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Came the Mirror & Other Tales
Five intimate magical-realist tales from manga legend Rumiko Takahashi!
A supernatural mirror compels a teenager to draw out and destroy the evil lurking within others. But will his duty destroy him? A has-been manga creator acquires the power to curse his competition. Is it worth it? A pet cat possesses a human. Warning, side effects may include partial transmogrification... And more!
Plus, a rare behind-the-scenes autobiographical story about Takahashi’s lifelong love affair with manga (and friendship with manga creator Mitsuru Adachi)!
A supernatural mirror compels a teenager to draw out and destroy the evil lurking within others. But will his duty destroy him? A has-been manga creator acquires the power to curse his competition. Is it worth it? A pet cat possesses a human. Warning, side effects may include partial transmogrification... And more!
Plus, a rare behind-the-scenes autobiographical story about Takahashi’s lifelong love affair with manga (and friendship with manga creator Mitsuru Adachi)!
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2022
About the author
Rumiko Takahashi
1,642 books2,049 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
May 8, 2024
Who wants a manga short story collection? With horror, magic realism and whimsy? I do, I do, I do!
Rumiko Takahashi creates her characters so effortlessly, and I love the drawing style.
Came the Mirror – a creepy story about a magic mirror that sucks out the darkness in people’s souls. This one felt too short and slightly half-baked, it seemed that there was more to say. I still enjoyed it, though.
Revenge Doll – be careful with magic dolls that people send you for no particular reason! Here is a pretty “standard” horror story, but it is set in a manga studio, and there is a nice twist at the end. Loved it!
The Star Has a Thousand Faces – a very silly story about a very silly actress, the cast and crew of a very silly drama, and a very silly series finale that almost (!) wasn’t filmed (and what a tragedy that would have been ;))). I had lots of fun, thumbs up.
Lovely Flower – an interesting take on a crazy stalker plot. There are pheromones. The story doesn’t go the way you’d expect and there is a plucky heroine ☺
With Cat – this is a cute teen romance with lots of misunderstandings. Also, you have cats cursing humans and possessing them. How delightful!
My Sweet Sunday – an autobiographical piece on becoming a manga artist, written in collaboration with Mitsuru Adachi. It’s nice enough, but it’s probably my least favourite story in this collection, There was a certain lack of whimsy.
Rumiko Takahashi creates her characters so effortlessly, and I love the drawing style.
Came the Mirror – a creepy story about a magic mirror that sucks out the darkness in people’s souls. This one felt too short and slightly half-baked, it seemed that there was more to say. I still enjoyed it, though.
Revenge Doll – be careful with magic dolls that people send you for no particular reason! Here is a pretty “standard” horror story, but it is set in a manga studio, and there is a nice twist at the end. Loved it!
The Star Has a Thousand Faces – a very silly story about a very silly actress, the cast and crew of a very silly drama, and a very silly series finale that almost (!) wasn’t filmed (and what a tragedy that would have been ;))). I had lots of fun, thumbs up.
Lovely Flower – an interesting take on a crazy stalker plot. There are pheromones. The story doesn’t go the way you’d expect and there is a plucky heroine ☺
With Cat – this is a cute teen romance with lots of misunderstandings. Also, you have cats cursing humans and possessing them. How delightful!
My Sweet Sunday – an autobiographical piece on becoming a manga artist, written in collaboration with Mitsuru Adachi. It’s nice enough, but it’s probably my least favourite story in this collection, There was a certain lack of whimsy.
October 25, 2022
Just a fun batch of stories.
December 3, 2021
This collection from Takahashi was a lot of fun! The only story that I personally didn't care for was the final one, which was a collaborative story. I particularly liked the one with the cat, and when you read it, you know what I mean by that! ;)
February 23, 2022
Ya'll I LOVE the work of Rumiko Takahashi. Period, the end. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.
Lovely compilation of short works that are just so beautiful and amazing and classic. You can't go wrong reading this and adding it to your library. This is on my short list of manga I need to buy right now and one I will most certainly be recommending at the store.
5, I wish this had been 5,000 pages longer it was so good, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Viz Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
Lovely compilation of short works that are just so beautiful and amazing and classic. You can't go wrong reading this and adding it to your library. This is on my short list of manga I need to buy right now and one I will most certainly be recommending at the store.
5, I wish this had been 5,000 pages longer it was so good, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Viz Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2022
This is the first thing I've read by Rumiko Takahachi. I can see that she's a skilled, even iconic, manga writer. But the stories didn't do a lot for me. A couple verged on horror, which isn't my genre, and the others had some pretty disagreeable characters and/or failures to communicate. I did like the history and culture of manga, both in autobiographical pieces (one from her and one from one of her mentors) from the perspective of growing up in the 1955-65 era (him) and a decade or two later (her) into the present time, and in some of the other stories that were about manga writers and the industry.
December 5, 2021
3.5 rounded up, because even with limited character designs and plots that don't quite hit as hard as they need to in the end, it's hard to fault Rumiko Takahashi's shorter work. In part this because she's not stretching her ideas to translucency in order to keep a series going - in the short stories in this collection, Takahashi is able to tell a full tale without padding it out. That she can do that when most of her works run into the thirty-volume range (at least) is impressive, and more than anything shows that she deserves the praise heaped upon her. (And to be fair, I usually enjoy her longer work for ten to fifteen volumes.) The stories in this collection are primarily horror - a mysterious mirror that appears on the palm of peoples' hands forces them to purify monsters or be killed, a woman's stalker leaves foul-smelling flowers everywhere she goes, only everyone else think they smell great, a girl's cat possesses the boy she has a love/hate relationship with, and a struggling manga artist receives a cursing doll from a fan and doesn't hesitate to put it to use. The final piece, a joint reminiscence of getting started in manga with Mitsuru Adachi, is the most unique, but the strongest is probably the flower story, which manages to seem menacing without ever fully indulging in horror art or overt tropes. The resolutions of most of them (the cat story excepted) don't quite hit hard enough, and that does drop things down a bit in terms of overall enjoyment. But this is still a nice break from Takahashi's longer works and a good reminder that she really is the queen of shounen manga.
February 16, 2022
Came The Mirror - creepy!!!
Revenge Doll - I really hated the main character. He was a douche!!!!
The Star Has A Thousand Faces - ?? I didn’t get this story? What was the point? Definitely my least favorite!
With Cat - MY FAVORITE! I love cats and the characters were great. This was a cute and funny story!
My Sweet Sunday - It was nice to see how Takahashi and Adachi got into creating manga!! I love almost all of Takahashi’s works and I absolutely adored Adachi’s Cross Game! Two great old school manga creators for sure.
This was a great short story collection. I’m not the biggest fan of short stories but I love Rumiko Takahashi so I had to read this!
Revenge Doll - I really hated the main character. He was a douche!!!!
The Star Has A Thousand Faces - ?? I didn’t get this story? What was the point? Definitely my least favorite!
With Cat - MY FAVORITE! I love cats and the characters were great. This was a cute and funny story!
My Sweet Sunday - It was nice to see how Takahashi and Adachi got into creating manga!! I love almost all of Takahashi’s works and I absolutely adored Adachi’s Cross Game! Two great old school manga creators for sure.
This was a great short story collection. I’m not the biggest fan of short stories but I love Rumiko Takahashi so I had to read this!
January 26, 2022
The stories were disturbing and left me feeling uneasy but at the same time were very charming. Which is exactly what you want out of a book like this! Fans of Rumiko Takahashi pick this up it's a great peak into the imagination of this wonderful creator. If you're a fan of Junji Ito style horror you should also give this volume a try. The art is not as disturbing as Junji Ito's work so this can also be read by people who want horror but not so intense. Some of these tales ended rather abruptly which really added to the sense of unease I got from them. If you enjoy this stand alone compilation I suggest you also pick up her other ongoing series Mao.
* I received an eARC/e-galley of this book via Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
* I received an eARC/e-galley of this book via Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
February 7, 2022
Thank you, Edelweiss, for the review copy.
As with most short story collections there will be some stories that you will enjoy more than others. For me personally it was the first (the mirror) and the cat match maker story towards the end. Because there isn’t a lot of time the character development is limited, this worked against some of the tales more than the others. The Mangaka for example, as it’s so short it becomes really one dimensional.
If you enjoy stories by Rumiko Takahashi, I think you’ll enjoy this collection. If you haven’t read any of her works before I would recommend starting somewhere else as this doesn’t showcase how engaging and fun her stories are.
As with most short story collections there will be some stories that you will enjoy more than others. For me personally it was the first (the mirror) and the cat match maker story towards the end. Because there isn’t a lot of time the character development is limited, this worked against some of the tales more than the others. The Mangaka for example, as it’s so short it becomes really one dimensional.
If you enjoy stories by Rumiko Takahashi, I think you’ll enjoy this collection. If you haven’t read any of her works before I would recommend starting somewhere else as this doesn’t showcase how engaging and fun her stories are.
February 1, 2022
I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This short story selection from legendary Rumiko Takahashi is everything I wanted it to be.
I enjoyed this short story collection a lot more than I expected. I am a huge fan of Rumiko Takahashi as she introduced me to manga through Inuyasha when I was young.
The first title in this series of stories was definitely one of my favorites. The idea itself was an interesting concept. In this society, you are randomly selected to have a mirror on your hand. This mirror comes with the duty of getting rid of evil spirits within humans you may cross. If you do not do this correctly, you will be killed. If you satisfy your duty, then the mirror is transferred to another human. how the story unfolds is truly masterful in my opinion. The two main characters band together to try and stop their untimely deaths, but doing so may not be within their abilities. I would love to see a short anime series of this as I think it would do well.
The second title is about a washed up manga artist who is sent a doll which can curse 3 of his enemies if he so chooses, and the last curse can be used to kill someone. He uses 2 of these curses almost as a joke or not really thinking it worked. However, this story brings up some really interesting ideas of manga artists in general. About finding passion in drawing manga again and helping the next generation of manga artists grow rather than bring them down.
The third title honestly did not stick in my mind too much. I almost forgot about it when writing this review until I checked the manga again. It is about a star who thinks she murdered someone and goes into hiding. Definitely not my favorite in this series of short stories.
The fourth title had elements of horror to it which I was not expecting from this series, but in a good way! This is about a woman who keeps seeing this flower pop up everywhere with people raving about how wonderful it smells. However, when she smells it, she finds the scent horrific. Soon, she believes someone is stalker her as the flower shows up no matter where she goes. This story honestly scared me more than some other horror because it is almost realistic in the sense of a woman having a stalker and trying to grapple with someone following her without her knowledge.
The fifth title is honestly tied for my favorite in this collection. It is about a girl and boy who used to be good friends when they were young. But what tore them apart was a cat, maybe not how you think though. The girl has a cat and the boy does not like cats. However, they end up stop talking to each other for many years. When the cat is within his last days, he decides to curse/possess the arm of the boy which forces him and the girl together again. This story is cute, fun, and honestly gave me very cute Sailor Moon vibes (for some odd reason). Just a cute story with a good ending.
The last story is more autobiographical about Rumiko Takahashi and her love for manga from a young age and
This short story selection from legendary Rumiko Takahashi is everything I wanted it to be.
I enjoyed this short story collection a lot more than I expected. I am a huge fan of Rumiko Takahashi as she introduced me to manga through Inuyasha when I was young.
The first title in this series of stories was definitely one of my favorites. The idea itself was an interesting concept. In this society, you are randomly selected to have a mirror on your hand. This mirror comes with the duty of getting rid of evil spirits within humans you may cross. If you do not do this correctly, you will be killed. If you satisfy your duty, then the mirror is transferred to another human. how the story unfolds is truly masterful in my opinion. The two main characters band together to try and stop their untimely deaths, but doing so may not be within their abilities. I would love to see a short anime series of this as I think it would do well.
The second title is about a washed up manga artist who is sent a doll which can curse 3 of his enemies if he so chooses, and the last curse can be used to kill someone. He uses 2 of these curses almost as a joke or not really thinking it worked. However, this story brings up some really interesting ideas of manga artists in general. About finding passion in drawing manga again and helping the next generation of manga artists grow rather than bring them down.
The third title honestly did not stick in my mind too much. I almost forgot about it when writing this review until I checked the manga again. It is about a star who thinks she murdered someone and goes into hiding. Definitely not my favorite in this series of short stories.
The fourth title had elements of horror to it which I was not expecting from this series, but in a good way! This is about a woman who keeps seeing this flower pop up everywhere with people raving about how wonderful it smells. However, when she smells it, she finds the scent horrific. Soon, she believes someone is stalker her as the flower shows up no matter where she goes. This story honestly scared me more than some other horror because it is almost realistic in the sense of a woman having a stalker and trying to grapple with someone following her without her knowledge.
The fifth title is honestly tied for my favorite in this collection. It is about a girl and boy who used to be good friends when they were young. But what tore them apart was a cat, maybe not how you think though. The girl has a cat and the boy does not like cats. However, they end up stop talking to each other for many years. When the cat is within his last days, he decides to curse/possess the arm of the boy which forces him and the girl together again. This story is cute, fun, and honestly gave me very cute Sailor Moon vibes (for some odd reason). Just a cute story with a good ending.
The last story is more autobiographical about Rumiko Takahashi and her love for manga from a young age and
September 8, 2024
This was a fun collection of shorts, with most stories themed around horror or suspense. But it's the one story that breaks this mold, With Cat, that was my favorite. It's a charming story about two friends in love whose misunderstandings kept them apart until one of their cats gets involved. Takahashi is such a prolific and well regarded creator, and this is a good introduction to her works.
January 16, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rumiko Takahashi is a legend, a status that well earned by her contribution to the manga world. She’s the first mangaka I recommend to people, and she is one I will always read.
This volume is a bit different to her usual work, mostly because it’s short stories. Her series usually span 30 to 40 volumes, and while her imagination is great these short stories feel very surface level. It would’ve been great if she expanded them more, especially since they’re spooky. And I know Takahashi can write spooky. Just read Mermaid Saga to see how great she can be. If she had more time to flesh them out then these stories can be amazing.
Rumiko Takahashi is a legend, a status that well earned by her contribution to the manga world. She’s the first mangaka I recommend to people, and she is one I will always read.
This volume is a bit different to her usual work, mostly because it’s short stories. Her series usually span 30 to 40 volumes, and while her imagination is great these short stories feel very surface level. It would’ve been great if she expanded them more, especially since they’re spooky. And I know Takahashi can write spooky. Just read Mermaid Saga to see how great she can be. If she had more time to flesh them out then these stories can be amazing.
February 26, 2022
This short story collection was so fun to read. I think my favorite story is the cover title. This collection has more eerie and spooky tones to it than most of Takahashi's work. The ending story about the two manga creators was so fun to read about. Very educational and informative stories. Highly recommend this collection if you are a big Takahashi fan like myself.
October 27, 2024
Inuyasha ja Ranma ½ sarjoista tutun Rumiko Takahashin lyhyttarinakokoelmassa on viisi vuosina 1999-2014 piirrettyä manganovellia pääosin kauhuteemoilla. Etenkin nimikkotarina Came the Mirror on suorastaan Junji Iton tasoista kehokauhua, eikä With Cat jää kauaksi. Erona se, että tarinoilla on aina onnellinen loppu. Oikein toimiva kokoelma, joskin The Star Has a Thousand Faces oli aika mitäänsanomaton ja sen jos olisi jättänyt kokoelmasta pois, olisi tämä ollut paljon toimivampi ja pelottavampi.
April 13, 2023
2.5 Stars!
I picked this up on a whim and it turns out I'm not really the audience for this, but I could still appreciate the quality of the drawing. Although most of these tales are definitely not aimed at me, I did enjoy the final story, which had a completely different tone and approach and made for enjoyable reading.
I picked this up on a whim and it turns out I'm not really the audience for this, but I could still appreciate the quality of the drawing. Although most of these tales are definitely not aimed at me, I did enjoy the final story, which had a completely different tone and approach and made for enjoyable reading.
July 26, 2022
TL;DR: In this mixed bag of Takahashi stories, some were hits and some were more of a miss. A good collection if you want a variety of stories that have conclusive endings.
L;DR:
It's pretty well established that I'm a Rumic World groupie who'd pay to read Takahashi's grocery lists, so I obviously had this preordered and at my door when I heard about the Viz release. It's kind of exactly what it says on the tin--a handful of Takahashi one-shots about various topics.
(side note, for the English releases--Viz, please fire the cover designer. It looks awful.)
(...you can hire me. I'll send you my resume.)
Anyway, let's talk content, in order of what I think the best bangers are, so that you can just read the good ones when you're standing in the manga aisle at Barnes & Noble trying to avoid the other sweaty manga readers:
Out of the six presented, my favorite was easily "With Cat." Which makes a lot of sense, it's the oldest, from 1999. Reading it kind of gave me that giddy feeling I had when I read Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 for the first time (I am FOREVER chasing that high...). It's a goofy story about childhood love, cats, and a dash of wtf???? I'll definitely be rereading this one, I just love it.
"My Sweet Sunday" Is a really sweet collaboration piece by Takahashi and fellow Shonen Sunday author Mitsuru Adachi (who you may recognize from Cross Game). If you're a Takahashi mega fan like me then this will definitely stand out. It gives a lot of background on her manga journey and it's overall just a very wholesome story. A lot of respect to these two mangaka.
"Revenge Doll" is something I didn't really expect from Takahashi--a kind of greasy mangaka protagonist cursing people in his life with a cursed doll? It's fine. I had actually already read this one before.
"Lovely Flower"--a flower with a bad smell, and a stalker? This one's odd.
"The Star Has a Thousand Faces" seemed almost, unfinished? It's about an actress about to kill herself because she mistakenly killed someone... I'm not into these kinds of stories. It's not like dark or anything, I just wasn't the biggest fan.
Lastly, the collection's titular piece "Came the Mirror" is weirdly kind of forgettable. It wasn't bad, though. None of these one-shots are bad--some, just better than others.
Overall, I do think the first two stories I mentioned are really worth reading, if you have any interest in Rumiko Takahashi's work. And hey, I’m always the first person to shove Takahashi viscerally down someone’s throat. Give it a shot!
L;DR:
It's pretty well established that I'm a Rumic World groupie who'd pay to read Takahashi's grocery lists, so I obviously had this preordered and at my door when I heard about the Viz release. It's kind of exactly what it says on the tin--a handful of Takahashi one-shots about various topics.
(side note, for the English releases--Viz, please fire the cover designer. It looks awful.)
(...you can hire me. I'll send you my resume.)
Anyway, let's talk content, in order of what I think the best bangers are, so that you can just read the good ones when you're standing in the manga aisle at Barnes & Noble trying to avoid the other sweaty manga readers:
Out of the six presented, my favorite was easily "With Cat." Which makes a lot of sense, it's the oldest, from 1999. Reading it kind of gave me that giddy feeling I had when I read Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 for the first time (I am FOREVER chasing that high...). It's a goofy story about childhood love, cats, and a dash of wtf???? I'll definitely be rereading this one, I just love it.
"My Sweet Sunday" Is a really sweet collaboration piece by Takahashi and fellow Shonen Sunday author Mitsuru Adachi (who you may recognize from Cross Game). If you're a Takahashi mega fan like me then this will definitely stand out. It gives a lot of background on her manga journey and it's overall just a very wholesome story. A lot of respect to these two mangaka.
"Revenge Doll" is something I didn't really expect from Takahashi--a kind of greasy mangaka protagonist cursing people in his life with a cursed doll? It's fine. I had actually already read this one before.
"Lovely Flower"--a flower with a bad smell, and a stalker? This one's odd.
"The Star Has a Thousand Faces" seemed almost, unfinished? It's about an actress about to kill herself because she mistakenly killed someone... I'm not into these kinds of stories. It's not like dark or anything, I just wasn't the biggest fan.
Lastly, the collection's titular piece "Came the Mirror" is weirdly kind of forgettable. It wasn't bad, though. None of these one-shots are bad--some, just better than others.
Overall, I do think the first two stories I mentioned are really worth reading, if you have any interest in Rumiko Takahashi's work. And hey, I’m always the first person to shove Takahashi viscerally down someone’s throat. Give it a shot!
March 9, 2022
What I enjoyed the most about these stories was Rumiko Takahashi's ability to make horror, suspense, and magical realism in her stories cute and funny. I would say the last half of this compilation are miles ahead in terms of writing, pacing, and art. Overall, this is a fun and light read and I'm glad to have a copy of her work, even if I do feel lukewarm about this particular compilation.
January 10, 2022
Thanks so much to NetGalley for allowing me to have my first Graphic Novel presale read and review!
My grown kids love horror Manga and now I can see why. This is a collection of short stories in Manga format, so how you read the book is important. We lived in Japan for several years and know translations can be mucky. Some of the writing can fall into this category, but overall the artwork and stories overcome this. I didn't enjoy all of the short stories, but gobbled the book whole in an evening. It was a page-turner, even for me who does not normally read Manga.
4*
My grown kids love horror Manga and now I can see why. This is a collection of short stories in Manga format, so how you read the book is important. We lived in Japan for several years and know translations can be mucky. Some of the writing can fall into this category, but overall the artwork and stories overcome this. I didn't enjoy all of the short stories, but gobbled the book whole in an evening. It was a page-turner, even for me who does not normally read Manga.
4*
March 7, 2022
A collection of five short stories by Rumiko Takahashi, full of that wonderful mix of occult fantasy, creepy horror, and slapstick comedy and the art style that is instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with her major hits.
My favorites were Revenge Doll and With Cat. I'm a comedy fan.
My favorites were Revenge Doll and With Cat. I'm a comedy fan.
February 16, 2022
For those who only know Rumiko Takahashi from her most popular US work Inu Yasha, you are missing out. She is an incredible mangaka and she rally shines when being spooky (Mermaid Saga!!!!). This is a short but sweet collection of stories ranging from cute to creepy AF, and a must for fans!
December 10, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Viz for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Came the Mirror & Other Tales collects six of Rumiko Takahashi's short stories (with original publication dates spanning from 1999 to 2014). My favorite was the titular "Came the Mirror," but generally, I found the stories lacking in depth compared to other works by Takahashi. I would definitely recommend this collection to current fans of Takahashi, but if I were to recommend a Takahashi story or series to a first-time reader, I might choose something like Mermaid Saga where the mystery is given more space to build.
Translation: Junko Goda
English Adaptation: Rebecca Packard
Touch-Up Art and Lettering: James Gaubatz
Cover and Interior Design: Yukiko Whitley
Editor: Annette Roman
Original Cover Design: Koji INAMI + Bay Bridge Studio
Came the Mirror & Other Tales collects six of Rumiko Takahashi's short stories (with original publication dates spanning from 1999 to 2014). My favorite was the titular "Came the Mirror," but generally, I found the stories lacking in depth compared to other works by Takahashi. I would definitely recommend this collection to current fans of Takahashi, but if I were to recommend a Takahashi story or series to a first-time reader, I might choose something like Mermaid Saga where the mystery is given more space to build.
Translation: Junko Goda
English Adaptation: Rebecca Packard
Touch-Up Art and Lettering: James Gaubatz
Cover and Interior Design: Yukiko Whitley
Editor: Annette Roman
Original Cover Design: Koji INAMI + Bay Bridge Studio
December 10, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital sample of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
A great compilation of short stories by the famous Rumiko Takashi! She does a great job of keeping the stories light and fun but also spooky. I've always enjoyed her storytelling and am glad to see these published together in one volume.
The stories included in this volume are:
"Came the Mirror"
"Revenge Doll"
"The Star Has a Thousand Faces"
*"Lovely Flower"*
"With Cat"
"My Sweet Sunday"
*My favorite one!*
A great compilation of short stories by the famous Rumiko Takashi! She does a great job of keeping the stories light and fun but also spooky. I've always enjoyed her storytelling and am glad to see these published together in one volume.
The stories included in this volume are:
"Came the Mirror"
"Revenge Doll"
"The Star Has a Thousand Faces"
*"Lovely Flower"*
"With Cat"
"My Sweet Sunday"
*My favorite one!*
December 30, 2021
The cutest horror manga I've ever read. 😄 Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!
February 27, 2022
From the creator of Inuyasha, Ranma, 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura comes a collection of short stories in manga form.
Contained in this book we are treated to 6 short stories by acclaimed mangaka Rumiko Takahashi (though the 6th is more of a collaboration) to tease your good senses when you might want to take a break from a longer running series or possibly just because you are curious. Each story has its strength and weaknesses that will appease different folks depending on their interests so hopefully if you decide to read you will find your own favorites. :)
For me personally if I had to rate my interest in the stories I think I would go...
1. Came the Mirror Good character interactions and super creepy baddy makes for a drama with a bit of comedy as we hope for a good end.
2. With Cat This one was pretty cute with the misunderstanding and had a bit of a Ranma 1/2 feel with the boy in the story having a fear of cats and being into martial arts though in this story that is a far less important part then the Ranma series.
3. The Star Has a Thousand Faces - Messages of suicide are a bit depressing although it doesn't actually happen in this story. Stay as positive as you can folks. Someone is out there worrying about you.
4. Lovely Flower - Creepy stalker is creepy and I know all to well the horror of super strong scents causing you all sorts of problems so I can relate to this poor woman. The reason the flowers affected her differently than the other women and how the flowers were doing what they do are a bit weird but in the end it makes sense. :)
5. My Sweet Sunday - No spoilers necessary here. Just a little back and forth of Rumiko Takahashi and Mitsuru Adachi as they talk about their experiences with getting into the manga industry and their love of meat paid for by their bosses. :)
6. Revenge Doll - I just don't like this story thanks to the main character and I hope his imaginary career as a mangka burns like he probably will for using a cursed item to harm others. :)
Contained in this book we are treated to 6 short stories by acclaimed mangaka Rumiko Takahashi (though the 6th is more of a collaboration) to tease your good senses when you might want to take a break from a longer running series or possibly just because you are curious. Each story has its strength and weaknesses that will appease different folks depending on their interests so hopefully if you decide to read you will find your own favorites. :)
For me personally if I had to rate my interest in the stories I think I would go...
1. Came the Mirror Good character interactions and super creepy baddy makes for a drama with a bit of comedy as we hope for a good end.
2. With Cat This one was pretty cute with the misunderstanding and had a bit of a Ranma 1/2 feel with the boy in the story having a fear of cats and being into martial arts though in this story that is a far less important part then the Ranma series.
3. The Star Has a Thousand Faces - Messages of suicide are a bit depressing although it doesn't actually happen in this story. Stay as positive as you can folks. Someone is out there worrying about you.
4. Lovely Flower - Creepy stalker is creepy and I know all to well the horror of super strong scents causing you all sorts of problems so I can relate to this poor woman. The reason the flowers affected her differently than the other women and how the flowers were doing what they do are a bit weird but in the end it makes sense. :)
5. My Sweet Sunday - No spoilers necessary here. Just a little back and forth of Rumiko Takahashi and Mitsuru Adachi as they talk about their experiences with getting into the manga industry and their love of meat paid for by their bosses. :)
6. Revenge Doll - I just don't like this story thanks to the main character and I hope his imaginary career as a mangka burns like he probably will for using a cursed item to harm others. :)
August 19, 2022
I of course have loved Takahashi since my early days of reading manga. At one time I deeply loved Inuyasha and enjoyed Rin-ne for the most part. My favorite however will always be the Mermaid Saga books, as they blend the supernatural with the everyday and horror so brilliantly. They're a little historical, a little hopeful, a little action packed...just mt absolute favorite.
This short collection features none of her pre-existing characters, but her signature style all over again. Each story has a little bit about the fantastic to it; whether its the title story where two students are chosen to bear the mirror that shows people their sins to the kid who's afraid of cats and has his arm possessed by one, these are all outside of the ordinary.
Largely they work. Takahashi is no stranger to short manga stories, so she's a dab hand at outlining a world before diving straight to the point of it.
My favorite however was the last comic, which was collaboration between herself and Mitsuru Adachi, ruminating on how they became interested in manga and how they've encouraged each other for decades in large and small ways. Its very touching as well as fascinating to see how they both came to the industry.
Especially as I adore Adachi's Short Program (slice of life stories about growing up and the myriad relationships we have through life) series and Cross Game (baseball) series.
A welcome treat for long time fans, but much like Kaoru Mori's collection, Anything and Something, new-to-her readers may not find the stories as nostalgically endearing.
This short collection features none of her pre-existing characters, but her signature style all over again. Each story has a little bit about the fantastic to it; whether its the title story where two students are chosen to bear the mirror that shows people their sins to the kid who's afraid of cats and has his arm possessed by one, these are all outside of the ordinary.
Largely they work. Takahashi is no stranger to short manga stories, so she's a dab hand at outlining a world before diving straight to the point of it.
My favorite however was the last comic, which was collaboration between herself and Mitsuru Adachi, ruminating on how they became interested in manga and how they've encouraged each other for decades in large and small ways. Its very touching as well as fascinating to see how they both came to the industry.
Especially as I adore Adachi's Short Program (slice of life stories about growing up and the myriad relationships we have through life) series and Cross Game (baseball) series.
A welcome treat for long time fans, but much like Kaoru Mori's collection, Anything and Something, new-to-her readers may not find the stories as nostalgically endearing.
May 16, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for a free review copy!
This manga was a collection of horror short stories by Rumiko Takahashi. There are six stories included in the collection: Came The Mirror, Revenge Doll, The Star Has a Thousand Faces, Lovely Flower, With Cat, and My Sweet Sunday. Came the mirror was about mirrors appearing on people's hands and forcing them to cast out monsters or suffer the consequences. Revenge Doll was about a struggling manga artist who receives a doll in the mail that can supposedly curse, and even kill, people. The Star Has a Thousand Faces was about an actress who thinks that she accidentally killed someone and is dealing with the consequences of that. Lovely Flower was about a woman who's stalker is leaving her flowers. Everyone else thinks that they smell amazing but she thinks that they smell absolutely horrible. With Cat was about a boy who gets possessed by his childhood friend's cat. And the last story was about Rumiko Takahasi and Mitsuru Adachi.
I really enjoyed most of these stories. A favorite is hard to choose so I'll do a top three. I really liked Lovely Flower, With Cat, and Revenge Doll. It was a struggle to get through Came the Mirror. I'm not sure why, it just wasn't for me. I did like the story at the end that was more autobiographical about Rumiko Takahashi and Mitsuru Adachi.
This manga was a collection of horror short stories by Rumiko Takahashi. There are six stories included in the collection: Came The Mirror, Revenge Doll, The Star Has a Thousand Faces, Lovely Flower, With Cat, and My Sweet Sunday. Came the mirror was about mirrors appearing on people's hands and forcing them to cast out monsters or suffer the consequences. Revenge Doll was about a struggling manga artist who receives a doll in the mail that can supposedly curse, and even kill, people. The Star Has a Thousand Faces was about an actress who thinks that she accidentally killed someone and is dealing with the consequences of that. Lovely Flower was about a woman who's stalker is leaving her flowers. Everyone else thinks that they smell amazing but she thinks that they smell absolutely horrible. With Cat was about a boy who gets possessed by his childhood friend's cat. And the last story was about Rumiko Takahasi and Mitsuru Adachi.
I really enjoyed most of these stories. A favorite is hard to choose so I'll do a top three. I really liked Lovely Flower, With Cat, and Revenge Doll. It was a struggle to get through Came the Mirror. I'm not sure why, it just wasn't for me. I did like the story at the end that was more autobiographical about Rumiko Takahashi and Mitsuru Adachi.
July 20, 2022
A collection of manga short stories by Rumiko Takahashi. All are supernatural. Some lean toward horror, others toward humor. Except the last story which is a co-written autobiography of herself and Mitsuru Adachi.
Came the Mirror - a small circular mirror appears on the hands of random people which gives them the ability to see demons and exorcise them. And also to travel back in time somehow. Two high schoolers try to prevent their own deaths.
Revenge Doll - A doll that allows you to curse people is gifted to a petty manga artist.
The Star Has a Thousand Faces - A popular actress tries to disappear after accidently killing someone.
Lovely Flower - A woman encounters a flower which she hates the smell of, but all her female friends seem to love. Blossoms keep turning up everywhere in her life, as if placed there by somebody ...
With Cat - A boy is afraid of cats. Then he shares an unwilling supernatural bond with one.
My Sweet Sunday - Mitsuru Adachi and Rumiko Takahashi alternate stories of submitting to Shonen Sunday and getting their comics picked up. I would have prefered this story had been left out, as it doesn't fit with the other stories.
Came the Mirror - a small circular mirror appears on the hands of random people which gives them the ability to see demons and exorcise them. And also to travel back in time somehow. Two high schoolers try to prevent their own deaths.
Revenge Doll - A doll that allows you to curse people is gifted to a petty manga artist.
The Star Has a Thousand Faces - A popular actress tries to disappear after accidently killing someone.
Lovely Flower - A woman encounters a flower which she hates the smell of, but all her female friends seem to love. Blossoms keep turning up everywhere in her life, as if placed there by somebody ...
With Cat - A boy is afraid of cats. Then he shares an unwilling supernatural bond with one.
My Sweet Sunday - Mitsuru Adachi and Rumiko Takahashi alternate stories of submitting to Shonen Sunday and getting their comics picked up. I would have prefered this story had been left out, as it doesn't fit with the other stories.
May 23, 2022
[Netgalley Disclaimer]
Horror. (Check)
From the creator of Inu Yasha. (Check)
What more could you ask for from a story like this really? It's got the school girl characters and demons we're used to seeing from this creator, but in a different context. In much the same way that their retelling of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter was a refreshing step into Japanese culture, this collection harkens to Japanese horror alongside the everyday. The art is sinister without feeling overwhelmingly creepy. It's very much the standard manga style drawings for their era and it is almost disarming because of that. With creators like Kazuo Umezz, Gou Tanabe, or Junji Ito, there are style differences that let the readers know they are in the fantastical world of horror where anything can happen. They ooze on the page. Rumiko Takahashi does not do that. The characters feel often that they are classmates with Kagome from their main series and then horrible stuff starts to happen around them. It is a pleasant surprise when you're plunged into these malevolent situations with these average people.
Horror. (Check)
From the creator of Inu Yasha. (Check)
What more could you ask for from a story like this really? It's got the school girl characters and demons we're used to seeing from this creator, but in a different context. In much the same way that their retelling of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter was a refreshing step into Japanese culture, this collection harkens to Japanese horror alongside the everyday. The art is sinister without feeling overwhelmingly creepy. It's very much the standard manga style drawings for their era and it is almost disarming because of that. With creators like Kazuo Umezz, Gou Tanabe, or Junji Ito, there are style differences that let the readers know they are in the fantastical world of horror where anything can happen. They ooze on the page. Rumiko Takahashi does not do that. The characters feel often that they are classmates with Kagome from their main series and then horrible stuff starts to happen around them. It is a pleasant surprise when you're plunged into these malevolent situations with these average people.
April 16, 2022
While I didn't find myself engaged with many of the stories in this collection, it's clear that Takahashi is a strong storyteller. Much of the problem with these short story manga (or American comics for that matter) is that you just don't have enough time to care about the characters. The plotting was good, and apart from the second story (I checked out as soon I saw it was about a manga creator), I thought the ideas were fresh and fun, and it made me want to go revisit Ranma ½, Vol. 1 (Ranma ½.
If you're a fan of Junji Ito or any other horror manga writers, and you're looking for some strong, bite-sized horror manga, this is probably going to be a four or five star book for you.
If you're a fan of Junji Ito or any other horror manga writers, and you're looking for some strong, bite-sized horror manga, this is probably going to be a four or five star book for you.
July 26, 2022
A collection of short contemporary paranormal horror stories (a mirror that lets you see and extract evil out of people; a curse-doll falling into the hands of a lazy mangaka; a TV actress who disappears before filming her final scene; a newlywed who keeps encountering a flower whose fragrance everyone else loves, but that repulses her; and a cat-phobic teen cursed by a classmate's pet) by celebrated mangaka Rumiko Takahashi (InuYasha, Maison Ikkoku, Mermaid Saga, Ranma 1/2), followed by a manga-ized account of how she got into making manga.
I enjoyed the first short story most, though it was nice that most of the endings were not what you might expect, and the biographical bit was an interesting glimpse into the industry and its development from the 60s on. An entertaining episodic read for fans of light horror in general or Takahashi in particular.
I enjoyed the first short story most, though it was nice that most of the endings were not what you might expect, and the biographical bit was an interesting glimpse into the industry and its development from the 60s on. An entertaining episodic read for fans of light horror in general or Takahashi in particular.
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