Rin-ne volume 13

Creator: Rumiko Takahashi

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media / Shonen Jump

U. S. Release Date: Nov. 13th, 2013

Format: Manga / Paperback

Age Rating: T+ for older teens

Personal Grade: B

Synopsis: 

While out looking for a place to have his scythe repaired, Rinne runs into the rabbit-eared twins Right and Left, scythe smiths and proprietors of the Crescent Moon Hall forge. The first repair is free, but the fix might leave Rinne looking for a refund!

The Crescent Moon Hall offers more than just scythe repairs, they offer Rinne the use of the new scythe wax which great at keeping your scythe from collecting mud. Of course Rinne had never run into a mud spirit, until now. They also manage to talk him into trying out the new cat spirit scythe. The question is does it help or hurt? Will the Crescent Moon Hall be the end of Rinne?

Commentary:

One thing about Rin-ne is that it is a rather self contained story. It is easy to pick it up at any time. Even though the story follows Rinne it also manages to give us some short episodes that are only connected by the characters and their silly interactions. Of course there is a overlapping plot line, but it is only there because the plot leads these characters through their lives.

Rin-ne is a wonderfully light story that provides humor with supernatural aspects in a way that is not something that weighs you down. It is one of the those few series that is so non-committal that it become something that you are happy to be apart of. If you think about the older works of Rumiko Takahashi like Inu Yasha or Ramna 1/2 it is easy to understand where Rin-ne comes from and volume 13 follows the standard fun loving model that she has set for her stories.

Overall Grade: B

Volume 13 is just plan fun it doesn’t require the reader to do anything but just move along with them. If you are looking for a series that is trying to say something special then you need to look elsewhere, but if all you want is a story that offers a simple comedy that covers a series of events with no hidden plot or dark story then this one is for you. There is a reason that Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most beloved manga artist in Japan and Rin-ne is proof that you don’t need deep meaning to be considered a good manga.