Smashed by Junji Ito

SYNOPSIS:

Try not to be noticed when you eat the secret nectar, otherwise, you’ll get smashed… What horrific events happened to create the earthbound—people tied to a particular place for the rest of their short lives? Then, a strange haunted house comes to town, but no one expects it to lead to an absolute hell… Welcome to Junji Ito’s world, which has no escape from endless nightmares.

REVIEW:

"Smashed" is a collection of horror stories by the master writer Junji Ito. In total, there are a fitting 13 stories to fill your heart full of questions and dread. Overall, the book successfully uses morbid images, tales, and situations. Each story is entirely unique, and while they are not necessarily the most frightening stories in the world, the stories do accomplish a sense of dread. There were points where I couldn't put the book down and others where the stories were less about shock value and horror and more about obscene situations. While horrible in their own right, I was looking for the signature Ito story. It felt off. Almost as if this collection was designed as an introductory set of stories for new readers or even younger readers. This isn't to say you should pass on this collection at all. The excellent stories more than made up for the one or two weaker ones, and the artwork is stunning and lends itself well to the storytelling.