I don't know. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to read about people turning into snails and whatnot.
( )

"Uzumaki" has a strong beginning, a middle, and an end. That may not sound like much, but it's Ito's work after all, which is saying a lot.

Ito takes everyday objects and turns them into pure horror. Spirals, a rather simple pattern that appears in both nature and man-made objects, is converted into a source of terror, both physically and emotionally.

The first two stories are the absolute best, capturing and conveying the horror of obsession. While the first focuses on body horror, the second beautifully captures the gothic kind. This results in a wonderful see-saw of emotions in the readers; it's something I've seen very few authors, especially in manga, do, and it must be applauded.

Ito also expertly crafts stories about phobias centered around the body. Saying more would be akin to providing spoilers, so I'll refrain. You should read the stories.

Ito balances cosmic and body horror brilliantly, especially in the way he answers the question of who's more evil. While there is unseen and unexplained evil at the core of the town, it's the people who end up doing horrific things unprovoked. It is what truly drives the stories forward, making them more horrific than they should be.

"Uzumaki" is a brilliant read throughout. It goes a bit off the rails at some points, but the genius is consistent enough to make this an excellent read. ( )

This series disturbed me like no other, but god did I ever love it.

Am I weary of spirals now? Maybe?

Am I weary of Snails now? Mhmm. I might be.

Did I want my kids to have a happy ending? Man, I really did...even though I knew it was impossible given the circumstances of the series.

Overall, I think this was one of my favourite reads of the last few books I've read. The story was engaging and I really grew to love Kirie and Shuichi to the point where I dreading reading the end because I knew it wasn't going to end well for them. The mystery behind the spiral curse never felt repetitive or boring because each story added more intrigue to the twisted and deranged nature of this curse and its effects it had on the citizens of the town. I don't think i'll ever get the image of Shuichi's dad in that container out of my head....ever.

Mr. Ito's art is absolutely gorgeous in the weirdest way that I was compelled, but at times I also felt sick looking at it (IM LOOKING AT YOU SNAIL PEOPLE) and I think that's a sign of a great horror artist and story teller. The ending sequence was heart breaking for Kirie and Shuichi when they realized that no matter how hard they fight they weren't going to escape this curse that has been placed on them and that their fate was always sealed no matter what they did.

I also have to mention my love for the art sequences that lead to the eye of the spiral - simply stunning. Its incredible how Mr. Ito was able to incorporate so many different spiral designs into one scene. Ingenious.

If you love horror stories with fantastic art that will leave your stomach feeling slightly queasy then this story is for you! ( )

I will never look at escargot the same EVER again!! Yerg!


That said, I do think Shuichi is a cutie... at least before the start of his mental breakdown. Considering what's happened to him throughout the series, it's no real surprise the grasp he had on his sanity started slipping.

Also, I'm surprised Kirie didn't have MASSIVE nightmares after all she'd witnessed! The incident at the hospital? Jack-In-The-Box?!?!? O_o ( )

I will never look at escargot the same EVER again!! Yerg!


That said, I do think Shuichi is a cutie... at least before the start of his mental breakdown. Considering what's happened to him throughout the series, it's no real surprise the grasp he had on his sanity started slipping.

Also, I'm surprised Kirie didn't have MASSIVE nightmares after all she'd witnessed! The incident at the hospital? Jack-In-The-Box?!?!? O_o ( )