With the announcement by Viz Media that Mermaid Saga is going to be re-released in a collector’s edition, the upcoming release of Maison Ikkoku and the ongoing release of Urusei Yatsura, it is clear that now is an excellent time to begin collecting Rumiko Takahashi’s works. But who is she and why should you begin investing in her manga?
While having trained in Kazuo Koike’s (of Lone Wolf and Cub fame) Gekiga Sonjuku, a school to teach how to create manga, I would not describe her works as gekiga. Instead, what Rumiko Takahashi took away from the course was that characters drive their manga series and to focus on creating engaging, likable casts.
Since then, she has managed to become the bestselling female comic artist in all of history! From Urusei Yatsura to Maison Ikkoku to Ranma 1/2 to Inuyasha, she has had hit after hit with all of these series selling millions upon millions of copies. She has earned numerous awards such as the grand prize at the Angouleme Comics Festival and induction to the Eisner Hall of Fame. Creators such as Bryan Lee O’Malley, Colleen Coover and Matt Bozon have all spoken of her influence on their work.
Part of my interest in her titles grew because of many of her famous characters who I have seen referenced in Japanese popular culture time and again. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen Lum, the female lead of Urusei Yatsura, referenced through clothing, posters, quotes etc. I have also seen the panda character from Ranma 1/2, who I now know is Genma Saotome, referenced frequently as well. Feeling like I was missing out on an aspect of Japanese popular culture is part of what has driven me to seek out her titles.
Regarding my own experience with her works, the first title of hers that I read was One-pound Gospel, a romantic comedy featuring a boxer who cannot control his eating habits and a nun who decides to try and help him. One of her shorter series at only 4 volumes, it is an engaging work that manages to blend comedy and drama together expertly. I can also remember her art-style standing out to me as very appealing although her art changed over the twenty years she wrote the series.
To date, the only other series of hers I have read is Ranma 1/2 although I am still a few volumes short of completing it. Undoubtedly her most successful title with 53 million copies printed, Ranma 1/2 stars the titular Ranma Saotome who has been cursed to turn into a girl when he is splashed with cold water and back into a boy when splashed with hot water. As you might imagine, this leads to many comedic situations and remains one of the most entertaining manga I have read.
For a long time, I have been unable to read most of the works of Rumiko Takahashi despite my interest but it now appears that, thanks to Viz Media, I will soon be able to do so. I only hope that English readers will respond to her works and that Viz Media will be rewarded for their efforts.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use bookdepository.com for all of your needs!