▪	RELEASED BY:		TOKYOPOP
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		SAKURA KNOSHITA / KAZUKO HIGASHIAYAM
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		192
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		08/07/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/01/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

The supernatural comedic myth-adventures of Kantaro and Haruka continue in the latest volume of tactics. A case dealing with a possible demon possession reveals some of Kantaro’s childhood and his bond to Haruka, the Black Goblin. All that is a swept under the carpet when they head off to a small village, a very big mountain, and try to solve the mystery of the village’s children disappearing one by one. A dragon god is awoken and Haruka meets an old acquaintance he can’t remember. And this one seems to be a goblin too!

The majority of this volume deals with the mystery of the missing children, the dragon god and the meeting of two new characters: Sugino and Mou-chan. Sugino is a handsome supernatural creature not unlike Haruka. Mou-chan is an odd choice for wife that he loves immeasurably. He has a dislike for humans and considers himself superior in every way. Sugino finds Haruka fascinating and gives him some words of warning regarding his bond to the human Kantaro. A bit of foreshadowing perhaps?

Although the adventures are primarily shown in an energetic and often comedic way, there is the growing underlying drama around the mystery of Haruka’s missing memories. The concern is why he can’t remember and what will happen once he does. Will he become a human hating monster bent on destruction? Or is there something even more sinister lurking to be discovered? In any case, the manga keeps throwing one adventure after another to distract the reader from it so that when the topic comes up, it stays fresh. All of it reinforces the evolving bond between Haruka and Kantaro while at the same time laying a few seeds of doubt as to what the future may hold for them.

Manga extras include a full color cover page as well as cultural and translation notes.

IN SUMMARY:
Tactics is fun and energetic supernatural set of adventure sand mysteries.