Forming connections in an increasingly befuddling future
MISSISSIPPI’s Invisible Parade is a collection of thirteen comics mostly set in a future version of Yamashina, Kyoto. Each story is short and rather anticlimactic, which makes them easy to read through. Outside of some recurring characters, the stories have no narrative connection with each other. But the collection is tied together through magic realism and an overarching theme of connection.
My favorite stories from Invisible Parade were Down the Uji River, Tsukiko and the Satellite, Stardust Memory, and David. With the exception of David, all of them involve fantastical sci-fi situations, such as the sudden appearance of a UFO or a girl with a satellite orbiting her head. Instead of focusing on the shock or impact of these bizarre phenomena, the characters take them in stride, as if it’s an everyday occurrence.
The oddities are mere backdrops for down-to-earth stories and relationships. When something weird does happen, the characters usually end up distracted by something else, or they react in such a muted fashion that it doesn’t seem to warrant much attention. Stardust Memory is about the UFO, yes, but really it’s about the protagonist’s landlord’s past relationship with the alien inside the UFO. Tsukiko and the Satellite introduces a genuine asteroid threat, only for it to turn into a heartwarming story of Tsukiko reuniting with her father and shining brightly on her own.
Combined with MISSISSIPPI’s art style, the entire collection makes for a surreal yet sweet reading experience. Some stories are more realistic and seem autobiographical. Invisible Parade collects comics from both a decade ago and recent times, so it’s hard to tell when he drew these philosophical musings from snippets of his real life.
Artwork that brings magic realism to life
I struggle to define MISSISSIPPI’s art style. It’s quaint yet simplistic, reminding me of art that would appear in a picture book for children. I enjoyed the stories and panels that looked like he drew with a humble pencil. The coloring is imperfect, and it looks like he smudged the lead on the paper to create a shadowy effect. It works well with the simplicity of his stories.
Some stories, such as Winter Break 2049 and Welcome to the Subtropic Theatre, read like a kid made them up. Events connect with one another tangentially, only to lead to a humorously odd ending. Everyday situations are given an imaginative spin. MISSISSIPPI’s charming art style meshes well with his stories. Its simplicity also works well for more serious works like David and I Guess I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times.
The characters sometimes resemble Momoko Sakura’s designs from Chibi Maruko-chan, which began serialization in the 1980s. They have a retro look despite the sci-fi world they inhabit. This helps the natural world stand out when MISSISSIPPI locks in and goes hard on the details. For example, in Summer Break 2029, the protagonist brings Ando up to the rooftop garden, which is so detailed that it’s unreal.
Verdict
Invisible Parade is a collection of strange yet heartwarming short comics set in fantastical environments. It focuses on the gentle connections that people form with the world and with others. While some stories, like Welcome to the Subtropic Theatre and Free As a Bird, are weaker than the rest, they still featured some nice art to admire, or promoted some thinking. If I could purchase some of the panels as prints, I would totally hang them around my apartment.
You can purchase Invisible Parade from Glacier Bay Books, 50 Watt Books, and Silver Sprocket.
Credits
Original Work By: MISSISSIPPI (Takashi Horiguchi)
Design, Editing, and Layout: Emuh Ruh
Translations: Anna Schnell, Emuh Ruh, Jocelyn Allen, Jun Kitamura, Andy Jenkins, MISSISSIPPI
Lettering: Tim Sun
Publisher: Glacier Bay Books
Thank you to Glacier Bay Books for providing a free copy of this manga. Receiving a free copy had no impact on the reviewer’s opinions.
Article edited by: Adam Wescott
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