Hiroshi Takahashi
The Ring (1999)
Author: Hiroshi Takahashi
Genre: Graphic Novel (Manga/Horror)
Plot Summary:
A video with deadly consequences has been discovered in Japan. Everyone who watches the video dies exactly seven days later. Reiko, a reporter, is drawn to the video after the death of her niece supposedly seven days after she watched the video. After finding the video in a cabin, curiosity gets the best of Reiko and she watches the video herself. After showing the video to Ryuji, the father of her son she becomes convinced of the videos authenticity and embarks on a quest to discover the root of its evil in order to possibly prevent their deaths. Things become further complicated when Yoichi, her son, also watches the video after a ghostly encounter with his cousin. Reiko and Ryuji track down the images and the people in the video and discover that the evil presence on the video is related to a girl with mysterious powers. SPOILER: The girl was murdered in a well that now sits below the cabin where the video originated. Reiko and Ryuji retrieve her body and believe that they have set the spirit free and broken the curse of the video. Reiko does not die after seven days and all seems well until she finds that Ryuji has died as a result of the curse. Reiko determines that the reason that she was spared was because she showed the video to someone else who then became cursed. She goes to her son and asks her father to watch the video for him, thereby passing on the curse.
Geographical Setting: Japan
Time Period: Present Day (1999)
Series: The Ring series, volume 1
Appeal Characteristics:
This graphic novel was fast paced with several plot twists that make for a compelling read. It also has a very eerie feel that is maintained throughout the story. The illustrations have a consistent dark tone and are drawn from many interesting angles that add to the suspense and are reminiscent of a good horror film. Some of the illustrations also depict extremely creepy scenes that can be somewhat shocking.
Read-alikes: Readers who liked this story and the eerie and suspenseful writing style of the author might want to start with The Ring, Volume 0 also by Hiroshi Takahashi. This graphic novel is a prequel to The Ring and tells the background story of Sadako, the girl from the video with the mysterious powers. Readers who liked the eerie feel and story line and enjoy Manga that has also been made into English language blockbuster horror films might next like to try Dark Water, Volume 1 by Koji Suzuki. Suzuki is also the author of the original theRing story that was then adapted into the graphic novel. Dark Water volume 1 is a collection of short stories and the title story was also made into a Japanese and American movies. Ju-On by Kei Ohishi would be another good bet for readers that liked the eerie feel and movie like illustrations of The Ring. It might also appeal to readers who like Manga adapted from popular Japanese and American Films (The Grudge). This graphic novel focuses on a deadly curse called Ju-On which is created when someone dies through an act of violence, that is attached to a house that has deadly consequences for all who visit it. Mantis Woman by Senno Knife might be another graphic novel to try for those who are looking for more eerie, fast-paced Horror Manga with a dark tone in the illustrations. This is a series of stories that follow a girl who meets up with creepy creatures and a serial killer and struggles to make it out alive. Readers who are looking to branch out from graphic novels with another eerie read might also try the original Ring novel by Koji Suzuki which has follows the same basic story line but with more detail.
Red Flags: Some disturbing images
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