Yo-Kai Watch: Volume 2 manga review

Manga
Yo-Kai Watch: Volume 2 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
November 22, 2015 - 22:40

Writer(s): Noriyuki Konishi, Tetsuichiro Miyaki, Aubrey Sitterson
Penciller(s): Noriyuki Konishi
Letterer(s): William F Schuch
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8252-8
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, 192pp, B&W, paperback

Yo-Kai Watch Volume 2 cover image

Rated “A” for “All Ages”

Nate Adams is an ordinary elementary school student. One day, he meets Whisper, a strange yokai (called “yo-kai” in this series). The floating, blob-like Whisper gives a gift to Nate. It is the “Yo-Kai Watch,” which allows Nate to see yo-kai that are invisible to the human eye. Soon, Nate is helping yo-kai and collecting from each one a “Yo-Kai Metal,” a memento of friendship that allows him to call on his yo-kai friends when he needs help.

As Yo-Kai Watch, Vol. 2 (entitled Beware the Bristly Germs; Chapters 8 to 14) opens, Nate finds Whisper in a bit of a rebellious attitude. Soon, he learns that some of his classmates are also suddenly turned rebel. Who is the new yo-kai behind all this?

Also, a new yo-kai is making everyone sick, even Nate classmates. What is the cure for this ill? Plus, a visit to a public bath pits Nate against his first yo-kai rival.

[This volume includes the bonus story, “A Nightmare at School!]

THE LOWDOWN: The Yo-Kai Watch manga is inspired by the Yokai Watch video game created by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS. Published under VIZ Media's “Perfect Square” imprint, the manga is produced by mangaka, Noriyuki Konishi.

Yo-kai Watch is a good graphic novel series for young comics readers, especially those already familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. After reading, Yo-Kai Watch Volume 2, however, I find myself enjoying this series. I look forward to each chapter in the hopes that Nate Adams meets another yo-kai friend and thus, earns another Yo-Kai Metal. Sigh.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Young readers interested in manga will want to try the Perfect Square series, Yo-Kai Watch.