RIN-NE, Vol. 2 [Paperback]

Rumiko Takahashi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Rin-Ne | Publication Date: January 19, 2010

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). TBDThe latest series from one of Japan’s greatest manga creators of all time!

Sakura and Rinne deal with the ghosts of an ancient warrior and a girl who drowned in the school swimming pool, but that's just a warm-up! A wandering spirit leads them to a surprising confrontation, one that takes Sakura and Rinne on an even more amazing chase!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi's career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another--Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel. Takahashi won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award twice in her career, once for Urusei Yatsura in 1981 and the second time for Inuyasha in 2002. A majority of the Takahashi canon has been adapted into other media such as anime, live-action TV series, and film. Takahashi's manga, as well as the other formats her work has been adapted into, have continued to delight generations of fans around the world. Distinguished by her wonderfully endearing characters, Takahashi's work adeptly incorporates a wide variety of elements such as comedy, romance, fantasy, and martial arts. While her series are difficult to pin down into one simple genre, the signature style she has created has come to be known as the Rumic World. Rumiko Takahashi is an artist who truly represents the very best from the world of manga.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (January 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142153486X
• ISBN-13: 978-1421534862
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #488,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( T ) > Takahashi, Rumiko
  • #57 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > By Creator > Takahashi, Rumiko

More About the Author

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi's career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another--Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Samurai, swimming and bat-winged boys, January 17, 2010

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: RIN-NE, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

Apparently the life of a shinigami is rife with problems -- you have to deal with the supernatural problems of any crazy ghost that comes your way. And Rumiko Takahashi tackles three different ones in the second volume of "Rin-Ne," which relies on pleasant light humor and the introduction of a devilish rival. It's not the intense experience of "Inuyasha," but it's a fun ride.

The ghost of a dead samurai is stalking one of Sakura's classmates, believing that she is the reincarnation of his fiancee. Unfortunately, he gets grabby with the girl and ends up being chased by Rinne, while Sakura and Rokumon go shopping for a mirror that can reveal the preincarnations of a person. Can they find the princess's reincarnation and send the samurai on his afterlifey way before Rinne goes broke?

Then Sakura sees the ghost of a girl assaulting swimmers in the pool, which is said to be haunted. Rinne gets involved, but discovers that the girl doesn't admit to having any lingering regrets -- and when they try to help her out, she gets violent.

And finally, the spirit of a comatose boy is pestering and assaulting his girlfriend. It turns out he's being manipulated and corrupted by a bat-winged devil Misato, who has a very nasty grudge against Rinne; when Rinne chases Misato into hell to recapture the boy's soul, Sakura and Rokudo go in search of what could heal him. Unfortunately, Misato has a scheme to trap Rinne in hell forever... and only a schoolgirl, a kitten and a debit card can help.

If "Ranma 1/2" and "Bleach" got together and had a baby, that baby would probably be "Rin-Ne." And while Rumiko Takahashi's latest hasn't yet got the charm of her previous two series, it has a lot of promise -- especially now that she's introduced the main cast, settled them into place, and is now adding rivals and antagonists (namely Misato, a manipulative demon who gets beaten senseless by a cross-wielding Rinne).

Takahashi also lavishes it with a lot of financial humor and ghostly woes that require a little unraveling to figure out (guess who the princess's reincarnation is!). It also has a wild rollicking ride through hell -- which turns out to be a rather bizarrely normal place, except with lots of financial debt, oni cops, suburbs and an endless mass. And while the multilayered confrontation between Rinne and Misato is rather tense and suspenseful, Rokudo and Sakura's misadventures keep it light ("Wanna buy some land?").

While it's not terribly obvious just yet, there are some faint hints of potential romance between Sakura and Rinne, especially when she makes him a lunch in a jewelry box. And we see just how far Rinne will go to save a person's (or rabbit's) soul. And Rokudo is so cute that you just want to squish him -- a mischievous little kitten who's worked out the ideal way of getting revenge (and food).

The series is still in the process of flowering, but taken by itself, "Rin-Ne Volume 2" is an entertaining little manga. Now bring on the love triangle!

5.0 out of 5 stars SWEET Manga!, April 9, 2011

By 

K. Martin - See all my reviews
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This review is from: RIN-NE, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

I bought this manga for myself awhile back and just bought one for my best friend's birthday and she loves it! This series is very fun, cute, charming, and entertaining! It has japanese mythology and supernatural themes! We LOVE it! The art is GORGEOUS and the characters are very likeable and have spunk! We are very satisfied customers and are happily hooked on this series!