▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		YELLOW TANABE
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		192
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		05/20/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		05/13/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

By night, junior high student Yoshimori Sumimura is a “Kekkaishi” – a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori’s got other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather. Yoshimori’s pretty 16-year-old neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a Kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the “true practitioner” of the art.

The story revolves around our two main characters: Yoshimori Sumimura and Tokine Yukimura. They have an ancestral duty to protect the Karasumori Forest from supernatural beings called ayakashi. People with their gift for terminating ayakashi are called Kekkaishi, or “barrier masters.” Yoshimori infiltrates his enemy’s lair, Kokuboro Castle, to avenge his friend, Gen Shishio, who fell in battle. First, he has to rescue Sen Kagemiya, a member of the “Night Troops,” who followed him there only to be caught and held captive.

Meanwhile, Tokine, Masamori (Yoshimori’s elder brother) and the rest of the Night Troops use Tokine’s grandmother’s magical passageway to Kokuboro castle to try to rescue Yoshimori and Sen. Just as Kokuboro Castle is beginning to completely disintegrate, Yoshimori finally locates Kaguro, Gen’s murderer, and confronts him. At first, Kaguro tries to tempt Yoshimori to join his side. Then, armed with a powerful magical sword, he charges him at full force. Kaguro’s strength only increases as his fight with Yoshimori progresses. But just when Kaguro is about to defeat him, Yoshimori generates the most extraordinary kekkai he has ever produced.

The fate of the dreaded Kokuboro Ayakashi lies in Yoshimori's hands as he and his allies fight to get out of Kokuboro Castle alive! By comparison, his formerly hair-raising nightly patrols of the Karasumori Site seem like a walk in the park. But if he survives and returns home as the conquering hero, does an even greater evil lie in wait...?

So the story is very involved, but the art is also beautiful and detailed, so it rounds off a great package. The destruction caused by the fight scenes in this particular volume were very entertaining – the dynamic ways that roofs are torn apart and debris explode into the air are very satisfying. Characters have a clean, but very “manga” look too them – quite cartoon-like, and yet not lacking detail. The best way to explain the proficiency of the art would be to say that it has a really good balance of elements that make it attractive on a number of levels. Action scenes are furious, comedic moments come out perfectly of character’s faces, and the general flow of the art and panels doesn’t level anything to be desired. Visually, it’s a safe bet and above average in its goodness.

It’s always fun to read a bit about the author and what their personal opinions are on certain subjects – many artists/authors will write a short note about something or other in the back of their manga. Yellow Tanabe had this to say in volume thirteen of Kekkaishi: “There are some foods I hated as a child but came to like as I grew up. Eggplant is the first example that comes to mind. Today I don’t understand how I could ever have hated eggplant. Maybe I was put off by its weird texture. Now I love it. Eggplant is delicious.” If that isn’t a quirky little bit of information about who exactly is bringing this manga series to you, I don’t know what is! I wish more artists/authors would do this – it’s so amusing to see them “write on the wall” about something strange and personal to them.

IN SUMMARY: 
Kekkaishi is a furious action manga with amazing fight scenes, as well as a captivating story of interpersonal relationships and the concept of duty. It is artistic in both art and plot, so it is sure to keep the keen mind entertained with each page – check it out!