Funniest Junji Ito Stories

Key Takeaways

Junji Ito can lean towards humor in his stories, as seen in his goofy and funny works.
Some of his lesser-known works, like Junji Ito’s Dog Diary, showcase lighter, lighthearted adventures.
Even in his scary tales, Junji Ito manages to inject humor, like the ridiculous concept of the Death Stench Machine in Gyo.

As a devoted fan of Junji Ito’s chilling tales and macabre humor, I must admit that his unique blend of horror and humor never ceases to amuse me. His works, while undeniably scary, often contain moments that make readers laugh out loud, adding an unexpected twist to the overall experience.

One way to rephrase the given text in a natural and easy-reading manner could be: “Junji Ito is renowned as one of the greatest horror manga artists of all time. His works have gained widespread popularity, with series like ‘Tomie’ and ‘Uzumaki’ acting as introductions for new fans eager to explore his work. As they delve deeper, many readers come across the numerous short stories that make up a significant portion of Ito’s oeuvre. These stories, in one way or another, are always frightening, leaving fans wondering if there are any of Ito’s works with a comedic twist.

Generally, long-term admirers of this skilled artist are familiar with his penchant for injecting a touch of silliness into his narratives now and then. Some of Ito’s creations satirize his narrative style, while others feature absurd plots and quirky characters that add a comedic element to a tale capable of sending shivers down the spine.

5 Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu

The Mangaka Must Get Used To His Fiance’s Cats

Release Date: November 26, 2007

Although typically recognized for his horror-centric work, it’s heartwarming to explore a manga authored by this artist that deserves far more recognition than it presently receives. The narrative revolves around Ito’s efforts to build a connection with two cats after moving in with his fiancée. Despite the cats’ rather frightening looks, it becomes apparent as readers progress through the story that these felines are much cuter than terrifying, showcasing Ito’s distinct sense of humor.

As a gamer, let me tell you, my attempts to win over these felines and earn their affection are as heartwarming as they come, showcasing the genuine feel of this tale’s foundation. Each chapter brims with human narratives and the remarkable connections between cats and their caretakers. While my fiancé seems to breeze through with the cats, my attempts to shower them with love either end up in a hilarious fail or pay off in a heartwarming victory. Regardless of the outcome, it’s quite an entertaining ride!

4 Graveman

Watching A Bodybuilder Flex For The Dead Is Hilarious

Release Date: October 24, 2023 (Mimi’s Tales of Terror)

Many people consider Junji Ito’s most notable work to be his extensive collection of short tales, offering intriguing peeks into his macabre imagination and the chilling narratives he creates. Although it’s undeniable that Graveman contains some truly terrifying scenes, it becomes challenging not to chuckle at this story’s concept upon experiencing one of its main characters. The heroine, Mimi, moves to a fresh town, and her room ominously overlooks the cemetery.

What makes things eerie is that she notices the gravestones moving in the night, with the culprit revealed to be her next-door neighbor who is the very definition of a musclehead. Watching his ripped body shift the stones around is equal parts weird and hilarious, but things swing in favor of the latter when Mimi sees this man flexing his muscles for the spirits in the graveyard, who love to check out his sculpted figure. It’s ridiculous and leads to one of the biggest laugh-out-loud moments in Ito’s body of work. Still, he manages to scare readers quite a bit after this weird bodybuilder is chased out, only for the spirits to become disturbed after their source of entertainment is taken away.

3 Souichi’s Diary of Delights

The Oddball At The Heart Of Things Is Ridiculously Goofy

Release Year: 1997

Souichi is an unusual child who initially comes across as unsettling due to the nails he keeps in his mouth and his peculiar habit of playing with voodoo dolls. It quickly becomes apparent that this child is involved in dark practices, causing distress among his relatives. Yet, as this character takes center stage in various narratives, Ito doesn’t hesitate to reveal Souichi’s comical aspects.

In this context, the character Souichi frequently finds himself in comedic predicaments due to his clumsy nature, resulting in a series of amusing anecdotes penned by the mangaka. Yet, despite his persistent failures, there are instances where he surprisingly gains the upper hand, like when he transforms his room into a labyrinth or drains the energy of a troublesome teacher at school.

2 Gyo

The Ludicrous Concept Of The Death Stench Machine

Release Date: November 12, 2001

Many things about Gyo make it one of Junji Ito’s scariest stories. It’s a unique twist on an epidemic in the same vein as a zombie apocalypse. The role of the invading monsters is played by mechanical constructs made during World War 2 in a hidden experiment that went wrong. The project was abandoned, but the death stench that powered these machines became sentient and used these robotic skeletons to take over marine life. Seeing these undead fish walking across the coastlines of Japan is scary enough, but it’s the revelations to follow that make Gyo so funny in the eyes of many.

As a fan, I can’t help but marvel at how these machines seize control when they outnumber us humans. Once contaminated by their lethal stench, an unfortunate soul becomes a reluctant host, pinned down by two tubes inserted into the mouth and nose. It’s quite ironic that this creature uses its victims’ flatulence and belches as fuel to survive. Truly, this mechanical monster has found one of the most bizarre yet captivating methods to dominate humanity.

1 Junji Ito’s Dog Diary

A Lesser-Known Story About An Angry Dog

Release Year: 1998

It’s regrettable that one of Junji Ito’s works, which chronicles his life with a pet dog, isn’t as widely recognized as it should be, given that many people know him to be a dog enthusiast, particularly from his remarks in his “Cat Diary” series.

One lesser-known work by Junji Ito is “Junji Ito’s Dog Diary,” which chronicles some amusing escapades involving Ito and his pet dog, Lulu. This delightful comic strip offers a humorous account of Lulu’s antics and the mangaka’s reactions to them. It seems to have laid the groundwork for what later became part of his “Cat Diary” series.

2024-09-13 12:33