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1. Bibliographic Information
Ito, J. (2001). Uzumaki: Spiral into horror. Volume 1. San Fransisco, California: VIZ Media, LLC.
ISBN: 1-4215-1389-7
208 pages
2. Plot Summary
Divided into four chapters, Uzumaki chronicles the sudden obsession with spirals and the sinister feeling that it has something to do with either the town or its lake. Kirie Goshima lives in the small Japanese town of Kurôzu-cho. When her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, comes back to visit Kirie and his family in the town, he tells Kirie his hesitancy in visiting his father. According to Shuichi, the town is starting to make him feel dizzy and his father is suddenly becoming obsessed with spirals. Initially, Kirie does not believe her boyfriend, but when she sees the father looking attentively at a snail shell she begins to wonder. Things start getting worse, though, when Kirie’s father is commissioned by Shuichi’s father to build him a sculpture. However, when Shuichi’s father begins to create spirals on his own body, he begins to wrap himself into a barrel. When Shuichi and his mother find him, he has suffocated himself in the spiral. When Kirie begins to see the warning signs that the rest of the town is affected by an obsession of spirals will she be able to avoid it?
3. Critical Evaluation
This graphic novel felt somewhat unfinished. The six chapters highlight different stories, each involving the town’s mysterious fascination with spirals as well as how it affects Kirie. While the storyline provides the reader with some theories as to why this obsession might be happening, there are no explicit explanations, nor has the author really narrowed where the plot will move to next. This is a multi-volume work; therefore, upon reading the subsequent sequels the reader will probably have a better understanding of where the author is taking this story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the campy style of horror. The illustrations were very interesting, adding to the overall feel to the graphic novel. I think that the illustrations above all are what add the horror to this piece. Ito’s ability to portray the issues that the townspeople have with spirals makes this graphic novel more disturbing. The text just reinforces the emotions provoked by the illustrations.
4. Reader’s Annotation
When Kirie realizes that her small home town of Kurôzu-cho, Japan is cursed. Plagued by an obsession with spirals, the townspeople begin acting strangely. Can Kirie find a way to escape these odd events before it’s too late?
5. Information about the Author
Junji Ito was born July 31, 1963 in Gifu-ken, Japan. Uzumaki first appeared in the mainstream publication, Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits. It was later created as a live-action film and has been released in America. Uzumaki was nominated for an Eisner Award (Official website: http://www.willeisner.com/).
6. Genre
Horror
7. Curriculum Ties
N/A
8. Booktalking Ideas
- How does Junito Ito use people to convey fear?
- Do you feel that people can be possessed by nature or the supernatural?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age:
I would recommend this graphic novel for teens aged 16-18.
10. Challenge Issues
This graphic novel is rated “T” for older teens. It contains violence and disturbing images.
If a person did wish to challenge this book I would refer them to the ALA’s challenge form found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
I saw it at my local library and I thought it looked interesting.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Eisner, W. (2010). Will Eisner.com. Retrieved from http://www.willeisner.com/
Ito, J. (2001). Uzumaki: Spiral into horror. Volume 1. San Fransisco, California: VIZ Media, LLC.
Picture from
Amazon.com (2010). Uzumaki, Spiral into horror. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Uzumaki-Spiral-into-Horror-Junji/dp/1421513897/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268696037&sr=1-1
Ito, J. (2001). Uzumaki: Spiral into horror. Volume 1. San Fransisco, California: VIZ Media, LLC.
ISBN: 1-4215-1389-7
208 pages
2. Plot Summary
Divided into four chapters, Uzumaki chronicles the sudden obsession with spirals and the sinister feeling that it has something to do with either the town or its lake. Kirie Goshima lives in the small Japanese town of Kurôzu-cho. When her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, comes back to visit Kirie and his family in the town, he tells Kirie his hesitancy in visiting his father. According to Shuichi, the town is starting to make him feel dizzy and his father is suddenly becoming obsessed with spirals. Initially, Kirie does not believe her boyfriend, but when she sees the father looking attentively at a snail shell she begins to wonder. Things start getting worse, though, when Kirie’s father is commissioned by Shuichi’s father to build him a sculpture. However, when Shuichi’s father begins to create spirals on his own body, he begins to wrap himself into a barrel. When Shuichi and his mother find him, he has suffocated himself in the spiral. When Kirie begins to see the warning signs that the rest of the town is affected by an obsession of spirals will she be able to avoid it?
3. Critical Evaluation
This graphic novel felt somewhat unfinished. The six chapters highlight different stories, each involving the town’s mysterious fascination with spirals as well as how it affects Kirie. While the storyline provides the reader with some theories as to why this obsession might be happening, there are no explicit explanations, nor has the author really narrowed where the plot will move to next. This is a multi-volume work; therefore, upon reading the subsequent sequels the reader will probably have a better understanding of where the author is taking this story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the campy style of horror. The illustrations were very interesting, adding to the overall feel to the graphic novel. I think that the illustrations above all are what add the horror to this piece. Ito’s ability to portray the issues that the townspeople have with spirals makes this graphic novel more disturbing. The text just reinforces the emotions provoked by the illustrations.
4. Reader’s Annotation
When Kirie realizes that her small home town of Kurôzu-cho, Japan is cursed. Plagued by an obsession with spirals, the townspeople begin acting strangely. Can Kirie find a way to escape these odd events before it’s too late?
5. Information about the Author
Junji Ito was born July 31, 1963 in Gifu-ken, Japan. Uzumaki first appeared in the mainstream publication, Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits. It was later created as a live-action film and has been released in America. Uzumaki was nominated for an Eisner Award (Official website: http://www.willeisner.com/).
6. Genre
Horror
7. Curriculum Ties
N/A
8. Booktalking Ideas
- How does Junito Ito use people to convey fear?
- Do you feel that people can be possessed by nature or the supernatural?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age:
I would recommend this graphic novel for teens aged 16-18.
10. Challenge Issues
This graphic novel is rated “T” for older teens. It contains violence and disturbing images.
If a person did wish to challenge this book I would refer them to the ALA’s challenge form found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
I saw it at my local library and I thought it looked interesting.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Eisner, W. (2010). Will Eisner.com. Retrieved from http://www.willeisner.com/
Ito, J. (2001). Uzumaki: Spiral into horror. Volume 1. San Fransisco, California: VIZ Media, LLC.
Picture from
Amazon.com (2010). Uzumaki, Spiral into horror. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Uzumaki-Spiral-into-Horror-Junji/dp/1421513897/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268696037&sr=1-1
13. Awards
nominated in 2002 for an Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material category
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