The Birth of Kitaro (Kitaro, 1) Paperback – May 31, 2016

Till quite recently, Shigeru Mizuki was the most famous manga author that English speakers didn't know about even if they were really into manga. Little or nothing had been translated into English, and if his name sounds familiar it's probably because his recent death was more covered in the English press than his work ever was. Finally, though, we're getting some of his work in translation thanks to Drawn and Quarterly and translator Zack Davisson.You should buy this if you're interested in Japanese folklore and pop culture (as I understand it, Mizuki is largely responsible for the modern interest in Japanese yokai, which is very much part of current manga and anime, and basically everyone in Japan is familiar with Kitaro so he's a fundamental part of that culture). But you should also buy it if you just like fun, fantastic, silly stories set in a Japanese context.Mizuki was a writer of great range, and most of the translations so far have been of his nonfiction historical manga about World War Two. This is not like that. Share it with your kids. Then you will want to go back and buy two previous volumes, a big fat Kitaro collection (none of the stories overlap with this book) and NonNonBa, a story of Mizuki's childhood and the woman who taught him about the folklore. Then preorder the forthcoming volumes in this series so the publisher knows it's worth it to keep them coming!

First off I'm a big fan of yokai and this book shows a great comedic version of them. It centers around Kitaro the last of the ghost clan of yokai. It shows how his parents died and as a result he was born. His dad comes back to life an eyeball on a tiny body. He helps Kitaro fight bad yokai and meet new ones. The rat man yokai had me laughing quite a bit. If you're a fan of yokai I highly recommend it.

So much yokai lore packed into such a little fellow! This really is a great place to start the series.

For the first time ever, Kitaro is finally available to be enjoyed by Western audiences, thanks to Drawn and Quarterly. I've been a fan of the character since the 80s, and am happy to finally be able to read the original stories, with art by the incredible Shigeru Mizuki.

This is translated but still printed to be read like the Japanese version.

This is a nice edition of some of Shigeru Mizuki's Kitaro stroies. It's much shorter than the previous D&Q Kitaro book but the production value is very high (which is usually true for all of Drawn and Quarterly's releases) and the stories are a lot of fun. There are a TON of untranslated Kitaro stories so I'm looking forward to the other books in this series.

One of the greatest classical manga ever made! All of the characters are likable and the stories in this compilation are such timeless classics that are worth re-reading!

It’s a gift to my husband and he loves it. He said it’s funny.

Best manga ever

Love learning about Yokai

This collection of stories from Mizuki Shigeru's back-catalogue gives the reader a perfect introduction to the world of Kitaro. Starting with the original chapter from his first manga incarnation, Hakaba Kitaro, a creepy tone is set from the off before being tempered by the humour and lightheartedness of the GeGeGe no Kitaro chapters.Mizuki's artstyle is beautiful: filled with bold characters, detailed backgrounds, and his own spin on utterly bizarre Yokai designs. Every panel oozes emotion and comedy, and each short adventure is sure to elicit a laugh. Each chapter is short, self-contained, and filled with cultural references making the volume a perfect read for those seeking an introduction to Japanese monsters which is easy to swallow.For those interested in Yokai and Japanese myths, translator Zack Davisson's introduction and closing pages are filled with invaluable information. The amount of care and love that has been poured into the project by the Drawn & Quarterly team is evident, and this shows in the volume's presentation and acknowledgment of both old and new Kitaro audiences. As a long-time fan of the series and a lover of comic books in general, I highly recommend adding The Birth of Kitaro to your collection.

Having spotted the new Anime adaptation of Kitaro 2018 I went ahead and pretty much purchased all the Kitaro Manga available on hereI have fallen in love with this character , He's so cute and It's Yokai are definitely a favourite subject of mine this has Kitaro's origin story in(not known in the Anime)Mizuki's art style and humor has made me a fan of his works.

I often wondered how Kitaro came into being and how his childhood was. This volume answered my questions, but his history was shocking and ineffable.