By: Shiho Inada, Fuyumi Ono Publisher: Del Rey Average Rating: Binding: Comic Label: Del Rey Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: June 26, 2007 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: June 26, 2007
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 investigations. To make matters worse, Naru becomes possessed during an exorcism, leaving the remaining SPR members on their own not only to save the day, but to rescue Naru himself!
Why do I need to review this? I've bought the last seven as proof that I enjoyed this manga. I'll write another later on if the writer jumps any watery fish.
Keeping the Pace Ghost Hunt really picks up in both storyline and artwork beginning in vol 6 (But vol 1-3 are good for background info. Vol 4 & 5 start to pick up, but are surpassed by vol 6 & 7). Now in vol 8, the series shows that it can maintain this caliber of work.
Like vol 6 & 7, vol 8 is the first half of a two part story which will be completed in vol 9 (unreleased at this time). The story brings the cast of characters to a haunted resturant. Sounds dull? Well, in this vol the ever perfect Naru finally falls leaving the rest of the cast to solve this one on their own. It is a great change of pace for the series since it seemed like only Naru (and maybe Lin) was needed to "solve" the hauntings. It left the reader asking is manuel labor and taking orders the only things everyone else was good at?
Mai's abilites are further explored when nearly an entire chapter is dedicated to her psychic dreaming. Also, the "miko" in the group is further discussed and her second job is revealed. This second job, like Monk-san's music career, comes off as strange and unecessary. In reality, it is the author's attempt at characterization. Something that is really unimportant. Like all good horror movies, who the characters are is not nearly as important as what is happening now.
The art is clean and creepy. Nothing extremely notable in this vol with the exception of the last few pages. I imagine that similar to vol 6 & 7, vol 9's "horror" will pick up significantly whereas vol 8 is regulated to telling the background of the story.
One last note is that the publisher made a mistake. The preview for vol 9 is actually a Japanese text version of a section from vol 8. After reading the work it is easily noticable. However, for once I'm glad for the mistake. All too often Delrey's previews gives the plot away for the next vol. Something that can't happen due to the mistake!
As I've said before - if you hate cliffhangers wait until vol 9's released date. It is posted on Amazon.
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