Junji Ito’s Deserter: A Cabinet of Creeps
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My Thoughts
If you’ve ever wanted to peek into Junji Ito’s early horror brain, Deserter is basically his diary, but with way more ghosts and murder. This anthology collects his older short stories, and while they may not all be hits, the vibes? Immaculately cursed.
Some stories are quick, eerie gems that leave you with a weird pit in your stomach. Others feel like fever dreams that may or may not make sense (but honestly, that’s kind of what I signed up for). You’ve got haunted men, spiraling women, toxic obsession, and enough unhinged emotional breakdowns to fill a Tumblr feed. There’s one story in particular (Deserter, the title story) that’s stuck in my brain rent-free because of how unsettling it is.
If you’re a huge fan of Ito’s more structured works, like Uzumaki or Tomie, Deserter might feel a bit chaotic. But that’s the charm, it’s a peek behind the curtain. You can see him experimenting, building up the horror formula we now associate with his name.
Would I hand this to a Junji Ito newbie? Maybe not. But if you already love his style and want to see the scrappy, raw versions of his horror themes, this one’s worth it. Some stories will leave you creeped out, others will have you going, “That’s it?”, and somehow, that balance makes the whole collection work.
My Rating: 4/5
A must-read for fans who want more cursed content. Don’t expect perfection, expect chaos, discomfort, and that classic Ito unease.