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Cinderalla
This is the classic fairy tale turned on its head. In Cinderalla, Dad and the stepsisters are zombies, the family runs a yakitori restaurant, and the prince is so sick he’s on a permanent IV support system. Junko Mizuno’s work possesses a postfeminist consciousness, and the book’s psychedelic tone is enhanced by the artist’s playful, “grotesque-cute” color illustrations.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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352 people want to read
About the author
Junko Mizuno
36 books142 followersJunko Mizuno (水野純子 Mizuno Junko) is a Japanese manga artist.
Mizuno's drawing style, which mixes childish sweetness and cuteness with terror and erotica, has often been termed a Gothic kawaii or kawaii noir style. However, Mizuno has stated that she does not feel comfortable about those terms, as she doesn't want to label her work with words because it keeps changing and is influenced by many different genres.
Mizuno has stated that her work is influenced by shōjo manga works; this influence is exhibited through her use of bright colorization and the large eyes she provides for her characters. Her art has a decidedly pop-art and psychedelic flair, and a sizable proportion of her published work is colored, rather than the black and white format typical of most Japanese comics.
A part of Mizuno's oeuvre revolves around fairy tales, showing titles such as Cinderalla, Princess Mermaid and Hansel&Gretel. The story behind this is that after the release of Pure Trance, Mizuno was approached by a publisher who was interested in working with her because of her unique style. However, this publisher did not like the story of Pure Trance as it differed a lot from mainstream comics at the time. Because of this, he suggested she'd make comics about fairy tales, which were commercially more viable. Mizuno has stated that as she was just starting out her career as a professional artist, she decided to take the opportunity, and that while in hindsight she was not very comfortable with the situation, it was a good experience for her.
Mizuno has participated in the Angoulême International Comics Festival and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. In 2007 Mizuno's work was on display at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles, in an exhibit titled Heart Throb and at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California in an exhibit titled Tender Succubus. In 2014, Mizuno held an exhibition of her work titled Belle: the Art of Junko Mizuno at the Atomica Gallery in London.
(from Wikipedia)
Mizuno's drawing style, which mixes childish sweetness and cuteness with terror and erotica, has often been termed a Gothic kawaii or kawaii noir style. However, Mizuno has stated that she does not feel comfortable about those terms, as she doesn't want to label her work with words because it keeps changing and is influenced by many different genres.
Mizuno has stated that her work is influenced by shōjo manga works; this influence is exhibited through her use of bright colorization and the large eyes she provides for her characters. Her art has a decidedly pop-art and psychedelic flair, and a sizable proportion of her published work is colored, rather than the black and white format typical of most Japanese comics.
A part of Mizuno's oeuvre revolves around fairy tales, showing titles such as Cinderalla, Princess Mermaid and Hansel&Gretel. The story behind this is that after the release of Pure Trance, Mizuno was approached by a publisher who was interested in working with her because of her unique style. However, this publisher did not like the story of Pure Trance as it differed a lot from mainstream comics at the time. Because of this, he suggested she'd make comics about fairy tales, which were commercially more viable. Mizuno has stated that as she was just starting out her career as a professional artist, she decided to take the opportunity, and that while in hindsight she was not very comfortable with the situation, it was a good experience for her.
Mizuno has participated in the Angoulême International Comics Festival and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. In 2007 Mizuno's work was on display at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles, in an exhibit titled Heart Throb and at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California in an exhibit titled Tender Succubus. In 2014, Mizuno held an exhibition of her work titled Belle: the Art of Junko Mizuno at the Atomica Gallery in London.
(from Wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 27, 2022
New and strange take on this classic story...somehow it worked for me. Junko Mizuno has a real talent for what I will call 'horwai' (horror +kawaii) that is very unsettling. It also leads to deeper questions of conformity and individualization; will look for more of her books in the future for sure!
July 4, 2015
I loved this. definitely a mix of cute grotesque. the art is amazing and the story is unique (even if you know the original Cinderella story, your not sure what will happen next it this version). there is a bonus short story at the end and a page of stickers. the only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because something about the end just wasn't satisfy compared to the rest of the book. but that's probably just me. also a quick note, there are a lot of nipple shots in here. Personally I don't care, its just the style of art and no biggie. going to read the mermaid book next.
November 6, 2016
A trippy adult version of an old classic.
Cinderellas dad is a Zombie, she's a slave to her evil stepsisters, they seem to always be shirtless and the Prince finds a missing eye that belongs to his beloved.
Someone described it as the Powerpuff girls on acid and that is a direct hit on the head. No one can describe it any better.
It's about time someone puts a new spin on an old timey tale.
The art adds so much more glorious flare that it'll make your head spin.
Cinderellas dad is a Zombie, she's a slave to her evil stepsisters, they seem to always be shirtless and the Prince finds a missing eye that belongs to his beloved.
Someone described it as the Powerpuff girls on acid and that is a direct hit on the head. No one can describe it any better.
It's about time someone puts a new spin on an old timey tale.
The art adds so much more glorious flare that it'll make your head spin.
April 19, 2013
Cinderalla = Cinderella + zombies, what more do you need to know.
Cinderalla is human, her father dies and comes back as a zombie, he marries a zombie and brings her two daughters home. Meanwhile the zombie prince is in town.
I love Junkos' art, its beautiful and sometimes morbid but always beautiful. Just read it.
Cinderalla is human, her father dies and comes back as a zombie, he marries a zombie and brings her two daughters home. Meanwhile the zombie prince is in town.
I love Junkos' art, its beautiful and sometimes morbid but always beautiful. Just read it.
January 10, 2016
The color palette alone is worth. Bizarre, macabre story of Cinderella through a psychedelic sexual zombie love story... Really man, you gotta read it. It was a hit with everyone at the Book Club and a truly amazing talented artist
September 30, 2018
Cinderalla longs to become a zombie so she can join her beloved Prince and his companion turtle.
This might be the most bizarre thing I've ever read. Junko Mizuno's psychedelic, broad-lined, fond of pink and black artwork makes your eyebrows meet your hairline. There's rows of birds on sticks being eaten at the yakitori shop, frequent boobs shown (because apparently you're supposed to clean house nearly naked), zombies drawn as having the skin on their chin dripping, a stepmother who has to continually eat pancakes, and a giant black rat that helps Cinderella do her gardening (nearly naked, of course).
My two favorite parts are that Cinderalla, temporarily turned into a zombie, accidentally leaves one of her eyeballs behind with the Prince when she has to flee at midnight (don't you hate when that happens?) And then, yep, there's the 'eyeball trying on for fit' sequence for the Prince to find his lost love. Junko Mizuno is a twisted genius. I read her "Ravina the Witch?" and really enjoyed it. If the author's books were easier to get in English, I'd probably read more.
This might be the most bizarre thing I've ever read. Junko Mizuno's psychedelic, broad-lined, fond of pink and black artwork makes your eyebrows meet your hairline. There's rows of birds on sticks being eaten at the yakitori shop, frequent boobs shown (because apparently you're supposed to clean house nearly naked), zombies drawn as having the skin on their chin dripping, a stepmother who has to continually eat pancakes, and a giant black rat that helps Cinderella do her gardening (nearly naked, of course).
My two favorite parts are that Cinderalla, temporarily turned into a zombie, accidentally leaves one of her eyeballs behind with the Prince when she has to flee at midnight (don't you hate when that happens?) And then, yep, there's the 'eyeball trying on for fit' sequence for the Prince to find his lost love. Junko Mizuno is a twisted genius. I read her "Ravina the Witch?" and really enjoyed it. If the author's books were easier to get in English, I'd probably read more.
June 2, 2019
After discovering and loving Junko Mizuno's Princess Mermaid, I thought I'd try some of her other work. This is her freaky weird zombie take on Cinderella. Cinderella's father, a yakitori chef dies, rises as a zombie and marries a zombie wife with two daughters. cinderella meets and falls for a zombie prince singing sensation and gets transformed into a zombie for his gig - at midnight she'll turn back into a human and leaves her eyeball behind at the ball....
I quite enjoyed this one, but its not nearly as dark as princess mermaid - it's far more cutsey without any real bite. Still I love Mizuno's kawaii-noir artwork, the mix of super cute and grotesque works wonderfully giving a unique style that's unlike anything else on the market.
I quite enjoyed this one, but its not nearly as dark as princess mermaid - it's far more cutsey without any real bite. Still I love Mizuno's kawaii-noir artwork, the mix of super cute and grotesque works wonderfully giving a unique style that's unlike anything else on the market.
May 20, 2015
Je découvre les éditions IMHO pour la première fois avec Cinderalla de Junko Mizuno. Et cette première découverte me donne vraiment envie de découvrir les autres ouvrages de leur catalogue !
Junko Mizuno revisite le conte de Cendrillon dans une version manga totalement décalée et colorée. Cendrillon avait tout pour être heureuse en travaillant dans le restaurant de son père, réputé pour sa sauce barbecue. Jusqu’à ce que celui-ci meure soudainement. C’est le drame pour la jeune fille qui se retrouve à devoir assumer seule le restaurant familial ! Sauf que son père ne lui a pas transmis la recette de sa fameuse sauce… Que faire ? La solution est plutôt simple : le ramener des enfers. Voici comment Cinderella est entraînée dans une folle aventure au pays des zombies et des fées alcooliques !
Avant même d’avoir lu le résumé, j’ai été attirée par le livre en lui-même. Mes yeux ont tout de suite été attirés par les couleurs très vives. Quelques points le distinguent notamment des mangas classiques à commencer par son format, plus grand que ceux que j’ai l’habitude de lire. Ensuite, toutes les planches sont colorées, ce qui m’a beaucoup plu, d’autant plus que les dessins sont vraiment très beaux ! Enfin, le livre se lit dans le sens classique d’une bande-dessinée et non dans le sens japonais. Rien que par son aspect, Cinderella se démarque déjà pas mal des mangas classiques.
Outre le visuel que j’ai adoré, Cinderalla est un manga plein d’humour noir. L’auteur a choisi de s’attaquer à un conte vu et revu maintes fois et elle le fait avec brio ! Au point qu’elle parvient aisément à nous faire oublier les autres versions grâce à un humour noir et totalement décalé et des personnages tous plus mignons et grotesques les uns que les autres. Le prince, la bonne fée, la belle-mère, les sœurs, les souris, tous sont présents ici pour nous rejouer l’histoire de Cendrillon… à leur manière ! Au début, je m’attendais à un manga dans le même ton que Happy Tree Friends pour le côté mignon et sanglant. Mais là encore, l’auteur nous montre son talent en parvenant à s’en démarquer complètement.
Vous l’aurez sans doute compris, j’ai adoré Cindarella qui est l’un des mangas d’horreur les plus mignons que j’ai eu l’occasion de lire. Déroutant, drôle et prenant, il vous fera à coup sûr passer un bon moment de lecture !
http://drunkennessbooks.blogspot.fr/2...
Junko Mizuno revisite le conte de Cendrillon dans une version manga totalement décalée et colorée. Cendrillon avait tout pour être heureuse en travaillant dans le restaurant de son père, réputé pour sa sauce barbecue. Jusqu’à ce que celui-ci meure soudainement. C’est le drame pour la jeune fille qui se retrouve à devoir assumer seule le restaurant familial ! Sauf que son père ne lui a pas transmis la recette de sa fameuse sauce… Que faire ? La solution est plutôt simple : le ramener des enfers. Voici comment Cinderella est entraînée dans une folle aventure au pays des zombies et des fées alcooliques !
Avant même d’avoir lu le résumé, j’ai été attirée par le livre en lui-même. Mes yeux ont tout de suite été attirés par les couleurs très vives. Quelques points le distinguent notamment des mangas classiques à commencer par son format, plus grand que ceux que j’ai l’habitude de lire. Ensuite, toutes les planches sont colorées, ce qui m’a beaucoup plu, d’autant plus que les dessins sont vraiment très beaux ! Enfin, le livre se lit dans le sens classique d’une bande-dessinée et non dans le sens japonais. Rien que par son aspect, Cinderella se démarque déjà pas mal des mangas classiques.
Outre le visuel que j’ai adoré, Cinderalla est un manga plein d’humour noir. L’auteur a choisi de s’attaquer à un conte vu et revu maintes fois et elle le fait avec brio ! Au point qu’elle parvient aisément à nous faire oublier les autres versions grâce à un humour noir et totalement décalé et des personnages tous plus mignons et grotesques les uns que les autres. Le prince, la bonne fée, la belle-mère, les sœurs, les souris, tous sont présents ici pour nous rejouer l’histoire de Cendrillon… à leur manière ! Au début, je m’attendais à un manga dans le même ton que Happy Tree Friends pour le côté mignon et sanglant. Mais là encore, l’auteur nous montre son talent en parvenant à s’en démarquer complètement.
Vous l’aurez sans doute compris, j’ai adoré Cindarella qui est l’un des mangas d’horreur les plus mignons que j’ai eu l’occasion de lire. Déroutant, drôle et prenant, il vous fera à coup sûr passer un bon moment de lecture !
http://drunkennessbooks.blogspot.fr/2...
October 16, 2012
Junko Mizuno is one of those manga artists that despite her work being recognizable to many, is still relatively unknown in English. It's a shame, as her work is lovely and deserves more attention. I'll warn any readers who might pick this up while thinking of purchasing it for a younger reader: there is some adult content, although it's rather tame by today's standards.
The artwork is quite frankly the best part of this manga, and really just about any of Mizuno's stuff. We're given bright candy colors and cute stylings that would make any perki-goth squeal with glee. It's the kind of artwork that makes me want to hang on my walls. There is some gore, if you can call it that, by way of the zombies with body parts that so easily fall off, providing us with rather unconventional plot points. Even with that, it's so cutsey looking and non-bloody that it's neither gory nor particularly objectionable. The story here is also rather cute, being a very VERY loose interpretation of Cinderella. Mizuno pretty much just takes the basics from the fairytale and goes from there. Part of what makes this so much fun to read is that nobody here is really all that unlikable or bad.
I also have to give props for the layout of the volume. Rather than use the slick paper that you commonly see manga printed on, the publisher decides to play up the pulp feel of the book by using a more "newspaper/old comic book paper" type paper to print on. This might play havoc with some collectors when it comes to preserving it, but it just feels right for this type of book. That it includes stickers and everything is in full color is a bonus.
This is ultimately an incredibly cute manga and one that needs to be on anyone who loves Serena Valentino, Jhonen Vasquez, or Roman Dirge.
The artwork is quite frankly the best part of this manga, and really just about any of Mizuno's stuff. We're given bright candy colors and cute stylings that would make any perki-goth squeal with glee. It's the kind of artwork that makes me want to hang on my walls. There is some gore, if you can call it that, by way of the zombies with body parts that so easily fall off, providing us with rather unconventional plot points. Even with that, it's so cutsey looking and non-bloody that it's neither gory nor particularly objectionable. The story here is also rather cute, being a very VERY loose interpretation of Cinderella. Mizuno pretty much just takes the basics from the fairytale and goes from there. Part of what makes this so much fun to read is that nobody here is really all that unlikable or bad.
I also have to give props for the layout of the volume. Rather than use the slick paper that you commonly see manga printed on, the publisher decides to play up the pulp feel of the book by using a more "newspaper/old comic book paper" type paper to print on. This might play havoc with some collectors when it comes to preserving it, but it just feels right for this type of book. That it includes stickers and everything is in full color is a bonus.
This is ultimately an incredibly cute manga and one that needs to be on anyone who loves Serena Valentino, Jhonen Vasquez, or Roman Dirge.
February 8, 2010
You know she is your true love if the eyeball fits! Cinderalla is a go-getting girl who will stop at nothing to get her Prince, even if it means becoming an undead to get into a zombies-only concert. Backpage blurb reads "Cute but deathly, Powerpuff Girls on acid, Lolita Goth". This little pink book packs a punch and a page of stickers! You will like this if you dig Lenore the cute little dead girl. Ooh and I want a My Little Pony designed by Junko Mizuno.
Clumsy segue ahead. If Near from Death Note ever turns zombie-green and decides to ditch his white pajamas for vertical stripes, he will look like Prince. Heh.
Clumsy segue ahead. If Near from Death Note ever turns zombie-green and decides to ditch his white pajamas for vertical stripes, he will look like Prince. Heh.
January 14, 2019
This is one bizarre take on the Cinderella fable. Cinderalla is filled with nubile, barely dressed pretty big-eyed girls, a talking rat, drunken fairy, singing zombie prince in pajamas, concert for the walking dead and a pair of perverted red-headed twins who make Fred and George Weasley look like model citizens. This brightly colored tale is vicious, cute, creepy, grotesque, sexy, disturbing and flat-out weird. Wild as a psychedelic drug trip and freakier than a carnival sideshow, Cinderalla is definitely not for the children.
February 4, 2016
Fun and easy read. Full of Junko's usual macabre style. When I saw it in the used bookstore I knew I had to have it. And it comes with stickers at the end! Plenty of terrific panty shots and random nudity, my favorite scene was definitely when the zombie step-sister ripped off her huge tits. And it doesn't really rely on the evil stepsister trope. The new members of the family are just selfish and dead, not malicious. If come across it in the book store it's definitely worth a read, you can finish it in no time.
January 28, 2017
For sure not everyone's cup of tea. It was quite ridiculous, but a quirky ridiculous! It is a style that may target us who are into more alternative things, and while it was just another take on Cinderella, so nothing too exciting, I liked the art and style a lot! I also liked the included extras at the end, after the original story! Just a nice touch!
July 20, 2017
Very distinctive manga. Great mix of horror, cute aesthetic, and folk story. I did not like the casual sexism such as using size of female breast as a joke, but that is common in Japan and compared to other respected manga auteurs such as Tsuge or Seiichi Hayashi, its sexism is minimal at most.
May 11, 2019
Wow! I would have never though that Cinderalla could be done in this form of writing. it was different. that is all can say about this book. I am actually scracthing my head not sure what to think of it...
February 12, 2008
inspired me to try yakitori! it's delicious!!
October 2, 2007
Loved the artwork.
June 19, 2008
This book is adorable. It has cute zombies in it and the art work is so fun!
April 26, 2016
Cinderella story with a zombie prince? Cinderella wants to become a zombie to marry him?? Yes, please. Mizuno's art is so darkly cute. Like Hello Kitty on heroin.
May 4, 2022
I was a huge fan of Junko Mizuno's illustrations when I was in high school, so when I saw this comic at a local bookshop, I was so surprised, I had to pick it up. This is more or less a retelling of the classic Cinderella tale, but featuring zombies. I do like the fun campiness of Mizuno's illustrations, both in its innovative nature and fun bright color scheme, and I find the psychedelic style very unique. However, I do think, as this is one of her earlier works, the illustration style is just not as evolved as I remember her work to be. The line work is not as stable or detailed, but I think it lends itself well to the story. The story line is pretty simplistic and straightforward, as is the dialogue. This particular edition was translated to English in 2002, and I think you can tell a bit. It's not a particularly complex translation and feels a bit stilted at times. However, in the end there is an interview with Mizuno where she talks about how she prefers classic comics and graphic novels that have a more straightforward story line, over new and more modern graphic novels have really complex plot lines and world building, so that might be her own personal choice as well.
I also didn't feel like the ending had the typical Cinderella ending where . I did like that after the main story, there were also a couple of mini short stories at the end featuring side characters. Overall, this wasn't a terrible comic but I'm curious to see how Mizuno's work has evolved over time. I like that at the end of the book was an interview section with Mizuno, and she even states that this comic came to be because her publishers didn't feel that she could come up with a good story line, so they asked her to do an adaptation. I would really like to read something that is entirely of her own creation to see how her own work holds up. I did also like the interview section because she states her inspirations, as well as the people in various alternative lifestyle industries that she knows such as 6% Doki Doki. This kinda of was a blast from the past and I could totally see those elements in her work and I could see this as something I would have loved reading when I was in high school.
I also didn't feel like the ending had the typical Cinderella ending where . I did like that after the main story, there were also a couple of mini short stories at the end featuring side characters. Overall, this wasn't a terrible comic but I'm curious to see how Mizuno's work has evolved over time. I like that at the end of the book was an interview section with Mizuno, and she even states that this comic came to be because her publishers didn't feel that she could come up with a good story line, so they asked her to do an adaptation. I would really like to read something that is entirely of her own creation to see how her own work holds up. I did also like the interview section because she states her inspirations, as well as the people in various alternative lifestyle industries that she knows such as 6% Doki Doki. This kinda of was a blast from the past and I could totally see those elements in her work and I could see this as something I would have loved reading when I was in high school.
May 20, 2019
This one was weird, and not in the way I like. I don't really even know what to say about the plot. The whole story was really hard to follow and the writing was... not good. I'm not sure if this was a translation, but that's what I'm going to blame the bad writing on.
Things jump around without any explanation, and the whole zombie thing in the first few pages made no sense because I guess it wasn't supposed to? This also is not for kids, definitely a book for a mature audience, so I can't say the ADHD type story line was meant for a younger audience.
I enjoyed the art though. It was actually pretty great contemporary art, in a Juxtapoz way. I didn't hate this book, it was just tough to get through because it was so ridiculous. Gave me a bit of a headache trying to finish it in one sitting. Like a lot of times the ridiculousness seemed to be for simple, unashamed shock factor, and other times just a "look how weird I'm being" type panel series. It wasn't weird in a smart way, if that makes sense. Or, I'm just not hip enough to appreciate it. Giving it 3 stars for the art and originality (I guess that's what you'd call it). In one word, this book was absurd.
A few panels for your amusement.
Things jump around without any explanation, and the whole zombie thing in the first few pages made no sense because I guess it wasn't supposed to? This also is not for kids, definitely a book for a mature audience, so I can't say the ADHD type story line was meant for a younger audience.
I enjoyed the art though. It was actually pretty great contemporary art, in a Juxtapoz way. I didn't hate this book, it was just tough to get through because it was so ridiculous. Gave me a bit of a headache trying to finish it in one sitting. Like a lot of times the ridiculousness seemed to be for simple, unashamed shock factor, and other times just a "look how weird I'm being" type panel series. It wasn't weird in a smart way, if that makes sense. Or, I'm just not hip enough to appreciate it. Giving it 3 stars for the art and originality (I guess that's what you'd call it). In one word, this book was absurd.
A few panels for your amusement.
September 9, 2023
Apologies in advance for the scatterbrained review.
I've been reading manga for a while now, and recently I've grown bored of the formulatic style of modern manga art, while I love manga I want something different sometimes. This was it, and my goodness I need to find more manga like this.
The art, amazing. Cute and so weird. And full color too! I love the style and design of everything, it's so chaotic. I enjoyed the vibe of this creepy cute world. It's just so odd, like there's a pair of twins who just pop up and try to dissect people, or the stepmother character is a zombie who is constantly eating.
Weirdly there's alot of nudity in this (mostly just uncovered boobs) but like it doesn't feel fanservicey (to me at least). It's just funny to me that Cinderalla is just hanging out topless in some scenes.
Story is a retelling of Cinderella of course but the author went "okay but what if zombies and yakitori". YES NO MORE LAME RETELLINGS LIKE OH WHAT IF CINDERELLA WAS THE BAD GUY. NO GO CRAZIER.
Anyways yeah it's more a goofy weird manga so the story isn't what you are reading it for, you're reading it for the cheese. But it's like a really fun and well made goofy weird manga. I feel like sometimes when you read these super weird stuff it's kinda forced to be quirky but here it's just like ah yes okay we're going to a zombie party now yes yes this is good. I love when comics show off just weird ideas the author had.
Highly reccomend to anyone looking for something more experimental.
September 12, 2021
Cinderalla was the second published work I found of Junko Mizuno's in English, all the way back in 2002, her first being a short story printed in an anthology work called 'Secret Comics Japan' printed by the now very defunct Pulp comics publisher.
Cinderalla is the first of several adapted fairy tale graphic novels Mizuno illustrated, in her style. In this version, Cinderalla works with her father in a Yakitori restaurant, in a strange fantasy world, where her best friend is a talking rat. Upon her father's untimely death, Cinderalla discovers the zombie world in her graveyard, and the 'Prince', a zombie who rides a turtle and sings at a dinner show. Instead of getting a fabulous dress in order to make it to the ball, this Cinderalla must transform herself into a zombie to get into the club. Instead of a glass slipper, it is an eyeball that Cinderalla loses and the Prince must use to find her.
Mizuno's style is highly sexualized, cutsey, and dark. The women of Mizuno are over the top cartoons with gigantic heads and eyes and very long legs. They are often topless for no real reason. Dark creeping things skitter around, rats and insects are common, and zombies have little issue ripping off limbs. One wicked step sister suffers as her breasts are abnormally large, and when at one point Cinderalla refuses to make her custom bras, the step sister rips off her breasts in anger, exposing her rib cage full of worms. Transformed into a zombie, instead of dancing with the Prince, Cinderalla gets to bed him, in a frame of dripping psychedelia. Printed like an old American Comic, the pages are thin but in full color.
I'm a fan of Mizuno, and in fact my yellowed copy bares her signature, which I got in a now non-existent independent book store on Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. As a teen, in the world of adolescent manga translated into English, where girls are submissive and virginal and increasingly moe, Mizuno's sexualized cartoon characters of free agency spoke to me. Reading at age 35 I'm less entranced by a topless Cinderalla sewing oversized bras, but there is still some mystery to me in Mizuno's work that fascinates, wondering what comment she is making on the status of women in Japan. Or indeed, she likes drawing sexy cartoon characters, which is also fine.
Cinderalla is the first of several adapted fairy tale graphic novels Mizuno illustrated, in her style. In this version, Cinderalla works with her father in a Yakitori restaurant, in a strange fantasy world, where her best friend is a talking rat. Upon her father's untimely death, Cinderalla discovers the zombie world in her graveyard, and the 'Prince', a zombie who rides a turtle and sings at a dinner show. Instead of getting a fabulous dress in order to make it to the ball, this Cinderalla must transform herself into a zombie to get into the club. Instead of a glass slipper, it is an eyeball that Cinderalla loses and the Prince must use to find her.
Mizuno's style is highly sexualized, cutsey, and dark. The women of Mizuno are over the top cartoons with gigantic heads and eyes and very long legs. They are often topless for no real reason. Dark creeping things skitter around, rats and insects are common, and zombies have little issue ripping off limbs. One wicked step sister suffers as her breasts are abnormally large, and when at one point Cinderalla refuses to make her custom bras, the step sister rips off her breasts in anger, exposing her rib cage full of worms. Transformed into a zombie, instead of dancing with the Prince, Cinderalla gets to bed him, in a frame of dripping psychedelia. Printed like an old American Comic, the pages are thin but in full color.
I'm a fan of Mizuno, and in fact my yellowed copy bares her signature, which I got in a now non-existent independent book store on Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. As a teen, in the world of adolescent manga translated into English, where girls are submissive and virginal and increasingly moe, Mizuno's sexualized cartoon characters of free agency spoke to me. Reading at age 35 I'm less entranced by a topless Cinderalla sewing oversized bras, but there is still some mystery to me in Mizuno's work that fascinates, wondering what comment she is making on the status of women in Japan. Or indeed, she likes drawing sexy cartoon characters, which is also fine.
May 6, 2018
This is a cute, quirky, off-beat story told in drawings that are cute, quirky, and off-beat. It's basically Cinderella with zombies. True to the original fairy tale, the characters are pretty flat in terms of personality, but otherwise, I enjoyed the changes made to the original story (the "bad" characters are more sympathetic, Cinderella herself is far more realistic and her motivations are clearer). The art is really cute but also very stylized, so if that's not your thing, be wary. (Also, if you don't like boobs, maybe skip this one. There are a lot of boobs.)
I don't really have any complaints; I absolutely love Mizuno's Princess Mermaid, and I enjoyed that one way more than this one, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with this volume; this is just less my cup of tea than the other.
Overall, a fun, creepy little story with cute art and a happy ending.
I don't really have any complaints; I absolutely love Mizuno's Princess Mermaid, and I enjoyed that one way more than this one, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with this volume; this is just less my cup of tea than the other.
Overall, a fun, creepy little story with cute art and a happy ending.
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October 15, 2021Cinderella is a fairytale. Cinderella has an evil stepmother and two older sisters that treat her like a maid. Her sisters are very jealous of Cinderella. The two sisters get to go to a ball and Cinderella has to remain home, but with the help of her animal friends she ends up at the ball just like her sisters. She dances with the prince and has to leave at midnight. The prince looks for Cinderella and fits the shoe to her foot in the end. The two marry and her evil stepmother and sisters are very upset.
January 12, 2018
In it there is Cinderalla and One mother and tow bad sister. they go to dance but they didn't take Cinderalla. A magical mother came and make Cinderalla ready for dance and said at 12 o'clock magic will finish. At 12 o'clock she ran home her shoe fall next day he came her home he let everyone in home were shoe Cinderalla were them it were fit in her foot and he took Cinderalla with him.
March 2, 2019
Soooo, this was bizarre. It was a good bizarre, but still, very bizarre. It's a cool style, just a bit too much no-top, but other than that it's really unique. The story follows the traditional Cinderella storyline, but has nice twists here and there, many of them including zombies.
A unique manga that I recommend, really good art and a nice twist on the traditional story.
A unique manga that I recommend, really good art and a nice twist on the traditional story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
The last page is fully stickers!
Junko is so FUN! Her stories are absurd and even seem lazy but I cherish how wily they are. Like she's slapping you on the rump->winking and saying "you'll enjoy this".
The art is exciting and bubbly- always!
and if you've lost your zest for stickers ->as a thing, that is<- you're getting old.
Junko is so FUN! Her stories are absurd and even seem lazy but I cherish how wily they are. Like she's slapping you on the rump->winking and saying "you'll enjoy this".
The art is exciting and bubbly- always!
and if you've lost your zest for stickers ->as a thing, that is<- you're getting old.
May 25, 2025
wow i found this at my local anime/manga store and thought it looked so cute. it was sealed up so i had no clue what to expect.. what a treat this was!! this is so charming, silly, creepy, weird and cute!! & it came with stickers in the back! i loveee this & cannot wait to dive deep in Junko Mizuno's work!<3
my cup of tea af!!!💞
my cup of tea af!!!💞
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