▪	RELEASED BY:		TOKYOPOP
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KAZUKO HIGASHIYAMA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		192
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/27/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		12/03/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

From the co-creator of Tactics comes an intriguing tale that blends macabre humor with supernatural mystery and it all has to do with an aspiring doll maker. Kotoko is an energetic, if eccentric, young woman. She dreams of one day being as great a doll maker as the famous Fool, an enigmatic doll maker of which nothing is known, not even his real name or what he looks like. One fateful day she runs into a beautiful man who kidnaps her.  Frightened, she is deposited into a strange house where another man shows up and kisses her, telling her she will be his apprentice or die from his curse! Nothing will ever be the same again for Kotoko as she finds herself wrapped up in the world of Fool in this hypnotic tale of supernatural intrigue, wonder, and adventure known as Shinshoku Kiss.

Shinshoku Kiss is not your average manga by any stretch of the imagination, and its imagination stretches further than most manga ever dare. It’s innovative, revealing a world that is disturbing yet intriguing and all with a dark comedic sense of humor that is both as unexpected as it is enjoyable. Kotoko, after being cursed, ends up working as Fool’s apprentice. But what this entails is one act after another that borders heavily on the vampiric. Stealing essences and capturing spirits, its heady supernatural stuff and Kotoko is trapped as a pawn in the middle of it all. Just what is Fool’s true plan for Kotoko? What is his secret? The question of whether he is human or not is raised by his strange abilities. His handsome servant, the silent Takuto, is as mysterious as his master.

With the layers of secrecy and supernatural goings-on, the story is a compelling read. But there is a lively, if often twisted, humor to the series as well. Some of it is found with the energetic young heroine (or victim) Kotoko. More is found with the married couple who work for Fool. They are as eccentric as the rest of the characters but seem more normal compared to Fool and Takuto, adding an earthier comedy to the sometimes ethereal happenstances around the story.

The first volume of this short series is a hidden treasure of imagination and otherworldly adventure and danger. It establishes the personalities of the characters introduced very well and reveals a web of secrets that Kotoko must unravel…or else. The more she is involved in Fool’s errands, the more unsettling her circumstances become and the greater the mystery around what Fool intends to do to her and why. The art work is fabulous. Anyone familiar with tactics will find the high quality style of no surprise. The manga has a full and rich art technique that is clean yet detailed and very expressive. The characters are exceptionally attractive. Looking at the pages, it is easy to imagine this as an anime. It’s a lush art style that suits the supernatural allure quite well.

IN SUMMARY:
Shinshoku Kiss is a tantalizing dance of macabre intrigue and alluring entertainment. Its creativity and imagination immerse the reader into a world of mystery, horror, and quirky and dark humor. Pushing Daisy fans might want to give this a look. Fans of Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok, tactics, and CLAMP series will enjoy Shinshoku Kiss immensely. It’s a fascinating tale that combines horror and comedy in equal measure.