| The Case of the Stolen Mummy |
Take a good look at this "Halloween Fun Book", a mini activity book occasionally
available through dollar stores and party supply chains:
available through dollar stores and party supply chains:
Now, take a look at this "Mummy" enemy from the famous Japanese "Dragon Quest"
video game series, known as "Dragon Warrior" in the states:
video game series, known as "Dragon Warrior" in the states:
These mummies have been one of the game's staple monsters since the beginning,
designed like the rest of the Dragon Quest universe by esteemed manga artist Akira
Toriyama.
designed like the rest of the Dragon Quest universe by esteemed manga artist Akira
Toriyama.
While plagiarism is certainly nothing new, a generic mummy from a console role-playing
game is an oddly specific thing for a Halloween activity book to be stealing, and it is only
made all the more mysterious by the rest of the "fun books:"
game is an oddly specific thing for a Halloween activity book to be stealing, and it is only
made all the more mysterious by the rest of the "fun books:"
| "Halloween Fun Book" next to Akira Toriyama's original Mummy design |
These other five monsters don't resemble anything from a video game or other
copyrighted property and are obviously part of a public domain stock-art series, but they
almost look as though whoever drew them was attempting to match the style of
Toriyama's mummy. How curious!
copyrighted property and are obviously part of a public domain stock-art series, but they
almost look as though whoever drew them was attempting to match the style of
Toriyama's mummy. How curious!