Legendary Horror Mangaka Junji Ito Nominated for Prestigious Eisner Hall of Fame
The world of manga just got a thrilling update. Junji Ito, the legendary horror artist behind some of the creepiest tales ever drawn, is up for a huge honor. He’s been nominated for the 2025 Eisner Hall of Fame, a big deal in the comics world. This news has us buzzing with excitement, and it’s no surprise why—Ito’s work has been chilling readers for decades.
Born in 1963 in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture, Ito kicked off his career back in 1987 with ‘Tomie’, a story about a girl who just won’t stay dead. That debut hooked readers fast, and he’s been a horror icon ever since. His knack for blending the weird with the terrifying has made him a standout. Now, with this nomination, he’s getting a shot at joining the ranks of manga greats like Osamu Tezuka and Rumiko Takahashi, who’ve already claimed their spots in the Hall of Fame.
What makes this moment extra cool is how Ito’s influence keeps growing. His stories aren’t just staying on the page—they’re jumping into other worlds too. Take ‘Uzumaki’, his twisted tale of a town cursed by spirals. It hit TV screens as an anime in 2024, with Uki Satake and Shin-ichiro Miki voicing the leads. The show’s eerie black-and-white style stays true to Ito’s art, and we can’t get enough of it. Then there’s ‘Black Paradox’, a manga about doppelgängers and dark secrets, which got nominated for an Eisner Award in 2023. It’s even lined up for a movie by Fangoria Studios.
Ito’s not new to the Eisner spotlight. He’s nabbed four awards already, including two in 2021 for ‘Remina’ and ‘Venus in the Blind Spot’. Those wins proved he’s got serious chops, both as a writer and an artist. This Hall of Fame nod, though, is next-level—it’s about his whole career, not just one project. Out of 18 nominees this year, voters will pick six to induct, and the winners get announced at Comic-Con in July 2025. We’re crossing our fingers for him.
His reach goes beyond manga and anime too. Ever played ‘Dead by Daylight’? In early 2025, the game dropped a Junji Ito Collection with eight outfits inspired by his characters, like the freaky Miss Fuchi from ‘Fashion Model’. And get this—J-pop group Phantom Siita tapped him for merch designs for their 2025 world tour. Ito’s creepy art on T-shirts? That’s a wild crossover we didn’t see coming.
Back in the manga world, Ito’s got a long list of hits. ‘Gyo’—with its walking fish and stench of doom—got an anime movie in 2012. ‘The Junji Ito Collection’ TV series from 2018 pulled together a bunch of his short stories, giving us 12 episodes of pure unease. Crunchyroll streamed it with subtitles, while Funimation added an English dub. Every project shows off his love for body horror and twisted minds, inspired by folks like H.P. Lovecraft.
This nomination isn’t just about past wins—it’s a nod to how Ito keeps pushing horror forward. At 61, he’s still got that spark. Whether he’s drawing spirals that drive people mad or teaming up with game devs and musicians, his mark is everywhere. If he makes it into the Hall of Fame, he’ll sit alongside other Japanese legends like Katsuhiro Otomo and Moto Hagio. Either way, I think we all agree—Junji Ito’s already a master in our books.