Tomie complete hardcover deluxe edition published by VIZ Media LLC 10 January 2017 (fair use)

(6) JUNJI ITO –

TOMIE

Yes, I’m including manga in special mentions otherwise of American or European comics – just because of Junji motherfreaking Ito!

You never forget horror manga artist and writer Junji Ito once you’ve seen his work, either in their original form or in their screen adaptations. It’s horror that operates as horror because it is weird and disturbing.

“Ito’s work consists of many subgenres of horror, mainly being host to the subgenres of body horror and cosmic horror. Much of his work is based solely in them, with other themes including a relationship of predator to prey, a loss of humanity, apocalyptic scenarios, and obsession being common. The universe Ito depicts is cruel and capricious; his characters often find themselves victims of malevolent unnatural circumstances for no discernible reason or punished out of proportion for minor infractions against an unknown and incomprehensible natural order.”

If I am to pick one Ito work above all others, it has to be Tomie – the recurring immortal girl that drives men to madness and keeps coming back even if you kill her.