 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DEL REY | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | YUKI URSHIBARA | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 256 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | OT | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 11/25/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 11/23/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SCOTT CAMPBELL |
Just to fill anybody in who either hasn’t read the first volume of this wonderful series, or who needs a refresher, here’s a snippet from the back of Mushishi: “Mushi, a terrifying primitive life form, takes countless shapes – most of them deadly to the human race. Enter Ginko, a Mushi expert, known as a Mushishi. Though his laconic smile and soft-spoken manner don’t seem imposing, he represents the human world’s greatest defense.” Ah yes, the Mushi - they live on the shadowy border between the possible and the impossible - ancient life - forms known for their danger. Rare is the individual who can see them, but those with that special ability, the Mushishi, can counter the creatures’ deadly effects on humans. In volume six, a father disappears and his son, a hunter, inherits his father’s power to lure animals to their deaths, quietly and entranced. But this ability poisons the mind and the body. Can mushi master Ginko cure the son before he shares his father’s fate, or will the young man turn his deadly powers on his would-be savior? This is a really great volume – it has a lot to do with the sea and the shore. Much of the goings on take place on the beach and on the ocean itself – it’s just really different from a lot of the other settings that this manga has showcased, like dense forests and rocky mountains. Anyone who likes the sea as much as I do myself, will surely enjoy the volume even more than any of the others done previously. Besides the setting, the human relationships are especially interesting in this volume, though they are always a big part of what this story is about. Mushishi is a wonderful series with a lot of depth and variety to it – volume six is another bit of proof in relation to how worthwhile the series is as a whole. Again, Mushishishows readers how great it can be, and shows it well. It was the winner of the Kodansha Manga of the Year Award, and really it’s no wonder. It’s a beautiful series that continues to impress – surely it will be good all the way until the end. It’s difficult to explain the worth of the art in words alone – this manga is one of those truly artistic pieces that has to be read so that you can enjoy the full effect, The art in this series has always been excellent, and it continues to be excellent. There isn’t much more that can be said about that – it’s beautiful in both its simplicity, and in its careful attention to detail. As a piece of storytelling, it really stands out because it does something so very different from many books that are being released nowadays. It’s very much worth a look, if only to see whether it’s your kind of read or not. Mushishi is very unique.
The physical product itself is still very nice – the size of the book and what it is printed on is very nice. It’s a sturdy book – the cover is especially nice because instead of being glossy, it’s a nice soft, “more natural” material. The materials used in making this book, and even the look of it all lends well to the messages inside of it. It’s a well thought out product with time and energy put into it for certain. The book even contains some cool extras, including the usual preview of the next volume and translation notes.
IN SUMMARY:
Mushishi is a very relaxing manga – it has such a mantra to it that it’s hard not to be affected by it, and feel good when reading it. This series takes the concept of storytelling, and delivers it in an “old world” way that is so appreciated in these times of “rush and hurry.” It’s a work of art, and hopefully one you’ll make time to experience. |
