Jun 11
Review: Mushishi, volume 1
Posted: under Ages 16+, History, Japan, Mushishi, Myth/Folklore, Urushibara, Yuki.
June 11th, 2009
Comic Title: Mushishi (vol. 1 of 10)
Author: Text and artwork by Yuki Urushibara
Format: Manga paperback
Reviewed by: Elena
Winner of the prestigious Kodansha Manga Award, Mushishi is the story of Ginko, a wandering “mushi” expert (called a mushi-shi in Japanese). Mushi are ephemeral creatures that are far older – but, in some sense, far simpler – than what we conceive of as biological life. Although simple in nature, mushi are capable of causing all sorts of interference in the human world. Sometimes mushi are benign, sometimes neutral, and sometimes they can be downright malicious. As Ginko wanders throughout Japan’s mountain villages and forests, he encounters many people afflicted with all sorts of imaginative mushi infections. Using his clever wit and his own unique, borderline-paranormal abilities, Ginko tries to help as many of these people as he can. But sometimes even Ginko can be rendered helpless in the face of a truly horrifying mushi.
