Haunted House (manga) explained

Haunted House
Ja Kanji:ホーンテッドハウス
Ja Romaji:Hōnteddo Hausu
Genre:Horror, Black comedy
Type:manga
Author:Mitsukazu Mihara
Demographic:Josei
Magazine:Monthly Feel Young
Published:October 8, 2002
Volumes:1

is a comedy horror manga written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara. Known for her short stories and characters dressed in the Gothic Lolita fashion,[1] Mihara continued her use of death-themed material in Haunted House, a volume of one-shot chapters focusing on the teenage protagonist's attempts to find and keep a girlfriend despite his gothic family. Shodensha published Haunted House in Japan on October 8, 2002.

Tokyopop licensed it for an English-language release in North America, along with four of her other works, and released it on October 10, 2006. English-language critics were divided on whether it was enjoyable or repetitive, with several comparing it to the Addams Family.

Plot

Haunted House consists of one-shot chapters connected by the teenage protagonist, Sabato Obiga—his first name refers to Sabbath. In each, he attempts to find and keep a girlfriend, whom his gothic family inevitably frightens away. His family is made up of his father, who works at a bank; his mother, a reader of poetry; twin sisters Lisa and Misa, both of whom create voodoo dolls; and their black cat. In Haunted House, Mitsukazu Mihara continued her use of death-themed material—also seen in her other manga The Embalmer and .

Release

Written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara, Haunted House was published in Japan by Shodensha on October 8, 2002 .[2] Tokyopop licensed it for an English-language release in North America—along with four of her other works: The Embalmer, Beautiful People, IC in a Sunflower and R.I.P.: Requiem in Phonybrian[3] —and released it on October 10, 2006 .[4]

Reception

Critical reaction to Haunted House was mixed. Critics drew comparisons between the manga and the Addams Family.[5] [6] [7] The Comic Book Bin's Leroy Douresseaux felt that her elaborate art partially helped to counterbalance the morbid material, and rated the manga 5/10.[5] While enjoying the occasional "cute and mildly amusing moments", Ryan Huston of MangaLife felt that the gothic stock elements, repetitive plot and "lackluster" art hurt the volume.[6] Conversely, Katherine Dacey praised the "elegant, stylized character designs" and enjoyable story, though she commented that the "moral is delivered a little too neatly".[7] Another reviewer greatly enjoyed the comedy aspect of Haunted House, though wrote that "it was an acquired taste".[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Manga+Comics: Mitsukazu Mihara: Haunted House. Tokyopop. October 21, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20071116215828/http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1567. November 16, 2007. Famous for the "Gothic Lolita" fashions that she dresses her characters in, Mihara-sensei is considered a master of the short story.. dead.
  2. Web site: Haunted House. Shodensha. Japanese. October 19, 2010.
  3. Web site: Mitsukazu Mihara Titles Confirmed at Tokyopop. July 26, 2005. Anime News Network. October 19, 2010.
  4. Book: Amazon.com: Mitsukazu Mihara: Haunted House. 1598163213. Mihara. Mitsukazu. 10 October 2006.
  5. Web site: Haunted House. Douresseaux, Leroy. October 30, 2006. The Comic Book Bin. October 19, 2010.
  6. Web site: Haunted House Review. Huston, Ryan. MangaLife. October 19, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071014034750/http://www.mangalife.com/reviews/HauntedHouse.htm . October 14, 2007 .
  7. Web site: Short Takes: Haunted House, Mermaid Saga, and School Zone. October 29, 2009. Dacey, Katherine. The Manga Critic. October 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101229171450/http://mangacritic.com/?p=2307. December 29, 2010. dead.
  8. Web site: Haunted House. Connie. October 4, 2009. Slightly Biased Manga. October 19, 2010. March 9, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170309024903/http://slightlybiasedmanga.com/category/series/haunted-house/. dead.