- Mangaka : Junji Ito
- Publisher : Viz Media
- Genre : Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Thriller
- Published : December 2020
Junji Ito is a renowned mangaka in the horror genre. What’s amazing about his reputation is that even non-manga fans know of his name. He has a certain signature that allows his readers to recognize his works at a glance. Junji Ito’s works are known for being thrilling and horrifying. Interestingly enough, however, it’s difficult to drop any Junji Ito title after picking it up. It’s grotesque, but there’s a certain charm to it that captivates the reader into finishing the entire story. And before they know it, they’re already having nightmares about Junji Ito’s works.
Contains Spoilers
Discussion Time
Just like the other Junji Ito’s works, Remina is a horror-thriller with gory bits and uncensored violence. It follows the story of the titular character, Remina. Her name is quite unique, as she’s been named after the new planet his father has discovered. With her looks and the fame her father has earned, she’s easily grabbed the limelight. She becomes an idol revered by many. However, things take a drastic turn when Remina, the planet, starts heading towards Earth while eating every other in the Solar System along the way.
1. It’s an Ito manga without a doubt
Remina is undoubtedly written by Junji Ito. The story starts off by introducing the main characters, which are Remina and her father. Things seem to be running smoothly for them, but a sudden dark twist changes the course of the story. The planet Remina turns towards Earth to consume it. Because of that, the masses turn against Remina and show how despicable human beings can be. They even resort to assaulting Remina and trying to offer her to the planet Remina. Not only that, Junji Ito also didn’t pull any punches in terms of killing.
2. Surprisingly acceptable ending
All of Junji Ito’s works have quite an interesting finale. Most of them, however, end up with a sad or despicable scene. In Remina, however, things are a bit more complicated. Despite trying to fight, Remina is still on the shorter side of the stick. A literal church of people is chasing them midair. But even all the struggles humanity has endured, the Earth still got eaten by Remina, the planet.
1. Lacks world building
What’s amazing about Junji Ito’s works is that everything has a reason no matter how stupid the real logic behind it. In Remina, however, the world and the lore are barely explored. That means we, the readers, don't get to answer their questions. Throughout the story, the planet Remina hasn’t really been explained that well. There’s no reason behind its existence or any clue as to what prompts it to be alive. It seems that the story is intended to be taken in as face value as there is little to no explanation behind the world it's standing on.
Final Thoughts
Just like other Junji Ito manga, Remina surely passes the masses’ preference. It has an interesting plot, as well as the right amount of horror and gore. Even though the mysteries within the series aren’t yet that exposed, it is still an interesting title to pick up. After all, you can’t really go wrong with a Junji Ito.
Author: Christian Markle
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