Customer Reviews

Mermaid's Scar, Vol. 2 (Viz Graphic Novel)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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I was wary of this series at first because of its dark nature, but that's what so appealing. It does get violent, but the best part about the mermaid's series is its philosophical and psychological angle. For those who haven't read other Rumiko Takahashi works, she has a simple but intense drawing style that draws you in and is easier to follow than some other manga. What's also great is that since this deals with immortality, the stories can range from 500 years ago to present day. It's a very intriguing, deep series that you'll enjoy, no matter which graphic novel you buy.

Rumiko Takahashi is better known for her romantic comedies than for dark fantasies. But her brief Mermaid series is an excellent display of Takahashi's dark side, in a world where a handful of humans who eat mermaid flesh become immortal, and the rest turn into fishlike, monstrous creatures called "lost souls."

Like the other two collections of Mermaid stories, "Mermaid's Scar" focuses on the immortal duo Mana and Yuta. In "Dream's End," Mana encounters a lost soul who has somehow retained his human soul, turning him into a tormented monster. "Mermaid's Promise" brings Yuta back to where he once met a young girl who fell in love with him -- and who has somehow been brought back to life as a soulless creature. "Mermaid's Scar" brings Mana and Yuta to a town where a woman somehow recovered from deadly burns -- and discovers an immortal boy with a horrifying secret. "The Ash Princess" goes back to 17th-century Japan, when Yuta was still wandering alone. Here, he finds a travelling old man and his young daughter -- a girl brought to life with a mermaid's liver.

Perhaps the most common comparison to the Mermaid series is the action/fantasy/romance series "Inuyasha." However, the Mermaid stories have none of the humor and goofiness that pop up in "Inuyasha" (although the story of the undead, tormented ex-girlfriend is quite familiar). The tone is melancholy, sometimes outright macabre, with a few sweet scenes of romance between the two immortals. Perhaps the best scene is the hauntingly lovely last moments with Nae and Yuta.

The relationship between Yuta and Mana is pure Takahashi -- they love each other but somehow won't admit it (and Mana gets pretty jealous at times). They stick with one another through thick and thin, and occasionally show little indications of how they actually feel. ("It sounds like you've fallen for me," Yuta says half-jokingly at one point)

Takahashi's dark "Mermaid's Scar" is a fantastic mixture of dark fantasy and gently understated romance. Sweet, terrifying and deeply satisfying.

Legend has it that whoever eats the flesh of a mermaid will be granted eternal life and youth. Yuta is one of those who have received this "gift". But is it really a gift? Yuta has been forced to watch his loved ones age and die through the years. For five centuries he has roamed the world searching for a "cure", or for someone like himself. As fate would have it, Yuta chances upon a girl named Mana. She too has been bestowed with immortality like Yuta. Together they travel through Japan longing for a normal life. Soon, they meet others who have also experienced the mermaid's "gift". But as they soon discover, mermaid's flesh affects each person differently. Yuta and Mana are just the more fortunate ones...

Rumiko Takahashi's Mermaid Series is really quite a masterpiece. Each chapter presents a different tale and yet everything is tied together by the main characters, Yuta and Mana. It's like a group of short stories unfolding inside one main plot. It's not episodic, as the stories can stand alone. They are, however, greatly enriched by the base storyline about the legendary mermaid flesh. It's really quite an inventive approach, and I really admire Ms. Takahashi's imagination. The overall atmosphere is grim. The tone is serious, as darker facets of human nature are revealed. Everyone wants a piece of the mermaids, and all for various reasons. Greed, vengeance, selfishness... they are the driving forces in the pursuit of the elusive mermaid flesh. Yuta and Mana are plunged into the situation, being immortals on an unending quest for something... even they cannot be sure of what they're truly seeking. The art is simple in style, yet pleasant to look at and effective -- as is always the case with Ms. Takahashi's works. Panel layout is quite conservative if compared to her later works like "Inu-Yasha". The Mermaid Series definitely is a suspenseful page-turner which will leave readers very satisfied. Each volume packs a lot of punch. It's a pity because this is not enjoying as much exposure as "Ranma 1/2", "Urusei Yatsura", and "Maison Ikkoku" are. In some ways, this series is even better than Ms. Takahashi's more popular works.

Well, what can I say? This book is GREAT! Recently I went to Japan Town in San Francisco, and bought this book. After I read it, I was like, omigosh this is so good! so I went back and bought Mermaids Forest too. ANyWAy, This book is about how this evil little boy goes around feeding Mermaids flesh to women, in hopes of making one immortal so he could have someone to take care of him. It's a bit gory, so I don't think this book is good for people who can't stand blood, and killing and such. It also has a tad of nudity thrown in, so younger readers, BEWARE! Personally I think that Mermaids Forest is the best of the two of them. I havn't read Mermaids Gaze yet, but when I get around to it, I'll be sure to review it too. I've recently noticed that there are only three books in the Mermaid series.. so, if Rumiko Takahashi is reading this, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE hurry up and write the fourth book! *-*

When I started to read manga's I was always looking for something new. Not the same old "shoot 'em up" or "magical girl" story but something unique. Mermaids Scar is an excellent example. I recived this novel with much delight, and was even more enthralled with the series afterwards. Rumiko Takahashi gives a reader an array of emotions that help to create one of the most emotional and interesting novels to read. It is well worth your money to purchase this book, I guarentee you will not be disapointed!

Like the Mermaid books that preceed and follow it, this work is a masterpiece. This is an edgy, disturbing horror story with likable characters and a friendly drawing style. People who started with Inu Yashu should try the Mermaid stories next. (Mermaid Forest is the first of three). They may notice some similarities between the two heroines! Anyone who enjoyed the video should also read the manga, since the story is slightly different, and the second part of this book was never animated. Enjoy!

This is a very, very violent manga, even by MY standards. Even though it's JUST a comic book, I often found myself cringing and flinching just looking at the drawings (I didn't even flinch while reading 3x3 Eyes, but this one... just the way things are drawn makes them look REALLY painful)... speaking of that, the art is very good, obviously Takahashi-style. Anyways, even though it is SO violent and bloody, it is actually quite enjoyable. In fact, after reading it I almost completely changed my taste in manga and went on the reading more violent ones instead of the usual silly ones, and even drawing one of my own (heh heh don't ask!). Yes, it really entertained and inspired me! Nice, creepy story! Hard to believe it was created by the same woman who made Ranma 1/2 and Lum!

The innocence of a child turned horribly twisted and demented. This "kid" is your worst nightmare. In this installment of Rumiko Takahashi's Mermaid Series, Yuta and Mana continue on their journey to see how long it takes for them to become bored with life. For immortals, it may not take very long. However, because they have each other, life seems more bearable, even enjoyable. When they meet the young boy, they get more than they bargained for. The circumstances they are thrown into shows that they are no longer living for themselves, they are living for each other--and thereby dying for each other. There is no greater love than this. Of course, they aren't about to admit it. The plot spans 800 years in the making and ends with a climactic battle between immortals. Will someone lose his/her head? Don't miss this story of basic human need, the ambivalence that may come with seeing too many ages pass, and the joy that results in investing your heart in someone else. Takahashi has done it again.

This book was so amazing. I got one of my best friends into manga with this series. I hope Rumiko Takahashi decides someday to continue (and give an ending) to this wonderful, wonderful book.

I really loved this book. The art is wonderful and the story is well put together, once you start reading it's hard to put it down until you've finished. If you liked this book you would probably also like "Inu-Yasha" also by Rumiko Takahashi.