I have been completely engrossed in binge-reading this series by Junji Ito over the past few days. When I initially set the goal of 50 for the 2017 Reading Challenge, my intention was to read 50 non-manga books. However, I still feel the need to record the manga I have read here on Goodreads, so that I can reflect on them in the future.

I am truly amazed by Mr Junji Ito's works! They are extremely unique, spine-chilling, quintessentially Japanese, and disturbingly messed up. The plot twists are simply fantastic, and the gore is intense. Some of the drawings are so vivid that they almost made me want to vomit EWWW, and certain stories have even given me nightmares. But despite all this, I just can't stop reading them (even during the New Year, yes) because they are THAT good.

The theme of Tomie, the main character, in the first few stories of the series was really interesting. There were some truly despicable characters who were evil for rather bad reasons or sometimes for no reasons at all. The settings and the characters might not have been entirely new, but Mr Ito has this remarkable ability to make everything seem so captivating and engaging.

It was okay.

However, it could be much, much, MUCH better.

Here's my issue. I understand that Junji Ito is the new sensation and all. He's really awesome, and his artwork is great (for the most part). The stories I've read so far have mostly good and amazing ideas. But the execution is where I have a problem.

You see, there's a main theme in his stories, and there are these episodic-like things where, chapter after chapter, something happens to someone you don't care about at all, and it's mostly insignificant to the main story. But it happens just so you can see some creepy dismemberment or something similar.

There's no character development, and that really hurts the most. The characters' reactions and choices are mostly extremely dumb, without any reason or logic, which also insults my intelligence.

Other than that, it's still fun to read, and you definitely want to see what happens next and at the end. But it was a bit of a chore to read some of the stories, and that, unfortunately, takes it down a star.

PS. No. It wasn't as good as Uzumaki.

A collection of short horror stories is presented, with one central character named Tomie tying them together, along with the subsequent events. At the start, the stories had an eerie atmosphere, but unfortunately, they soon became dull and uninteresting. This book lacks the brilliance of Uzumaki and attempts to rely on graphic and disturbing artwork to create a scare, yet it still fails to deliver. At one point while reading the book, I found myself questioning why this story should even be considered scary.

Good horror can originate from various sources, but the most effective one is often the monster in the closet. The monster in the closet is scariest when it remains hidden, as our imagination exaggerates it to unrealistic magnitudes. If that monster were to emerge, we would be able to measure it, recognize it, and ultimately defeat it.

This is precisely where this comic falls short. It depends on the same explanation for all the disjointed events that take place in the short stories, which almost always results in a feeling of boredom because you already anticipate what's going to happen.

Re-readability: 1/5

Surprisingly, this work is not as disturbing as some of Junji Ito's other creations.

Certainly, the body horror element is still very much present. However, perhaps it is due to the fact that the characters are only minimally developed or that we don't really have a great deal of background knowledge about them. This makes the work fall short in terms of scaring me to a great extent.

Is it creepy? Absolutely. But is it one of his best works? Not even close.

It seems that in this particular piece, while the grotesque and disturbing images are there, the lack of fully fleshed-out characters and a more in-depth backstory prevent it from reaching the same level of terror and impact as some of his other masterpieces.

Nonetheless, Junji Ito's unique style and ability to create a sense of unease are still evident, even if this work doesn't quite measure up to his highest standards.

Tomie has always been renowned.

I am just beginning to explore the horror genre, or perhaps even the gore aspect, I would say.

Visually, this manga is artistic and appealing. Maybe the way it is presented will give you a sense of discomfort, but I found it unique and artistic when I saw it for the first time.

However, its story is what I think is a bit lacking. But I am only on #1 so far. It's a bit fast-paced, a bit confusing, and all over the place.

I would say that Tomie is a great character who embodies horror and revenge. I hope and expect more as I progress further in the whole collection.

Maybe as I read more volumes, the story will become more developed and coherent, and I will be able to better understand and appreciate the depth of the character and the overall plot.

I am looking forward to seeing what else Tomie has in store for me.

Junji Ito is a renowned horror manga artist, but this particular work is my least favorite among all of his creations.

It gives the impression of being a bit repetitive, lacking the same level of gore and scariness that his other works possess. The characters seem rather flat, especially Tomie. I truly wished that we could have delved deeper into her backstory or uncovered more about her motivation.

However, one aspect that remains consistent and remarkable is the amazing artwork. Ito's talent for creating detailed and atmospheric illustrations is still on full display, even in this less-than-stellar work.

Despite my disappointment with the story and characters, the artwork alone is enough to make this a worthwhile read for fans of Ito's unique style.

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The last chapter was my favorite.

However, it wasn't disturbing enough for me. In fact, it also seemed very confusing.

Maybe it was because the plot was too complex or the author's writing style was a bit hard to follow.

Nevertheless, I still found some interesting points in it.

The characters' emotions and relationships were well-developed, and the descriptions of the setting were vivid.

Overall, although the last chapter had its flaws, it was still an important part of the story and contributed to the overall atmosphere and theme.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the author will continue to develop the story in the next installment.

Tomie, just like other stories created by the genius Junji Ito, is a grotesque and fantastic tale.

The first volume was way too short, and I'm extremely eager to start the second one and then conclude with the third.

The story is in no way similar to others, and that's the wonderful thing about it. The uncertainty of not knowing what will happen and yet, because of that, accepting it and simply enjoying it. It's a marvelous fiction.

Tomie's charm lies in its ability to constantly surprise and unnerve the reader. The unique art style of Junji Ito further enhances the overall atmosphere of the story. Each panel is filled with details that draw you in and make you feel as if you're a part of this strange and terrifying world.

Whether you're a fan of horror or just looking for something different, Tomie is definitely worth checking out. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Imagine a truly terrifying scenario where a 42-pieces-mutilated-Tomie is scattered all around a city in Japan.

Each individual piece has the ability to resurrect at a specific place and at a certain time, only to meet the same fate of being killed and mutilated once again.

Soon enough, it seems inevitable that Japan will be overrun with Tomies, filling every corner with her eerie presence.

I'll be damned. This must be the very reason why I found the whole concept so confusing before, unable to actually finish understanding it.

I was only thinking of a particular body, but there are just so many events that I can't seem to put together in a coherent manner.

Anyway, now that I've been able to see Tomie in a more complete picture, it's truly an incredible haunting.

Surprisingly, I kind of like this strange and disturbing aspect of it.

It's as if her presence lingers in my mind, leaving an indelible mark that I can't quite shake off.

Tomie really caught my attention at that moment.

The first story was truly fantastic. It had elements that made my heart race and my imagination soar.

However, after that, it became somewhat confusing for me.

It wasn't like "Fragmenti Strave" at all, not even remotely close.

I found myself struggling to understand the direction the story was taking and some of the plot twists seemed a bit random.

Maybe I just need to read it again with a more open mind and try to pick up on the subtleties that I might have missed the first time around.

Overall, while the beginning was promising, the middle part left me a bit perplexed.

I'm still interested in seeing how the story concludes and if it will manage to tie up all the loose ends and make sense of everything.

Only time will tell if this will become one of my favorite reads or just a passing fancy.

It was an accident that I read this manga in Spanish (I don't speak it very well) but I understood everything and I really loved it:DD

I really like the art and, yes, Junji Ito has a very strange writing style but for me it's not a bad thing. So now I'm reading the following volumes.

Junji Ito's works are known for their unique and often disturbing art and storylines. His style can be off-putting to some, but for others, it's what makes his manga so captivating.

In this particular manga, the art was detailed and atmospheric, really bringing the story to life. The writing, while strange, had a certain charm that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Overall, I'm really enjoying my foray into Junji Ito's manga and I can't wait to see what else he has in store for readers.