Strange Pictures, Vol. 2

変な絵 [Hen na E] #2

by Uketsu, Aiba Noriyuki (Illustrator)

The chilling second volume manga adaptation of Uketsu’s bestselling horror phenomenon, brought to life by artist Aiba Noriyuki.

For fans of Junji Ito: this eerie mystery unravels in chilling childlike sketches and obscure clues that will haunt you long after the last page.

From Japan’s breakout horror sensation comes a chilling new manga experience.

Strange Pictures is the spine-tingling manga adaptation of Uketsu’s bestselling novel, brought vividly to life by artist Aiba Noriyuki. Uketsu – the enigmatic masked writer who has become one of Japan’s most talked-about authors – first captivated readers with a novel that sold in the millions. Now, the terror unfolds panel by panel.

At its core lie nine childlike sketches. A pregnant woman’s doodles on her blog conceal a dire warning. A boy’s simple drawing of his home hides a message no child should know. A murder victim’s final sketch becomes a clue that drags an amateur sleuth into a labyrinth of secrets. Each picture is innocent at first glance ­– yet when pieced together, they reveal a web of unsolved mysteries and shattered psyches.

For fans of Junji Ito and modern psychological horror, Strange Pictures transforms the mundane into the macabre. Some images fade, but these horrors will be etched in your memory.

This second volume features a gripping tale of a child who knows more than he should. What starts as an innocent drawing reveals a dark secret that lingers on a mother’s psyche. A creeping presence that seems to follow her, watching her. All while dredging up fragments of her past. All stemming from one strange picture…

Genres: Manga

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2025

About the author

Associated Names:
* Uketsu
* 雨穴
* อุเก็ตสึ (Thai Profile)

Reviews

[L ྀིྀི · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai oublié ce plot damn

[Etwaale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une suite encore plus captivante qui confirme l'originalité du concept !

Après un premier tome très intrigant, j'ai dévoré ce second volume centré sur l'énigme du dessin du petit Yuta. Si le fond peut rappeler l'univers de The Strange House (des secrets de famille sombres décodés via des indices visuels), j'ai trouvé la forme nettement plus captivante ici.

Là où The Strange House se concentre sur une seule et grande enquête à travers différents plans, The Strange Pictures choisit une narration beaucoup plus dynamique. L'auteur distille ses informations au compte-gouttes : chaque tome résout sa propre énigme graphique (ici, le dessin de l'enfant) tout en faisant avancer un fil rouge général hyper addictif. On sait que cette famille cache de lourds secrets, mais le mystère s'épaissit de chapitre en chapitre.

Reconstituer les liens entre les personnages au milieu de ce voile de mystère bien épais rend la lecture stimulante... jusqu'à un cliffhanger de folie ! Les dernières pages m'ont laissée complètement scotchée, soulevant des questions majeures sur les personnages et leurs secrets.

Une excellente lecture qui se termine sur une tension insoutenable. Vivement le tome 3 !

[Nein · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's fun to read it. Waiting for next volume

[Lee Shain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this chapter in the book and thinking it was a whole different story and then being so shocked once I discovered it was not.

I really can't say how much I love this story.

[Christian Luigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quattro stelle un po' tirate. Si legge molto in fretta, forse un po' troppo, non riesco a percepire una grande suspense in così poche pagine. Carino ma non eccezionale.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️