Mermaid Saga Collector's Edition Vol. 1by Wolfen MoondaughterReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 Centuries ago, Yuta unwittingly ate the flesh of a mermaid; most of the time, doing so either kills you or makes one into a monster known as a Lost Soul, but Yuta was a rare survivor, and is now immortal. Having watched his wife grow old and die, now he seeks out a living mermaid, with the hope that she will be able to reverse his condition, letting him grow old and die normally. After 500 years, he meets a teen who was recently cursed after a sequestered life; together, they continue the search for a mermaid, while Yuta teaches her about the outside world. Together, they encounter a creepy young woman who seeks to replace her own arm, a Lost Soul who might not be quite so lost, and some old friends of Yuta's -- one of whom is a lot more violent than he remembered. We also get a look at a moment in Yuta's past, when he deals with others who also seek a mermaid. (Note: this series is violent, contains nudity, and depicts threats of sexual assault, to a bit more of an extreme that Takahashi's Inuyasha).I last read this series about twenty-five years ago (after watching the anime), so it's almost like coming to the series like it's brand-new to me! (In any case, I appreciate that the art is unflipped this time!) The art isn't quite as appealing as that of some of Takahashi's later works, but I still enjoy it. Story-wise, these tales aren't scary so much as creepy and tragic; while there are supernatural elements, this series is more about how monstrous humans can be, with the supernatural accentuating that. There's a lot of victimizing of women in this -- although they do at least get to participate in their own rescues / vengeance. Still, it's galling that one strong woman who is something of a leader is still second to her father, younger brother, and to Yuta in the story. At least there's some balance in that women are also often the instigators of harm, and that Yuta is sometimes held captive or killed. I do wish that the second story were actually the first story -- since the first story takes place after the second, you're immediately spoiled on how an aspect of the second story turns out! In general, though, I love how the tales twist -- sometimes multiple times! The third story is great in that regard, but the last is a bit predictable. It's not my absolute fave Takahashi series, but I do enjoy it well enough -- definitely more than Urusei Yatsura (which I don't exactly hate either). You can see the DNA of Inuyasha in it, too, which is interesting. If you prefer your horror to be less about monsters chasing people, and more cerebral, this is a solid read. Written: December 6, 2020
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