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Hansel & Gretel
story & art by Junko Mizuno Everyone knows the story of Hansel & Gretel. You all remember Hansel, the smart, squatty kid with a tuna can strapped over his mouth, lest his preternaturally loud voice make things crumble all around him. And of course, Gretel, the tall pink-haired schoolgirl in the sailor suit, striking down bullies with each blow of her handy bamboo practice sword. And if you don't remember the story going this way, rest assured you won't be able to forget Junko Mizuno's Hansel & Gretel! Not available outside the U.S. and Canada. SC, 152pg, FC
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Junko Mizuno
36 books144 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 19, 2025
"You look kinda unappetizing, but I hate you so much I’m going to eat you!!"
This may sound horrible but I bought this for one reason… the art. Have you seen it!? It’s so cutesy and vibrant. I love it. It’s the main selling point for me. The story was okay, not as good as Cinderella. Still enjoyable though.
This may sound horrible but I bought this for one reason… the art. Have you seen it!? It’s so cutesy and vibrant. I love it. It’s the main selling point for me. The story was okay, not as good as Cinderella. Still enjoyable though.
February 13, 2014
More brainless reading with Junko Mizuno comics. Compared with her other fairy tale adaptations Hansel & Gretel was better than Princess Mermaid, but I still think Cinderalla was the best. I mean, it had zombies! Plus the narration was for some reason better than in the other two. Hansel & Gretel is alright, it gets points for Gretel fighting with a sword and all the fluffy pink candy scenes. I also liked the giant pig, but really what is Mizuno's obsession with meat eating? Overall this series is pretty weak, but I do like her style and it is nice to see it in color.
October 28, 2022
(2,5 stars)
Cool art and a fun story but the weidly fatphobic ending really ruined it for me.
Cool art and a fun story but the weidly fatphobic ending really ruined it for me.
May 14, 2019
Dans la série des trois mangas (traduits en français) adaptés très très librement de contes traditionnels européens (avec Cinderalla et La Petite sirène), Hansel et Gretel est beaucoup plus flyé et onirique que les deux autres avec un univers complètement extravagant. L'intrigue est aussi la plus éloignée du conte d'origine avec comme seuls liens des liens plutôt thématique autour de la nourriture (avec une exploration de la boulimie) et un peu de la famille (avec les parents qui se font capturer par la "méchante" à l'aide de la promesse de nourriture plutôt que les enfants).
C'est dur de parler des réussites du manga toutefois sans parler de la fin, je ne mentionnerais donc que le fait que Mizuno arrive à créer des complexités fantastiques aux méchants jusqu'à réussir à effectuer un renversement de situation jusqu'à un certain point. L'exploration des thèmes de la boulimie sont liés à une exploration de l'intimidation, de l'introversion et un peu du manque de communication (mais quel récit n'a pas de problème de communication sans quoi tout serait réglé avant même de commencé).
C'est toutefois celui qui m'a le moins interpeller. Le manga aurait très bien pu s'appeler tout simplement Hansel (pour de vrai), le frère n'ayant qu'un seul atout, celui de parler très fort (c'est un silencieux qu'il a sur sa bouche). La couverture ne m'a honnêtement pas du tout attiré et c'est pour ça que c'est le dernier manga traduit de Mizuno que je lis.
En fait, mis à part pour la fin qui est très bien construite narrativement et thématiquement, le restant du manga m'a paru un peu long malgré son dessin encore plus extravagant que dans les deux autres contes.
Ça reste une bonne lecture, simplement pas la meilleure. Je crois cependant que si j'avais commencé par ce dernier, je n'aurais pas poursuivi avec les autres.
C'est dur de parler des réussites du manga toutefois sans parler de la fin, je ne mentionnerais donc que le fait que Mizuno arrive à créer des complexités fantastiques aux méchants jusqu'à réussir à effectuer un renversement de situation jusqu'à un certain point. L'exploration des thèmes de la boulimie sont liés à une exploration de l'intimidation, de l'introversion et un peu du manque de communication (mais quel récit n'a pas de problème de communication sans quoi tout serait réglé avant même de commencé).
C'est toutefois celui qui m'a le moins interpeller. Le manga aurait très bien pu s'appeler tout simplement Hansel (pour de vrai), le frère n'ayant qu'un seul atout, celui de parler très fort (c'est un silencieux qu'il a sur sa bouche). La couverture ne m'a honnêtement pas du tout attiré et c'est pour ça que c'est le dernier manga traduit de Mizuno que je lis.
En fait, mis à part pour la fin qui est très bien construite narrativement et thématiquement, le restant du manga m'a paru un peu long malgré son dessin encore plus extravagant que dans les deux autres contes.
Ça reste une bonne lecture, simplement pas la meilleure. Je crois cependant que si j'avais commencé par ce dernier, je n'aurais pas poursuivi avec les autres.
June 3, 2019
Junko Mizuno's kawaii- noir take on Hansel & Gretel is one heck of a head trip. Gretel is a sword wielding high school bully and her genius brother has a voice so loud he has to have a can strapped over his mouth to muffle the sound. Their family own a supermarket with some very hallucinogenic suppliers: a giant pig who slices bits off himself, a bread mountain where chibi miners mine croissants, a pair of organic sisters who grow fruit and vegetables in their hair... A wicked witch enchants all the suppliers so they stop supplying the supermarket. She then enchants all the customers to come and eat at her new 'food land' - but she's really fattening them up so she can eat them.
Surreal and hallucinogenic, this one does take a little while to get into. It's quite a clever take on the story but isn't as bloody or dark as some of Mizuno's other work - it also has a bit of a moral message when you find out that the witch is a girl Gretel bullied at school. Fun, but not my favourite.
Surreal and hallucinogenic, this one does take a little while to get into. It's quite a clever take on the story but isn't as bloody or dark as some of Mizuno's other work - it also has a bit of a moral message when you find out that the witch is a girl Gretel bullied at school. Fun, but not my favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2017
1. Can I use this as a fairytale adaptation example for a someday future class? Probably not.
2. Do I have a new obsession with this artist? Absolutely.
3. Did I find my copy of this book at the weirdly amazing used book store of a small town library in South Carolina? Strangely, yes.
4. Are there boobies in this? Oh yes.
5. Is this barely related to the original Hansel and Gretel? Very much yes.
6. Did I care? Nope.
2. Do I have a new obsession with this artist? Absolutely.
3. Did I find my copy of this book at the weirdly amazing used book store of a small town library in South Carolina? Strangely, yes.
4. Are there boobies in this? Oh yes.
5. Is this barely related to the original Hansel and Gretel? Very much yes.
6. Did I care? Nope.
February 12, 2018
I bought this book at Custom Culture many years ago and never read it until now. its main appeal was the page of stickers and paper dolls in the back. I'm also a fan of the old school pulp paper comic. the story was an out of the ordinary version of the fairy tale, with gratuitous nudity, but entertained and was colorful.
May 7, 2018
A cute little action story with adorable colorful art.
This is my least favorite of the trifecta of Mizuno's fairy tale adaptations. It's not bad, by any means, though it does have its flaws. The villain and her backstory come right out of nowhere and the story has pretty much nothing to do with the fairy tale.
Otherwise, it's a fun little story with cute art--nothing more, nothing less!
This is my least favorite of the trifecta of Mizuno's fairy tale adaptations. It's not bad, by any means, though it does have its flaws. The villain and her backstory come right out of nowhere and the story has pretty much nothing to do with the fairy tale.
Otherwise, it's a fun little story with cute art--nothing more, nothing less!
September 12, 2021
Hansel and Gretel is Junko Mizuno's second graphic novel interpreting European fairy tales published in English, in the heady days of the early aughts.
Like most of Mizuno's work, the focus is on the girls: the sukeban type tom boy Gretel wielding her practice kendo sword, and Marilyn, the witch who runs a fantastical Food Land, fattening up people on dirt before she devours them. But let's not forget the food, from the fake pink fields of donuts of Food Land, to the local grocery mart where greens are picked from the heads of vegetable women. Perhaps the most bizarre edible is the gigantic pig who cuts off pieces of his stomach to sell for meat, but non the less seems fine (although he is always drawn crying, so perhaps not).
Whereas Cinderella stuck at least to the basic script, Hansel and Gretel veers off the classic story beats and into ever more strange territory. Which is fine, why else am I reading Mizuno's work? This Hansel and Gretel version in more interested in Gretel and Marilyn. Marilyn must merge her two personas, the quiet school girl Mari and the ravenously destructive Marilyn, for a happy ending. There is some additional lessons learned on weight control, which I'm less sure about and less comfortable with.
Hansel and Gretel does prove that although Mizuno identities as an illustrator, she is a sequential artist. There are several perfect frame and splash page choices which proves she knows what she's doing, making the turn of each page more fun.
Like most of Mizuno's work, the focus is on the girls: the sukeban type tom boy Gretel wielding her practice kendo sword, and Marilyn, the witch who runs a fantastical Food Land, fattening up people on dirt before she devours them. But let's not forget the food, from the fake pink fields of donuts of Food Land, to the local grocery mart where greens are picked from the heads of vegetable women. Perhaps the most bizarre edible is the gigantic pig who cuts off pieces of his stomach to sell for meat, but non the less seems fine (although he is always drawn crying, so perhaps not).
Whereas Cinderella stuck at least to the basic script, Hansel and Gretel veers off the classic story beats and into ever more strange territory. Which is fine, why else am I reading Mizuno's work? This Hansel and Gretel version in more interested in Gretel and Marilyn. Marilyn must merge her two personas, the quiet school girl Mari and the ravenously destructive Marilyn, for a happy ending. There is some additional lessons learned on weight control, which I'm less sure about and less comfortable with.
Hansel and Gretel does prove that although Mizuno identities as an illustrator, she is a sequential artist. There are several perfect frame and splash page choices which proves she knows what she's doing, making the turn of each page more fun.
April 17, 2020
Third printing = July 2006
This is the funny manga I was looking for- perfectly silly and absurd!
This is the funny manga I was looking for- perfectly silly and absurd!
February 1, 2024
I love Junko Mizuno’s art but the story was a bit all over the place. Perhaps in part it was confusing because of the translation, but given the art progression, maybe not?
July 11, 2024
LOVE AS ALWAYSS
August 7, 2025
I love Junko Mizuno’s creepy cute comics!
September 11, 2025
amo muchísimo el arte de Junko Mizuno, y es la principal razón por la cual leo sus mangas.
la historia en sí misma estuvo bien, le doy tres estrellas por el final un poco gordofóbico.
la historia en sí misma estuvo bien, le doy tres estrellas por el final un poco gordofóbico.
October 16, 2012
I read this volume about the same time I read Mizuno's other two books in her fairy tale trilogy, Cinderella and Princess Mermaid. This has to be my favorite out of the three, purely because of how much fun it is. As with my warning on Cinderella, if you're a parent thinking of purchasing this for a younger reader, be aware that there's adult content here. In this book you have some nudity, some violence, and in the back of the book a hinted at sex scene. None of it is particularly over the top, but I know that some are sensitive to these things so I wanted to include the warning.
As with the other books, the artwork here is pretty great. You have a lot of bright colors, psychodelic landscapes, and playful character designs that Mizuno uses to her advantage. It's rather fun seeing the different ways that the people of this land get food and I can't help but wish that perhaps one day Mizuno will create more works in this world. There's a lot of untapped potential here for at least one more good story to be told, particularly about the supporting cast. I'll admit that they pretty much steal the show from our two titular characters.
This is ultimately one of those books that isn't really that deep, all things considering, but it's all done in such good fun that you can't help but sit back and enjoy the ride. If I equate some romance books to potato chips and cupcakes, this book would be the equivalent of pink cotton candy. It's cute, fluffy, and is gone far sooner than you want it to be.
As with the other books, the artwork here is pretty great. You have a lot of bright colors, psychodelic landscapes, and playful character designs that Mizuno uses to her advantage. It's rather fun seeing the different ways that the people of this land get food and I can't help but wish that perhaps one day Mizuno will create more works in this world. There's a lot of untapped potential here for at least one more good story to be told, particularly about the supporting cast. I'll admit that they pretty much steal the show from our two titular characters.
This is ultimately one of those books that isn't really that deep, all things considering, but it's all done in such good fun that you can't help but sit back and enjoy the ride. If I equate some romance books to potato chips and cupcakes, this book would be the equivalent of pink cotton candy. It's cute, fluffy, and is gone far sooner than you want it to be.
January 21, 2020
The most messed up, surreal, psychedelic plus unique take on Hansel and Gretel, I have ever seen. Gretel has a Bamboo sword and Hansel can level buildings with his voice...the witch is still a "oh my" nightmare of food magic!
March 6, 2010
Stickers and paper dolls included. Score!
December 23, 2010
Une critique complète sur mon blog ★
May 26, 2014
Funny & Delicious !
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews