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Mermaid Saga #1
Mermaid Saga Collector's Edition, Vol. 1
Manga legend Rumiko Takahashi's classic horror series about mermaid flesh and immortality!
They say that if one consumes mermaid flesh, one can attain immortality. Unfortunately, the more likely results include becoming horribly deformed or turning into a vicious monster! Even if one were to gain eternal life, however, is such an anomaly a lucky blessing or a terrible curse?
Yuta became immortal when he unwittingly ate mermaid flesh, and now he seeks a way to become human again. Hundreds of years later, he encounters a volatile and determined young lady named Mana while searching for a mermaid. Could this mysterious woman hold the key to saving Yuta’s humanity?
They say that if one consumes mermaid flesh, one can attain immortality. Unfortunately, the more likely results include becoming horribly deformed or turning into a vicious monster! Even if one were to gain eternal life, however, is such an anomaly a lucky blessing or a terrible curse?
Yuta became immortal when he unwittingly ate mermaid flesh, and now he seeks a way to become human again. Hundreds of years later, he encounters a volatile and determined young lady named Mana while searching for a mermaid. Could this mysterious woman hold the key to saving Yuta’s humanity?
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
48 people are currently reading
2731 people want to read
About the author
Rumiko Takahashi
1,587 books2,143 followersRumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.
Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.
Career and major works:
Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.
In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.
During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.
Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series
Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.
During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.
Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.
Career and major works:
Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.
In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.
During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.
Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series
Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.
During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 24, 2020
I have to say, this was such a weird collection of stories. 😂
I was excited when I first came across this because 1) it’s by the creator of Inuyasha, and 2) the words “mermaid” and “horror” IMMEDIATELY made me think of Mira Grant’s Rolling in the Deep series (which, for the record, is some of the best horror world-building I’ve read).
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
We follow the travels of Yuta, a young man who’s been cursed—though some would argue blessed—with immortality and eternal youth because he ate the flesh of a mermaid five centuries earlier. All these years, he has been seeking another mermaid, as he believes finding the mermaid holds the key to him becoming an ordinary man again.
In the present day, he comes across Mana, a human girl who’s also consumed mermaid flesh. Together, the two immortals embark on adventures involving strange girls with deformed limbs, sentient “lost souls”—former humans who’ve transformed into monsters after eating part of a mermaid—and the mystery surrounding a woman from Yuta’s past.
Together, Yuta and Mana reckon with the strange effects that mermaid blood and ashes, and the all-consuming desire for mermaid flesh, have on the people they encounter.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
Overall, this manga wasn’t very subtle, had a decent amount of info-dumping, and featured somewhat erratic pacing, but was still pretty entertaining. I also think the illustration style worked better for me personally in Inuyasha than Mermaid Saga.
My biggest gripe is probably the extremely unflattering depiction of women throughout the series, as they’re either hags, monsters, or maidens in need of Yuta’s saving. Each story features at least one scene where Mana is naked (and I’m pretty sure she’s 15…???) and recurring themes revolved around the objectification, consumption, and possession of women—but this wasn’t really interrogated so much as simply depicted.
That being said, I LOVED the mermaid illustrations, especially when they’re portrayed as mythic creatures infused with a dash of horror. The redeeming story for me was the final one, “Mermaid’s Promise,” which carried a particularly elegiac tone; it was the perfect story to close off the volume.
➟ 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and VIZ Media for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was excited when I first came across this because 1) it’s by the creator of Inuyasha, and 2) the words “mermaid” and “horror” IMMEDIATELY made me think of Mira Grant’s Rolling in the Deep series (which, for the record, is some of the best horror world-building I’ve read).
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
We follow the travels of Yuta, a young man who’s been cursed—though some would argue blessed—with immortality and eternal youth because he ate the flesh of a mermaid five centuries earlier. All these years, he has been seeking another mermaid, as he believes finding the mermaid holds the key to him becoming an ordinary man again.
In the present day, he comes across Mana, a human girl who’s also consumed mermaid flesh. Together, the two immortals embark on adventures involving strange girls with deformed limbs, sentient “lost souls”—former humans who’ve transformed into monsters after eating part of a mermaid—and the mystery surrounding a woman from Yuta’s past.
Together, Yuta and Mana reckon with the strange effects that mermaid blood and ashes, and the all-consuming desire for mermaid flesh, have on the people they encounter.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
Overall, this manga wasn’t very subtle, had a decent amount of info-dumping, and featured somewhat erratic pacing, but was still pretty entertaining. I also think the illustration style worked better for me personally in Inuyasha than Mermaid Saga.
My biggest gripe is probably the extremely unflattering depiction of women throughout the series, as they’re either hags, monsters, or maidens in need of Yuta’s saving. Each story features at least one scene where Mana is naked (and I’m pretty sure she’s 15…???) and recurring themes revolved around the objectification, consumption, and possession of women—but this wasn’t really interrogated so much as simply depicted.
That being said, I LOVED the mermaid illustrations, especially when they’re portrayed as mythic creatures infused with a dash of horror. The redeeming story for me was the final one, “Mermaid’s Promise,” which carried a particularly elegiac tone; it was the perfect story to close off the volume.
➟ 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and VIZ Media for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 5, 2020
Dark, fantastical manga. It's a must read for fantasy lovers who want to dip into the manga genre.
This horrific collection will have you looking at mermaids a little differently. Our leads needs to hunt down a mermaid to become normal again, but it's not going to be easy. These immortals will go on a fantastic adventure to become mortal and normal again, but there's no way to confirm their success.
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ for providing me a free copy of this manga in exchange of an honest review.
This horrific collection will have you looking at mermaids a little differently. Our leads needs to hunt down a mermaid to become normal again, but it's not going to be easy. These immortals will go on a fantastic adventure to become mortal and normal again, but there's no way to confirm their success.
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ for providing me a free copy of this manga in exchange of an honest review.
October 25, 2020
Not at all what I expected from a Rumiko Takahashi manga! Instead of her archetypal farcical light romance, this is a violent, dark story about immortality, greed, desire, and the ways in which our desires often hurt the ones we love. The bloody violence was more jarring given her usual soft art style, but once I got past my surprise, this is a very good manga with a nice "be careful what you wish for" theme. No one, even our protagonists, come off as pure and all good, which gave some unexpected depth to the story. Not a great manga, but an unexpected treat.
**Thank you to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thank you to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2024
wasn't expecting this to have such creepy art, so that was a pleasant surprise, but i was pretty bored for a significant chunk of it. I'll still definitely read the second omnibus volume though
February 23, 2021
I reread this for a second time and it was still amazing and wonderful. Some of the best art and stories I've ever come across in a manga.
Mermaid Saga Collector's Edition Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi
5 stars
Whimscial Writing Scale: 5 (I'm deceased- this is storytelling)
Character Scale: 5
Villain Scale: 5 we love a rotating line up over centuries
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: GORGEOUS. Wonderful and the reason I requested this book before I saw it was a horror manga. Not disappointed.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Mermaid Saga Collector's Edition Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi
5 stars
Before I even tell you what this book is about, I ordered my own copy and per-ordered volume 2. The second that bad boy comes I am rereading this national treasure that is being released in these stunning editions by VIZ because volume 1 was PERFECT. Literally, these storylines were perfect. These chapters were beautiful, heart-wrenching, filled with longing and disappointment. They evoked the essence of humanity while showing the horrors immortality and it was a journey of beauty that I want to revisit again. This edition follows nine chapters and some are connected while others are not of a man named Yuta who is 500-years-old and ate the flesh of a mermaid. Eating the flesh of a mermaid will keep you alive forever and he has been trying to change his fate, but is unsuccessful. He happens upon a girl named Mana who has to rescue from a village of old women who aren't keeping Mana around for anything other than something sinister. I did not realize that this was by the same woman who wrote Inuyasha until after I read the second chapter and this is apparently her foray into horror. Y'all, she does horror fantasy SO WELL. The last storyline in this collection- Mermaid's Promise- is the most beautiful story I've read in a manga ever. That story HIT. I will be crying about Nae forever because that story was filled with longing and despair and SO MUCH HURT. It was beautiful and so well done. This manga is a new favorite. I haven't fell in love with a manga series like this since I was obsessed with manga when I was twelve. This series is doing something to me. It is hitting me in all the right ways and just absolutely tearing me up. I finished this manga a sobbing mess and immediately ordered my own physical copy, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait for volume 2 to get here because I am ready to binge read the series.
Whimscial Writing Scale: 5 (I'm deceased- this is storytelling)
Character Scale: 5
Villain Scale: 5 we love a rotating line up over centuries
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: GORGEOUS. Wonderful and the reason I requested this book before I saw it was a horror manga. Not disappointed.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2021
Pretty unique take on mermaids with some horror elements. There’s a single protagonist but every chapter (or more usually a pair of chapters) tells a different story. I really like Takahashi’s art and once I’ve read volume 2 I’m excited to explore the rest of her work.
November 17, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review:’Mermaid Saga’ Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 is A Supernatural Thrill
Rumiko Takahashi’s classic horror series about mermaid flesh and immortality!
The manga follows Yuta, who became immortal when he unwittingly ate mermaid flesh, and now he seeks a way to become human again. He longs to have a normal life once again where he can one day, die. The world keeps changing and everything and everyone he once knew is mostly gone. His will keeps him sane while he follows rumors and truth to achieving his goal. Hundreds of years later, he encounters a determined and quite volatile young lady named Mana. Her mysterious origins lead him deeper down a rabbit hole that the mermaid myth has roots in several places in Japan and he’s nowhere closer to saving his humanity.
Balancing the horror and romance genres nearly perfect with a supernatural flavor, Takahashi plays up the traditional mythical creatures of her homeland. With a narrative that covers generations, Yuta and Mana are characters thrown into this tale of tragedy and misfortune and the lives of both humans and those not touched by the curse of the existence of mermaids. With each chapter, they find new faces but also more breadcrumbs of where to go and new vessels filled with the horrible cocktail of emotions caused by being in the proximity of being near any parts of a mermaid of old.
There is a revolving door of minor characters; some lured in by the promise of immortality, others changed into monsters in human form by jealousy or hate, others bystanders with little to no agency to truly help those in need. The interaction of these characters not only flesh out the chapters but the overall story. No matter where our duo goes–there’s bound to be someone touched by the stories of the mermaids. Mixed in with all of this are the hi-jinks, the comedic bits (Mana and Yuta’s banter each chapter) that made me chuckle through reading. It is very much the Rumiko Takahashi formula of ‘giving you a bit of everything’ in yet another story that will captivate you and stay on the brain well after you finish reading.
For a manga from the 80’s, the book does seem to have aged well, thankfully. Newer manga fans might find her artwork a bit on the plain side but for folks like me who have a history with her work will probably feel right at home in familiar territory. Reading from page to page draws me back to that artwork that is so familiar–these black and white panels with that element of darkness deliciously flavoring this story. Mana, once confined to a secluded village and kept away from the outside world goes from barely being able to even walk to exploring Japan with Yuta, confronting wicked men, and even standing up to protect those whose lives have been wrecked by circumstances related to the elusive mermaids. It’s that old tied and true Rumic Theater ‘plucky heroine ‘that I love in her work that I refuse to apologize for.
There are tales of young love never realized, sisterly obligation turned obsessive, and more than one plight of someone wishing to obtain in death what in life they desired most. In short, this series is a saga in itself and worth rereading. This newer Collector’s edition features a beautiful cover and –ten pages of fully colored illustrations that are almost too gorgeous to look at. A definite treat to enhance this new reprint of a loved classic from a master. Having longtime translator Rachel Thorn onboard for the English translation is only a plus in my book!
Read the rest of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/reviewm...
Review:’Mermaid Saga’ Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 is A Supernatural Thrill
Rumiko Takahashi’s classic horror series about mermaid flesh and immortality!
The manga follows Yuta, who became immortal when he unwittingly ate mermaid flesh, and now he seeks a way to become human again. He longs to have a normal life once again where he can one day, die. The world keeps changing and everything and everyone he once knew is mostly gone. His will keeps him sane while he follows rumors and truth to achieving his goal. Hundreds of years later, he encounters a determined and quite volatile young lady named Mana. Her mysterious origins lead him deeper down a rabbit hole that the mermaid myth has roots in several places in Japan and he’s nowhere closer to saving his humanity.
Balancing the horror and romance genres nearly perfect with a supernatural flavor, Takahashi plays up the traditional mythical creatures of her homeland. With a narrative that covers generations, Yuta and Mana are characters thrown into this tale of tragedy and misfortune and the lives of both humans and those not touched by the curse of the existence of mermaids. With each chapter, they find new faces but also more breadcrumbs of where to go and new vessels filled with the horrible cocktail of emotions caused by being in the proximity of being near any parts of a mermaid of old.
There is a revolving door of minor characters; some lured in by the promise of immortality, others changed into monsters in human form by jealousy or hate, others bystanders with little to no agency to truly help those in need. The interaction of these characters not only flesh out the chapters but the overall story. No matter where our duo goes–there’s bound to be someone touched by the stories of the mermaids. Mixed in with all of this are the hi-jinks, the comedic bits (Mana and Yuta’s banter each chapter) that made me chuckle through reading. It is very much the Rumiko Takahashi formula of ‘giving you a bit of everything’ in yet another story that will captivate you and stay on the brain well after you finish reading.
For a manga from the 80’s, the book does seem to have aged well, thankfully. Newer manga fans might find her artwork a bit on the plain side but for folks like me who have a history with her work will probably feel right at home in familiar territory. Reading from page to page draws me back to that artwork that is so familiar–these black and white panels with that element of darkness deliciously flavoring this story. Mana, once confined to a secluded village and kept away from the outside world goes from barely being able to even walk to exploring Japan with Yuta, confronting wicked men, and even standing up to protect those whose lives have been wrecked by circumstances related to the elusive mermaids. It’s that old tied and true Rumic Theater ‘plucky heroine ‘that I love in her work that I refuse to apologize for.
There are tales of young love never realized, sisterly obligation turned obsessive, and more than one plight of someone wishing to obtain in death what in life they desired most. In short, this series is a saga in itself and worth rereading. This newer Collector’s edition features a beautiful cover and –ten pages of fully colored illustrations that are almost too gorgeous to look at. A definite treat to enhance this new reprint of a loved classic from a master. Having longtime translator Rachel Thorn onboard for the English translation is only a plus in my book!
Read the rest of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/reviewm...
September 9, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this book!
Mermaid Saga follows a young man named Yuta who eats mermaid flesh and becomes immortal. He’s now on a quest to find another mermaid to reverse the curse. All he wants is be a normal man again and live out his mortal life. He meets a girl named Mana who has also eaten the flesh of a mermaid and is also an immortal. They travel together trying to find a mermaid to turn them back to normal. There are many adventures along the way and many narrow escapes. I read this 392 page manga in one day, that right there should tell you how much I liked it. Overall, this was a fantastic first volume and I cannot wait to read the next one!
Mermaid Saga follows a young man named Yuta who eats mermaid flesh and becomes immortal. He’s now on a quest to find another mermaid to reverse the curse. All he wants is be a normal man again and live out his mortal life. He meets a girl named Mana who has also eaten the flesh of a mermaid and is also an immortal. They travel together trying to find a mermaid to turn them back to normal. There are many adventures along the way and many narrow escapes. I read this 392 page manga in one day, that right there should tell you how much I liked it. Overall, this was a fantastic first volume and I cannot wait to read the next one!
February 21, 2022
Finished this today on my lunch break. Nothing revolutionary but it was fun and the art was easy to follow. Idk if the mermaid stuff is actually Japanese legend, or if it’s just something Rumiko made up, but it definitely is an interesting concept. I’m not rushing to pick up the next volume, but I know when I do, I’ll enjoy it.
March 11, 2021
A darker interpretation of the mermaid myth, but I wish Takahashi turned up the darkness a couple of notches. This collection of stories feel classic and timeless and might as well have been written and drawn 40 years ago. Great that Viz reproduced some (but not all, it seems) of the colored art throughout this collected edition as it's truly beautiful.
Art: 5/5, Story: 3/5.
Art: 5/5, Story: 3/5.
October 3, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and to the the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I saw a manga by Rumiko Takashi I had to hit request. I grew up Ranma 1/2, the first manga I ever read, and from there went on to read Inuyasha and Maison Ikkoku. I adore her work. Mermaid Saga has all the hallmarks of Takashi's other works, that distinctive art style and humour with the character range I've come to expect. However it's definitely a little darker than her other series, there's more blood and the violence is less slapstick. It is marketed as being a horror which whilst I don't necessarily agree with, does show that change in tone from some of her other works. I'd say it was closer to the Inuyasha, that dark occult style of world with dashes of romance, than an actual horror manga.
The story starts with Mana, a girl who lives in a village full of women but has never been allowed to walk or leave her home unless carried. And Yuta, a man who consume the flesh of a mermaid and thus cannot die. Yuta is looking for a cure for this as he wants to age and die like any mortal would. When he stumbles across Mana's village and uncovers its secrets. The book flits between present day and the past adventures of Yuta.
The original series was released back in 1984 and I believe this is a collectors edition due for release in the West in November 2020 that will bring the series together for new audiences. I'm really happy that this is happening as I'd love for new readers to enter the realms of Takashi's other works too as they had a big impact on me growing up.
If you enjoyed this or are looking for manga to read I highly recommend any of the series I've mentioned in this review as well as her other works.
As soon as I saw a manga by Rumiko Takashi I had to hit request. I grew up Ranma 1/2, the first manga I ever read, and from there went on to read Inuyasha and Maison Ikkoku. I adore her work. Mermaid Saga has all the hallmarks of Takashi's other works, that distinctive art style and humour with the character range I've come to expect. However it's definitely a little darker than her other series, there's more blood and the violence is less slapstick. It is marketed as being a horror which whilst I don't necessarily agree with, does show that change in tone from some of her other works. I'd say it was closer to the Inuyasha, that dark occult style of world with dashes of romance, than an actual horror manga.
The story starts with Mana, a girl who lives in a village full of women but has never been allowed to walk or leave her home unless carried. And Yuta, a man who consume the flesh of a mermaid and thus cannot die. Yuta is looking for a cure for this as he wants to age and die like any mortal would. When he stumbles across Mana's village and uncovers its secrets. The book flits between present day and the past adventures of Yuta.
The original series was released back in 1984 and I believe this is a collectors edition due for release in the West in November 2020 that will bring the series together for new audiences. I'm really happy that this is happening as I'd love for new readers to enter the realms of Takashi's other works too as they had a big impact on me growing up.
If you enjoyed this or are looking for manga to read I highly recommend any of the series I've mentioned in this review as well as her other works.
November 15, 2023
This series is /weird/. If you loved the horror touches in Inuyasha and wanted more of it, this series is for you. I read it in the spirit of Halloween and was struck by how the feeling of the series stayed with me, and how I wanted more of it (and unfortunately it’s fairly different in tone than most of her other work).
Mermaid Saga is super short, only sitting at 16 chapters, and focuses on the downsides of immortality and a rewriting of mermaid lore into a dark and vicious horror. Honestly, it’s a little surprising to me that this was published the 80s/90s - the tone of it feels very modern, like a fairy tale retelling, and easily holds its own against other horror giants like Junji Ito and Kazuo Umezu. It would honestly make an incredible limited series if someone were to make a live adaptation of it.
Anyways, I really loved this one. I reread it immediately after finishing and I see myself rereading it annually for October. A really beautiful and haunting series.
Mermaid Saga is super short, only sitting at 16 chapters, and focuses on the downsides of immortality and a rewriting of mermaid lore into a dark and vicious horror. Honestly, it’s a little surprising to me that this was published the 80s/90s - the tone of it feels very modern, like a fairy tale retelling, and easily holds its own against other horror giants like Junji Ito and Kazuo Umezu. It would honestly make an incredible limited series if someone were to make a live adaptation of it.
Anyways, I really loved this one. I reread it immediately after finishing and I see myself rereading it annually for October. A really beautiful and haunting series.
April 6, 2024
4.5 stars. If “The Village of the Fighting Fish” story was a little later on in this series or left out of this one completely, then this would’ve been a 5-star review. The serialization of this caught me by surprise a bit, but it really worked well as really more of a longer continuation of a story overall. I really enjoyed the art, the creepy tone, the relationships, and the motives in this series. The lore behind the mermaids was for sure intriguing, though a little lazy on occasion (easily forgivable while reading). The surprises along the way were more often in this one than I expected. Will for sure be grabbing the second volume to read!
Read
December 22, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Body horror
Cannibalism
Body horror
Cannibalism
May 15, 2021
The classic horror manga from Rumiko Takahashi is back and looks fantastic!
Now before getting into the book there are some things I think you, a potential future reader, should know about this book before you dedicate money or time on it. The first and foremost thing I want to point out is this is a story about Japanese style Mermaids and not the beauties of the sea often thought of when mentioning mermaids so please don't be surprised when they want to eat someone instead of wishing for a prince or other fantastical elements. Other things you might be offended by include depictions of nude upper bodies, non-consensual touching albeit brief, at least two attempted rapes though the attackers are stopped before starting, bodily mutations as well as amputations, and multiple violent scenes that often lead to bloody scene or even death. Now with all of the potential dangers out of the way for the more sensitive readers it is time to reveal the secrets of the mermaid legend.
Yuta, a young man who has been traveling for centuries after consuming the flesh of a mermaid is seeking out any chance to meet another mermaid so he can potentially return to a mortal life but in a modern world what chances does he have? Enter Mana, a naïve young woman who has been raised in a secret community and is offered mermaid flesh due to she in turn is to made into an offering. Kept oblivious of the outside world her views of everything are about to change forever as Yuta discovers her and leads her from a dark fate as the new immortal follows her savior on his journey.
Together Yuta and Mana make a formidable team with Yuta's experiences and knowledge to balance out Mana's lack of there of but being new to immortality Mana does not have the dire journey leading to Yuta's attempts to not become attached to mortals anymore. Can this young lady save Yuta's humanity before it dries up? Only time can tell. :)
My first experience with this series is through anime when I watched Mermaid Forest on DVD and was surprised to find the creator of one of my favorite series (Ranma 1/2) created this darker take on mermaids and the monstrosity which is humanity as they do whatever they can for their obsessions whether it be immortality or some other base desire such as revenge. You see eating the flesh of a mermaid is a bit of a gamble because only a few people have ever gained immortality and retained their minds and bodies. More often a person will mutate into either an immortal monstrosity often referred to as a Lost Soul or if mercifully lucky they die outright before the transformation can lock them into immortal suffering.
As a story that spans multiple centuries you never know what you will get as you read (plus considering how rare mermaid incidents are supposedly supposed to happen you never know how much time has passed as the unchanging Yuta and Mana continue to journey together) so technically short of reading the chapters for A Mermaid Never Smiles first (Due to it is when Yuta meets Mana) you don't technically have to read the rest of the chapters in order if you want though it might be easier if you did anyway just to make sure you see the development of our immortal duo as they learn from one another. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Now before getting into the book there are some things I think you, a potential future reader, should know about this book before you dedicate money or time on it. The first and foremost thing I want to point out is this is a story about Japanese style Mermaids and not the beauties of the sea often thought of when mentioning mermaids so please don't be surprised when they want to eat someone instead of wishing for a prince or other fantastical elements. Other things you might be offended by include depictions of nude upper bodies, non-consensual touching albeit brief, at least two attempted rapes though the attackers are stopped before starting, bodily mutations as well as amputations, and multiple violent scenes that often lead to bloody scene or even death. Now with all of the potential dangers out of the way for the more sensitive readers it is time to reveal the secrets of the mermaid legend.
Yuta, a young man who has been traveling for centuries after consuming the flesh of a mermaid is seeking out any chance to meet another mermaid so he can potentially return to a mortal life but in a modern world what chances does he have? Enter Mana, a naïve young woman who has been raised in a secret community and is offered mermaid flesh due to she in turn is to made into an offering. Kept oblivious of the outside world her views of everything are about to change forever as Yuta discovers her and leads her from a dark fate as the new immortal follows her savior on his journey.
Together Yuta and Mana make a formidable team with Yuta's experiences and knowledge to balance out Mana's lack of there of but being new to immortality Mana does not have the dire journey leading to Yuta's attempts to not become attached to mortals anymore. Can this young lady save Yuta's humanity before it dries up? Only time can tell. :)
My first experience with this series is through anime when I watched Mermaid Forest on DVD and was surprised to find the creator of one of my favorite series (Ranma 1/2) created this darker take on mermaids and the monstrosity which is humanity as they do whatever they can for their obsessions whether it be immortality or some other base desire such as revenge. You see eating the flesh of a mermaid is a bit of a gamble because only a few people have ever gained immortality and retained their minds and bodies. More often a person will mutate into either an immortal monstrosity often referred to as a Lost Soul or if mercifully lucky they die outright before the transformation can lock them into immortal suffering.
As a story that spans multiple centuries you never know what you will get as you read (plus considering how rare mermaid incidents are supposedly supposed to happen you never know how much time has passed as the unchanging Yuta and Mana continue to journey together) so technically short of reading the chapters for A Mermaid Never Smiles first (Due to it is when Yuta meets Mana) you don't technically have to read the rest of the chapters in order if you want though it might be easier if you did anyway just to make sure you see the development of our immortal duo as they learn from one another. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
February 5, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of Rumiko Takahashi’s work. Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2 are my favourites of her, so I had to check out this collection of her Mermaid Saga, and I was not disappointed.
Takahashi has an amazing imagination. Her stories blend well with unique ideas, great characters, with intense action and plot. I’m so used to the comedic Ranma series that I forget that she can create some horrifying imagery. Mermaid Saga isn’t a comedy, so it was refreshing to see Takahashi try something different in a new genre. The depictions of the mermaids and the transformations eating their flesh puts on people is bloodcurdling and scary. Before reading this it took me reading Inuyasha to realise how well Takahashi can create monsters.
The story centres on two characters who have gained immortality from eating the mermaid flesh, but after living for centuries, never having aged, Yuta wishes to reverse the effects and go back to being a regular human so he can age and die. He finds Mana along the way, who has also eaten the flesh, and they travel together to find a way back to humanity.
Since Yuta has lived for so long, we get a glimpse into his backstory. The story is split into short stories, do we got back and forth between the past and present. His past stories are very tragic, getting a sense of the loss he has experienced because of his immortality, and having to be forced away from the women he loved because they will age and he won’t, but also trying to save them from his fate, knowing immortality isn’t worth giving up their normal lives when that is desperately what he wants. It made my heart ache for him, but the manga balances out the tragedy with some intense plot related moments.
I liked how the mythology of the mermaids related to the murderous nature that has often become sanitised, acting more like a siren who often killed men. I loved the old school depiction, and it was refreshing to see this side that isn’t often explored in the books I’ve read. Their flesh can grant immortality, but can also turn people into monsters, but it was used to show the monstrosity of the people who are willing to do whatever it takes to gain immortality. I liked that contrast.
And I can’t talk about a Takahashi story without discussing her art. I miss this art style. It’s unique and her characters have very distinct designs. I have noticed some of her characters tend to look a little too similar to her others from previous works. I thought Yuta was Ryoga from Ranma for a second, but it didn’t bother me.
This manga is amazing. Everyone should read Takahashi’s work, and this is one I will definitely recommend to everyone.
I am a big fan of Rumiko Takahashi’s work. Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2 are my favourites of her, so I had to check out this collection of her Mermaid Saga, and I was not disappointed.
Takahashi has an amazing imagination. Her stories blend well with unique ideas, great characters, with intense action and plot. I’m so used to the comedic Ranma series that I forget that she can create some horrifying imagery. Mermaid Saga isn’t a comedy, so it was refreshing to see Takahashi try something different in a new genre. The depictions of the mermaids and the transformations eating their flesh puts on people is bloodcurdling and scary. Before reading this it took me reading Inuyasha to realise how well Takahashi can create monsters.
The story centres on two characters who have gained immortality from eating the mermaid flesh, but after living for centuries, never having aged, Yuta wishes to reverse the effects and go back to being a regular human so he can age and die. He finds Mana along the way, who has also eaten the flesh, and they travel together to find a way back to humanity.
Since Yuta has lived for so long, we get a glimpse into his backstory. The story is split into short stories, do we got back and forth between the past and present. His past stories are very tragic, getting a sense of the loss he has experienced because of his immortality, and having to be forced away from the women he loved because they will age and he won’t, but also trying to save them from his fate, knowing immortality isn’t worth giving up their normal lives when that is desperately what he wants. It made my heart ache for him, but the manga balances out the tragedy with some intense plot related moments.
I liked how the mythology of the mermaids related to the murderous nature that has often become sanitised, acting more like a siren who often killed men. I loved the old school depiction, and it was refreshing to see this side that isn’t often explored in the books I’ve read. Their flesh can grant immortality, but can also turn people into monsters, but it was used to show the monstrosity of the people who are willing to do whatever it takes to gain immortality. I liked that contrast.
And I can’t talk about a Takahashi story without discussing her art. I miss this art style. It’s unique and her characters have very distinct designs. I have noticed some of her characters tend to look a little too similar to her others from previous works. I thought Yuta was Ryoga from Ranma for a second, but it didn’t bother me.
This manga is amazing. Everyone should read Takahashi’s work, and this is one I will definitely recommend to everyone.
November 16, 2020
Warnings: graphic violence and body horror; cannibalism
Centering on the legend of mermaid's flesh as a path to immortality, the story follows Yuta, who had become an immortal in this manner and wants to revert back to a mortal body. His search for a cure to immortality has taken him all over Japan through the centuries, and during one such search, he comes across a village where a young girl, Mana, is being raised by a household of old women. Rescuing her from them, they both, too, set out into the world, but with their ability to not die despite fatal injuries, they are a target for people everywhere. Even though the risk of turning into a monster rather than an immortal is higher, people will still seek out immortality, and these two are working against such elements through the story. Yuta's story is particularly a lonely one - he can never settle down anywhere because of the risk, but also because being ageless and immortal, he can't fit in with the world, and any companion of his would die before him. Mana, however, is like him, and the two of them are united in that aspect against the world. The art style - well, we all know Takahashi's distinctive style thanks to Inu Yasha and Ranma 1/2, and this one does the horror elements very well, whether it is the monstrousness of the mermaids (who only look like beautiful women above water) or the monstrous nature of the humans who hunt them. Looking forward to reading the further books!
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
Centering on the legend of mermaid's flesh as a path to immortality, the story follows Yuta, who had become an immortal in this manner and wants to revert back to a mortal body. His search for a cure to immortality has taken him all over Japan through the centuries, and during one such search, he comes across a village where a young girl, Mana, is being raised by a household of old women. Rescuing her from them, they both, too, set out into the world, but with their ability to not die despite fatal injuries, they are a target for people everywhere. Even though the risk of turning into a monster rather than an immortal is higher, people will still seek out immortality, and these two are working against such elements through the story. Yuta's story is particularly a lonely one - he can never settle down anywhere because of the risk, but also because being ageless and immortal, he can't fit in with the world, and any companion of his would die before him. Mana, however, is like him, and the two of them are united in that aspect against the world. The art style - well, we all know Takahashi's distinctive style thanks to Inu Yasha and Ranma 1/2, and this one does the horror elements very well, whether it is the monstrousness of the mermaids (who only look like beautiful women above water) or the monstrous nature of the humans who hunt them. Looking forward to reading the further books!
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
October 12, 2021
If you consume mermaid flesh, you can live forever…. Kind of??? It depends.
Sometimes, the flesh just doesn’t settle right with everyone. If you’re unlucky, you die. If you’re really unlucky, you can be transformed into a hideous, lifeless soul cursed to walk the world forever in eternal agony.
So, there are some pretty awful drawbacks.
Fortunately for Yuta and Mana, the mermaid flesh did not make them into monsters. But, that doesn’t mean everything is perfect.
Yuta, hundreds of years old, unwittingly are mermaid flesh and became immortal. Ever since, he’s been trying to find a way to reverse what he considers an immortal “curse”. He wants to be human again. He wants to die.
In his quest to find a way to break this curse, Yuta comes across Mana’s village. There, he finds Mana, worshipped but shackled by the villagers. A prisoner who can’t escape. She is a human who has been fed mermaid flesh to make her immortal so that she can then be fed to mermaids so the mermaids can retain their own youth. It’s a bit convoluted.
Anyway, Yuta decides to rescue Mana and the two embark on a journey to find a way to break their immortal curse so they can live as humans again. Will they be able to accomplish their goal? Could Mana hold the secret to breaking this curse that Yuta has been searching for?
This is such a delightful and unexpectedly disturbing tale! The art and story are both gruesome and morbid. This is not the cute romance I thought it would be at all and I am so pleasantly surprised!
Definitely recommend!
Sometimes, the flesh just doesn’t settle right with everyone. If you’re unlucky, you die. If you’re really unlucky, you can be transformed into a hideous, lifeless soul cursed to walk the world forever in eternal agony.
So, there are some pretty awful drawbacks.
Fortunately for Yuta and Mana, the mermaid flesh did not make them into monsters. But, that doesn’t mean everything is perfect.
Yuta, hundreds of years old, unwittingly are mermaid flesh and became immortal. Ever since, he’s been trying to find a way to reverse what he considers an immortal “curse”. He wants to be human again. He wants to die.
In his quest to find a way to break this curse, Yuta comes across Mana’s village. There, he finds Mana, worshipped but shackled by the villagers. A prisoner who can’t escape. She is a human who has been fed mermaid flesh to make her immortal so that she can then be fed to mermaids so the mermaids can retain their own youth. It’s a bit convoluted.
Anyway, Yuta decides to rescue Mana and the two embark on a journey to find a way to break their immortal curse so they can live as humans again. Will they be able to accomplish their goal? Could Mana hold the secret to breaking this curse that Yuta has been searching for?
This is such a delightful and unexpectedly disturbing tale! The art and story are both gruesome and morbid. This is not the cute romance I thought it would be at all and I am so pleasantly surprised!
Definitely recommend!
November 14, 2021
Been stalling with this one because I didn't want to finish it. Well I pulled myself together and tried to at least skim through the last half of it. It was very very meh. I was so hyped when I saw that the creator of Inuyasha had made a horror manga about mermaids! I mean... yes, please! Well, can you really call something horror just because you pull out the black ink and draw some blood? I'd say no. I'll try to be somewhat organized in my critique, without doing a long ass review:
- the plot sounded interesting but the story was just boring, actually
- it was so repetitive and every story was different but similar, kinda like the James Bond movies (we all know he'll win in the end and get the girl and there will probably be explosions and a car chase)
- Mana was naked in every chapter (I saw someone say she's 15 but I don't know, it just felt unnecessary)
- no real risk for our characters, ever. No risk + no unpredictability = no excitement
- horribly erratic pacing
- same-face syndrome
- the plot sounded interesting but the story was just boring, actually
- it was so repetitive and every story was different but similar, kinda like the James Bond movies (we all know he'll win in the end and get the girl and there will probably be explosions and a car chase)
- Mana was naked in every chapter (I saw someone say she's 15 but I don't know, it just felt unnecessary)
- no real risk for our characters, ever. No risk + no unpredictability = no excitement
- horribly erratic pacing
- same-face syndrome
December 17, 2020
Thar was fun.
I’ve been very excited for this release since it was announced. Story wise it wasn’t what I was expecting. We meet more immortal people than I thought we would and the main reveals himself as immortal in every story. Which you’d think he want to keep secret so people wouldn’t try to kill him to become immortal themselves.
Anyway. It’s about Yuta who became immortal after eating the flesh of a mermaid. He’s searching for one because rumor has it they can somehow make him mortal again. Poor boy just wants to be able to age and die peacefully.
First story is him finding another immortal women and their travels that follow. Sometimes it would time jump. Second story took place several years before the events of story 1 and the rest.
I enjoyed it and found it fun even though it repeated itself a lot.
I’ve been very excited for this release since it was announced. Story wise it wasn’t what I was expecting. We meet more immortal people than I thought we would and the main reveals himself as immortal in every story. Which you’d think he want to keep secret so people wouldn’t try to kill him to become immortal themselves.
Anyway. It’s about Yuta who became immortal after eating the flesh of a mermaid. He’s searching for one because rumor has it they can somehow make him mortal again. Poor boy just wants to be able to age and die peacefully.
First story is him finding another immortal women and their travels that follow. Sometimes it would time jump. Second story took place several years before the events of story 1 and the rest.
I enjoyed it and found it fun even though it repeated itself a lot.
January 17, 2021
well, now, if you're looking for a sweet mermaid romance, you're in the wrong manga, because this gets dark and bloody pretty damn quick, and is all the better for it.
August 15, 2021
The idea is really interesting but there were some things I just couldn’t get into. TW: SA, Attempted SA,
August 23, 2021
This manga was great and now I want to read volume two.
September 19, 2022
ostatnie opowiadanie 💔
October 22, 2021
Pretty great! (Remember, I grade on a curve, so 3 stars means 'enjoyable, worth reading')
This is the best thing I've ever read by Takahashi. I mean, it isn't quite as good as the first bound volume of Ranma 1/2, but that one didn't exist in a vacuum, and was dragged down by the many books of formulaic cheese that came after. Mermaid Saga is short. There are only two bound volumes, this being the first. No matter how silly the second volume gets, it won't have time to get cheapened to the extent that Ranma did. It's cool to see how Takahashi performs when she's at the helm of a franchise that ISN'T a cash juggernaut. It's refreshing.
It's a fantasy/horror story, much bloodier and more violent than other Takahashi I've read. Still a little formulaic, though. You know how in Ranma 1/2, people change forms when they get wet, so every fight seems to take place at the beach, at the pool, over an ice rink that breaks and has water underneath, etc? Well this one deals with immortals, so they die all the time. So it's still got that Takahashi trademark repetitive feel, and that's kind of a dig, but as always, she executes it with such charm, it's hard to get mad.
A great read for any fan of Takahashi that wants to see her more serious side. Warning, this is not as steeped in teenage romance as most of her work. There is a bit of it, although it has that odd Twilight flavor, where it's a 500 year old man, slowly falling for a 15 year old girl, but it's Takahashi, so you just go with it.
This is the best thing I've ever read by Takahashi. I mean, it isn't quite as good as the first bound volume of Ranma 1/2, but that one didn't exist in a vacuum, and was dragged down by the many books of formulaic cheese that came after. Mermaid Saga is short. There are only two bound volumes, this being the first. No matter how silly the second volume gets, it won't have time to get cheapened to the extent that Ranma did. It's cool to see how Takahashi performs when she's at the helm of a franchise that ISN'T a cash juggernaut. It's refreshing.
It's a fantasy/horror story, much bloodier and more violent than other Takahashi I've read. Still a little formulaic, though. You know how in Ranma 1/2, people change forms when they get wet, so every fight seems to take place at the beach, at the pool, over an ice rink that breaks and has water underneath, etc? Well this one deals with immortals, so they die all the time. So it's still got that Takahashi trademark repetitive feel, and that's kind of a dig, but as always, she executes it with such charm, it's hard to get mad.
A great read for any fan of Takahashi that wants to see her more serious side. Warning, this is not as steeped in teenage romance as most of her work. There is a bit of it, although it has that odd Twilight flavor, where it's a 500 year old man, slowly falling for a 15 year old girl, but it's Takahashi, so you just go with it.
August 21, 2024
When watching maison ikkoku, I was enchanted by the art style. It screamed 80s.
So starting a manga series from the mangaka who is famous for her ‘rumic world’ style was a no-brainer.
It is a overarching story with lots of smaller side stories. Though not the most compelling and with quite a bit of repetition, it still is a lot of fun.
The women are a bit hot-headed and shown nude one too many times. Though I’m not going to complain because for me it fits with the 80s time period.
It gives me a bit of junji ito vibes with some studio Ghibli flair. What an unexpected great mix!
It is a nice blend between the fun innocence of child like media and more mature subjects.
So starting a manga series from the mangaka who is famous for her ‘rumic world’ style was a no-brainer.
It is a overarching story with lots of smaller side stories. Though not the most compelling and with quite a bit of repetition, it still is a lot of fun.
The women are a bit hot-headed and shown nude one too many times. Though I’m not going to complain because for me it fits with the 80s time period.
It gives me a bit of junji ito vibes with some studio Ghibli flair. What an unexpected great mix!
It is a nice blend between the fun innocence of child like media and more mature subjects.
October 17, 2023
Mermaid Saga follows an immortal man named Yuta, who ate the flesh of a mermaid and his journey to become mortal again. The setup for the manga is very episodic, but that's not a bad thing since it's such a short series.
It's a very interesting dark take on mermaids. Rumiko Takahashi has always done well with violence and gore, this work is no exception. There are stories that take place in modern times and feudal Japan. I'm intrigued about how this will end in the next volume.
It's a very interesting dark take on mermaids. Rumiko Takahashi has always done well with violence and gore, this work is no exception. There are stories that take place in modern times and feudal Japan. I'm intrigued about how this will end in the next volume.
August 31, 2022
A mix match of different one shots or two shots about mermaids. In this universe most mermaids are vicious creatures and if eat their flesh there's a small chance you can become immortal but more than likely you'll become a monster or die.
Overall solid, dark, twisted, but nothing sadly blew me away. A 3 out of 5.
Overall solid, dark, twisted, but nothing sadly blew me away. A 3 out of 5.
May 27, 2023
Reseña de los 3 tomos de Mermaid Saga
En esta colección de relatos Rumiko Takahashi nos lleva por una serie de historias de terror relacionadas con el mundo de las sirenas. Habiendo leído de la autora solo Ranma 1/2 y algún one-shot me ha sorprendido lo buena que es con el gore y el body horror.
Destaco especialmente las excelentes composiciones de página y lo góticas que son las pequeñas historias que va contando, casi todas giran rápidamente hacia la tragedia. El único defecto que le puedo sacar a esta serie es que el final es algo abrupto, me habría gustado un cierre para sus protagonistas.
En esta colección de relatos Rumiko Takahashi nos lleva por una serie de historias de terror relacionadas con el mundo de las sirenas. Habiendo leído de la autora solo Ranma 1/2 y algún one-shot me ha sorprendido lo buena que es con el gore y el body horror.
Destaco especialmente las excelentes composiciones de página y lo góticas que son las pequeñas historias que va contando, casi todas giran rápidamente hacia la tragedia. El único defecto que le puedo sacar a esta serie es que el final es algo abrupto, me habría gustado un cierre para sus protagonistas.
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