Frankenstein by Junji Ito

Title: Frankenstein

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 1999

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 408

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

The master of horror manga brings the world's greatest horror novel—Frankenstein—back to life.

Junji Ito meets Mary Shelley! The master of horror manga bends all his skill into bringing the anguished and solitary monster—and the fouler beast who created him—to life with the brilliantly detailed chiaroscuro he is known for.

Also included are six tales of Oshikiri—a high school student who lives in a decaying mansion connected to a haunted parallel world. Uncanny doppelgangers, unfortunately murdered friends, and a whole lot more are in store for him.

Frankenstein - Absolutely amazing! I adore this manga version of Mary Shelley’s classic horror story. Ito highlights the horror so well in his drawing style.

Neck Specter
Bog of Living Spirits
Pen Pal
Intruder
The Strange Tale of Oshikiri
The Strange Tale of Oshikiri: The Walls
These interconnected stories started out well. Neck Specter was amazing, but then they started to feel a bit stale. Mostly I think it’s because Oshikiri is not a great character.

The Hell of the Doll Funeral - Very creepy short that I loved.

Face Firmly in Place - Strange and not that enjoyable.

Boss Non-non
Hide-and-Seek with Boss Non-non
These two stories about a cat were not of much interest to me. They were lacking in the horror that I love.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Yuji Itadori and his classmates are fighting two of the three reincarnated Cursed Womb: Death Paintings brothers. Meanwhile, Megumi Fushiguro loses consciousness after finally defeating a special grade curse that possessed a Sukuna finger! Whoever wins the fight between Itadori and the brothers will be the one to secure the prized finger!

Um… we get a giant flashback story within this volume of the story. We get a sorta conclusion to the curse story started in volume 7 and then everything switches. My star rating is really based on the flashback section featuring a ton of characters. I literally gasped when Gojo’s classmate showed up. I am so interested in how their partnership turns in the intervening years. I am so deeply invested in this entire story now. I cannot wait to see how this plays out.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 7

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 7

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Despite the injuries and losses they suffered in an attack on the Goodwill Event, the students of Jujutsu High have little time rest as people start dying under mysterious circumstances. Could these strange deaths have anything to do with Sukuna's lost fingers?

We get a conclusion of the Goodwill Event and an interesting development in the relationship between Idatori and Todo. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the friendship between those characters. Something is fishy… And then we get a new mystery of the unlocked doors and Fushiguro’s stepsister. I thought that we would continue with this story, but the volume ends in a strange way. We get the introduction of two new curses. Battle commences…

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Venus in the Blind Spot by Junji Ito

Title: Venus in the Blind Spot

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

This striking collection presents the most remarkable short works of Junji Ito’s career, featuring an adaptation of Ranpo Edogawa’s classic horror story “Human Chair” and fan favorite “The Enigma of Amigara Fault.” With a deluxe presentation—including special color pages, and showcasing illustrations from his acclaimed long-form manga No Longer Human—each chilling tale invites readers to revel in a world of terror.

Billions Alone - Creepy body horror at its finest.

The Human Chair by Edogawa Ranpo - Very unsettling story. Loved it!

An Unearthly Love by Edogawa Ranpo - Dolls, always creepy…

Venus in the Blind Spot - Such a great story about obsession.

The Licking Woman - Um. Gross. Even for me.

Master Umezz and Me - Weirdly out of place story full of real emotion.

How Love Came to Professor Kirida - Strange story, but somehow I liked it.

The Enigma of Amigara Fault - Extra extra creepy story. I especially loved the the ending image. Horrifying!

The Sad Tale of the Principal Post - Interesting story, but not creepy enough for me.

Keepsake - I always love creepy item stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Sensor by Junji Ito

Title: Sensor

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 240

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

A woman walks alone at the foot of Mount Sengoku. A man appears, saying he’s been waiting for her, and invites her to a nearby village. Surprisingly, the village is covered in hairlike volcanic glass fibers, and all of it shines a bright gold. At night, when the villagers perform their custom of gazing up at the starry sky, countless unidentified flying objects come raining down on them—the opening act for the terror about to occur!

I loved the beginning of this story. The strange village and the visitor was a great setup for a creepy, otherworldly story. I loved following along as the story got stronger and stronger. But somewhere along the way, I started to lose interest. Really it was probably after the destruction of the cult, and the then the cult leader returned. It turned out that I didn’t actually care about this story or the characters. Weird turn I must say.

Next up on the TBR pile:

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman

Title: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #7)

Author: Matt Dinniman

Publisher: Dandy House 2024

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 724

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Cover Lover - A title and/or scene that makes you laugh

They call it Faction Wars. The ninth floor. Nine armies, each led by rich and powerful aliens from across the galaxy. Each team has one objective: to capture and hold the castle at the very center of the battlefield. Strategy, alliances, pitched battles, and, of course, betrayal... It all makes for great fun and even greater television. After all, none of these powerful aliens really die when they’re playing war.

Except this time. This time, winner takes all. Those who fall, stay in the ground.

As the AI continues its rapid decline, Carl and company take advantage of the chaos. For the first time ever, the crawlers are fighting back. They are now one of the nine teams. And this season, there’s a tenth army on the playing field. The NPCs, who are normally used as nothing but cannon fodder, have become fully self-aware and formed a team of their own.

For Donut and Katia, the stakes are even higher. Only one of them will be allowed to leave this level. If they all want to survive, they’re going to need a little help from a veteran or two. This is it. This is what they’ve been fighting toward. This is war. This inevitable ruin.

I finally got time to listen to the newest Carl book! And my goodness, I knew it was going to be a doozy. We finally get to see Faction Wars and the outcomes of so many things set up during the previous few books. I could not wait to see how Carl, Donut, and crew screwed over the corporations and the various enemies of the Princess Posse. The book starts and we immediately dive into nonstop action. Within the action, we get a few quiet moments of serious emotional weight. Just what I was expecting from this volume. The ending wasn’t a huge surprise overall, but I did love how it played out. I cannot wait to see what happens on the 10th Floor.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

• #1 Dungeon Crawler Carl

• #2 Carl’s Doomsday Scenario

• #3 The Dungeon' Anarchist’s Cookbook

• #4 The Gate of the Feral Gods

• #5 The Butcher’s Masquerade

• #6 The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

• #7 This Inevitable Ruin

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lovesickness by Junji Ito

Title: Lovesickness

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 1998

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 408

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

Ryusuke returns to the town he once lived in because rumors are swirling about girls killing themselves after encountering a bewitchingly handsome young man. Harboring his own secret from time spent in this town, Ryusuke attempts to capture the beautiful boy and close the case, but…

Starting with the strikingly bloody “Lovesickness,” this volume collects ten stories showcasing horror master Junji Ito in peak form, including “The Strange Hikizuri Siblings” and “The Rib Woman.”

This collection didn’t quite work for me completely.

The Beautiful Boy at the Crossroads
A Woman in Distress
Shadow
Screams in the Night
The Boy in White

All of these stories were connected focused on a mysterious fog filled town full of fortune seekers. The middle really dragged, but I did like the ending.

Narumi’s Boyfriend
The Seance

Two connected stories that didn’t quite work for me. I didn’t like the characters.

The Mansion of Phantom Pain - Definitely my favorite! I loved the existential horror in this story.

The Rib Woman - Another great story, this time focused on body perfection.

Memories of Real Poop - Um, what did I just read? That’s going to be a no for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 6

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 6

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

During the Goodwill Event, the Kyoto School's authorities order their students to assassinate Itadori. However, Mahito and a horde of special grade curses and curse users complicate matters by attacking the students. The teachers move quickly to counterattack but find themselves cut off by a barrier. Can the students survive this demonic onslaught?!

Oh no! The students are now in some actual danger due to outside influences. I loved seeing how they figured out the new situation and responded accordingly. I loved seeing the students from both schools come tougher to help each other to dispel the curses. The added complication of the bubble targeting Gojo was a fun wrinkle in their plans. I cannot wait to see how they overcome this obstacle and what it reveals about the characters and the larger mystery.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 5

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 5

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Everyone’s surprised (and not necessarily in a good way) when they find out Itadori is still alive, but there’s no time for a heartwarming reunion when Jujutsu High is in the midst of an intense competition with their rivals from Kyoto! But good sportsmanship doesn’t seem to be in the cards once the authorities decide to eliminate the Sukuna threat once and for all...

We dive right back into the Goodwill Event between Tokyo and Kyoto. We get to see more of the Kyoto students and learn more about their specific techniques and talents. I loved seeing how the different characters’ personalities simultaneously work together and clash with each other. The new relationship between Todo and Itadori is interesting. I wonder what will come of that…

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Stitches by Hirokatsu Kihara

Title: Stitches

Author: Hirokatsu Kihara (art by Junji Ito)

Publisher: VIZ Media 2024

Genre: Horror Short Stories

Pages: 112

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

A tumor shaped like a man’s face slowly moves across a woman’s body. The sea shoots glowing balls into the sky, much to the distress of beachgoers. And a girl dressed up for a holiday has no eyes, no nose, nothing—her face is a total blank.

Hirokatsu Kihara pens true stories of unsolved mysteries, stitched together with page after page of Junji Ito’s original illustrations in this collection of nine eerie tales and a bonus manga story.

We get a short collection of horror stories illustrated by Junji Ito.

Face - Creepy creepy body horror that I love!

Library - Cute little ghost story.

From the Sea - Lacked the horror factor that I wanted.

Festival of the Dead - Low on horror, but a lovely take on ghosts.

The Play - Anything with marionettes is creepy to me.

Folk Dance - Meh.

The Kimono - Creepy kid ghosts are always great.

Snow Day - Not enough horror.

Lips - Weird and lacking a point.

Bonus Manga: Summer Graduation Trip - Actually my favorite story in the collection. This manga story was full on creepy and lovely.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Remina by Junji Ito

Title: Remina

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2005

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 256

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

An unknown planet emerges from inside a wormhole, and its discoverer, Dr. Oguro, christens the body “Remina” after his own daughter. His finding is met with great fanfare, and Remina herself rises to fame. However, the object picks up speed as it moves along in its curious course, eliminating planets and stars one after another, until finally Earth itself faces extinction… Is the girl Remina the true cause of the catastrophe? A masterwork of horror from Junji Ito, unfolding on a universal scale.

Not my favorite of Ito’s stories. This one started interested, but quickly devolved into one long chase scene. I wanted more suspense and creep factor in the story. Instead, I found Remina herself to be a blank piece of paper and Remina the planet was not horrifying enough. I would have liked more time spent exploring the surface of the planet. So not my favorite.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dissolving Classroom by Junji Ito

Title: Dissolving Classroom

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: Vertical Comics 2013

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 178

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

What destiny awaits them after the screaming?

A pair of twisted siblings—Yuuma, a young man obsessed with the devil, and Chizumi, the worst little sister in recorded history—cause all sorts of tragic and terrifying things to happen wherever they go. These scary short stories will shock you with a literal interpretation of the ills that plague modern society.

We get a collection of stories that focus on a mysterious pair of siblings. The first story really just pushes you into horror and doesn’t let up. I loved some of the stories in this collection. The social commentary was spot on! A few of the stories got a little obscure, but the sheer horror kept me engaged. Overall, I really good mini collection of Junji Ito stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fragments of Horror by Junji Ito

Title: Fragments of Horror

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2014

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 224

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

An old wooden mansion that turns on its inhabitants. A dissection class with a most unusual subject. A funeral where the dead are definitely not laid to rest. Ranging from the terrifying to the comedic, from the erotic to the loathsome, these stories showcase Junji Ito’s long-awaited return to the world of horror.

Another collection of short horror stories from Ito.

Futon - Very creepy with a fun twist at the end.

Wooden Sprit - Meh. Not a fan of the weird sexual nature to this one.

Tomio * Red Turtleneck - Fun and gory, but the ending was weak.

Gentle Goodbye - Very sorrowful story.

Dissection-chan - Jumbled and weird, but not in the good way.

Blackbird - My favorite from the collection, very trippy and creepy.

Magami Nanakuse - Not sure what we were going for with this one.

Whispering Woman - Slow descent into madness.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tomie by Junji Ito

Title: Tomie

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 752

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Quarter of a Century - 2016

Where I Got It: Library

Tomie Kawakami is a femme fatale with long black hair and a beauty mark just under her left eye. She can seduce nearly any man, and drive them to murder as well, even though the victim is often Tomie herself. While one lover seeks to keep her for himself, another grows terrified of the immortal succubus. But soon they realize that no matter how many times they kill her, the world will never be free of Tomie.

I do love Ito’s Tomie stories. You just know going in that everyone is going to die, even Tomie, and somehow she will come back in some creepy way. Most of these stories were great fun and I enjoyed seeing how Tomie manipulates various people. I will admit that over 700 pages of Toomie stories got a little repetitive. But I still really enjoyed this collection of stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Shiver by Junji Ito

Title: Shiver

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2015

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Quarter of a Century; I Read Horror - Frightening Cover

Where I Got It: Library

This volume includes nine of Junji Ito’s best short stories, as selected by the author himself and presented with accompanying notes and commentary.

An arm peppered with tiny holes dangles from a sick girl’s window… After an idol hangs herself, balloons bearing the faces of their destined victims appear in the sky… An amateur film crew hires an extremely individualistic fashion model and faces a real bloody ending… An offering of nine fresh nightmares for the delectation of horror fans.

As this is an anthology, I’m doing a one sentence review for each story.

Used Record - Meh. Not my favorite, slow and lacking in the horror.

Shiver - Loved this horrifying take on a cursed object.

Fashion Model - Monsters are always a favorite story focus.

Hanging Blimp - My favorite of the collection. This was so disturbing!

Marionette Mansion - Puppets are always creepy; loved it.

Painter - A Tomie focused story. Interesting, but not my favorite of the Tomie stories.

The Long Dream - Weird premise of this one, but I really enjoyed it.

Honored Ancestors - Creepy creepy creepy. Loved the twists in here.

Greased - This one was very gross, even for me.

Fashion Model: Cursed Frame - Yes! A bonus monster story.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 4

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 4

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 200

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

While investigating a strange set of mysterious deaths, Itadori meets Junpei, a troubled kid who is often bullied at school. However, Junpei is also befriended by the culprit behind the bloody incident—Mahito, a mischievous cursed spirit! Mahito sets in motion a devious plan involving Junpei, hoping to ensnare Itadori as well.

Hmmm…. I really assumed that Junpei would be a character that would hang around for longer in this series. I thought we were going to get a bit more emotional conflict with Itadori and Junpei being on opposite sides. But we quickly get rid of Junpei and focus back on the conflict between Mahito and the Sorcerers. I am interested in the lore that was revealed and how this will play into the larger storyline.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 3

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 2

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2018

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Tensions are high as the Goodwill Event between the Tokyo and Kyoto campuses of Jujutsu High approaches. But before the competition can even begin, a couple of Kyoto students confront Fushiguro and Kugisaki. Meanwhile, Yuji’s training gets interrupted by a mysterious crime involving grotesque bodily alterations caused by a cursed spirit...

Oh…. I am really getting into this series now. We get to see new characters and lots of plot development. I am very interested to see how the two different jujutsu schools operate and approach the coming crisis. We get a little glimpse of this when the mini showdown between the students, but I just know that more is coming. And then we get the larger curse crisis. I cannot wait to see how the story evolves and how Sukuna plays into everything. We do get some emotional weight with a new character. Let’s see how this plays out.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 2

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 2

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2018

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna were lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

When a cursed womb appears at a detention facility, Jujutsu High dispatches Itadori and the other first-years to handle the situation. However, the curse they encounter is far stronger than they ever expected! Itadori and friends now have two options: run and maybe live, or fight and die. While they are distracted, powerful curses with mysterious designs on Jujutsu High and Satoru Gojo are gathering…

So much plot was put forward in this volume. We get to see the aftermath of the battle in the detention facility and crucially the fate of Itadori. I’m very much interested in how they work him back into the collection of characters in this and subsequent volumes. Beyond him, we get to learn so much more about curse breaking and the various techniques used by characters. Satoru Gojo is of particular interest. There are so many mysterious hints dropped in this volume. I cannot wait for more to revealed. On to the next volume!

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Parasyte Vol. 8 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 8

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey

Genre: Comics

Pages: 

Rating: /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Book to Movie

Where I Got It: Library

MONSTER TWIST: Shinichi vows to destroy Goto, one of the deadliest of the alien parasites that have invaded Earth-and people's bodies. But at the moment of truth, Shinichi discovers something unexpected in his heart: sympathy for the monster. Soon Shinichi, who harbors his own alien parasite, will come to a stunning realization about the dark side of human nature-and his own soul. This is the final volume of Parasyte. Includes special extras after the story!

And we finally get to the end. I truly loved how this story ended. It had the emotional weight that I was looking for without being super pessimistic. We get to see Shinichi and Migi really grow and come into their own. They are separate entities, but clearly very connected (and not just physically). We get to see Shinichi take on responsibility for Migi and even for all the parasites. While big comic/manga series are a lot of fun, I really enjoyed how this was a contained story with a conclusion. And now, J and I can watch the anime version.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile:

Parasyte Vol. 7 by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Title: Parasyte Vol. 7

Author: Iwaaki Hitoshi

Publisher: Del Rey

Genre: Comics

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

ENDGAME: Shinichi is both man and monster. He's an ordinary high school student whose body has been invaded by an alien parasite. And he alone knows a terrible secret: The aliens are plotting the destruction of humankind. Now Shinichi is the target-for both the government and the alien invaders-in a hunt that will lead to a terrifying, bloody showdown. . . . Includes special extras after the story!

Most of this volume is taken up with a large action sequence between Shinichi and a parasite infected human. We get to really ramp up the action sequences and see just how deadly the parasites can be. I was very intrigued by how the stand off with the police and the parasites was going to go. This volume did not disappoint.

Parasyte

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

Next up on the TBR pile: