Review by Ian Keogh

Rather than stringing readers along with a flashback, Vol. 5 opens with Mokumokuren immediately picking up with the events ending Vol. 4. Everyone survived, but now more people know Hikaru’s secret. Readers, though, learn secrets Yoshiki doesn’t know, such as that of Tanaka, told on the sample art. Tanaka reveals more to the town’s elders, including that the company he represents has been searching for something in the vicinity for centuries.

It’s really to be admired how Mokumokuren began The Summer Hikaru Died with the great hook of someone seemingly returning from the dead, and has gradually broadened the series to encompass a whole ancient mythology of the town protecting against a horror in the woods. Hikaru’s family is connected with the legend of trouble coming to the town, and more grim stories from the past tumble out, yet the series largely restricts the actual horror to the past. By the time this volume ends a history of the mountainous area around Kubitachi has pretty well been put together going back several centuries. Taken at face value what’s happening in the present is strange, but so rarely breaks out into violence. The threat of it simmers nicely, though.

The story flows so well due to Mokumokuren’s art, which is as subtle as the emotional moments. People are drawn simply, but have personality, and as those emotional moments carry so much weight they have to transmit, and do. For all the simple drawings of people, take the time to admire Mokumokuren’s scenery. Look closely, though, and that’s relatively simply constructed as well. The art is masterly deceitful.

The heart of this book is two separate conversations. Although we’ve only rarely seen them, it’s been established that Yoshiki’s family is hardly happy and settled, which given the town’s duties and feelings isn’t a surprise as it’s a heavy burden. Hikaru, though, is beginning to wonder more about what he is, and how that will impact on others. Whatever the duality within him, when it emerges it endangers Yoshiki despite any good intentions. It all makes for a compelling brew.

As ever, Mokumokuren comes up with a great final chapter ensuring you’ll want Vol. 6.