VIZ MEDIA/Perfect Square – @VIZMedia
MANGAKA: Noriyuki Konishi
ORIGINAL STORY: Level 5, Inc.
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Aubrey Sitterson
LETTERS: William F Schuch
EDITOR: Joel Enos
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8251-1; paperback (November 2015); Rated “A” for “All Ages”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN
Yo-Kai Watch is a video game created by Japanese video game developer, Level-5. It is published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Yo-Kai Watch inspired a manga produced by mangaka, Noriyuki Konishi. This manga is the latest addition to VIZ Media's “Perfect Square” imprint, and November sees the release of the first two volumes of Yo-Kai Watch.
Yo-Kai Watch, Vol. 1 (entitled Nate's Lucky Day; Chapters 1 to 7) introduces Nate Adams, an ordinary elementary school student. One day, Nate meets a strange yokai (called “yo-kai” in this series) named “Whisper.” The floating, blob-like Whisper gives to Nate a gift. 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 each one when he needs help.
[This volume includes the bonus story, “Late to School!!]
The Yo-Kai Watch manga is a good graphic novel series for young comics readers, especially those already familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that Yo-Kai Watch is inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh! Both franchises encourage fans to collect franchise-related creatures and creature-inspired objects and ephemera.
That aside, Yo-Kai Watch Volume 1 is a good read. The stories are not exactly taken from the “wheel of morality,” but each offers a lesson to learn. Also, Nate Adams is an all-around good guy, who is always up for adventure and discovery, which is a good thing in a lead character, whether the story is for young or old.
B
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
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