiración, historias originales y adaptaciones de historias, pero ahora con el toque de Junji Itou.

Inglés / English
This compilation of short stories represents in an excellent way the work ... style (Narration and drawing) of Junji Itou, being very unique. But I would not recommend read it if this is the first work that brings you closer to the author, it would be better to start with his most popular stories; and once you know more about Junji-sensei it will be very interesting and fun to read this volume, because, you will find anecdotes of his childhood, source of inspiration, original stories and adaptations of stories, but now with the style of Junji Itou.

Mod Edit: This review was originally posted for Ningen Isu (38635) and has subsequently been merged into Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu (119021).


The Human Chair is a very nice short one shot. I really loved the characters. that unlike many Junji Ito's work seem to have more depth. The art is just beautiful as you'd expect by a work made by Ito. And the horror aspect really is good, it makes you feel uncomfortable and freaked, something i don't see in many other horror media. But comparing it to other Junji Ito's work, this is pretty run of the mill manga, it's pretty basic ... and not the scariest thing. If you want a really scary manga, you could literally check out any other Junji Ito manga that are way better. But still, this is not bad.
I give Ningen Isu a 7/10