Japanator Recommends: Yokaiden

12:00 PM on 09.11.2009   |   Chris Serani

First time author Nina Matsumoto’s Yōkaiden rocked my face with a fun, lighthearted and well thought story. Known for her manga-ized versions of The Simpsons on DeviantArt, she gained notice from Del Rey of whom commissioned her to make a manga. She accepted the challenge and the result is really quite awesome.

Borrowing from Japanese folklore, Yōkaiden: Volume 1 follows an ever-so-perky and young Hamachi in an adventure filled life of cranky grandmothers, talking lanterns and vengeful Kappas. Hamachi is one of your straight forward, no non-sense kids who has a keen liking for Yōkai.

Ever since he was a child he had a fascination with them, as well as his childhood hero Inukai Mizuki of whom wrote a book all about Yōkai. Hamachi wishes to follow in Mizuki's footsteps so he does everything he can to learn about Yōkai. Being pure at heart he even goes as far as helping out troubled Yōkai in need, though this does seem to backfire on him from time to time. 

Yōkaiden
Creator: Nina Matsumoto
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: November 18, 2008
MSRP: $10.95

Throughout Volume 1 we watch as Hamachi's "normal" every day life turns completely around. After saving a Kappa his grandmother trapped in the forest, his grandmother suddenly turns up dead! What did you do, Hamachi? It turns out his new found Kappa friend wasn't happy about being trapped and got a little trigger happy with the soul eating thing. With nowhere to go and no one to help him, Hamachi embarks for the YōŌKAI REALM!

Did I scare you? No?

Anyway, the adventure continues to grow, and Yōkaiden will keep you locked in until you finish. There are many fun characters introduced throughout, the artwork is fantastic, and Nina puts a fun spin on dialogue. I highly recommend adding this to your manga collection. I would also love to see this adapted into an anime at some point. With every frame on every page I could just imagine watching it on TV. I even started voicing characters as I read.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if the next volume is available...

MOAR review:

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