Yokai - The Art of Shigeru Mizuki

Yokai - The Art of Shigeru Mizuki / ISBN 9781770466203 / 200-page hardcover, 10.5 x 8.5 inch, Full-color illustrations throughout, published by Drawn & Quarterly *** Manga’s most beloved creator ventures into Japan’s mythical past and emerges with a menagerie unlike any other Yokai: The Art of Shigeru Mizuki showcases his expertise of not only folklore, but celebrates him as a naturalist. Elements of Mizuki's lush compositions—flora, fauna, and everything in between—showcase his mastery of form and love for nature. These popular renderings of a disappearing, rural Japan are his contribution to the preservation of a cultural heritage that would have otherwise been forgotten. The grotesque realism central to his body of work is offset by the ingenuity of his fancy for the macabre. Pieces in this deluxe, full-color edition call to mind the playful pop-sensibility of Maurice Sendak informed by the technical prowess of traditionalists like Dürer and Doré. And like any other Mizuki classic, each oeuvre is a unique snapshot of spirit, human or otherwise, in constant transition. Also includes supplementary writing by acclaimed Mizuki scholar and translator Zack Davisson.