Rated “T” for “Teen”

Fourteen-year-old Yoshimori Sumimura is a kekkaishi (the word means “barrier master”), a demon hunter that specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey, especially the natural enemy of the kekkaishi, a race of demons known as the ayakashi.  By day, Yoshimori is just a student, going to high school with his pretty 16-year-old neighbor, his friend and rival kekkaishi, Tokine Yukimura.

In Kekkaishi, Vol. 14, Yoshimori continues to aid his new ally and perhaps friend, Takeshi Kongoh, a fumashi – one who seals off the malevolent energy of evil beings.  Takeshi’s target is Jaren, a giant, shadowy, three-eyed wolf-like monster who killed Takeshi’s master, but will Jaren devour both Takeshi and his partner Yoshimori.  Thankfully they have Tokine; she’s seems to be the brains of this outfit.

Next, the emissary of a local goblin king seeks Yoshimori’s aid in breaking the king of his infatuation with a beautiful young American tourist.  Will Yoshimori’s deal with the emissary, a raven-like ayakashi, leave the young kekkaishi crying fowl?

THE LOWDOWN:  Comparing Kekkaishi to Naruto would not at all be inaccurate.  Like the Harry Potter novels, both feature young male prodigies, destined for greatness, but are often too headstrong and sometimes are slackers.  What separates Kekkaishi from Naruto is creator Yellow Tanabe’s insistence on making Kekkaishi extra creepy (where as Naruto is wild and fun).  I can only think of two American comic book artists who are similar to Tanabe in their ability to create creepy comics with even weirder and creepier villains – Steve Ditko (co-creator The Amazing Spider-Man) and Dan Brereton (creator of Nocturnals).  In fact, Tanabe’s clean art reminds me of a blending of Ditko and his successor on The Amazing Spider-Man, John Romita.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of Naruto and Bleach will enjoy this action/horror shounen manga (boys’ comics).

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