Portal Anime Indonesia (2024)

19/10/2023

The Detective is Already Dead Volume 4 Review

The last time I read a volume of The Detective is Already Dead it was early 2022 and we were only at Volume 3. In that instalment of the series we met an android version of Siesta, learnt about the Twelve Tuners who keep the world safe and several other things. While it felt like the series had jumped the shark a bit, I like the characters enough to continue into Volume 4. Have things improved here? Let’s find out!

At the very end of Volume 3, our protagonist Kimihiko boldly declares that he is going to find a way to bring Siesta back to life despite the impossible odds that are stacked against him. He and Natsunagi (the inheriter of Siesta’s heart) have proved themselves worthy of carrying on Siesta’s legacy and fly to London, to retrieve important evidence that will help them put a stop to Seed (the alien species that is threatening humanity) for good.

Of course, fighting Seed isn’t something they can do alone. Both Charlie, Siesta’s former companion, and Saikawa the young idol Kimihiko and Natsunagi saved earlier in the series have parts to play in all this. They don’t accompany our duo to London, but they stay behind to train with superhuman Bat who has allegedly switched to the good side…

Waiting for Kimihiko in London isn’t just the evidence Siesta hid in their old apartment, but also one of the Twelve Turners, Oracle. She has the ability to tell the future and has helped save the world numerous times over, always watching over the world from the top of a clock tower in the city (Big Ben perhaps?). If Kimihiko is going to find a future in which Siesta lives, he’s going to need her help. But the Oracle isn’t easy to meet, so our protagonist is going to have to prove himself worthy of her receiving her help first.

Like with Volume 3 of the series, a lot is happening here. It’s not as messy or convoluted as that storyline was, but we’re still headed in a direction that a lot of readers won’t enjoy. There’s a twist at the end of this book that I think will be very controversial among the fanbase, too, which isn’t helping matters.

Putting aside the matter of Siesta, Volume 4 does a good job of tying up loose ends and bringing us closer to that final confrontation with Seed who has been pitted as the final boss since the beginning of the series. I also appreciate that author nigozyu chose to bring one of the Tuners into this book, having gone to the effort of introducing readers to the concept previously. I still think their inclusion is a step too far into the land of silly developments for a light novel that was relatively grounded in reality back in Volume 1, but at least it’s easier to come to terms with if we’re seeing more of them in action first-hand who aren’t Siesta or Charlie.

The big elephant in the room is the concept of bringing Siesta back to life. nigozyu just isn’t managing to convince me that this is a good idea. As much as Kimihiko might be heartbroken over having lost her and he believes the world is better with her in it, I just don’t buy it. And when that’s becoming such a vital part of the story, I’m understandably left with mixed feelings.

The Detective is Already Dead is so frustrating for me. It ticks so many boxes in terms of things I like in a narrative, but it muddies it with these story developments that don’t quite fit. It would be one thing if I could wholesale sit here and say the series is bad, but it isn’t. I still like the characters and enough of the bigger picture that I find myself invested enough to carry on. I just hope that as we go on, nigozyu can rein in some of these ideas and make use of what’s already here rather than throw in even more crazy antics that aren’t necessary.

The Detective is Already Dead Volume 4 comes to the West thanks to Yen Press and continues to be translated by Taylor Engel. As usual, the translation reads well with no issues to note. Since my last review, the series has been renewed for a second anime season which isn’t dated yet but I would be surprised if it wasn’t set to air in 2024.

The series is currently up to 9 Volumes in Japanese with #10 scheduled for October and Yen Press has already released #5 & #6 in English. Currently, there’s no release date for #7 in the schedule, suggesting we may be in for a break now.

Overall, The Detective is Already Dead Volume 4 proves more focused than the previous instalment, but can’t shake the feeling that it’s starting to get carried away with itself. Coupled with a final reveal that’s sure to divide fans of the series, this could very well prove an exit point for many.

Our review copy from Yen Press was supplied by Diamond Book Distributors UK.

https://animeportal.net/the-detective-is-already-dead-volume-4-review-2/

17/10/2023

Wind Breaker Volume 1 Review

The manga series Wind Breaker (not to be confused with a webtoon with the same name!) has taken Japan by storm since it began on Magazine Pocket in early 2021. The series by Satoru Nii has an anime adaptation by Cloverworks in the works and has sold over 1.22 million copies in Japan between its digital and print release. Now the series has made its English debut in print and I’m here to find out if it’s worth your time.

The story follows protagonist Haruka Sakura who has just transferred to Furin High School in Makochi Town. The school is known for being home to delinquents and the neighbourhood has long been the site of gangs fighting one another. Haruka has joined the school hoping to battle his way to the top and prove his strength, but the reality of what he finds here is different from what he expected!

On his first day in the area, Haruka unwittingly saves Kotoha Tachibana from some thugs trying to convince her to hang out with them. Kotoha runs nearby Café Pothos and, just like Haruka, is not originally from the area. She tells him all about how unsafe it used to be until the students of Furin came together to protect it from other gangs. Rather than fight among themselves, the students have made it their duty to work together to protect the ordinary town folk from harm. Kotoha warns Haruka that he will never be at the top of Furin if he’s all alone; you need more than fighting skills to stand there!

With his two-tone hair and different-coloured eyes, Haruka has always been labelled a delinquent and shunned by those around him. At this point, he believes that all he’s good for is his ability to hold his own in a fight and has no interest in befriending or working with someone weaker than him. He’s shut himself off from the world, but Kotoha can tell that, although he talks about being a lone wolf, Haruka just wants to find a place to belong and that place, hopefully, will be Furin.

On his first day at the school, our protagonist meets Akihiko Nirei, a fellow first-year who is in Haruka’s class and is a bit of a klutz. He might not have the skills necessary to fight off thugs who mean to harm him and the townspeople, but his heart is in the right place. Haruka initially wants nothing to do with him, but when he finds him in trouble later on, will our protagonist really be able to turn a blind eye?

Haruka might be constantly itching for a fight, but it quickly becomes clear to us readers that his life at Furin will change his future considerably. Here he will find like-minded individuals and more than that, the residents of the town welcome him with open arms as he protects them from those looking to cause harm. Having that kindness bestowed upon him may show Haruka that there’s a different path to the top of Furin that doesn’t involve pushing everyone away and making a lonely journey fighting everyone who challenges him.

Delinquent manga have been popular in Japan for a long time and here in the West, there’s a growing appetite for them thanks to series like Tokyo Revengers. But rather than focus on the nitty-gritty of being in a gang, Wind Breaker instead emphasizes Haruka’s feelings of not fitting in. As Volume 1 goes on, you get the sense that being a misfit is the main theme of the series. This is a town where those who don’t belong elsewhere can come together, be accepted for who they are and grow up in a place that gives them the chance to figure out who exactly they are and what they stand for.

This isn’t mangaka Satoru Nii’s first work, but it is the first to make it to the English market. Reading through this first volume it’s easy to see why Wind Breaker has become so popular, not just because of its charming cast but also due to the artwork. There are a lot of fight scenes in the four chapters included in this release and each one is easy to follow and a real feast for the eyes. I’m impressed with just how detailed each panel is without overwhelming the reader and still capturing the fast pace of these brawls. It’s easy to see why this one has been picked up for an anime adaptation as I’m sure it will look amazing on our screens.

As previously mentioned, Wind Breaker comes to the West thanks to Kodansha and Volume 1 has been translated by Jacqueline Fung with lettering by Michael Martin (the digital edition has lettering by Andrew Copeland). The release reads well with no issues to note and there are extensive translation notes at the end of the book, which go into the history of delinquents in Japan as well as explaining the meaning behind the name Furin. It’s clear a lot of care has gone into this one, which is always nice to see.

Wind Breaker is ongoing in Japan with 13 volumes currently available. In English, Kodansha has been releasing the series digitally since April 2022 and has released 11 volumes so far. The physical releases continue with #2 in October and #3 following in December, so it appears we’ll be on a bi-monthly schedule for now.

Overall, Wind Breaker gets off to an action-packed start. It’s easy to see how this series has grown a sizable fanbase with its likeable cast of characters, detailed artwork and empathetic coming-of-age story. If you like the base premise then I am sure you will find yourself coming back for more in the future.

A free preview can be read on Kodansha’s website here.

Our review copy from Kodansha was supplied by Diamond Book Distributors UK.

https://animeportal.net/wind-breaker-volume-1-review-2/

17/10/2023

Crunchyroll announces new Demon Slayer cinema experience dates

Aniplex of America & Crunchyroll reveal Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To The Swordsmith Village – opens in UK & Ireland cinemas March 1st

Tickets go on sale February 17th

Trailer

Joining forces once again, Aniplex of America and Crunchyroll, one of the leaders in bringing audiences the ultimate anime experience around the globe, will be distributing Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- in the United Kingdom and Ireland on March 1, as part of a cinematic event worldwide consisting of Episodes 10 and 11 of the series’ Entertainment District Arc as well as the extended Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Swordsmith Village Arc, all of which will be combined into one feature-length cinematic experience remastered in 4K.

Audiences wanting to take part in Tanjiro’s next thrilling adventure can purchase tickets beginning Friday, February 17

The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba TV series, which debuted in 2019, and Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, which took the world by storm in 2020, are currently available to stream on Crunchyroll. The series is based on Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga, which boasts over 150 million copies in circulation in Japan. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action-packed, thrilling tale of a young man in search of a cure for his sister, who has been turned into a demon after their family is viciously slaughtered by demons.

Synopsis

After his family is viciously murdered, a kind-hearted boy named Tanjiro Kamado resolves to become a Demon Slayer in hopes of turning his younger sister Nezuko back into a human.

Together with his comrades, Zenitsu and Inosuke, along with one of the top-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tengen Uzui, Tanjiro embarks on a mission within the Entertainment District, where they encounter the formidable, high-ranking demons, Daki and Gyutaro.

https://animeportal.net/crunchyroll-announces-new-demon-slayer-cinema-experience-dates/

17/10/2023

Cut-Over Criteria Review

This book contains s*xual content and is intended for an audience aged 18 years and up.

When people turn thirty… they can’t eat as many fatty foods as they used to. It takes longer for them to recover from colds and injuries. Their skin gets rougher and they put on weight more easily. Even if we’re designed to die one day… don’t you find all this a little buggy?

Recent IT graduate Jin Hagiwara has just started work in the development department of an IT firm under the watchful eye of team manager systems engineer, thirty-something Haruma Seto. Jin is talented and, having been thrown in the deep end by Seto, soon proves his worth as a programmer in the department. But Seto gets the uneasy feeling that Jin is always watching him and one day Jin, who’s a straightforward kind of a guy, asks him if he’s gay and if he’d like to go out with him, saying, “It was love at first sight.” Seto tells him that as his boss, he can’t have a relationship with one of his team. As an engineer, Hagiwara is exceptionally talented. I don’t want to lose him over something as silly as a love affair.

So, how is it that sometime later after finally winding up a big project in the small hours after the trains have finished running, Seto ends up taking Jin home with him? One thing inevitably leads to another, even if they don’t go all the way. Seto, who tends to think about everything in computing jargon, ends up reflecting, After thirty years of operating as a human, a major update file has appeared. And it’s not just for one night; Jin keeps coming back, bringing food and cooking for them both and trying to make Seto’s soulless bachelor flat more comfortable. But then Seto sends Jin off to Fukuoka for a fortnight to deal with an urgent problem and Jin feels as if he’s been sidelined. When he returns, things are suddenly awkward between them.

By Chapter 3, the viewpoint switches from Seto to Jin and it’s a nice and subtly underplayed piece of characterization as we get to see that even though the gifted young programmer seems to be brimming with self-confidence, when it comes to his feelings for Seto he’s painfully insecure, constantly worrying about Seto’s past relationships and trying not to let his jealousy show (and failing). Will their relationship survive the extra pressures of working in the same office and the inevitable curiosity of their fellow workers, especially those that have known Seto far longer than Jin has?

Coming from an arts background, I’d not encountered the term ‘cut-over’ before. The dictionary definition is ‘a transitional period in a computer system changeover during which old and new systems work concurrently’ which kind-of sums up this tale of department boss Seto who’s feeling his age at thirty plus when bright new graduate Jin joins his team. Inevitably, as this is a story about computer programmers, there’s IT jargon involved and terms are explained in the text (between panels) as they occur, rather than in translation notes. Also, the characters tend to use programming terms when chatting about themselves (and not just their work)…

Cut-Over Criteria delivers a believable and likeable slice-of-life story about two IT guys with a nine-year age-gap who find that they have a lot more in common than mutual admiration for each other’s programming skills. The mangaka takes the time to develop their relationship in a meaningful way and the s*x scenes, when they happen, are part of the developing relationship and feel genuinely earned. And even though they’re mostly drawn in relatively soft focus, they’re not censored (no pixels or strange white stripes here). However, given the mangaka’s art style, the men’s faces are quite round and childlike, which is slightly disconcerting as they look much younger than their actual ages; these are meant to be office workers in a salaryman-style BL romance! The mangaka often portrays Jin with animal ears when he’s around Seto (more cat than dog, maybe, although plaintive puppy-mode fits his mood swings better than kitten).

The manga has been translated for Tokyopop’s LOVE x LOVE LGBT+ list by the ever-dependable Christine Dashiell; there’s a nice little extra couple of pages ‘Undercover Story’ by the mangaka (and, of course, she represents herself as a koala). The e-book is available now and the physical edition will follow in April 2023.

https://animeportal.net/cut-over-criteria-review/

17/10/2023

Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Another Story Volume 2 Review

In Volume 2 of this alternative retelling of Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica, we turn our attention to resident apple muncher Kyouko Sakura, who is just as worried about the disappearance of witches in Mitakihara as Mami is. While warned by her fellow magical girl to stay away from Kamihama City, Kyubey tempts her into acting and she begins to investigate this mysterious gathering place for witches herself. As the witches she encounters end up being easy meat, Kyouko is lulled into a false sense of security and accepts what she thinks is a harmless free bottle of water from a drink stand. As the saying goes however, you don’t get anything for free, as Kyouko soon finds herself thrust into one of Kamihama’s infamous rumours. Faced with mysterious slips of paper that appear out of nowhere and seem to be counting down to something, Kyouko returns to Kamihama to find out what is going on and stop the countdown before it is too late.

As an existing fan of the franchise, I found this volume to be a bit of a weird one as it finds itself in an awkward position of having to introduce a lot of the main concepts and characters of the Magia Record universe, but to an audience that probably already knows everything about it. This leads to a very awkward plod through an expository plotline that needs to be said but is clearly not the book’s main focus, instead acting as more of an exploratory character study of Kyouko herself.

Whether you will like this volume really rests on whether you can stand sifting through a by-the-numbers, “find this person” fetch quest to get those more interesting pieces of character development, as there’s nothing more to the main investigation than that. This is honestly a shame as the main setup for the rumour and curse that Kyouko finds herself stuck with is actually pretty interesting and could have made for a good race against time to fix everything, but it tends to end up in long-winded chats between the girls that are only really there to make them look cute instead of driving the story and characters forward. Wasting an entire half chapter on an unnecessary b**b joke didn’t impress me either.

The actual bits we care about though – Kyouko, her internal regret, and her sometimes difficult friendship with Mami – do come through well and completely align with her established character in other parts of the franchise. While most fans will know what her general deal is through the TV anime, we get to see the odd moment here of her before she became the jaded lone warrior, and I loved seeing that contrast between then and the fractured relationship she has with Mami now. Her frustration in being tied to a team also shines through in situations where she has to team up with the Kamihama girls, most of which end with her blowing them off and taking the fight into her own hands, leaving an uncomfortable atmosphere in her wake.

Like the first volume however, the action in this series could really do with some beefing up. The main fight at the end is okay, but it has an overall trend of leading you in with high expectations, only to cut away with celebrations and high-fives moments later without actually showing you how the battle went. When one of the main draws of a magical girl series is the fights, this is sure to disappoint those who come into this wanting more of what the main show has to offer. Meanwhile the ending itself is pretty messy, as it ends up with two distinct battles going on simultaneously, and while it wraps one of them up nicely, the other is oddly forgotten about.

In terms of visuals, the character art remains its biggest draw, with all the girls being very cute and emotive throughout, while there’s a couple of ¾ page panels that show off Kyouko’s character design to the full. The background art is still pretty simplistic, but it didn’t feel too detrimental when there’s a lot of talking going on in locations like parks and cafés.

Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Another Story is published by Yen Press and is available both physically and digitally. The series is translated by Noboru Akimoto and is pleasant to read with no issues to note.

Overall, this second volume of Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Another Story is a bit of a disappointment as I was expecting a lot more from a series that has such strong material and characters to work with. While it does have some interesting ideas here and there and offers a good character study of Kyouko and her friendship with Mami, it lacks in its overall ex*****on of the core investigation and reveal of the series’ central concepts, while it waves away action scenes in favour of long-winded conversations. If you’re still interested in this then I might advise you to wait and see if subsequent volumes pick up a bit, but I do fear this may end up being for die-hard Madoka fans only.

https://animeportal.net/magia-record-puella-magi-madoka-magica-another-story-volume-2-review/

17/10/2023

Phantom of the Idol Volume 3 Review

“Floating is exhausting.” Yuya Niyodo at the pool calendar shoot. “Why do people want to see swimsuits so much anyway?”

Idol due ZINGS have asked the fans: what outfits should they be photographed wearing for their upcoming calendar? And, to Niyodo’s horror, seasonal costumes, starting with summer at the pool, have been requested. His ghostly companion, phantom idol Asahi Mogami, is thrilled at the thought and as Niyodo is in an especially negative mood, she tells him that she’ll show him how to sparkle in summer! The instant she’s taken control, it’s as if Niyodo has become a different person and the shoot is a success. But Yoshino, Niyodo’s long-suffering partner, is beginning to wonder what exactly is going on with these dramatic mood changes; could Niyodo be identical twins, he asks himself, secretly switching places?

ZINGS must be doing something right, though, as they learn they’re in the running for the ‘Next Up’ idol awards. And their manager has a new song for them: their first love song. Niyodo, of course, hasn’t a clue how to sing it. Asahi tries to coach him and when he asks her, “How do you define great singing?” she shows him a clip of her idol group “I’M” showcasing Chikage Yura, the group’s leader – and even the imperturbable Niyodo is impressed. But it turns out the group is currently on hiatus as, after the memorial concert for Asahi, Yura has gone abroad to study. So how can Asahi teach Niyodo to sing a love song with even an ounce of feeling? Undaunted, she persuades him to practise with her in a karaoke room and her clever ruse pays off, as she finds parallels that are truly meaningful to Niyodo, such as anxiously waiting on payday to see if the bank transfer’s worked and the money’s in the account.

Yet just as Asahi’s coaching is beginning to show results, she and Niyodo catch a news item on TV announcing Yura-chan’s return to Japan in which she announces that she’s decided to ‘graduate’ from “I’M”. Asahi is deeply shocked as she respects and admires her leader’s vocal talents – so she goes along with Yoshino and Niyodo to her onetime leader’s farewell concert. But as Asahi’s cheering along with the rest of the audience, the singer freezes for a moment, staring in her direction as if she’s spotted her in the audience. Could it be that Niyodo is not the only one who can see and hear Asahi?

Even though this volume kicks off with the calendar episode (which was included in the TV anime) what follows is all new material – and there’s much to keep the reader involved and turning the pages. From Asahi’s coaching of Niyodo in how to sing a love song to the unexpected appearance of Chikage Yura and the considerable complications she stirs up for ZINGS, there’s never a dull moment. A TV show appearance with CGrass brings back dedicated Asahi fan Setouchi (the leader of CGrass who’s still rather too interested in what’s going on with ZINGS) and the three dedicated (obsessed?) Niyodoids are never far away. In fact, the manga continues to emphasize how much the performers (and their managers) are at the mercy of the whims of the fans. This volume does much to show us how the relationship between Asahi and Niyodo is progressing and deepening; he’s come to trust her and is really benefiting from her advice, as is shown when the duo’s vocal coach hears him sing. Although the wistfully knowing smile on Asahi’s face speaks volumes as she says to him, “One day you might look back and realize ‘Oh, that’s what that song was about!’”

This volume also turns the spotlight on poor, confused Yoshino who not only has to put up with Niyodo’s two personalities without understanding why his partner is so grouchy one moment and then so sparkly the next – but also is becoming worn out with trying to carry the whole act by himself as he never knows when Niyodo is going to switch on or off. By the end of the volume, a major revelation has been made – and life for ZINGS is about to change. Will it be for the better… or the worse?

The translator for Kodansha is again Max Greenway who adds two helpful pages of translation notes and lettering is by Michael Martin. The mangaka contributes a lively ‘Afterflavone’ as well as two pages of bonus comic in which they chat to the editor H-san as well as the characters.

Even though this is the mangaka’s debut series, the standard is consistently high; even if some of the panels are rather over-busy, Hijiki Isoflavone really delivers on the characters’ expressions, bringing the whole cast to life in an involving way for the reader. Isoflavone is good at story-telling too and is not afraid to shine a rather harsh and sometimes unforgiving light on the fickle world of showbusiness for aspiring idols. But if that makes the series sound rather too serious, it manages to weave in genuinely funny moments (no easy thing) without unbalancing the narrative. Judging by this volume, Phantom of the Idol is going from strength to strength and I looking forward to reading Volume 4 (due out on February 14th).

https://animeportal.net/phantom-of-the-idol-volume-3-review/

17/10/2023

The Witch and the Beast Volume 9 Review

THE PULLED THREAD

Ashaf the mage and Guideau, the beast-woman cursed by the witch Angela, have left the world of the vampires and returned to the surface. Wandering through a nighttime market with Ashaf, Guideau suddenly turns down an obscure alleyway and heads straight toward an antique shop. Inside is a life-sized doll – and it seems that Guideau can hear it speaking to her. “I was once human… until a witch’s curse made me into this doll.” The owner is at first extremely reluctant to part with the doll which has acted as a kind of gatekeeper for him, barring unwelcome visitors from the shop – but when the doll reveals that he has ‘a forbidden instrument’ concealed upstairs, he relents. Guideau is far from happy with her new ‘companion’; the doll, once released from the shop and united with someone who can hear her voice, keeps talking away. But then Ashaf turns up with a small boy in tow. He tells Guideau that the child is ‘not in some way unrelated to Angela’ and asks her to look after him.

After this prologue, the story spools back ten days, reintroducing the charismatic Colonel Matt Cugat of the Paladin Corps, ‘The Man of Ice’ with elemental powers whom we last saw badly injured in Volume 4 after the catastrophic events involving the Demon Sword. Cugat has been summoned to a castle where he meets up with Commander Keith who’s organizing the defence. A hurricane is heading their way, a magical storm whipped up by witches, that picks up magical components as it moves. Cugat is introduced to a mage called Karl Oakleave who presents in the body of a young boy and they’re told to work together; other knight commanders are present in the castle and the five archmages are said to be involved too. Whatever’s coming their way, the title of these chapters ‘Chaos Within the Storm’ sums up the immensity of the threat facing the protagonists while not defining what exactly lies at the heart of the storm. Why are the witches heading their way? Because the castle contains a collection of forbidden instruments. But maybe Cugat and co. are not alone in facing up to the oncoming storm, because Helga, the bearer of the Demon Sword (rescued by Ashaf and Guideau) has teamed up with the necromancers Phanora Kristoffel and her sidekick Johan. “We can’t let those witches do whatever they want,” Phanora says coolly even as the barriers around the castle are breached. But when it turns out that one of the witches is none other than Angela, nothing is certain – except that someone has been acting as a mole and betrayed the Paladin Corps.

‘So, this is where I shall bid my farewells to mage Ashaf and his female companion Guideau…’ Or so I wrote in 2022… yet here I am again, tempted back into this intriguing but sometimes frustrating dark fantasy manga. Kousuke Satake must be doing something right! Even though, throughout the whole nine volumes (so far), the mangaka has somehow contrived to give away very little about Guideau (the beast) or Ashaf (the mage who’s her minder or maybe something more) let alone Angela (the witch) to keep this reader coming back for more. But here, at last, we get to see Angela in action – as well as other characters Guideau and Ashaf have encountered before on their travels, both friend and deadly foe. There’s a genuine sense of story threads being pulled together and a welcome feeling that something momentous is going to happen at last. Satake’s signature magical battle scenes feature prominently again as witches threaten the castle which Matt Cugat is charged with protecting. And the art is, at its best, wonderfully sinister and gothic.

Nevertheless, the mangaka still falls back on the use of obscure hints and flashbacks which muddy the waters, rather than keeping the reader engaged, bringing to mind one of the famous Robert McKee Ten Commandments of Storytelling: ‘Thou shalt not complicate when complexity is better.’ The opening pages are a prime example; at this stage in the narrative, we really need a strong, clear storyline, not yet more vague hints.

Kevin Gifford continues to translate the series for Kodansha and Phil Christie continues to provide the wide variety of lettering the series demands (especially the magical battles).

Volume 10 was originally scheduled for February 2023 from Kodansha but now only in digital version and it may be quite a while before Volume 11 appears as, sadly, mangaka Kousuke Satake has gone on a two-month hiatus, due to ill health. In the meantime, perhaps there’ll be more news of the promised anime TV series.

https://animeportal.net/the-witch-and-the-beast-volume-9-review/

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