Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by Fujishima Kosuke

Super-deformed and super cute, the pint-sized heroines who star in ADVENTURES OF THE MINI-GODDESSES are already well-known to anyone who follows Fujishima Kosuke's OH MY GODDESS!. This delightful collection of short, 4-8 panel comic strips presents Urd, Skuld and Belldandy in miniature form as they deal with the goofy problems and benefits associated with their shrunken size.
The short panel format allows Fujishima a wide license for comedic freedom with his characters, embroiling them in some wacky adventures outside the regular plotlines of the OH MY GODDESS manga. Indeed, most of these strips focus on Urd and Skuld — whereas the original manga is much more concerned with Belldandy and Keiichi. Of course, alongside the two sibling rival goddesses is their hilariously luckless rat friend (alternately known as "Mr. Rat", "Ratty", "Gan" and "Clint Eastwood.")
While many of these strips are extremely funny one-shots (such as Mini-Urd trying to talk on the phone by jumping from the speaker to the mouthpiece), the majority of the pieces follow some crazy running plots. I particularly enjoyed the screwball competitions between Urd and Skuld, judged by the helpless rat and ultimately ending in scores of little goddesses holding a cataclysmic volleyball match on Keiichi's jacket. The series where the three goddesses decide to form a band, with the rat playing drums, was extremely entertaining as well.
Readers of the OH MY GODDESS! manga are already familiar with Fujishima's clean and detailed art style, and you'll find that style prevalent throughout much of this collection. However, at one point the creator began using a thicker line and sloppier style for a number of strips, before reverting back to the more familiar, and more refined, format. These strips were still highly amusing (especially the documentary one about an OH MY GODDESS anime voice actresses), but the sudden change in presentation was somewhat jarring.
All in all though, this slim volume is as short and sweet as the miniature goddesses who grace its pages. Anyone who likes the comedic side of OH MY GODDESS, or who has an affinity for super-deformed mayhem, will certainly enjoy this nifty little collection. Trust me, some great things really do come in small packages.

English version published in North America by Dark Horse Comics
88 pages; Black and White
ISBN 1-56971-421-5
$9.95
Available now in the U.S.A.
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