The Liminal Zone by Junji Ito
Product Details
Web ID: 15068173"Four Past Midnight" but make it Junji Ito
Widely considered a master of the horrible and the macabre, Junji Ito returns with four tales from the depths of COVID lockdown to help you have a hard time falling asleep at night. From elite Catholic boarding schools, to tear-soaked villages, to a deadly forest, Ito will leave you dreading and begging for more through his classic storytelling and manga style. Though I have been aware of Junji Ito and his works for years, this was the first time I have actually sat down and read one of his works (having never watched any of his animated adaptations, either). Though horror is not my go-to genre, I really enjoyed (?) and/or was drawn to these one-shot horror tales and the delicate, yet grotesque way in which the stories were captured through the manga panels. I like that though the stories definitely all share a paranormal elements, the 'real-life aspects' of the story are just as creepy, if not more so, than whatever spooky skeletons or undead spirits are currently haunting the poor people of Ito's world. I will definitely seek out more Ito titles int he future to add some variety to my normal reads!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good book
I recently bought this book and it is a really good book and I love the hardcover it self as it has a nice design. This book is also one of the few horror books I own as I’m not that into but overall loved it.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Just shy of perfection
Awesome read very dark stories. One of my junji ito favorites . Just leaves you wanting a bit more from this book. Still an amazing book!!.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Amazing
I absolutely adore Junji ito. His work is wonderful. The art and the way ito delivered was everything.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Love this
I picked this up off the horror section for Halloween and love it. It’s exciting and I love the author.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
My new favorite Junji Ito collection!
After reading THE LIMINAL ZONE, I now have a new favorite Junji Ito collection. I was beginning to think he'd never top his FRANKENSTEIN collection, but he finally did it! There are four short stories contained within this beautiful hardback edition and with the same gorgeous art style one is accustomed to seeing from Ito. Though I will say, he continues to draw his female characters the exact same way. I have to wonder if this is on purpose? His male characters are distinct from one another, so I know he has it in his wheelhouse. Hmmm. Each of the four stories has a unique setting and plot - but all four have the theme in common: what happens to a soul after death. The last story, "Slumber" is my favorite - probably because it features a serial killer. Coming in at a very close second would be "The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara" because I have been fascinated with the lore and research that has gone into the Suicide Forest at the base of Mount Fuji. "Weeping Woman Way" was a creepy exploration of an old custom and "Madonna" showed a more evil side of religion. All of these were just top notch writing from Ito. The artwork was amazing, especially in "Slumber" - he had such a realistic way of showing the serial killer that it always made me pause each time I saw one of these panels. I've already got Ito's two upcoming October 2022 releases on preorder. I've read several of Ito's stories/collections and this one seals my trust in the author so that he is now an auto-buy for me. That and the beauty of his artwork is such that any collector will want to have it on their shelves.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Amazing Book!
This book is one of my personal favorites. Not just because I love every book that Junji Ito writes but that "The Liminal Zone" has very creepy and disturbing things which is why I love horror books. I would highly recommend this book to people who like suspense and a very horrific story.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not My Style, But Good for the Horror Reader
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley to post this review. I have always been curious of Junji Ito's work, but I have not gotten a chance to read it until now. I will say, this type of horror manga is not my style, most definitely. I prefer the slice of life manga, fantasy, something imaginative and fun. That took a star off my review, but the rest of it is completely from the book. Ito continues to write creepy and crazy stories, Imagining things that I've never even thought of, and that will definitely be in my nightmares for the next few days. All of these stories are more on the mental side, hence the name "Liminal Zone", and they get creepier over time. My favorite story was titled "Slumber", and I really enjoyed the twists and turns in that one. Overall, while it was not my style, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes horror, or Ito's work in general. Masterful job as always
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com