Masterpiece Collection Vol. 10: Frankenstein
An even more modern Prometheus
Author: Ito Junji
Year first published: 2013
Original Language: Japanese
Genre: Horror
This book is part of Ito’s Masterpiece collection, a set of tankoban that reprint some of Ito’s older work with a few newer pieces, and are the books that got translated in English under Viz media for their Junji Ito Story Collection.
The collection starts off with Ito’s adaptation of Mary Shelly’s famous Frankenstein. It always leaves me in awe just how much repulsive detail Ito can get with just black and white. He doesn’t even use that much screentone comparatively, and the heavy black inking just adds to the unsettling nature of his artwork. I love it so much.
Frankenstein takes up a good half of the book, with the rest being several much shorter stories. Many of them revolve around a young japanese schoolboy named Oshikiri, and his house which seems cursed and connected to other dimensions. I’d read a few of the stories in the Oshikiri saga, but not all of the ones here.
The Hell of the Doll Funeral was probably my favorite concept of all of these stories.
The last couple of stories are cheeky little non horror bits about Ito’s mother’s ancient Maltese dog, Non-non. I can’t get over this panel, it’s just so silly and cute and I love this tiny crusty white dog.
A solid collection from Ito.
Review posted 2023/12/07