|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||
|
|
Reviewed by Michael Aronson “With their town devastated by titanic hurricanes, the citizens of the spiral-haunted town of Kurozu-cho – including Shuichi, Kirie and her family – find themselves cut off from the outside world. Reporters and rescue teams cross the mountain range into Kurozu-cho only to find themselves unable to leave. Trapped inside the cursed ruins, the desperate survivors struggle and huddle together, waiting to run into giant snails or worse. The very laws of nature are changed as the spiral sucks them in. And to fight it, or to escape, the last survivors must go to the heart of the horror to witness what may be their eventual fate...” In further defining itself as the ultimate horror title in graphic literature, Uzumaki sidesteps its horror roots in favor of more fantasy elements in its final volume, and yet somehow this change of flavor makes it even more haunting than ever before. In addition, instead of standalone chapters of various horrific elements, every aspect in the first two volumes comes together in a connected narrative that brings the entire saga and mystery of the spiral to a close. But how do you end a horror story that lacks a physical antagonist? Do the characters have to sink to the tactics of the threat to beat it at its own game or find an alternative to victory – or is victory and survival even possible? The ending Ito chooses makes perfect sense in the context of the story, and it’s everything the readers both hope for and fear will come to pass. As if the art wasn’t stunning enough, because of how the nature of the spiral and the town itself takes on new properties and evolutions, the art goes the extra mile to reflect all the new developments. Each new revelation is strikingly creepy and still awe-inspiring in all its distorted glory. Where in the first two volumes the transformations were singular among characters or objects, they become much more complex this time around, and the visuals bring out every necessary detail. Uzumaki may be one of the most perfect horror stories about decent into madness and corruption, and equally says much about the nature of humanity and its sins. It’s also one of the most unique stories ever told in its genre and praise for its accomplishments, like the spiral image itself, will likely never reach an end. Comment on this review of Uzumaki v3 on the Manga Life Forums. |
6 October 2009
|
||||
 |
| home | reviews | news | features | about us | advertise | privacy policy | contact us |
