Junji Ito is a renowned Horror Manga artist/writer thanks on how creepy his manga is. His popular works include Tomie, Uzumaki and Gyo. As well as some award winning short stories and anthology that even boost his name as one of the best horror manga artist. Among his works he release a manga which includes all of his short stories entitled as "Best of Best: Itou Junji Tanpenshuu" and published in English with the title as "Venus in the Blind Spot" by Viz Media on 2020.
There are a total of 10 Chapters in this manga and each chapter is a different story with different titles not related on each other. Most of them are Horror Stories written and directed by Junji Ito himself. And here's my Ranking based on how creepy each story is.
10. Master Umezz and Me
Chapter: 6
This is a ranking based on how creepy the story is. And unfortunately Master Umezz and Me is actually more of a like parody story. Because Junji Ito and Umezz Kazuo (both Horror Mangaka) are in this story depicting how this two once work on a certain manga. Both of them are amazing manga artist and if you are a big fan of them, you should read this chapter. Just don't expect it to be scary.
9. The Sad Tale of Principal Post
Chapter: 9
This is literally a short story because it only has 4 pages. It is just number 10 because on how weird this story is. That's right, it is not creepy but weird. The story is all about a father who mysteriously crushed by the post of their house. Literal meaning of "The Father is the Pillar of Home". The answer on how he got there was not answered until the end. That's why this is the last because there is no answer and explanation in this story.
8. How Love Came to Professor Kirida
Chapter: 7
This is where this list starting to get serious. We can't see the typical creepy art of Junji Ito yet but the story is not that bad. A woman who is inlove with the writer and professor named Kirida. After getting rejected her both book and love he later found dead drowned in a river. Thats where Professor Kirida started to act strange which he believed he was haunted by the woman. I actually like this one because the ending is satisfying and all questions are answered. But still it is not the creepiest in this list.
7. Venus in the Blind Spot
Chapter: 4
This is like a call combination of Sci-Fi and Horror and is somewhat creepy. A story of a girl with a beauty that makes other people delusional. Her father experimented all of the boys who loves her and prevent them from seeing the girl up close. Because they are a believer of UFO, they think it was a work of Alien. Not until they lose their sanity and killed the girl they idolized. I don't think it is the best but given how beautiful the story is. It makes it number 7.
6. The Enigma of Amigara Fault
Chapter: 8
It is actually one of my favorite in this list because of how good the story is. Too bad I don't find it creepy enough that's why it is just number 6. But trust me the story is exceptionally excellent. A story of fatefull encounter of young boy and girl hiking in the mountain to reach the controversial fault that emerged after the earthquake. In the tall slump of crack there are holes shaped like humans and if the person fits perfectly in this, they mysteriously vanished as if they fall into the hole. What will happen to the two? Find it out yourself.
5. The Human Chair
Chapter: 2
Things will be serious starting from this. I remember that I actually read this chapter late at night all by my self and it was hell creepy. A story of a woman who is a literary artist and a chair she believed to have a person living inside. She can see it sometimes wiggling and when she sits on it, she can feel that there is a person inside. It is a creepy story but messy story fitting to take half of this list.
4. An Unearthly Love
Chapter: 3
This is pretty disturbing actually. I thought that this will be nothing at first. But as the story is reaching the end it also gets creepier. It is the story of a woman who married to a man that actually hates woman. Their relationship started normal. Not until the woman suspects her husband for having an affair for his frequently leaving every night and his weird behaviour during the day. The ending and answers will definitely surprised you. Just read the manga and you'll know.
3. Keepsake
Chapter: 10
This is a hard choice for me because number 2 and this is almost the same in terms of creepiness. Finding your wife bearing a child 9 months after she died is already creepy enough. The father still adopted the child but still his uneasiness will not go away thinking how did it happen. Once you've learned the answer, trust me it is very disgusting and creepy in its own way.
2. The Licking Woman
Chapter: 5
This chapter is creepier than keepsake all because of its art. The art is probably the creepiest in this list. It is not just creepy but also disgusting. They made a good job at illustrating because you will probably got scared once you've reach this chapter. The story of a woman who kill someone once she licked them. The victim died from poison but the autopsy can't find any trace of any chemical in their body. That's the reason why the woman can't be captured. How can this licking woman kill his victims that even science can't explain?
1. Billions Alone
Chapter: 1
Ironically my favorite chapter and the number 1 in this list is also the 1st chapter of this manga. This is probably the reason why I got hooked in this manga because the story is very creepy even from very the start. This chapter is a perfect balance of creepy story and creepy illustration that makes this story best among the best. This is all about a series of mysterious death of people where their bodies are being sewed together using fishing lines. Who is the culprit of this disturbing incident especially that the victims are increasing every day.
Junji Ito is a genius in this genre that's why I decided to make more articles about his works. His manga is actually not long that's why it is perfect for one sit binge reader of mangas. And of course for those who love horror, this is perfect for you. So expect the unexpected.
