13 Aug / Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams by Naoki Urasawa, translated by John Werry [in Booklist]
Kamoda can’t stop making detrimental decisions: dodging taxes results in losing the family’s sandals business, agreeing to mass-manufacture caricature masks of a U.S. presidential candidate (who looks surprisingly like Trump) takes everything else. Kamoda’s wife has already fled, leaving their daughter, Kasumi, as the only voice of reason, but even she can’t deter desperate Kamoda from saying yes to temporarily stealing a famous painting … from the Louvre.
Originally serialized in Japan in 2017-2018, Naoki Urasawa’s latest Stateside arrival, enabled by popular manga translator John Werry, is a collaboration with the iconic museum – and proves quite the homage to both the building and its legendary holdings.
The highlight indeed is the spectacularly detailed art throughout, albeit with a familiarity sure to inspire double-takes from Urasawa aficionados. Is that young Kanna from 20th Century Boys? Did we see Granny in a Master Keaton cameo? Was Michel in Monster? Although the characters are probably unrelated, Mujirushi indubitably encourages a beckoning walk down memory lane recalling Urasawa faves. And for newbies, as a standalone single volume, here’s an ideal introductory opportunity to examine Urasawa’s graphic genius.
Review: “Graphic Novels,” Booklist, July 2020
Readers: Adult
Published: 2020