With Uzumaki, Junji Ito proves that he knows what I'm afraid of. In the bizarre events and gruesome images of these volumes I have seen things I now wish I could forget. These things have been preying on my mind for a few days already, and I expect they will for weeks to come.
The stories are loaded with innovative ideas you aren't likely to see repeated in any other work of horror. If Freddy, Jason, and Michael epitomize slasher films, Uzumaki is the antithesis of them. There are very few cliches to be found here.
The plot of Uzumaki is somewhat loose as the stories are mostly event driven. The end is almost disappointing, and perhaps flawed. Without spoiling I can only say that the end seemed inevitable.
The characters of Uzumaki are somewhat deeper than in Ito-sensei's previous works, but still quite simple. Even more, they grew on me, and I slowly began to care about them. This is a vast improvement over the characters of Tomie, for example.
The art of Uzumaki is very good, and at times breathtaking. The environment is filled with intricate patterns and detailed scenery. I was astounded by the vast difference in quality between Uzumaki and Ito-sensei's earlier works.
Uzumaki should be considered required reading for all serious horror fans. General audiences should be forewarned that readers will be confronted with viscerally repulsive imagery. Uzumaki is not for everyone, but if you think your constitution is strong enough then give it a read.