▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		MASANORI OOKAMIGUMI KATAKURA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		T+
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		11/06/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		01/06/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Kurohime, the legendary witch-gunslinger with the curse from the gods upon her head keeps her trapped in the body of a girl until she discovers true love. Zero, the young teen who loves her, follows her to try to help her break the curse and help the woman who once saved his life ten years ago. But that goal isn’t easy when the idol of his fantasies turns out to be a self-serving woman filled with avarice and greed. Her pride knows no bounds, nor does her vanity, which is how the gods cursed her to start with. With an attitude vaster than the desert they roam, can Zero help her unravel the secret while dodging bounty hunters and all sorts of beings with grudges against the legendary witch-gunslinger?

The latest volume sees the two tackling one obstacle after another. Those obstacles are usually people with grudges, a lot of minions, and major firepower all aimed at ending Kurohime. The largest one, both figuratively and literally, is Onimaru. Leader of an army of bounty hunters, his only goal is to find her and avenge his wounded male pride over her rejection and the humiliation that he suffered at her hands. They have a hard time dodging this guy and his army of hunters, but when they stumble upon a candy filled castle that is one sweet but deadly trap, these enemies will have to band together if they want to defeat the witch in question and live to fight each other another day.

Unsettling discoveries await the two in a strange hidden town that holds quite the secret. A girl in need of help, people being brutally used, killed for the greed of others, it makes Zero’s heart of justice cry out. But Kurohime couldn’t care less. With no love in her heart, she leaves him alone to try to save a village against the fiends that have been taking advantage of a terrible curse. His brave heart wins over Kurohime who helps him, but will her help be enough to stop the cycle of tragedy that has been going on? In the final chapters, the growing bond between Zero and Kurohime is put to the test when a beautiful stranger arrives and saves Kurohime from harm. She begins to completely ignore Zero for this other man. What will Zero do?

This manga remains fun, entertaining and with many stand-alone adventures. There are only a couple of hints about her curse in this volume. As their relationship develops, Zero seems to be learning more, not only about Kurohime, but about her curse. But otherworldly forces seem to be waiting in the wings, ready to move against her. Can Zero save her or will he just be canon fodder in the battle to come?

IN SUMMARY:
The manga remains exuberant in both the constant action and the ongoing comedy. The gun-slinging witch of the west is fantastically entertaining.