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Mermaid Saga #2
Mermaid Saga Collector's Edition, Vol. 2
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 result includes 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?
Immortals Yuta and Mana continue to come across people who are dealing with the consequences of having eaten mermaid flesh. Some are scarred, in excruciating pain or just trying to survive, but they all lead mysterious lives filled with unspeakable horror. Is one’s humanity doomed to be lost in exchange for immortality?
They say that if one consumes mermaid flesh, one can attain immortality. Unfortunately, the more likely result includes 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?
Immortals Yuta and Mana continue to come across people who are dealing with the consequences of having eaten mermaid flesh. Some are scarred, in excruciating pain or just trying to survive, but they all lead mysterious lives filled with unspeakable horror. Is one’s humanity doomed to be lost in exchange for immortality?
360 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2021
18 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Rumiko Takahashi
1,571 books2,103 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 72 reviews
October 3, 2021
I was hoping for some more variety, but this is just more of the same as volume 1. The complete lack of any character development for the two main characters was particularly irritating to me. If I’m spending 700ish pages with a character or two I would like for them to maybe change at least a little.
March 31, 2024
high 3 because it got creepy at the end!
February 24, 2021
I am really enjoying how dark, cynical, and yet hopeful this series is, especially for a Rumiko Takahashi book. I'm actually glad this is a relatively short manga series. If it was longer I could have seen it eventually get to the point of ridiculousness, where you wonder if there is anyone in Japan who doesn't have a convenient chunk of mermaid flesh to allow them to become either a horrific fiend or immortal. As it stands this is a very chilling, entertaining series.
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2021
The conclusion to the series was a little more open ended than I personally like, but still enjoyed the journey of this series. I liked that this was a story that wasn't drug out into a long and overly dramatic thing. It did a good job of tying up the loose ends, so that was really nice.
If you like thriller/horror mangas, this one will be for you.
If you like thriller/horror mangas, this one will be for you.
June 24, 2021
Fishy coochies everywhere!
September 27, 2022
3.5 ho preferito il primo
May 8, 2021
Love the continued settling into these characters at this point (Mana eats rudely; she also stops and says hello to every kitty, like I do), and that Takahashi really doesn't let up on the "the limit to the number of horrifying things human beings will do to hoarde more life they don't even know that they really want does not exist" angle. Hardcore. My only complaint is that I could've spent a lot more time in this universe and I wish there were more stories in it!
October 21, 2023
I think I'd give this overall series 3.5 ⭐️
Unfortunately, the short stories don't really contribute to a greater overall plot and there isn't a proper ending for the story. Yuta and Mana are no closer to becoming mortal again than they were in book one.
The lore is interesting though, and Rumiko's art is always great. I would have loved more character development for both mains. I feel like we got a bit more for Yuta since he's in every story, but he still remains relatively flat.
If you're a fan of Rumiko's work, then check it out, but it's nowhere near her masterpieces like Inuyasha.
Unfortunately, the short stories don't really contribute to a greater overall plot and there isn't a proper ending for the story. Yuta and Mana are no closer to becoming mortal again than they were in book one.
The lore is interesting though, and Rumiko's art is always great. I would have loved more character development for both mains. I feel like we got a bit more for Yuta since he's in every story, but he still remains relatively flat.
If you're a fan of Rumiko's work, then check it out, but it's nowhere near her masterpieces like Inuyasha.
January 18, 2024
One of my all-time favourite manga series!
I get so invested in these stories that I just can't stop reading. I love the twists and turns and just overall unexpected stories that are in this series.
I get so invested in these stories that I just can't stop reading. I love the twists and turns and just overall unexpected stories that are in this series.
August 18, 2023
like the first volume i enjoyed all the stories, but i felt like they weren’t really cohesive. i also feel like i would have liked the ending a lot more if yuta’s whole thing was trying to find a cure. idk i think there’s just no real story to these which yanno is fine as a collection of short stories but it’s not realllyyy supposed to be that way so yea a little disappointing in that aspect but when you accept it for what it is it’s a nice lil collection of short stories that are really interesting and illustrated very well, i love the changing styles throughout.
April 20, 2024
While I didn’t quite enjoy this one as much as the original volume, this was still a great world to hear stories involving the always looming threat of death, or possibly worse as told in this book, immortality. Great book about life and relationships told through great character work.
May 2, 2024
I due volumi che compongono la raccolta di racconti di Marmaid Saga narrano le vicende di due protagonisti, Yuta e Mana che da giovani hanno mangiato carne di sirena e per questo da allora sono immortali. Questa carne però non è solo uno speciale elisir di lunga vita, bensì può avere anche effetti orribili su chi la mangia ed essere velenosa. Inoltre essere immortali non è poi così entusiasmante come può sembrare, per questo Yuta e Mana viaggeranno alla ricerca di un modo per tornare mortali e nel frattempo incontreranno altre persone che avranno a che fare con le Sirene e si batteranno per far sì che nessuno soffra più per ottenere quella carne miracolosa. La serie di episodi (narrati non in ordine cronologico) sono collegati tra loro da un unico filo conduttore: quanto un essere umano può essere assuefatto dal desiderio di potenza e immortalità? E cosa è disposto a fare per ottenerli? Rumiko Takahashi qui espone un lato più maturo e introspettivo della sua arte. I volumi sono bellissimi e hanno l'aggiunta di alcune pagine a colori che risaltano ancora di più il talento dell'autrice e la bellezza delle sue tavole. Consigliati a chi è fan della Takahashi, magari non a chi si approccia per la prima volta alle sue opere.
February 25, 2021
An under rated masterpiece, I absolutely love Mermaid Saga. This collection is a mix of stories that comes with Mermaid's Scar, my favorite of the whole series. Somewhat more in the tone of Inuyasha than the martial arts comedies like Ranma, I really think more people should read it.
April 21, 2021
I think this volume was even better than the first! The art is stunning and I love Takahashi's work so much. A huge fan! I am sad it's over now, but it makes me want to pick up even more if her work!❤
May 15, 2021
I only wish there was more of this series! Takahashi leaning into horror is everything I didn't know I needed before I picked up Mermaid Saga.
November 14, 2024
InuYasha was one of my favorite mangas back in the day and (somehow) I never knew that Rumiko Takahashi has also written a horror story about mermaids! Sign me up yesterday!
A Mermaid Never Smiles: The introduction of Mana was excellent. The moment Yuta pulled back her blankets and revealed her bound legs was perfect. What exactly was going on in this story was not really brought up ever again, but it was pretty much just a vessel to add a character. 3/5
Village of the Fighting Fish: Isago was the best character in this one. She very patiently brought her captors to the source of their own deaths and earned her freedom. Love it! 4/5
Mermaid Forest: My absolute favorite! From Towa's scary arm, to her white hair, to the basement prison. The sucker punch at the end and the visual was awesome. Did they animate this one? I need to watch it! 5/5
Dream's End: Another one that was more sad than scary. I wonder why Big Eyes achieved half a transformation, instead of a whole one... It was too bad that he couldn't travel with Yuta and Mana. I think he deserved some happiness. 3/5
Promised Tomorrow: I think these chapters are a little more romantic than horrifying. Nae and Yuta's previous romance and how it tainted the present was interesting to watch. I like that Rumiko never shies away from drawing old people. Very sweet. 4/5
Mermaid's Scar: Amazing! 5/5
Ash Princess: I really enjoy how it seems to be a different mermaid body part in each story. This one was great, even if it was more sad than scary. I could really feel the old man's loss of his precious daughter, how he thought he was doing something good, how horribly it all went in the end... 5/5
Eye of the Demon: I love a creepy doll, a gorgeous mansion, and a folktale as much as the next person. I enjoyed watching this play out between the siblings, even if the ending felt a little too easy. 4/5
The Last Face: I love how this felt like a reversal of Mermaid's Scar. Like with Ash Princess, parents who cannot let go of their children creep me out. Not as good as the other two I'm comparing it to though. 3/5
Yuta largely watches all these horrible things play out, occasionally getting involved and getting killed (which doesn't stop him at all). It reminds me a lot of Petshop of Horrors. I like Mana a lot, especially in later chapters when she starts to protect Yuta and the women or children he leaves in her care. They're lovely people, even if they're just here to take us to the next location.
Such a beautiful compilation. (I've got to sit down and figure out which chapters go in which volume, but for now I'll just lump it all together.) I've read that Rumiko plan to come back to this series so I can't wait for that! Overall, 5/5
A Mermaid Never Smiles: The introduction of Mana was excellent. The moment Yuta pulled back her blankets and revealed her bound legs was perfect. What exactly was going on in this story was not really brought up ever again, but it was pretty much just a vessel to add a character. 3/5
Village of the Fighting Fish: Isago was the best character in this one. She very patiently brought her captors to the source of their own deaths and earned her freedom. Love it! 4/5
Mermaid Forest: My absolute favorite! From Towa's scary arm, to her white hair, to the basement prison. The sucker punch at the end and the visual was awesome. Did they animate this one? I need to watch it! 5/5
Dream's End: Another one that was more sad than scary. I wonder why Big Eyes achieved half a transformation, instead of a whole one... It was too bad that he couldn't travel with Yuta and Mana. I think he deserved some happiness. 3/5
Promised Tomorrow: I think these chapters are a little more romantic than horrifying. Nae and Yuta's previous romance and how it tainted the present was interesting to watch. I like that Rumiko never shies away from drawing old people. Very sweet. 4/5
Mermaid's Scar: Amazing! 5/5
Ash Princess: I really enjoy how it seems to be a different mermaid body part in each story. This one was great, even if it was more sad than scary. I could really feel the old man's loss of his precious daughter, how he thought he was doing something good, how horribly it all went in the end... 5/5
Eye of the Demon: I love a creepy doll, a gorgeous mansion, and a folktale as much as the next person. I enjoyed watching this play out between the siblings, even if the ending felt a little too easy. 4/5
The Last Face: I love how this felt like a reversal of Mermaid's Scar. Like with Ash Princess, parents who cannot let go of their children creep me out. Not as good as the other two I'm comparing it to though. 3/5
Yuta largely watches all these horrible things play out, occasionally getting involved and getting killed (which doesn't stop him at all). It reminds me a lot of Petshop of Horrors. I like Mana a lot, especially in later chapters when she starts to protect Yuta and the women or children he leaves in her care. They're lovely people, even if they're just here to take us to the next location.
Such a beautiful compilation. (I've got to sit down and figure out which chapters go in which volume, but for now I'll just lump it all together.) I've read that Rumiko plan to come back to this series so I can't wait for that! Overall, 5/5
May 12, 2022
End of a fairy tale
As a relatively short manga series it leaves the end of the main character's immortal journey up to the readers but in the mean time we are treated to another sampling of tales of mermaid consumption gone wrong. Within this volume we get to see the tales of the Mermaid's Scar, the Ash Princess, Mermaid's Gaze, and the Mermaid's Mask. Just as a warning there are scenes of violence and some limited nudity (check out those beautiful mermaid drawings on the French cut cover) so if either of these bother you it might be best to look elsewhere seeing as this series is primarily about how the consumption of mermaid flesh can either turn its imbiber into a hideously mutated monster or into an immortal with a few variations in between depending how the flesh was delivered or used.
For me although I enjoyed all of the stories I think my favorite was the Ash Princess though it is the only one that does not have a part two to it. Although it was a little sad considering how it ended I was happy to see that she could find peace at last even though she and Yuta could have traveled together. To understand what I mean I suggest you read the story yourself so you can experience it for yourself like I did. :)
As a relatively short manga series it leaves the end of the main character's immortal journey up to the readers but in the mean time we are treated to another sampling of tales of mermaid consumption gone wrong. Within this volume we get to see the tales of the Mermaid's Scar, the Ash Princess, Mermaid's Gaze, and the Mermaid's Mask. Just as a warning there are scenes of violence and some limited nudity (check out those beautiful mermaid drawings on the French cut cover) so if either of these bother you it might be best to look elsewhere seeing as this series is primarily about how the consumption of mermaid flesh can either turn its imbiber into a hideously mutated monster or into an immortal with a few variations in between depending how the flesh was delivered or used.
For me although I enjoyed all of the stories I think my favorite was the Ash Princess though it is the only one that does not have a part two to it. Although it was a little sad considering how it ended I was happy to see that she could find peace at last even though she and Yuta could have traveled together. To understand what I mean I suggest you read the story yourself so you can experience it for yourself like I did. :)
February 20, 2021
The adventures of Yuta (and sometimes Mana because the timeline jumps around) continue with two creepy tales of immortal children and two messed up tales of semi-immortal families. If the first volume wasn't gorey enough, this one has people being eaten alive and getting their faces cut off.
Overall, this series is a nice dip into some dark fantasy. The stories don't have much in common (other than involving Yuta and mermaid shenanigans), so you can pick up the book, read a few chapters, and enjoy a short plot point.
This omnibus contains volumes 3-4.
This series has 4 volumes
Overall, this series is a nice dip into some dark fantasy. The stories don't have much in common (other than involving Yuta and mermaid shenanigans), so you can pick up the book, read a few chapters, and enjoy a short plot point.
This omnibus contains volumes 3-4.
This series has 4 volumes
January 23, 2021
It's so great to get a chance to go back and reread some of the manga that got me into manga. In the 90s I read popular 90s series such as Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon. Mermaid Saga was the first "adult" or dramatic manga I read, so I was really excited to hear about the new collector's editions. I recently read volume 1, and I was surprised at how much I remembered. With volume 2, I was surprised at how much I forgot! It was such a different experience, it was almost like reading it again for the first time. Viz Media did a great job cleaning up the panels and I was also happy that they included some of the color pages since I don't recall them in the original English release. The stories in volume 2 were a bit darker than in the previous volume, which shouldn't be surprising since Takahashi is a master at writing horror. I really enjoyed how many of the stories tied into Yuta's past, if there was a weakness in the collection it would be the lack of character development for Mana. I am really looking forward to reading volume 3.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
See my review of the first volume for the major gist.
This is the second and final volume and is the same as the first. A collection of stories about various people that Yuta, the 500 year old protagonist and Mana, his companion meet.
What I found myself appreciating is that it ends with no end. It was never the point of this, even the love that is obviously growing between the two is just a side topic, barely mentioned and not a focal point whatsoever. It is this kind of mature respect of the reader that elevates this to greatness for me. This is about what the mermaid flesh does to the people they meet. You are able to draw your own conclusions about the background matters rather than being led by the nose.
A sensitive, deeply thought provoking examination of what people would do to achieve or deal with immortality.
I would have loved more but at the same time, I feel it was the right length. A glimpse into an eternity is enough and I think that these two books portray that well.
Kudos, Rumiko.
This is the second and final volume and is the same as the first. A collection of stories about various people that Yuta, the 500 year old protagonist and Mana, his companion meet.
What I found myself appreciating is that it ends with no end. It was never the point of this, even the love that is obviously growing between the two is just a side topic, barely mentioned and not a focal point whatsoever. It is this kind of mature respect of the reader that elevates this to greatness for me. This is about what the mermaid flesh does to the people they meet. You are able to draw your own conclusions about the background matters rather than being led by the nose.
A sensitive, deeply thought provoking examination of what people would do to achieve or deal with immortality.
I would have loved more but at the same time, I feel it was the right length. A glimpse into an eternity is enough and I think that these two books portray that well.
Kudos, Rumiko.
July 29, 2024
Il viaggio di Yuta continua, fra presente e passato, e guadagna una compagna di viaggio in Mana, una ragazza anche lei immortale, salvata da Yuta nello scorso volume, destinata a sacrificio per una comunità di sirene. In diverse coniugazioni Yuta e Mana continuano a imbattersi in persone che sono entrate in contatto con la carne di sirena e, nel bene e nel male, ne hanno sconvolto l’esistenza.
Purtroppo il finale di questo secondo volume resta aperto, senza una risoluzione del problema dei protagonisti, o senza fare avanzare la trama, ma il loro viaggio continua, forse in eterno, o almeno finché non troveranno una cura per la loro situazione. Personalmente me li immagino ancora intenti a cercare, anche se per loro vorrei un lieto fine; lo stile del disegno mi sembra migliorato rispetto il primo volume, il ritmo della narrazione è molto scorrevole. In generale è stata una lettura piacevole e veloce.
Purtroppo il finale di questo secondo volume resta aperto, senza una risoluzione del problema dei protagonisti, o senza fare avanzare la trama, ma il loro viaggio continua, forse in eterno, o almeno finché non troveranno una cura per la loro situazione. Personalmente me li immagino ancora intenti a cercare, anche se per loro vorrei un lieto fine; lo stile del disegno mi sembra migliorato rispetto il primo volume, il ritmo della narrazione è molto scorrevole. In generale è stata una lettura piacevole e veloce.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2020
The second volume of The Mermaid Saga in which Yuta and Mana continue traveling. In one story, they find a boy who looks to be very young, but is in fact even older than Yuta's 500 years. He keeps looking for a replacement mother by feeding different women mermaid flesh. In another story, Yuta (only 200 years old) finds a girl who has been brought back to life with a mermaid's liver. The next story finds Yuta and Mana at one of Yuta's former workplaces. There a brother and sister ate mermaid flesh, and the brother is murdering girls who look like her and tormenting the housekeeper. In the last story, Yuta and Mana find a young boy who has been kidnapped by his biological grandmother who wants to feed him mermaid flesh. I can't wait to see what adventures Yuta and Mana have in the next volume.
July 28, 2023
A solid follow up to the first volume, with more tales of the immortal wanderers and mermaid parts. There’s some real good stuff here. The first story is wild, and I do not want to spoil it suffice to say it had me cackling like a madman with the images it puts on display.
The story of the Ash Princess… that one hits ya right in the heart.
I want to take a moment to note how good Takahashi is with faces, especially eyes. She can use the most minute bits to convey something truly rotten hiding behind them, or full of pain, or both.
The only complaint really is that it really doesn’t have a resolution. It just kinda ends. A pity really, but still, everything else here is so solid, that I don’t hate it. It’s better than a bad ending. With characters like these, it just makes you feel like they must be walking the earth, somewhere, still.
The story of the Ash Princess… that one hits ya right in the heart.
I want to take a moment to note how good Takahashi is with faces, especially eyes. She can use the most minute bits to convey something truly rotten hiding behind them, or full of pain, or both.
The only complaint really is that it really doesn’t have a resolution. It just kinda ends. A pity really, but still, everything else here is so solid, that I don’t hate it. It’s better than a bad ending. With characters like these, it just makes you feel like they must be walking the earth, somewhere, still.
September 24, 2023
4.0
Wszyscy znają piękne, uwodzicielskie syreny, ale nikt nie spodziewał się ich jako szkaradnych potworów lub kobiet chodzących po lądzie. Czy stoją za tym ludźie co zjedli syrenie mięso...?
Drugi tom zdecydowanie wypadł lepiej niż pierwszy. Może była to kwestia tego, że zdążyłam zrozumieć ideę syreniego mięsa albo pierwsza część pomogła mi odnaleźć się w tym fantastycznym świecie. Uważam również, że historie były ciekawsze i bardziej dynamiczne.
☆ manga
☆ starsza, ale ładna kreska - z lat 90tych
☆ bardzo ciekawy zamysł na fabułę
☆ syreny są kompletnie inaczej przedstawione niż w kulturze europejskiej
☆ sympatyczni ale zarazem irytujący główni bohaterowie
☆ zbiór różnych historii z życia bohatera - wszystkie opowiadają jego historię oraz podróż życia
★ TW: przemoc, śmierć, morderstwo, samookaleczanie
IG. @gocha.reads
Wszyscy znają piękne, uwodzicielskie syreny, ale nikt nie spodziewał się ich jako szkaradnych potworów lub kobiet chodzących po lądzie. Czy stoją za tym ludźie co zjedli syrenie mięso...?
Drugi tom zdecydowanie wypadł lepiej niż pierwszy. Może była to kwestia tego, że zdążyłam zrozumieć ideę syreniego mięsa albo pierwsza część pomogła mi odnaleźć się w tym fantastycznym świecie. Uważam również, że historie były ciekawsze i bardziej dynamiczne.
☆ manga
☆ starsza, ale ładna kreska - z lat 90tych
☆ bardzo ciekawy zamysł na fabułę
☆ syreny są kompletnie inaczej przedstawione niż w kulturze europejskiej
☆ sympatyczni ale zarazem irytujący główni bohaterowie
☆ zbiór różnych historii z życia bohatera - wszystkie opowiadają jego historię oraz podróż życia
★ TW: przemoc, śmierć, morderstwo, samookaleczanie
IG. @gocha.reads
June 29, 2021
I liked the stories in this omnibus the most! But the ending of this series is just as unsatisfactory as the first time I read it. There’s no actual ending. Yuta and Mana say goodbye and move on with their journey…. No idea if they ever become “human” again. No idea if they possibly fall in love with each other. No idea if they will ever stop roaming…
I feel like this series could’ve been the start of something amazing. If only we got to see more character development of our main characters. And seen more of their journey.
Well, after rereading this, I still think it’s a 3/5 stars. It’s incomplete. Not much character development. Just nothing but a bunch of stories about a similar situation….
I feel like this series could’ve been the start of something amazing. If only we got to see more character development of our main characters. And seen more of their journey.
Well, after rereading this, I still think it’s a 3/5 stars. It’s incomplete. Not much character development. Just nothing but a bunch of stories about a similar situation….
November 12, 2021
I loved Mermaid Saga and I'm sad this short series is over. I don't know if sales or readership dropped off back in the '90s or if this was the intended way to end the series. It felt like the story could have kept going and I kind of wish it would have, but maybe not? Sometimes these things run themselves into the ground trying to outdo the previous chapters. Mermaid Saga is an incredibly dark take on mermaid folklore with a epic, immortal romance/friendship that starts to turn into a Law & Order SVU-type procedural, but with ghost stories. The situations in this final volume are the best in the series so far and are intense! I can't say I've read anything like it but would love to if someone reading this has any recommendations.
July 31, 2025
I wish there were more volumes and I would like to read more of these stories.
If you eat the flesh of a mermaid you *might* life eternally. Such a simple concept and Rumiko Takahashi managed to craft numerous stories from this premise, enlightening different aspects of immortality, the mythology and human greed. The writing is absolutely stellar and these stories have been a lot of fun.
There is no real ending here and the stories themselves don't connect, it's more like a road trip of the two protagonists. But it's so well made, that I didn't mind at all.
I don't want to repeat everything I've said about Vol. 1; the drawing style is amazing, Mana is often just the damsel in distress, but the mix of mystery, horror and adventure really works well.
Highly recommended!
If you eat the flesh of a mermaid you *might* life eternally. Such a simple concept and Rumiko Takahashi managed to craft numerous stories from this premise, enlightening different aspects of immortality, the mythology and human greed. The writing is absolutely stellar and these stories have been a lot of fun.
There is no real ending here and the stories themselves don't connect, it's more like a road trip of the two protagonists. But it's so well made, that I didn't mind at all.
I don't want to repeat everything I've said about Vol. 1; the drawing style is amazing, Mana is often just the damsel in distress, but the mix of mystery, horror and adventure really works well.
Highly recommended!
March 10, 2021
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5
I will always love Rumiko Takahashi and everything she has done and will do.
Volume 2 of Mermaid Saga is just an excellent continuation of the series. I love how dark it is compared to some of her other works. I also really liked the jumping between times/eras. It took me awhile each arc to get adjusted but then I loved it.
Art is beautiful, as usual. Storytelling and dialogue is amazing, as usual. This is series is just really fun and a great fit for any InuYasha fans or general anime fans.
Love love love. Can’t wait for Volume 3.
4.5/5
I will always love Rumiko Takahashi and everything she has done and will do.
Volume 2 of Mermaid Saga is just an excellent continuation of the series. I love how dark it is compared to some of her other works. I also really liked the jumping between times/eras. It took me awhile each arc to get adjusted but then I loved it.
Art is beautiful, as usual. Storytelling and dialogue is amazing, as usual. This is series is just really fun and a great fit for any InuYasha fans or general anime fans.
Love love love. Can’t wait for Volume 3.
May 13, 2021
I have pretty much the same comments for this volume as the first.
The final pages are open ended, suggesting perhaps that Yuta and Mana will wander Japan forever, meeting people who have had contact with mermaids.
As in the first book, the usual motives for desiring the immortality that mermaid flesh might bring are either inability to let go of a love, or else selfishness and greed. Though we don't have many pages to learn about each character, the way that the stories reveal the motivations is done well.
The final pages are open ended, suggesting perhaps that Yuta and Mana will wander Japan forever, meeting people who have had contact with mermaids.
As in the first book, the usual motives for desiring the immortality that mermaid flesh might bring are either inability to let go of a love, or else selfishness and greed. Though we don't have many pages to learn about each character, the way that the stories reveal the motivations is done well.
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