Solid sitcom humor to lighten one's mood from an all-too-often depressing world. ( )

I grew up watching the show so it's nice to see where it all came from. Reading a big book of it suffers cuz it's episodic but the characterization is so funny... every person in this is truly a terrible person but lum is just so fascinating, I love her so much she's such a femcel. The chapter where she time travels to the future and sees ataru married to shinobu just broke my heart it was so sad :'( ( )

The material in this collection was originally serialized in the late 1970s, and it really shows. Starting off like an oddball tribute to Archie, we have lustful teenage sad sack Ataru pining for girl next door Shinobu when the sexy alien Lum shows up to start pursuing him. Over-the-top hijinks involving gods, aliens, demons, interplanetary teleportation, and time travel ensue. It's almost humorous its mindless cartoon sitcom sort of way. Almost.

My big problem is that Ataru is such a jerk, chasing after every pretty girl that happens by even while professing his love of Shinobu. And of course, more and more keep showing up and sticking around to give him a harem. And frankly, the personalities of most of those females aren't that great either.

I'm not eager to do it, but since this is a classic series, I may read another volume or two to see if there is any sign that any of the characters will begin to evolve beyond their single dimension. ( )

Series Review: Boy meet alien. Now play tag with her, the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Never mind that she can fly and deliver massive electric shocks at will. Spoiler: Ataru Moroboshi (miraculously) saves the world. Now he’s got a bigger problem: the alien, Lum, has decided that she loves him and has moved into his house (to his parent’s dismay). Lum follows Ataru everywhere, shocking him when he practices his usual skirt-chasing techniques (to Ataru’s dismay). Not only that, but Lum’s presence attracts a huge cast of unusual characters, both alien and human. Add alien technology, and naturally, mayhem ensues.

Urusei Yatsura is truly a classic manga. Although it was one of Takahashi’s first major works, it already displays many of her classic elements. It has a sprawling, episodic plotline; an enormous cast of rather dysfunctional–but highly amusing–characters; and a perfectly balanced blend of comedy and romance. The art style is also typical of Takahashi’s work, although the character designs aren’t quite as defined as in her later works. I would recommend this manga to anyone interested in classic manga that have been influential on more recent works, as well as to anyone who enjoys an easygoing romantic comedy with a zany twist. ( )