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MAO [マオ] #11
Mao, Vol. 11
When Nanoka is transported back in time to a supernatural early 20th century, she gets recruited by aloof exorcist Mao. What thread of fate connects them? Together, they seek answers...and kick some demon butt along the way!
Nanoka claims a cursed sword and has it reforged to suit her, but the blade is stolen before she has a chance to wield it. Who does the original weapon belong to, and why do they want it back so badly? Pitched battles ensue, and this time it’s Mao’s turn to sacrifice himself to save Nanoka… And then Nanoka is taken hostage!
Nanoka claims a cursed sword and has it reforged to suit her, but the blade is stolen before she has a chance to wield it. Who does the original weapon belong to, and why do they want it back so badly? Pitched battles ensue, and this time it’s Mao’s turn to sacrifice himself to save Nanoka… And then Nanoka is taken hostage!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2022
6 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Rumiko Takahashi
1,586 books2,143 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 19, 2023
Finally Nanoka had a weapon of her own!
March 16, 2023
The cursed sword storyline adds a lot of character and ability to Nanoka. This one was much more engaging and entertaining than previous volumes.
July 2, 2023
Another great volume! Mao has yet to lag or disappoint me with its story, and this volume is no exception. Nanoka is the focus in this volume, with her acquisition of a sword of her own...only its a cursed sword that has consequences with its use. It's a very interesting angle, especially for a character like Nanoka, who in past volumes is rather naive in her desire to help Mao, even extending to her giving her blood without any qualms. Nanoka being the cursed sword's master is definitely a choice I liked and I'm sure will have interesting moral, if not ethical dilemma's for her in the future. I feel like important ground work is being laid here, bc of who Nanoka is primarily pit against in this volume, and frankly, it just ups the stakes in an engaging way.
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March 11, 2024I’m enjoying the series, but it does lack a spark that Takahashi’s earlier works had. It’s like the story is kinda shallow and things are happening without any impact. Like I don’t really feel Nanoka’s attachment to Mao, or vice versa. I also find it annoying that they don’t just kill Soma, who IMO chose to be evil and is irredeemable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2022
Son dovuta andare a riguardarmi la fine del numero precedente non mi ricordavo minimamente chi fosse quella tizia...
Ci son troppi personaggi e la storia non sta andando da nessuna parte...decisamente inizio a stufarmi...
Ci son troppi personaggi e la storia non sta andando da nessuna parte...decisamente inizio a stufarmi...
June 28, 2023
Nanoka now has a weapon! But also, you can see that she has a tendency to act before thinking. It will be interesting to see how Mao’s feelings will be revealed, since he typically seems like such a stoic character
July 8, 2023
I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable with Nanoka's crush on Mao. It isn't super apparent what Mao's age is, and he hasn't been at all forward towards her, but this still feels like a relationship that would have worked in the 1980s more than today's books.
October 24, 2023
4.5/5
Nanoka's cursed sword adds a great new dimension to this ever growing and deepening story! Good development all around in this one, though I'm not huge on Soma's chapters in this one. Still a great time though!
Nanoka's cursed sword adds a great new dimension to this ever growing and deepening story! Good development all around in this one, though I'm not huge on Soma's chapters in this one. Still a great time though!
December 23, 2022
Nanoka noto che è sempre più forte, sta cominciando a essere una storia diversa da quella di "InuYasha" e devo ammettere che lei e Mao sono sempre più carini 🥺✨
March 5, 2023
Siento que estoy llegando a un callejón sin salida, los números cada vez avanzan menos y Nanoka sigue sin saber como hacer nada, que ya nos digan para dónde va esto.
April 28, 2023
Very interesting volume! Plus i feel Mao and Nanokas relationship developing, slowly but surely !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2023
That last line!
May 21, 2023
4.5/5
June 17, 2023
Not as entertaining of a volume as I'd hoped. I want the series to move just a little faster.
July 21, 2023
Ahhhh so dark.
August 14, 2023
Nanoka is trusted with a cursed sword!
August 30, 2023
Excellent volume, où on voit Nanoka finalement passer à l'attaque quelque peu à l'improviste mais bien efficace et pouvant tenir tête à des veterans de "onmyô" quand même
December 11, 2023
I love seeing Nanoka in action!!
December 19, 2023
My review of volumes 11-13 can be found at https://www.skjam.com/2023/12/19/mang...
February 14, 2024
Nanoka receives a blade that has strings attached, no pun intended lol, and then Renji's past comes into the spotlight for a finale! This series just gets better and better.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews