Came the Mirror & Other Tales [Manga Review]

1. Wholesome Twists

For stories revolving around the eerie and the occult, one would at least expect something dreary to happen. (Un)fortunately – depending on how you view it – that doesn’t happen in Came the Mirror & Other Tales. The stories always end up on a good, wholesome note. Given that some sort of twist is imperative for short stories to be effective, we didn’t expect a borderline horror anthology to not have a single bad ending. Don’t get us wrong; it’s not that we’re complaining about it, but it just came as a pleasant surprise.

Let’s take the story with the Odi et Amo flower as an example. Even in our wildest dreams we could not imagine a tale about stalking and doping ending with a pregnancy announcement. Let’s leave it at that. We don’t want to spoil too much, after all.

2. A Glimpse Into the Mangaka’s Past

After all of the spookiness is served, a surprise short autobiography greets the readers. This in itself is a pleasant gift, but it only gets better knowing that this is not the life story of just any mangaka. We’re talking about the well-decorated Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of multiple long-lasting and award-winning series. That said, her short life narrative is an interesting read, especially if you’re a fan of her works. It entails how she, in her own words, disappointed her parents.

1. Not Scream Inducing

Sure, a foul-smelling, hallucinogenic plant and a cat possession are far from the definition of cute, but they aren’t necessarily frightening either. If you’ve picked up Came the Mirror & Other Tales thinking you’ll get a dose of fright, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. The anthology features good – even great – stories, but they just aren’t terrifying, which is quite a surprise given that Takahashi has once successfully given a grotesque twist to something as enchanting as mermaids in her manga Mermaid Saga.

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Rumiko Takahashi’s Came the Mirror & Other Tales is a wholesome yet unnerving read. Even though the stories feature dark themes, they end on light notes. Reading it makes us feel like a child being teased by an adult, only to end up being given a gift. It evokes a mixture of dread and elation, and it’s surprisingly a feeling we can see ourselves getting used to. It’s a perfect title for those who are searching for something creepy, but not too creepy. Don’t hesitate to tell us in the comment section below if this is something you think fits your tastes.

I am a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. I love watching anime, reading manga, and writing my own stories. Watch out in the future as you may see one of my works one day. Manga and anime were big parts of my childhood. I grew up watching Yu Yu Hakusho, Slam Dunk, One Piece, and Dragon Ball Z. Those were probably one of the happiest and most carefree days of my life. In fact, most of my values are probably molded by manga. No, that’s not an exaggeration.

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