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MAO [マオ] #17
Mao, Vol. 17
Per effetto di un incantesimo, Natsuno è ancora viva. Shiranui è sempre più concentrato sulla ricerca della Taizan Fukun, la tecnica per manipolare la durata della vita, mentre Mao continua a cercare la verità su quanto accaduto l’ultimo giorno del clan Goko. Quando tutti e tre si troveranno l’uno di fronte all’altro, le tenebre cominceranno finalmente a diradarsi...?
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2023
About the author
Rumiko Takahashi
1,601 books2,192 followersRumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.
Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.
Career and major works:
Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.
In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.
During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.
Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series
Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.
During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.
Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.
Career and major works:
Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.
In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.
During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.
Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series
Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.
During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 29, 2024
It feels like the plot is moving at a snails pace but this series is really good
December 14, 2024
Volume 17 has Soma, the boy with the cursed beast, tasked by Hakubi with an assassination mission. Hakubi wants his underling to become inured to murder, which will both tie him closer to the Goko clan, and bring Soma more in line with the Beast’s intentions.
Natsuno, the earth exorcist, returns after a long sleep. She, Mao and Nanoka go to investigate a politician who’s had his throat slit but hasn’t quite died yet. This brings them into conflict with Soma, who’s come to finish the job. Natsuno is gravely wounded.
This leads to the reveal of Natsuno’s greatest secret. But that just raises further questions, so it’s time to talk to Shiranui, the water-wielder who’s the current leader of the Goko Clan. A rumor is spread that Mao is using the Taizanfukun immortality spell to draw Shiranui out, with Kamon the wood exorcist joining the group. The two sides again exchange information and threats, and the backstory just gets more complicated.
Another cursed artifact surfaces, this one called the Box of Monstrosity. It turns any human or animal touching it into a monster that kills indiscriminately, preferring to take over a person in authority that then slaughters their family or underlings. Renji the fire musician and Sasuga the water shell wielder are sent to retrieve it by the Goko Clan. After a couple of clashes, Kamon and Hyakka join the search.
This volume feels like connecting tissue, but the box story follows into the next volume.
Natsuno, the earth exorcist, returns after a long sleep. She, Mao and Nanoka go to investigate a politician who’s had his throat slit but hasn’t quite died yet. This brings them into conflict with Soma, who’s come to finish the job. Natsuno is gravely wounded.
This leads to the reveal of Natsuno’s greatest secret. But that just raises further questions, so it’s time to talk to Shiranui, the water-wielder who’s the current leader of the Goko Clan. A rumor is spread that Mao is using the Taizanfukun immortality spell to draw Shiranui out, with Kamon the wood exorcist joining the group. The two sides again exchange information and threats, and the backstory just gets more complicated.
Another cursed artifact surfaces, this one called the Box of Monstrosity. It turns any human or animal touching it into a monster that kills indiscriminately, preferring to take over a person in authority that then slaughters their family or underlings. Renji the fire musician and Sasuga the water shell wielder are sent to retrieve it by the Goko Clan. After a couple of clashes, Kamon and Hyakka join the search.
This volume feels like connecting tissue, but the box story follows into the next volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2024
I’m starting to feel it’s Inuyasha fighting Naraku. The volumes continue Mao and Nanoka’s quest to find out what happened the night the Goko clan perished. This volume was basically the same as a couple of the previous, although good it’s starting to get repetitive. You get a little bit more information after every battle when a new curse or cursed object appears that is related to this mysterious clan. Also Nanoka seems to be getting more into her role as someone who can help Mao fight in certain battles. This time Shiranui slanders Sana’s character and it makes Mao angry but it’s connecting some dots for him and now the gang is trying to find and destroy a cursed box Hakubi wants.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2026
Another wonderful volume by the one and only Rumiko Takahashi. Filled with great action sequences and layered with more secrets and mysteries that seem to, slowly but surely, be moving us closer to the truth. I’m such a fan of Natsuno and I can’t wait to see what unravels once we truly know who is her puppet master. That scene in the water palace with Shiranui and the rest of the gang, truly iconic. I can’t wait to jump into the next volume and see how they solve the box of monstrosity case.
I’m giving this one 5/5 ⭐️.
I’m giving this one 5/5 ⭐️.
June 4, 2024
And the plot thickens! Such a great volume for reveals and more threads to be woven into the story. Mao is a series that just keeps getting better!
Lots of answers surrounding Natsuno in this volume, and since she's easily one of my favourite characters, I was delighted. In fact, this volume gives room for lots of characters to develop as it gears up for its next arc in the main story's progression, and all I can say is that I'm excited to see what comes next!
Lots of answers surrounding Natsuno in this volume, and since she's easily one of my favourite characters, I was delighted. In fact, this volume gives room for lots of characters to develop as it gears up for its next arc in the main story's progression, and all I can say is that I'm excited to see what comes next!
January 4, 2025
1.5 stars.
January 22, 2025
At this rate this series will never end!
February 25, 2025
Anytime the story is Sana focused, I lose interest.
July 23, 2025
La historia ha comenzando a tener más preguntas que respuestas.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews