 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DEL REY | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | YUKI SATA | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 212 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | OT | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 11/24/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 11/24/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Kuro is attacked by his childhood friend Kaie. It is a vicious assault, one made more bitter by the unexpected betrayal of a close friend. Kaie believes that there can only be war between the yokai and the humans. But his motives are far deeper than any could have guessed. The battle between Kuro and Kaie is both awesome in its supernatural properties yet also heartrending in its outcome. Kaie unleashes a horrifying feast of monsters to destroy and rip apart his very dear friend. Kuro has no choice but to transform into his true self and use his full abilities to fight off the horde and stop his friend. Kuro cannot save Kaie, despite how very much he wants to. The aftermath is both awful in its violence and rocking on its emotional axis for the characters. Kuro is left in turmoil after the events with Kaie. Being unable to protect or save his friend, Kuro instead chooses to try to save the girl Kaie held dear, the one used to coerce him. However even then Kuro is met with defeat. Marie has her own ideas about what a rescue means and it is another immensely bittersweet moment in the growing drama of the story. There are some of the more regular tales such as Kuro getting involved with a mountain monster that is judged by its appearance but ends up saving a group of children. It proves a strong lesson in what one should value in others and it is not looks but their heart. Another intriguing tale involves a dragon that comes to reportedly consume Kuro. It ends up being an unusual lesson about family and an addition to Kuro’s when the dragon coughs up and leaves behind a fellow named Senri who happens to be a yokai thief. Senri is an interesting addition to the group considering his pastime, but it seems he may be more open to learning about the value of yokai than mere dollars. Perhaps. His true nature is still up in the air, adding suspense to the story. The latest volume also throws in greater mystery with the revelation that Kuro has a brother somewhere in the human world and that is one of the reasons he is there, to find his family. The other revelation comes about when he risks his life to help out the daughter of a feuding spider yokai clan. In the aftermath he is warned that a bounty has been placed on his head, but one has also been placed on his brother’s! The manga also comes with translation and cultural notes and a preview of the next volume in Japanese.
IN SUMMARY:
Mystery and intrigue mount in the latest riveting volume of supernatural intrigue and horror found in Yokai Doctor! |
