From the back cover:
The ghost hunters’ new case has turned deadly. Naru, the leader of Shibuya Psychic Research, is under a dark spell. When Naru awakens, he foolishly decides to take on an evil spirit alone. Now he faces a life-or-death struggle!

Review:
Thankfully, this volume was an improvement over the last one, and has convinced me that I can buy the volumes I’m missing without feeling cheated somehow.

The volume opened with Naru still possessed and kept asleep by one of Lin’s spells, lest the spirit within gain access to Naru’s mysterious powers and kill everyone. With their leader sidelined, everyone else had to work together to figure out what was going on, which I liked, even though most of the explanation was boring stuff about traveling monks and burial mounds. Also of note: Ayako, the “self-proclaimed miko” who had consistently failed at every exorcism she had attempted, finally showed that she does have some power, but only in the presence of living trees.

Ayako’s efforts freed Naru from his possession and, of course, he promptly gave the same explanation that it took the others quite a bit of effort and research to discover. Although there was an easier way to stop the deaths, he decided to eliminate the cause of the curse, even though it was something that the others had no hope of vanquishing. This led to him finally revealing his own psychic powers and ending up hospitalized as a result. Puzzling decision aside, I still appreciate finally getting some meaningful progress on this subplot.

The quality of the art in this volume was all over the place, with some characters’ facial proportions changing every time they appeared. I’m not sure how it works when a series is published direct-to-tankoubon instead of first appearing in a magazine, but I have to wonder whether there is less editorial oversight. The volumes that match up to the period where Ghost Hunt was serialized in Nakayoshi are the best of the lot, with not only the most consistent art but also the best character moments.

I liked the conclusion of this volume and it gives me hope that future volumes will, even if beyond hope in the art department, return focus to the two leads and not backslide further.

Lastly, I’ve written a Definitive Guide to volumes 1-9 of Ghost Hunt for Manga Recon. You can find that here.

When first I spotted this slim volume in the manga section of a chain bookstore in town, I assumed it was an OEL media tie-in from TOKYOPOP, like Legends of the Dark Crystal or Return to Labyrinth. Closer inspection, however, reveals that it actually is Japanese, published by Kodansha in 2004.

I’m a little surprised to see that Disney Press did not flip the art or translate sound effects, since I assume they were marketing this title at least in part to fans of the movie who might not ordinarily be manga readers. The art is admirably accurate, with some characters (Dr. Finkelstein and Lock, Shock, and Barrel in particular) looking exactly like their movie counterparts. The only slight difference is Sally who, because of the limitations of the medium, has lost her light blue tint.

The storyline is preserved without much modification, and some scenes quote dialogue from the film verbatim. Unfortunately, song lyrics are not included, and the text inserted in their place often fails to achieve the same impact. Here’s a comparison of the scene at the end of the film where Jack joins Sally in the graveyard.

Film:

Jack: My dearest friend, if you don’t mind,
I’d like to join you by your side.
Where we can gaze into the stars
Together: And sit together,
Now and forever.
For it is plain, as anyone can see,
We’re simply meant to be.

Manga:

Jack: Sally. I hope you don’t mind the company.
Sally: Jack…
Jack: Sally…
Sally: Jack…

And that, in a nutshell, is the whole reason this earns a C. It doesn’t do anything that would annoy a hard-core fan, but it’s just not as good as the original. For the ultimate experience, one should really just watch the film instead.

Review originally published at Manga Recon.

When Mai Takiyama breaks an expensive camera belonging to ghost hunter Kazuya Shibuya, he tells her she can work off the debt by acting as his assistant. Thus, Mai is introduced to a world of spirits, curses, and exorcisms as well as Kazuya’s arsenal of gadgetry used to scientifically measure paranormal activity.

To start with, most of the spirit activity the Shibuya Psychic Research team investigates takes place on high school campuses, but the series eventually does branch out into things like mansions, churches, and secluded restaurants. In addition to Mai and Kazuya (dubbed Naru for his narcissistic tendencies), SPR employs Lin-san, Naru’s quiet yet capable assistant, and a variety of mediums and exorcists. Together, they fight crime spirits.

As the series continues, the cases gradually become gorier, though this does not necessarily result in heightened creepiness. The first volume is actually probably the best for maintaining spooky tension throughout; there’s just something about watching spectral phenomena on a video monitor that adds to the atmosphere. My favorite case is actually not gory at all, nor is it one of the longer ones. Instead, it’s the side story “Silent Christmas” (included in volume four), about the spirit of a boy who used to be an expert at hide-and-seek.

The characters are kind of a mixed bag. I like Mai, who is spunky and generally level-headed. It’s especially noteworthy that, although she has feelings for Naru, she never lets them get in the way of her work and whole volumes will pass without her dwelling on him at all. Naru’s also pretty interesting, even though he does have the unfortunate habit of being rude and insulting on occasion. Alas, few of the supporting characters are developed in any meaningful way and one is often left to ponder what purpose they serve. The sum total of information on one particular character is that he’s a young-looking priest from Australia. This guy has appeared in nine volumes so far!

The series’ two long-running story arcs focus individually on Naru and Mai, with varying degrees of success. The gradual development of Mai’s intuitive ability is well-integrated into early volumes, and even after her powers are confirmed several volumes later, they continue to develop. By contrast, tiny nuggets of information on Naru’s mysterious origins and possible powers are doled out sparingly and left to hang without resolution. It’s only in volume nine that we actually get some concrete evidence of his own psychic abilities.

After volume five, there’s a noticeable slide in quality. I attribute this to the end of Ghost Hunt’s serialization in Nakayoshi and the beginning of direct-to-tankouban releases. The art becomes inconsistent after this point, reminding me of American comics with the way certain characters’ facial proportions change in every panel in which they appear. The characterization also suffers and many cases have moments where explanations don’t make much sense.

The ninth volume is an improvement over the few preceding it, and reveals some answers about Naru’s mysterious “capabilities.” At the very least, it gives me hope that the series might once again produce something really good. For now, I can really only recommend the first five volumes.

VOLUME 1

GRADE: B+

Summary: After accidentally breaking an expensive camera, Mai is drafted to help with the investigation into alleged spirit activity in an old building on her high school campus. Despite her expectations, she enjoys the experience and, at the end of the volume, accepts a job working in Naru’s office.

Creepiness Factor: Low. There are plenty of mysterious sounds and accidents in the old building, but the only truly creepy thing is a chair that appears to move on its own.

VOLUME 2

GRADE: B+

Summary: The Shibuya Psyshic Research team investigates a residence with a deadly history: every pre-teen child who has ever lived there has died. The case hinges on a creepy doll owned by the 8-year-old girl currently residing there.

Creepiness Factor: Low. And this is coming from someone with childhood trauma concerning a creepy doll.

VOLUME 3

GRADE: B+

Summary: Many strange incidents and ghost sightings have been reported at a high school that has recently been abuzz with the discovery that one of the students has psychokinetic abilities. Mai’s powers of intuition lead Naru to test her for psychic ability.

Creepiness Factor: Zero. A very cute scene between Naru and Mai makes up for that, though.

VOLUME 4

GRADE: A-

Summary: Yet more strange incidents at a high school, making three such cases in four volumes. This time, events seem to focus on the spirit of a student who had a grudge against the school. This volume also features a great side story about the spirit of a boy, expert at hide-and-seek, who wants to be found.

Creepiness Factor: Low. There isn’t much in the main story itself, but the resolution of the side story is pretty creepy.

VOLUME 5

GRADE: A-

Summary: The case that began in the fourth volume is concluded here. Although the story isn’t anything particularly special, the solution is more of a group effort than previously, and there are some great scenes of conflict between the two leads.

Creepiness Factor: Low. There’s one spooky scene in a nurse’s office, especially after the spirit menacing Mai suddenly disappears. Somehow, that’s always worse than a sudden appearance.

VOLUME 6

GRADE: B

Summary: Plot trumps characterization in this installment, when the SPR is hired by the Prime Minister to research a series of unexplained disappearances at a mansion.

Creepiness Factor: Medium. Prior volumes haven’t featured much blood, but this time Mai’s precognitive dreams include plenty of it.

VOLUME 7

GRADE: B

Summary: The Case of the Creepy Mansion (not actual title) concludes. Art and characterization continue to be not as good as in the first five volumes of the series.

Creepiness Factor: Medium. The best part was when messages from murdered spirits appeared all over the walls.

VOLUME 8

GRADE: B-

Summary: A secluded restaurant is cursed—whenever ownership changes hands, the transfer is accompanied by many deaths. In the course of the investigation, Naru is possessed by one of the spirits.

Creepiness Factor: Low. There are a couple of panels of a possessed child grinning eerily. That’s about it.

VOLUME 9

GRADE: B

Summary: The team works together to determine the cause of the curse, freeing Naru in the process. When he awakes, he finally reveals his powers and confronts a wrathful chunk of driftwood. I snark, but it’s actually fairly cool, and meaningful progress on the “Mystery of Naru” plot line is always welcome.

Creepiness Factor: Low. A bunch of frog-like spirits crawling on windows and one possessed middle-aged guy lurking menacingly amongst some shrubbery.

Review originally published at Manga Recon.

From the back cover:
God is change. That is the central truth of the Earthseed movement, whose unlikely prophet is 18-year-old Lauren Olamina. The young woman’s diary entries tell the story of her life amid a violent 21st-century hell of walled neighborhoods and drug-crazed pyromaniacs—and reveal her evolving Earthseed philosophy. Against a backdrop of horror emerges a message of hope: if we are willing to embrace divine change, we will survive to fulfill our destiny among the stars.

Review:
Lauren’s diary entries begin in July 2024, on the eve of her fifteenth birthday, and continue through October 2027, when she is eighteen. In the meantime, the walled neighborhood near Los Angeles in which she and her family live is destroyed and she is forced out onto the road, heading north in search of a better life. Lauren is mature for her years, however, and is more prepared than anyone else for the day when catastrophe strikes. On the road, she collects companions and instructs them in the new religion she has discovered (she states firmly that she did not invent it) while searching for a place they can settle and create a community.

I wondered initially whether I would like this, or if it’d be too religious for me. There were times, indeed, where Lauren’s instruction of her new traveling companions did seem a little creepy and cult-like. Earthseed is really more of a philosophy than a religion, though, and boils down to: “There’s no God who cares about you. So stop sitting around, praying for His intervention, and take care of things yourself.” Since I don’t disagree, the religious stuff didn’t end up bothering me too much.

I found all of the dystopic details very interesting, though occasionally gruesome and horrible. The plot wasn’t complicated—let’s walk North!—but the various encounters with dangerous and desperate people turned what could’ve been a boring travel narrative into something engrossing. I also really liked Lauren, who is smart and level-headed, as well as the way race was dealt with (it’s mentioned and not ignored, but neither is it the defining trait of any character).

I’ll definitely be reading the sequel, Parable of the Talents, and probably checking out other things by Octavia E. Butler, too.

From the back cover:
Inside a beautiful restaurant overlooking a serene cove lurks a deadly secret that makes people go crazy… literally! Mysterious deaths are not uncommon in this evil eatery. The ghost hunters from Shibuya Psychic Research decide to tackle the case, even though past mediums have never survived their own investigations. To make matters worse, Naru becomes possessed during an exorcism, leaving the remaining SPR members not only to save the day, but to rescue Naru himself!

Review:
This volume was rather boring, largely because the case at the restaurant did not make a lot of sense. People were possessed by ghosts that made them do violent things, then Naru got possessed, then Mai had a bunch of confusing dreams, and then there was lots of talk about driftwood.

Naru’s possession was, of course, the most interesting thing, and it was revealed that he has some dangerous “capabilities,” so if the spirit were able to access them, they’d all be in trouble. It also seems possible that the Naru who has been appearing in Mai’s dreams may actually be the real Naru serving as a guide. It’s hard to tell about that, though, and who knows if we’ll ever get any kind of confirmation.

Even here, in volume 8, some of the supporting characters were little more than familiar faces. Of the exorcist consultants that SPR regularly hires, only Monk-san has received any kind of development. John Brown, the Catholic priest from Australia, has particularly been neglected.

I’m reading volumes 8 and 9 from the library, since I only own through 7, and had originally been thinking I would buy copies for myself at some point. Now, I am not so sure. I’ll still continue with the series, but with the slide in quality, I think I might be surly if I had to pay for it.

From the back cover:
After a series of disappearances in an old mansion, the intrepid ghost hunters of Shibuya Psychic Research try to unearth the gruesome secret of this scary maze of rooms and passageways. The discovery that the house has a history of murders leaves the team fearing for their safety. What mystery is this dark manor hiding? And will SPR crack the case in time to save one of their own from a terrible fate?

Review:
Just like the previous volume, the art was not very consistent in this volume. I worry that this series is going to experience Gravitation syndrome, where the quality gradually drops off and one is left with characters that look completely different and a story that makes no sense. If that happens, it’ll be a real shame, since this series started off with such potential.

Anyway, the creepy mansion plot concluded in this volume. The actual solution was less interesting that some scenes along the way, like when messages from murdered ghosts appeared all over the walls of the mansion or when breaking down an interior wall led the team into a dark area containing a freaky-looking incinerator. I also enjoyed seeing Lin demonstrate some of his abilities.

A few more hints were dropped about what exactly is up with Lin and Naru, with the former mentioning how he was sent to “observe” the latter. This was mildly interesting, but was spoiled by some dialogue around it that didn’t make a lot of sense to me (“Did you forget you said you were one of 17 children?”). Too, the sudden open dislike between Masako and Mai continued. I find this abrupt change in the status of their relationship to be really bothersome; if things will shift this quickly and randomly, how can we ever expect any satisfying payoff for Naru’s various secrets?

I think at this point that what the series needs is another really awesome Naru-Mai scene so we can reconnect with the main characters. Hell, at this point I might even welcome a high school case again just to recapture the feel of what the story used to be like.

From the back cover:
The brave investigators of Shibuya Psychic Research must unravel a strange mystery. People are vanishing in a peculiar mansion. Eerie manifestations abound from the moment the team enters the house. Stairways lead to nowhere… windows open, but not to the outside… there are doors in the ceiling… and, scariest of all, something very sinister is awaiting its next victim. As the disappearances escalate one by one, beware and be forewarned: Don’t wander off alone—or you could be next!

Review:
This volume was a disappointment after the last two.

In volume five, Inada announced that Ghost Hunt was ending its serialization and would be published directly to tankoubon format instead. Evidently, she saw this as her chance to make more changes in character designs, once again not for the better. Mai’s hair was longer, causing her yet again to look completely different (and just when I was getting used to the first revision to her appearance). Also, each character had a couple of panels where they just looked wrong.

Plotwise, the creepy mansion was an improvement over the repetitive high school stories, and yielded the most gruesome image of the series to date. Unfortunately, it seems that a good plot and good character interaction cannot exist simultaneously with this series, as the latter was fairly clunky at times. The worst example was Mai talking with Masako, a psychic medium on the team, causing another person to note, “Oh, you’re getting along now?” It had never previously been established that they didn’t get along, so when Mai then demanded why Masako despised her, it was entirely out of the blue.

As I had predicted, Yasuhara did indeed return. In this case, he served as a stand-in for Naru so the other could avoid dealing with the media or something. Really, it didn’t make much sense, but since I like Yasuhara, I didn’t quibble. Alas, some other things in the story didn’t make much sense, either, like an explanation of why some measurements of staircases indicated there was a hidden floor somewhere in the mansion. At some point, one just has to accept it and move on, but it bothered me. I’m tempted to lay the blame on Inada rather than a translator, just because of all the other things that were slightly off about this volume.

My last complaint is that while the volume ended on a big cliffhanger, suspense was quickly dispelled by the preview for the next volume, which showed the person in peril to be completely fine. I mean, not that I really expected otherwise, but surely they could’ve chosen other pages for their preview, especially the ones chosen consisted solely of the group watching Lin sit in a chair.

From the back cover:
The students of Ryokuryou High School think they’ve been playing a fun new game called Orikiri. They have no idea that it’s actually a wicked spell conjuring up evil spirits that intend to kill their sensei! Even more troubling is that with each passing minute, the strongest spirit eerily devours the other apparitions and grows ever more destructive. Since the spirit can’t be stopped, there’s only one way to save the sensei: turn the curse around onto the students who initiated it! Mai and Naru clash mightily on this case, as Shibuya Psychic Research must choose between the sensei and the students… And time’s running out!

Review:
This volume was the conclusion to the case from the previous volume. Although I never thought this story was particularly exciting or substantially different from their other high school cases, I still enjoyed this volume because of what was done with the characters.

For one thing, the solution to this case was much more of a group effort than has happened before. For the second time, Mai was able to provide a vital clue that led Naru to a realization, which in turn led Lin-san to come up with a method for dealing with the problem. Mai’s own growing abilities figured in more, and she, in general, kept her head when she found herself in more menacing situations as a result.

The best part, however, was the argument between Naru and Mai over whether it was right to deflect the curse back upon the students who had unwittingly cast it, when the alternative would be to allow the thoroughly unlikable teacher who was its intended victim to bear the full weight of it alone. Both had valid points, and I loved Naru’s remark after Mai told him she hated everything he stood for: “It is an honor to be despised by fools.” Oooh.

The one unfortunate side effect of this argument was a rare out-of-character “too stupid to live” moment for Mai, in which she decided to try to exorcise a bunch of powerful spirits by herself. I liked the aftermath—the other (non-Naru and Lin) members of the team realizing how upset she was and comforting her—but I didn’t like seeing her behave so irrationally.

Later, the apology scene was also pretty awesome, with Naru informing Mai that her problem is that she gives up on others too easily. I really love the relationship between these two. More and more, I think an eventual romance is plausible, but I love how slowly things are building. (It occurs to me that their dynamic is slightly similar to Ren and Kyoko from Skip Beat!.) Too, I love that Mai’s complete focus these past two volumes has been on her job; she hasn’t been sitting around mooning over him at all. Now that is the Mai I like. Let’s leave the silly heroines needing rescue to Matsuro Hino, shall we?

From the back cover:
After a schoolboy’s suicide, the team at Shibuya Psychic Research must unravel mysteries at a local high school. As fires break out in an empty office and a stinky smell sickens an entire classroom, the ghost hunters’ job will take both courage and a strong stomach.

The team also investigates a church with a mysterious spirit that haunts only children, and in a hilarious twist, Mai is possessed and thinks that Lin is her daddy. But laughs quickly turn to concern when Mai hides outside in the cold and cannot be found. Now it’s very important that SPR saves her before she freezes to death!

Review:
This was the third case in four volumes to take place in a high school. The circumstances were different, of course, and the prominent involvement of the school’s student body president in the investigation was new, but I do look forward to a change of venue soon.

Mai experienced another precognitive dream and was proven right. Here’s my own attempt at precognition: I predict that the student body president, Yasuhara, is being groomed to take over Mai’s administrative duties as she develops her own abilities and moves into a more hands-on role. We shall see. The fact that he appears in the back cover illustration would tend to lend credence to my theory.

This was the first case in the series so far not to wrap up within one volume. Instead, the latter half of the volume was comprised of a wonderful side story called Silent Christmas, my favorite case so far. It was not, as the back cover blurb claims, at all hilarious. Instead, it was cute and sad, featuring the spirit of a little boy, expert at hide-and-seek, who just wanted to be found. The resolution was nicely creepy and though I should have, in retrospect, probably seen it coming, I didn’t.

Artwise, I finally have grown accustomed to Mai’s new character design. If I were to look back at the first volume now, that would probably be the one to look weird to me. I’m also particularly fond of Lin, Naru’s assistant, though he doesn’t do or say much. Probably because he reminds me of my favorite character in Fruits Basket—Hatori.

So, I’m still waiting for Ghost Hunt to truly bring the creepy, but as long as it keeps bringing stories like Silent Christmas, I’ll be satisfied.

From the back cover:
The psychoc investigators are going back to school—this time to solve a baffling mystery. Every student who sits at one particular desk is later caught in a train door and dragged away to who knows where. As if classes weren’t hard enough! And when Naru and Mai find themselves stalked by their own evil spirits, the case becomes even more bizarre.

Could this dastardly desk be the revenge of a quiet young girl named Chiaki? Or is there another unhappy soul to reckon with? One thing is certain: Voodoo dolls, bad vibes, and sinister curses won’t stop the psychic pals from solving their most difficult and dangerous case ever!

Review:
“Psychic pals.” *snicker*

I didn’t like this case all that much, really. There were no spooky moments to be had, and the outcome was pretty predictable. That said, it gave Mai an opportunity to be helpful with her powers of intuition and to provide Naru with an essential clue that he needed to solve the mystery. There was also a terrifically cute scene between them where they were both trapped and he distracted her with magic tricks.

I liked how Mai’s feelings for Naru did not prevent her from focusing on her work; she’s not a ditz who goes all stupid for a guy. Plus, even though Naru did make a couple of insulting comments about her lack of smarts, because she is competent and resourceful, I actually can believe that a cool and aloof guy like him might reasonably be interested in someone like her (as opposed to all the other inane shoujo heroines that somehow manage to win the bishounen’s affections).

Also in this volume, Mai expressed frustration that her contributions to the case could only be administrative, but the subtle development regarding her intuition paid off when Naru had her tested for psychic ability. I thought this plot was well-handled; the seeds were planted well in advance, but there was no frustrating lag waiting for someone to notice and give Mai something more challenging to do.

The supporting characters were still fairly useless and bland, all except the monk, who had a little more backstory revealed this time. Maybe the others will have their turns in future volumes.