Legendary horror mangaka Junji Ito was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame at San Diego Comic Con this past weekend. 

Known for Uzumaki, Tomie, Gyo, No Longer Human, and many more, Ito has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. He is one of the most successful and influential manga artists in the world.

“To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is the greatest honor,” Ito said in a video by VIZ Media. “This honor inspires me, though I don’t know how long I will continue to be a manga artist, to continue for as long as I can.” 

See his full thank-you speech below:

​​ Junji Ito Inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame

Ito first won an Eisner award in 2019 for Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection. He then went on to win three more times:

• 2019: Frankenstein – “Best Adaptation from Another Medium”
• 2021: Best Writer/Artist 
• 2022: Remina – “Best U.S. Edition of International Material (Asia)” 
• 2022: Lovesickness – “Best U.S. Edition”

As for what’s next, Ito has a new collection debuting this fall, titled “Moan: Junji Ito Story Collection.” The collection will be available October 7 for $25 and features six new horror tales.

VIZ Media describes Ito’s legacy:

Junji Ito made his professional manga debut in 1987, and he is now recognized as one of the greatest contemporary artists in the horror genre. His long-form masterpieces include Gyo, No Longer Human, Tomie, and Uzumaki, and his short stories have been collected into volumes such as Alley, Deserter, Shiver, Smashed, The Liminal Zone, and several more, all available from VIZ Media. Ito’s professional memoir, Uncanny: The Origins of Fear, details the influences and experiences that led to his becoming a horror manga artist.