Junji Ito's Most Underappreciated Horror Story Redefines Nightmare Fuel

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Among the vast sea of his graphic short stories, one of Junji Ito's best is also extremely underappreciated and one that must be read by horror comic fans. Junji Ito is undoubtedly a well-known name in the horror community. His art style has become iconic for its uniquely disturbing imagery. However, lying beneath some of his most recognizable stories like Uzumaki and The Enigma of Amigara Fault, there's one that seems to go under the radar by most readers and needs more attention because it highlights what makes Junji Ito a fantastic horror storyteller: Marionette Mansion.

Marionette Mansion is a story that follows a chilling family reunion. It begins when Haruhiko and his young sister Natsumi receive an invitation from their estranged older brother, Yukihiko. Separated for seven years after their traveling puppeteer father died, they arrive at a home he built and discover something peculiar. Yukihiko, his wife, and their child are all dangling by piano wire, being controlled by servants in the rafters like puppets. The story continues as Haruhiko tries to unfold the mystery of the house, leading to a disturbing and haunting finale. Aside from the grotesque image at the very end, this is arguably one of Ito's tamer stories visually. It's not as disturbing and gory as some of his other works. That being said, this is a story that uses the uncanny to create fear and tension.

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Midway through the story, Haruhiko and Natsumi return to Yukihiko's house. Natsumi then asks if she can be controlled like them. When she returns, she's eerily dressed and made-up like one of the ballerina puppets showcased earlier in the story. Dangling from the piano wires, her