Army of One by Junji Ito

Army of One by Junji Ito is grotesque at best.

One of the most popular one-shot stories, Army of One is extremely popular. I read it along with Human Chair while exploring the manga author. You can find this one shot comic in its parent manga, Hellstar Remina.

In Army of One there is no coherent explanation for the surprising turn of events and shows only one vantage point. We don’t know why is happening what is happening. I can understand that can be frustrating. But with Junji Ito’s work, you seldom get to complain because he illustrates a rich theme with loads of development in one vantage point that he shows with flourish.

From the beginning you are thrown into the graphic panel with two dead bodies. Gossip goes that if a group of people are found, they will suffer similar fate.

In this we have our protagonist a social outcast invited to a party.

The vantage point reflecting on the town folks that are terrorized by seemingly unknown entity that sews people together.

Writing “sews people together” was not easy. The mind boggling concept of sewing people together is not new. You will find renditions of them in historical fiction, and even poems, but finding that in a panel is out of ordinary. Even more so, when it is added with solitary confinement.

Yes you read that right. The plot is weird just like most of Junji Ito’s work that bring perfect balance of relatability and extraordinary circumstances. While right now at the time of Covid-19 gripping the global world makes it understandable, there are many people struggling with social distancing which makes Army of One comic very relatable too!

At the time public is scared to death due to sewn together and staying indoors is advised. But how long can you stay indoors? As you can see that people are struggling to stay indoors, similarly in our plot, people are forgoing the advice and meeting people in get-togethers.

Then they are sewn together. As the story progresses, so does our socially outcast protagonist who leaves home to meet his friend, and is welcomed by the cultish chant bringing the towns folk to their death.

It brings wanting to be with people scary. The fact that horror is about being alone is challenged very well. What is more scary being with people or staying alone? Reversing the concept is one way to describe this gem.

Crowds tend to make many anxious people feel terror, and taking this into consideration a plot which focuses on making the crowd vulnerable is a big twist. Just like the twist of 2020. The covid changed our views on a lot of things, and we turn to art to make sense. Reading something that reflects our real world is comforting in its own way.

Read Army of One by Junji Ito. It is best and beautiful, doesn’t give a fitting conclusion but it is satisfying.

You can read Army Of One by Junji Ito online here.

Speaking of solitary feeling in crowd, Hanging Balloons comes to mind. It deals with looming death spectacularly as well. The waiting for death is truly terrorizing. And this concept is something similar in both these comics from the master of horror.

Read more about Junji Ito

1. Gentle Goodbye here .
2. Human Chair here.
3. Library of illusions here here.
4. Whispering Woman here.
5. Phantom Mansion here.
6. Long Dream here.
7. Love as Scripted here.
8. The Enigma to Amigara Fault here

I’m working hard to ensure you – my delightful reader! – find the fan analysis as an informative and enjoyable read. If you have read till the end, then please comment on what was the favorite part of the comic, and I will respond asap, promise. Let’s have meaningful discussion on the master of horror and storyteller!

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