Rin-ne is the newest manga by Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Ranma ½ and Inuyasha. In the series, Sakura Mamiya is a young high school student with an unusual ability; she can see ghosts. When one of her classmates is revealed to be a “sort of” Shinigami, she starts to have all sorts of strange supernatural adventures… and it all seems to be related to the time she got lost as a child and saw something very unusual.
Highlights
The series begins enigmatically as a young girl watches a mysterious wheel spin in the sky; Rin-ne is filled with both spiritual weirdness and the expected Takahashi fun sense of humor. In one volume we’re treated to concepts as elaborate as giant ghost Chihuahua and cell phones that accept calls from the dead! The first volume introduces us to a few of the main characters in a series of shorter escapades; the no-nonsense Sakura, the perpetually broke Shinigami Rinne Rokudo (and learning many of his magical tools require a payment of yen to function gives us a number of amusing gags) and his reluctantly acquired black cat assistant Rokumon (whose idea of helping Rinne drum up some business is to chew up a few of Sakura’s unsuspecting classmates. He also enjoys sitting on a box and pretending to be a kitten, because people give him treats.) Sakura is pulled into Rokudo’s Shinigami duties when he sets up a little business in the weather hutch behind the school; supernatural problems solved for a little change and some food (he’s hungry!). As usual, Takahashi has a deft hand with the little touches that make a series especially charming. Her artwork is as adorable as always, particularly Rokumon when he’s putting on his kitten act. A ghost who died when a flowerpot fell on his head still has it sitting on his head the entire time he’s manifested, and what happens to the ghost Chihuahua during the chapter must be seen to be believed; it’s weird stuff. There are some (sort of) serious moments as well, as we learn exactly why Rokudo is forced to become a Shinigami despite being “sort of” human; and we also learn why Sakura can see ghosts. The volume ends with the first chapter of a story that promises to be interesting, in which the ghost of a soldier is haunting a young girl whom he thinks is the reincarnation of his lost love. This volume also has the Japanese honorifics kept in place and a page with cultural notes, which is a nice touch. All in all, Rin-ne Volume 1 is a strong start to what promises to be another fun Takahashi series.
Overall
The series hasn’t ratcheted up the drama yet, but it has enough mystery and supernatural nuttiness to keep you looking forward to the next volume. The characters are instantly entertaining and funny; Takahashi is the master of the gag panel. I laughed aloud on a number of occasions, such as when after getting a particularly small payment for a job we see Rokudo glowering next to his newly added sign “Stingy offerings will result in a curse.” There was also a particularly interesting adventure where Sakura visits the afterlife, possibly for the last time. I highly recommend getting in on the ground floor of what shows every sign of becoming another long running beloved series; the black cat Rokumon has already charmed me quite a bit with his troublemaking, and I have no doubt the series will be charming a great many people for quite some time. I’m not sure how many more ways I can say this; Rin-ne is a fun ride on the supernatural side.
ComicsOnline gives Rin-ne Volume 1 5 out of 5 black cats.
