Urusei Yatsura, Volume 1

Starred review from March 11, 2019
Takahashi (the Ranma 1/2 series) blends sci-fi takes on creatures and tropes from Japanese folklore in a newly translated volume of her classic manga. When Japanese teenager Ataru Moroboshi saves the Earth from an alien invasion, he’s stuck with tiger fur bikini–clad Lum, the alien leader’s daughter, as his presumed fiancée (much to the dismay of Shinobu, his actual girlfriend), a situation that unleashes comedic mayhem upon Ataru and the planet. Heavily influenced by the American sitcom Bewitched and sporting a charming, animation-ready art style, the episodic narrative collects issues featuring myriad alien and human characters. The full-tilt whimsy includes a run-in with squabbling guardian spirits, voodoo doll shenanigans, and Ataru’s unbridled lust for a visiting alien ice-princess. An instant hit upon its debut in 1978, it evolved into a cultural phenomenon that established Takahashi as a manga superstar (she took home the 2019 Angoulême Grand Prix award for lifetime achievement). Supplemental material includes profiles of Tomobiki Town, the main setting, and Sakura, a major supporting character, who’s a miko (Shinto shrine maiden). This expanded and updated edition of the uproarious landmark series is cause for celebration.