Customer Reviews

The Return of Lum * Urusei Yatsura, Vol. 2: Lum in the Sun

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Lum in the Sun is the third in the Urusei Yatsura series, and now that it's hit its stride the book tears along at break-neck pace. The stories are divided between school time and the gang's holiday at Mendo's private beach. It's as funny as ever, especially the bikini chase throughout Sportsworld, or the incredible "All you can eat" lunch for Sakura.

Once again Rumiko Takahashi manages to turn the normal world inside-out and upside-down, and in doing so creates another hilarious set of adventures.

Wait, Ataru? Acting unselfishly to save a broken hearted woman from her own attempt at suicide? Well, not exactly. . . The first story in this book shows Ataru's noble side. . . briefly. It also features an interesting look at Mendo's darker side. Also in this book, is a story that any Phantom of the Opera fan (Like myself) should read. Who is the cloaked figure who lurks within Tomobiki High? Read on and find out! But wait, there's more! Sakura crying? Ataru and Lum go on a date? Surfing? Bathing suit thieves? An all you can eat challenge? The dangers of Yoga? Lum in a one piece outfit! yes, all that actually fits into one book, it's one of the best Uresei Yatsura books I've read. . .and I've read most of them! I reccomend this one to anyone who likes Rumiko Takahashi or Uresei Yatsura!

Rumiko Takahashi -- of "Ranma" and "Inuyasha" fame -- got her start with the sci-comedy series "The Return of Lum Urusei Yatsura: Lum in the Sun." With its lecherous-boy-meets-alien-girl storyline, Takahashi came up with all sorts of screwball comedies with a tint of romance.

Sexy, smart High Priestess Sakura is back... as the new school nurse. All the boys at Tomobiki High (EXCEPT the lecherous Ataru) are desperate to be "treated" by her -- until demonically possessed germs strike the school. Later, Sakura has to deal with an estrange umbrella and stormcloud, Ataru acccidentally gets xeroxed, and the not-so-fearsome school spook has a dance with Lum.

Then it's off to the seashore, at Shutaro Mendo's beachhouse. Freakoid monk Cherry makes a reappearance, and teaches Mendo and Ataru about the purifying influence of surfing. (I kid you not) Then the gang hunts a swimsuit thief (who may or may not be Cherry), does some unconventional yoga, and engages in a monstrous eating contest.

"The Return of Lum: Urusei Yatsura" is a bit different from Takahashi's later work -- it's not action based, or romance based, or any mix of the two. It's comedy with a tinge of sci-fi, romance, and Japanese folklore. While the opening chapters were a bit thin and clumsy, Takahashi had hit her stride by this time.

The series is a bit like a high-school sitcom, with absurd storylines and plenty of strange physical humor (especially since Ataru chases anything in a skirt, without success). The comedy is a bit on the fantastical side, with a swimsuit-snatching octopus and a talking umbrella. Not to mention Takahashi's interlocking love triangles, with rivals for Lum's affection and plenty of repressed feelings.

The tone is pretty light, and so is the character development. Sakura comes across as the most mature and intelligent person here, despite her sickening lack of weight gain. Ataru and Lum get a bit more laid-back by the sea -- their relationship really doesn't progress at all -- while the arrogant Mendo encounters an old baseball-playing rival who still wants to settle the score.

Alien princesses, teen lechers and surfing priests... on summer vacation. It doesn't get much more entertaining than that.

The theme to this volume is summer, and you'll wish you were there with Lum, Ataru, and the rest of the guys.

The first chapter starts off with Ataru accidently making a deal with a devil's associate. Later, germs take over the school; Lum introduces her alien copy machine; and Mendou's baseball eating rival, Tobimaru Mizunokoji, is introduced for the first time. After all that weird fun, Lum, Sakura, and the guys hang out at Mendou's private beach resort, participate in an insane eating contest at a hotel, and finally practice Cherry's odd yoga.

Spend summer with Lum and the guys, and you'll never forget it!

Still more bizarre adventures with the pretty young alien princess in those funky tiger stripes! And this time the whole gang goes off to spend a long, extragant holiday at the beach. Lots of crazy fun! However, there are quite a few things in this manga book that makes me sorry that the immensely talented creator happens to be a woman. For instance, there's this one scene where a mysterious binkini snatcher forcibly rips a swimming suit right off a female victim, leaving her in tears as the boys all laugh and gawk at her naked body. I truly understand that Rumiko Takahashi is living in a very male society, but this does border on gender problems. However, other than that, I say hats off to one of the greatest manga cartoonists ever lived for her very fertile imagination and her endless supply of the most fabulous characters and creatures ever to grace her pages!