There’s nothing more terrifying than being trapped in the world of spirals, and Junji Ito’s Uzumaki brings that horrifying image to big screens. Uzumaki is one of the finest horror masterpieces by Junji Ito. Among all his other works, the series outclasses the depiction of grotesque elements.
Junji Ito’s manga has been adapted to both film and anime television series, highlighting the mangaka’s influence in the community. Although fans received their anime, it inevitably led to a huge disappointment. In the midst of the controversies and criticism, fans of Uzumaki who were let down by the adaptation should check out a classic horror title that features terrifying monsters sure to make you want to hide under the covers.
After the Letdown of Uzumaki, Dive into the Classic Horror Manga That Chills to the Bone
Amid controversies and criticism, Uzumaki features many of Ito’s favorite themes, like obsession, paranoia, and the mundane becoming utterly bizarre. Despite Episode 1’s immense success, disappointment seems to have settled in already, with the latest release of Episode 2.
The multiple award-winning 60-year-old artist is famed for his black-and-white graphic novels and short stories revolving around dark themes. And Uzumaki is one of the most notable works in the horror manga genre.
Hellbound is a nasty piece of work that starts off fascinating and then blends its genre elements with its philosophical concepts. Hellbound is a Korean webtoon written by Yeon Sangho and illustrated by Choi Gyuseok, which even received a Netflix adaptation that took the entire internet by storm.
Hellbound introduces three Demons as the main antagonists of the South Korean dark fantasy television or manhwa series. In an interview, Yeon revealed his thoughts and creativity behind the three demons. He answered:
I felt the need to not make them look anything like a traditional monster. I wanted their look to be strange and clumsy. I think it’s scarier to see a monster that looks somewhat incomplete rather than a monster with a formative aspect. I thought it should look like it was created by someone with a different sense of design than humans.
The manhwa explores themes of morality, justice, and the concept of hell. With its dark and suspenseful tone, Hellbound has gained a massive following worldwide.
Though Junji Ito is a master of horror manga, no adaptation from any of his works has really been to the mark. Sadly, Uzumaki faced the same inevitable fate and failed to leave a strong impression on viewers despite years of anticipation.
Beyond Uzumaki: Discover Classic Horror Manga That Left Its Creator Quitting Out of Fear.
Although Uzumaki‘s hype went straight down the drain, horror anime enthusiasts can explore another classic title that even compelled its creator to quit for their safety. The manga PTSD Radio is currently on unofficial hiatus, reportedly due to a series of unsettling and mysterious incidents involving the artist.
Furthermore, many claim that the artist nearly lost their life while making it, contracting a mysterious illness that mirrored the symptoms of a character in PTSD Radio. PTSD Radio features a collection of short manga stories that often present terrifying interpretations of common household items.
Nakayama (PTSD Radio‘s creator) revealed that during production, his team experienced eerie occurrences like scratching noises, flickering lights, and mysterious shadows in the studio. Moreover, the author was hospitalized after he suddenly developed a rare autoimmune disease.
PTSD Radio will always stand out as the only horror manga that led its creator to take a long hiatus due to real-life events that would terrify anyone, sparking curiosity to read the series.
Uzumaki is available to watch on Max & Adult Swim, whereas Hellbound manhwa can be read on Webtoon and the live-action adaptation can be streamed on Netflix.
