Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Manga Review
Akiria Himekawa’s the Legend of Zelda Majora’s Mask/A Link to the Past Legendary Edition Manga story is a phenomenal piece of artwork. This Manga is set up into two different parts; part one: Majora’s Mask and part two: A Link to the Past. Each part is a reimagination of the game that they are based off of. This review will cover the first part of the Manga, The Majora’s Mask. The Majora’s Mask follows the events of the Ocarina of Time. Link, has gone to the future defeated the evil Demon King Ganon, returned to the past and warned princess Zelda about his future plans. Following this event Links fairy friend Navi goes missing and he is searching the forest in search for her.
The story follows the source material but does feature many differences. The story starts with Skull Kid stealing The Majora’s Mask from the Happy Mask Salesman. While this is happening, Link visits a town elswhere and trains with some warrior adults. After some training he sets out into the forest looking for Navi but stumbles into Skull Kid. Similar to the game link is transformed into a Deku and he must obtain his stolen Ocarina of Time in order to stop Skull Kid from dropping the moon on Termina. When Link learns that he must free the four giants he sets out to the swamp, mountains, ocean, and canyon to defeat the evil lurking there. Upon reaching each new destination Link discovers something is wrong. The water is poisonous in the swamps, the mountains are all snowy, and the ocean is having a tropical storm. These details come straight out of the game. Rather than Link going into dungeons and temples to free the giant, Link is attacked by the Bosses right after obtaining the masks. Link uses the masks and his sword to defeat the evil bosses; Oldawa, Goht, Gyorg, and twinmold. Link saves the Dekus, Goron, and Zoras from the evil changes that have occurred in their land.
The Majora’s Mask Manga is rather short in length which makes it a quick and easy read, but it also hinders it. There are parts of the book that feel rushed while other chapters seem to drag on in the wrong places. For example, in Chapter 1: Skull Kid and the Demon Mask we see Link visit a village of swordsmen and blacksmiths. He duels with them to prove he is the noble swordsman Link and earns their respect before traveling into the forest in search of Navi. While this is happening with Link, Skull Kid is stealing the Majora’s Mask from the Mask Salesman. The interaction that Link had with the village did not occur in the video game and rather than an introduction to the character it felt like a filler to the Skull Kid. This part of the story dragged on and took away from the Stone Tower and Ikana Village. This portion of the story ran through so fast. There needed to be more time spent in that area.
There were multiple changes that were made when creating the manga, but the biggest and most confusing change was at the end. In Chapter 9: Fierce Deity Link, after defeating the evil mask, Link talks with the Happy Mask Salesman. The conversation that they have is very different. In the game the salesman thanks Link for his help and he leaves to travel on elsewhere. In the manga however Link returns the mask to the salesmen before destroying it. In doing so the mask disintegrates and the happy mask salesman fades away. This change made absolutely no sense at all and changes the whole story. This ending definitely brought the whole book down.
Overall, The Majora’s Mask Manga is a good book if you have not played the game. This one does not follow the source material and loses its way in the new content not featured in the game. In addition to this the ending with the happy mask salesman did not need to be changed, but if you are looking for a good manga that stands on its own this one is still a fun read.
