Gyo: Ugomeku Bukimi

Ito Junji's Gyo is a work that builds on the themes, art style and narrative structure of past works. Fans of Uzumaki, Tomie, and other past mangas will feel right at home with Gyo. That said, Gyo does not measure up to the best of Ito's work, or even the best of the genre.

Gyo starts off strong with a very solid premise, and a very interesting meta-narrative, however it fails to deliver as most of the characters and much of the plot manages to annoy more than frighten or startle.

I would recommend Gyo to fans of Ito's other work, as it remains fairly popular, but to me it is a lesser piece. Included are two one-shots, the second of which, The Enigma of Amigara Fault is my personal favourite Ito story, and which raises the overall score significantly. I consider it to be one of Ito's masterpieces, easily on the level of Uzumaki. It's unfortunate it wasn't also released separately.

All in all Gyo is a letdown as far as Ito's work goes, however it also comes with the masterpiece that is The Enigma of Amigara Fault, and that alone makes it worthwhile.