I certainly won't. I will never look at anything with a spiral the same way ever again.
Ito has created a great story, even for someone like myself who is not a fan of Japanese animation, and also a beginner in the wide world of graphic novels and chapter books. (or grown up comic books if you prefer that term)
The stories are told from the prospective of a young girl named Kirie Goshima who lives in the town of Kurozu, along with her boyfriend Shuichi Saito. The first two chapters deal with the tragic deaths of Shuichi's parents, his father dying from turning himself into a spiral, and his mother from trying to rid her body of spirals. (Think fingerprints and the cochlea in the inner ear for starters)
Shuichi is convinced that their town is infected with spirals, which is seemingly proven by the odd patterns in the river and the fact that every time a body is cremated, the smoke belches out from the smokestack in a spiral pattern that covers the town before falling into mysterious Dragonfly Pond. After the deaths of his parents, he quits school and becomes a recluse, popping out only in time to save Kirie from one spiral or another.
In the remaining chapters, we meet Azami Kurotani, a beautiful girl who has never been turned away by a boy since she received a crescent shaped scar upon her forehead. But when Shuichi turns her away, Azami becomes fixated on him, and falls victim to the spiral.
Then Kirie's father, a potter, begins to notice changes in the way his clay behaves when fired in the kiln. His everyday plates and bowls begin to twist and warp into unusable shapes, and he becomes transfixed by his work until Shuichi realizes what is happening and steps in to help Kirie.
Next is a love story of two youths whose poverty stricken parents have declared war on each other, and refuse to allow the young lovers to see each other. Just as the spiral seems to twist in upon itself forever, so does unrequited love writhe about the hearts of Yoriko and Kazunori.
In the last chapter, the spiral steps it up a notch and enters the realm of the truly bizarre, when Kirie discovers that her own hair has been infected, and begins a life of its own. Surprisingly, this causes her friend Sekino to become jealous of the attention Kirie is getting from being led around by her hair. Some people will do anything for attention, and Sekino finds a way to compete with Kirie while Shuichi tries to find a way to save her.
I found this volume to be extrodinaryly entertaining, and am already buried deep within Volume Two. With the subtle horror and fast paced storyline, these books are a great read for young adults and old adults alike.
A simply fascinating study of how a mundane pattern can awaken from non-existence and possess an entire town, this is definately an entertaining "Food For Thought" piece that will cause you to wake up and take notice of all the patterns within your own life. Quite enjoyable, all in all. :o)
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Great to finally have this series in my hands!
I’ve been a fan of Ito Junji’s works for about a decade now, but admittedly I’ve never owned any of his works (I read everything online, I know, shame on me). I finally decided my first purchase of Ito Junji’s work would be my favorite series, Uzumaki. I only vividly remember the ending, which I remember was tragic, but still heartfelt, because of what becomes of the two main characters. Being able to read everything from beginning to end again gave me a rush of emotions, like wonder, anxiousness, nostalgia, excitement, and admiration towards Ito Junji. I even felt a some thrill as I was reading some of the more grotesque scenes (by now you can imagine I have a tolerance for horror, but back then as a 14 year old it felt like a rollercoaster reading his works). I highly recommend Uzumaki to anyone who is interested in horror manga. Actually, I’d recommend all of Ito Junji’s exquisitely creepy and beautifully eerie works, but this has a special place in my heart. :)Now as for the delivery and condition of the manga, I’m greatly satisfied! This arrived a few days before the earliest expected delivery date, and the condition is excellent despite only being described as “very good.” Very, very happy with the purchase! Thank you!!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2004
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019
Now as for the delivery and condition of the manga, I’m greatly satisfied! This arrived a few days before the earliest expected delivery date, and the condition is excellent despite only being described as “very good.” Very, very happy with the purchase! Thank you!!
Great to finally have this series in my hands!
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019
I’ve been a fan of Ito Junji’s works for about a decade now, but admittedly I’ve never owned any of his works (I read everything online, I know, shame on me). I finally decided my first purchase of Ito Junji’s work would be my favorite series, Uzumaki. I only vividly remember the ending, which I remember was tragic, but still heartfelt, because of what becomes of the two main characters. Being able to read everything from beginning to end again gave me a rush of emotions, like wonder, anxiousness, nostalgia, excitement, and admiration towards Ito Junji. I even felt a some thrill as I was reading some of the more grotesque scenes (by now you can imagine I have a tolerance for horror, but back then as a 14 year old it felt like a rollercoaster reading his works). I highly recommend Uzumaki to anyone who is interested in horror manga. Actually, I’d recommend all of Ito Junji’s exquisitely creepy and beautifully eerie works, but this has a special place in my heart. :)Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019
Now as for the delivery and condition of the manga, I’m greatly satisfied! This arrived a few days before the earliest expected delivery date, and the condition is excellent despite only being described as “very good.” Very, very happy with the purchase! Thank you!!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2010
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2013
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2014
