Mushishi 1 Paperback – January 30, 2007

The Editorial Review for this volume could not be more misleading. "They still exist and wreak havoc in the world today"--to describe Mushi as if they were monsters completely misses the point of Yuki Urushibara's manga. Mushi (which also means "Bug" in Japanese) are a third category of life, separate from plants and animals. Invisible to the eye, they are responsible for what many people perceive as supernatural phenomena. Ginko, the "Mushi-shi" or Mushi-expert/master of the title, is one of the few people able to see mushi.While mushi are usually benign, the editorial review is correct in that some mushi cause blindness or other problems when they interact with humans. Mushishi travel the world, studying mushi and helping people when such problems occur. The manga consists of a series of individual stories, each of which describe a situation in which mushi come into conflict with humans, and how Ginko attempts to respond to each situation.Far from being an adventure tale, as the editorial review might lead one to believe, this is one of the most beautiful and well-paced stories I have read recently in any format. The writing is excellent (although I preferred some of the subtlety of the original Japanese, no translation will capture everything), and the art is rich and detailed. Although the episodic nature of the series prevents extended supporting character development, the reader does get to know Ginko and a limited cast of repeating characters quite well. Mushishi is a beautiful manga, and a wonderful read... I also HIGHLY recommend the anime (Mushishi, Vol. 1), which will be released starting in late July. It is one of the most entrancing shows I have ever seen.

Mushishi is one of the more original comics out there, but it isn't for everyone. Mushi are bug like spirits that have strange affects on humans and occasionally the landscape. Ginko is a Mushishi, a medicine man for those affected by mushi, and roams around the Japanese country side helping others. The mushi themselves are not portrayed as being malevolent, but rather as a natural part of the world. Many (if not all, I'm no expert) of the stories are plays on Japanese folklore. They focus on the ways people interact with nature as well as spirituality. There is little to no action, so, if your looking for people in spandex or giant robots this is not your book. Rather, Mushishi is like a medical drama mixed with a dash of occult detective and served on plate of folklore. If you are looking for an engaging philosophical comic I recommend this to you. (Note: I did a mini review in which I rated this 4.75/5, due to a few poorly translated panels. Ya know these scores are kinda arbitrary anyway.)

As all Manga fans know Japan has a varied and detailed supernatural belief system. The Mushi in this serious are neither good or evil, they just are. So far below or above, depending on your view, humanity, they exist. Most of the Mushishi seem to want ot control or destroy the creatures, our hero tends to want to understand them. A vivid storytelling with images that are at times scary and other time beautiful, I recommend this series. So far I have read the first six and I plan on following this to the end. It has been made into both an anime and a live action movie. If you are looking for something beyond the usual mecha or magical child series, this is a good place to start.

Urushibara has produced a beautifully crafted series of short stories revolving around meddlesome spirits and how they intertwine with our physical world. The B&W art is well-done, and the Mushi (spirits) are unique and bizarre - fans of Pan's Labrynth and other fantastical world-merges may find this especially compelling.

This manga is perfect for reading just before bed. It's drawn to be taken in slowly and the stories are simple, but nice. Some might think it's boring though, as these slow character driven tales are not for everyone. However, if you need something to help you relax before bed, read this manga or watch the show. :)

This manga artist illustrates the richness of a natural world that has mysteries that few can fathom. Ginko is a Mushi master who has learned to co-exist, although not always peacefully, with the mushi he has studied. I am very glad I found this series a few years ago and now can get it for Kindle so that I don't have to carry the actual books around when I want to read them. If you enjoy mysteries of the natural world, try this out (I just wish the sample could be more enticing).

Wonderful collection of mythical stories of Other Worldly creatures that exists between the cracks of the natural world of inorganic and organic life. Uniquely Japanese in its Animistic nature like the Shinto religion. All things have life and spirits. Mushishi is mainly about humans interacting with those Mushi beings.

Que historias tan bonitas y relajantes, leo un capitulo y me veo el mismo en el anime.