Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams

This series is extremely good, especially if you want an introduction to urasawa. This book is a one and done and shows his writing style and his charm and tells a great story.

Urasawa doesn't break any old habits, but that's not a bad thing! Another wonderfully told story, you won't regret this purchase.

'Mujirushi: The Sign of Dreams' by Naoki Urasawa is a manga about a little girl with a father who only seems to make bad decisions.Kamoda is so eager to make money that he makes poor decisions. One decision costs him his wife. Another fill his warehouse full of rubber masks of the current US president. His daughter, Kasumi, wants things to be normal, but she and her dad get involved with an odd art enthusiast who has a plan to get them out of debt. Unfortunately, that plan involves a trip to France and a daring art theft.This story has a lot going on, and I really didn't know where it was going, but it all came together nicely at the end. The odd character running the French Research Institute is a throwback to a manga character named Iyami. His character is hilariously over the top, though, so it's fitting. I did like the art and the story, though, so I'm glad I read this.I received a review copy of this manga from VIZ Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

Maybe my title and rating is a tad bit extreme for some, but i feel as if this is Naoki Urasawa's worst work, the story is not the most original thing in the world, in fact i would consider it lazy, maybe as lazy as the inclusion of American politics written into the story, because i'm sure that's going to age it well.I was hoping for a fun romp about a father and daughter getting through their difficult lives, drowning in debts by plotting an art heist or something, and i got half of that, but what i actually got instead was a pretentitious story about museums, love and french art, the kind of thing that has already been done a hundred times (not that art heist stories haven't been done a hundred times but it's Naoki Urasawa, it's fair to expect more,) in fact this whole thing felt like one of those Made-For-TV movies you'd see in the mid-2000's that aren't very good but drawn as a manga, very mediocre, especially when you realize that this man wrote Monster, 20th (and 21st) Century Boys, Pluto, and Billy Bat, some of the best stories ever put down on paper.Honestly i really REALLY wanted to love this because it's Naoki Urasawa and his other works do hold such a special place in my heart, if you like this manga then that's great, it wasn't for me, maybe i'm the only one who feels this way but this felt like a weak outing, with the exception of the art, which is as excellent as always.In fact for positives the whole physical book itself is quite excellent, it's got nice thick pages, even some colored pages, the back and spine has a little bit of a metallic sheen to it, and generally a lot of love went into making it, it's just too bad the story inside of it isn't the greatest thing, although it beats most other one-shots that i've read and again, maybe YOU will like it, i didn't but maybe i will if i read it again a few years down the line.This is a 3/5 to me, but feel free to up it one if not two stars if you're feeling generous.

Four and a half stars.A shorter work (a long single volume) by the master. The previous reviewer might have felt somewhat disappointed but I would argue that this work can't be judged in the same way as one of his longer series; this is clearly a short story and as that it does very well. Also, a lot hangs on the twist ending and whether you 'get it' because it radically changes your perception of what went before. I was slightly underwhelmed until I 'got it' and then it really gave the story the pathos until then I had thought it slightly lacked.Also, remember that this is written in conjunction with The Louvre Museum in Paris so it's kind of like a 'promo' for them (though done in superb taste) so your enjoyment will be enhanced if you are a fan of the city of Paris and that museum - but nor do you need to be an art buff to enjoy it. A few years ago The British Museum did a similar collaboration manga with another famous manga artist (and then neglected to publish it in English).The art and panelling as always from Urasawa are flawless and evocative and as mentioned above, the volume itself is beautiful with superb production and far better than the usual rubbish quality of manga sold.Even Urasawa's 'failures' or minor works are other's masterpieces.

Probably not his masterpiece but an enjoyable and short sweet story from a great artist that is Naoki Urasawa.The art is great as usual.

A fantastic short story from Mr Urasawa.

Eine kurze fesselnde Geschichte mit viel Charm, Komik, ein berühmtes kleines Bild und viele gute Gründe im Louvre einzubrechen.