Rin-ne (2012)

[境界のRINNE]

Volume 13

Author/Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shounen Sunday Comics

Synopsis:
A beaten Sabato shows up looking for money.

Story/Characters:
We open with Sabato trying to bum some cash to buy back something he pawned off, earning ire wherever he goes because, well, it's Sabato. Naturally, right when we get a glimpse of what might be a sliver of a halfway decent human being, it of course gets subverted. Next we introduce a bunny brother-sister combo who offer to work on Rinne's scythe. The sister, Refuto (Left), drums up the business while Raito (Right), the brother (professional title Mikazukisai), does the actual smithing. Besides being foul-mouthed to customers, Raito tends to use experimental functionality that's more trouble than it's worth, but he works for cheap (thanks to Refuto's marketing) and so that pretty well keeps Rinne around. After the two-chapter episode of wonky scythe modification, we then have Refuto trying to sell Rinne on this special scythe wax in order to fight the vengeful spirit of dirty rugby uniforms (yes, really).

Next we have a two-parter where Kain misplaces the payroll bonus for his office and it ends up with Rinne. Kain, as he does, blames Rinne fully and Masato gets involved to further stir the pot, but our boy manages to get to the bottom of the case. After that, we have a sweets buffet haunted by a chubby ghost (whose grudge isn't quite what you'd think). We then have more fun with Refuto and Raito, a bonito scythe, cat ghosts and a kotatsu. Fun for everyone. Next the main quartet finds themselves locked in a haunted house on Christmas Eve and have to overcome their usual squabbles to get in the spirit of the season. Lastly, we have Rinne receiving a special ema (wooden plaque hung at shrines with wishes written on them) and has to deal with a vengeful ghost blotting out the ema of other people.

Art:
The art is solid as ever. There's not many scenes of note this volume, but we get a new bunny girl character and Christmas Ageha, so that's something.

Conclusion:
The introduction of Refuto and Raito open up some new opportunities for comedy, but other than that, there's not much remarkable about this volume. It's decent reading and if you're a fan of the series, there should be enough to enjoy.

Rating:
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