Mononoke-zoushi

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

This is quite interesting if you like traditional east asian myth.the chapters are very brief and the story can be slow,but for the most part the story is cool.the artwork is fairly simple and common in style to other horror manga i have seen.i reccomend this to people who havent read horror manga and are looking for something fresh.

Its my first review, and 'cause i'm not good with english so sorry in advance.

First, i think its pity this manga not really popular. even though the story itself is intriguing. The world of many creatures (Youkai, monster, spirit, etc.) and human is potrayed with simple storytelling. Like read a horror children stories, well afterall its folklore.
What i like about this manga, its about how human or creatures is not in good or bad side and each stories not simply always happy ending. But, left a bit of sadness or depressed feels.

Story (8):
Its about performer, Tanome, who travel around and meet other creatures or humans. ... The story is episodic with each stories tell about Tanome handle the problems of many creatures with her eye tatoo in her hands. Each stories has implisit meaning.

Art (8):
The art its not common for manga, its rather like old japanese painting. The art made the story bit darker and good blend for horror stories.

Character (7):
Tanome is in the beginning of stories is kind of childish, but after Shao Tsu become her pupil, Tanome itself aventually become mature. Tanome is cool character, not look people or creatures is different being.

Enjoyment (7):
I enjoy each stories of the manga. And how Tanome will react to the problems she meets always intereristing.

I was interested in reading this manga, since most of the horror manga I encounter are either shounen or seinen. The protagonist Tenome (or "The Eye of the Hand") is an interesting character. She's a traveling performer who goes to different sake houses. Unlike some female horror protagonists, she's confident, intelligent, and can take care of herself, which makes for more enjoyable reading. She frequently winds up naked, which is a little annoying, but it doesn't impact her sense of agency, which is something at least. She starts the series as a teenager, but grows into a adult over the ... course of the first volume.

The chapters are episodic in nature, with each one concerning Tenome meeting some monster or other supernatural creature. In some cases, one chapter will follow the events of the previous chapter. Many of the setups are the same, where Tenome meets a person who turns out to be deceiving her (or themselves). We learn a little bit more about her as the story progresses (but not a lot more). She also meets a girl named Shao Tsu, who becomes her companion.

The setting is in the time period before, during, and after World War II. Many of the chapters have to do with the devastation Japan experienced during and after the war.

The art style is kind of different, but not in a bad way. It looks like charcoal style art blended with more 'normal' manga style. It works well for the story.

Spoilers: Tenome isn't present in the final volume and we don't learn what, if anything, became of her. Based on the postscript, it appears that the author had intended to write more of a story. If there had been an explanation or proper ending, I would have given the manga a 7 instead of a 6, since I don't like being left hanging.