Haunted House | |
![]() The English-language cover as published by
Tokyopop | |
ホーンテッドハウス (Hōnteddo Hausu) | |
---|---|
Genre | Horror, Black comedy |
Manga | |
Written by | Mitsukazu Mihara |
Published by | Shodensha |
English publisher | |
Magazine | Monthly Feel Young |
Demographic | Josei |
Published | October 8, 2002 |
Volumes | 1 |
Haunted House ( Japanese: ホーンテッドハウス, Hepburn: Hōnteddo Hausu) is a comedy horror manga written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara. Known for her short stories and characters dressed in the Gothic Lolita fashion, [1] Mihara continued her use of death-themed material in Haunted House, a volume of one-shot chapters focusing on the teenage protagonist's attempts to find and keep a girlfriend despite his gothic family. Shodensha published Haunted House in Japan on October 8, 2002.
Tokyopop licensed it for an English-language release in North America, along with four of her other works, and released it on October 10, 2006. English-language critics were divided on whether it was enjoyable or repetitive, with several comparing it to the Addams Family.
Haunted House consists of one-shot chapters connected by the teenage protagonist, Sabato Obiga—his first name refers to Sabbath. [2] In each, he attempts to find and keep a girlfriend, whom his gothic family inevitably frightens away. [3] His family is made up of his father, who works at a bank; his mother, a reader of poetry; twin sisters Lisa and Misa, both of whom create voodoo dolls; and their black cat. [2] [3] [4] In Haunted House, Mitsukazu Mihara continued her use of death-themed material—also seen in her other manga The Embalmer and R.I.P.: Requiem in Phonybrian. [2]
Written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara, Haunted House was published in Japan by Shodensha on October 8, 2002 ( ISBN 4396762887). [5] Tokyopop licensed it for an English-language release in North America—along with four of her other works: The Embalmer, Beautiful People, IC in a Sunflower and R.I.P.: Requiem in Phonybrian [6]—and released it on October 10, 2006 ( ISBN 978-1-59816-321-6). [7]
Critical reaction to Haunted House was mixed. Critics drew comparisons between the manga and the Addams Family. [2] [4] [8] The Comic Book Bin's Leroy Douresseaux felt that her elaborate art partially helped to counterbalance the morbid material, and rated the manga 5/10. [2] While enjoying the occasional "cute and mildly amusing moments", Ryan Huston of MangaLife felt that the gothic stock elements, repetitive plot and "lackluster" art hurt the volume. [4] Conversely, Katherine Dacey praised the "elegant, stylized character designs" and enjoyable story, though she commented that the "moral is delivered a little too neatly". [8] Another reviewer greatly enjoyed the comedy aspect of Haunted House, though wrote that "it was an acquired taste". [3]
Famous for the "Gothic Lolita" fashions that she dresses her characters in, Mihara-sensei is considered a master of the short story.
Haunted House | |
![]() The English-language cover as published by
Tokyopop | |
ホーンテッドハウス (Hōnteddo Hausu) | |
---|---|
Genre | Horror, Black comedy |
Manga | |
Written by | Mitsukazu Mihara |
Published by | Shodensha |
English publisher | |
Magazine | Monthly Feel Young |
Demographic | Josei |
Published | October 8, 2002 |
Volumes | 1 |
Haunted House ( Japanese: ホーンテッドハウス, Hepburn: Hōnteddo Hausu) is a comedy horror manga written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara. Known for her short stories and characters dressed in the Gothic Lolita fashion, [1] Mihara continued her use of death-themed material in Haunted House, a volume of one-shot chapters focusing on the teenage protagonist's attempts to find and keep a girlfriend despite his gothic family. Shodensha published Haunted House in Japan on October 8, 2002.
Tokyopop licensed it for an English-language release in North America, along with four of her other works, and released it on October 10, 2006. English-language critics were divided on whether it was enjoyable or repetitive, with several comparing it to the Addams Family.
Haunted House consists of one-shot chapters connected by the teenage protagonist, Sabato Obiga—his first name refers to Sabbath. [2] In each, he attempts to find and keep a girlfriend, whom his gothic family inevitably frightens away. [3] His family is made up of his father, who works at a bank; his mother, a reader of poetry; twin sisters Lisa and Misa, both of whom create voodoo dolls; and their black cat. [2] [3] [4] In Haunted House, Mitsukazu Mihara continued her use of death-themed material—also seen in her other manga The Embalmer and R.I.P.: Requiem in Phonybrian. [2]
Written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara, Haunted House was published in Japan by Shodensha on October 8, 2002 ( ISBN 4396762887). [5] Tokyopop licensed it for an English-language release in North America—along with four of her other works: The Embalmer, Beautiful People, IC in a Sunflower and R.I.P.: Requiem in Phonybrian [6]—and released it on October 10, 2006 ( ISBN 978-1-59816-321-6). [7]
Critical reaction to Haunted House was mixed. Critics drew comparisons between the manga and the Addams Family. [2] [4] [8] The Comic Book Bin's Leroy Douresseaux felt that her elaborate art partially helped to counterbalance the morbid material, and rated the manga 5/10. [2] While enjoying the occasional "cute and mildly amusing moments", Ryan Huston of MangaLife felt that the gothic stock elements, repetitive plot and "lackluster" art hurt the volume. [4] Conversely, Katherine Dacey praised the "elegant, stylized character designs" and enjoyable story, though she commented that the "moral is delivered a little too neatly". [8] Another reviewer greatly enjoyed the comedy aspect of Haunted House, though wrote that "it was an acquired taste". [3]
Famous for the "Gothic Lolita" fashions that she dresses her characters in, Mihara-sensei is considered a master of the short story.