By Nubia Jade Brice
“University student Mimi and her boyfriend Naoto encounter one chilling mystery after another. There's the enigmatic neighbor woman dressed in black from head to toe—but if she's so odd, why does it seem like there are many others like her? Then, whose eyes track Mimi's movements from the cemetery next door? And why does a bizarre red circle drawn on a basement wall change with each passing day?” (Viz Media)
For many people, autumn and all things scary just seem to go hand in hand, so it's no surprise that horror legend Junji Ito would drop a new manga just in time for the height of Fall. Combining his iconic art with stories by authors Hirokatsu Kihara and Ichiro Nakayama, “Mimi's Tales of Terror” is the perfect collection of spooky tales sure to give readers chills.
Reading a Junji Ito manga without immediately noticing his artwork is almost impossible. Since all the stories revolve around a central character named Mimi, the art is relatively consistent throughout, with no depictions feeling overtly gruesome or different compared to the others. While the more simply designed spirits are all similar throughout the manga, the main villains or monsters vary enough in design that it makes each threat feel distinctive. Ito has a way of highlighting the inherent creepiness of each narrative through his illustrations. This is especially evident in “Just the Two of Us”, where the movement and poses in his art manage to be striking while also invoking a feeling of sympathy for the perceived villain of the story. What the art does exceptionally well in this manga is elevate each one of these short stories without distracting from them. Despite following the same character, each piece is unique and distinct from the others.
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The titular character, Mimi, is easy enough to like and follow throughout the series. Nothing particularly stands out about her as a protagonist except that she keeps finding herself in these mysterious situations. Still, she isn't the typical, overly naive horror main girl either. She feels more like a guide or vessel when compared to a main character from a traditional novel, but that feels like the appropriate choice for a collection of short stories. Viewers know just enough about her and the other characters to enjoy each piece while letting the monsters and plot leave more memorable impressions.
Fans looking for stories that will send shivers down their spine should know that every piece in this collection isn't necessarily horrifying. There's a good balance between terror, mystery, and even thrillers with more open endings that leave you to dwell on them long after you finish. This variety helps the collection to seem less redundant but is also versatile enough to offer something for every type of fan. A story like “Scarlet Circle” is especially successful because it utilizes suspense to entice the reader, while “Seashore” is an eerie piece with a satisfyingly unnerving ending. Despite being so different in tone or approach, each story deserves a read-through, as they all have a different type of appeal.
Ultimately, combining the writings of Hirokatsu Kihara and Ichiro Nakayama with the art of Junji Ito was smart, as they complemented one another seamlessly. While someone as prolific as Ito surely has no trouble selling manga at this stage in his career, he remains dedicated to the craft, delivering high-quality works of fiction. With so much to offer, readers of “Mimi's Tales of Terror” will not be disappointed.
