Title: ReminaAuthor: Junji Ito
First Published: August 30, 2005
Publisher: VIZ Media
Pages: 256
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Seinen
Format: eARC, Hardcover
Source: NetGalley, Purchased
Rating:
Synopsis:
An unknown planet emerges from inside a wormhole, and its discoverer, Dr. Oguro, christens the celestial body “Remina” after his own daughter. His finding is met with great fanfare, and Remina herself rises to fame. However, the planet picks up speed as it moves along in its curious orbit, 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.
Review
Remina has always been one of Ito’s most underrated gems, a classic example of science fiction and cosmic horror wrapped up in one wonderful little volume. After the discovery of a new planet that appeared out of a wormhole, humanity is initially excited. The scientist that discovers the wormhole names the planet after his beautiful teenage daughter Remina and the girl is instantly catapulted to stardom. Once they realize that the planet is moving toward Earth, destroying stars and planets along the way, the world is plunged into a state of madness and terror.
The story is not subtle in criticizing society’s almost religious worship of idols like Remina, who becomes the people’s outlet for their joys and anxieties. The biblical imagery is clear as Remina and her father are hunted to be crucified in hopes of averting catastrophe in the opening pages. What follows is an incredible story of a world swept in madness for fear of an unknown threat from the farthest reaches of space.
This is a fun story that keeps the pace going on full-throttle, though there was a point where I felt the chase became tiresome as it went on for a little too long. Despite that, it was a refreshingly original story aided by Ito’s art, which was as detailed and surreal as always. Remina is a fun ride and is an essential read for fans of Lovecraftian horror.
Quote
“It noticed our existence!”
Content Warnings
View Spoiler »About the Author
About Junji Ito
Junji Ito is a Japanese horror manga artist. He was inspired from a young age by his older sister’s drawing and Kazuo Umezu’s comics and thus took an interest in drawing horror comics himself. Nevertheless, upon graduation, he trained as a dental technician, and until the early 1990s, he juggled his dental career with his increasingly successful hobby — even after being selected as the winner of the prestigious Umezu prize for horror manga.
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