Review by Frank Plowright

Eko Eko Azarak specialises in supernatural horror via resident witch Misa Kouri, whose reborn aspect was shown in Vol. 1, starring in sometimes connected short stories. She’s immensely powerful, yet plies her trade in the shadows, well exemplified in the opening story of the full moon coinciding with Halloween and increasing supernatural danger. Misa comes to a surprising accord with a bullied child able to transform into a werewolf.

J-ta Yamada’s neat art is stronger than in the opening volume the storytelling clearer and with some beautiful illustrations. One disturbing delight concerns duality, providing the opportunity for well conceived mirror images, the highlight being a complete reflective spread. The art varies from story to story as well, extremely busy when a none too bright woman messes with a zombie love potion, but there’s clarity for someone wanting to alter the past. Almost everything, though, is drawn with a delicacy until we reach the point of slaughter, when there’s an infusion of wild energy.

It seems Yamada is adapting stories by Shinichi Koga, and they consistently surprise with the paths taken and the resolutions reached. It’s common that Misa will deliver an oblique warning, or note when someone’s approaching a turning point, but there’s no interference with the decision they make, no matter whether she knows of a poor outcome. Sentimentality rarely intrudes. The stories draw on an international cast of troublesome supernatural beings, all of whom show deference to Misa, and there are explanations of process, some legendary and connected with demons, others as simple as the various forms of fortune telling.

The one constant is karma, which is never actually mentioned in the stories, but a strong moral code applies, and if we see someone misbehaving who won’t take a warning, they’re unlikely to see out their story. It’s a surprise when we reach the end of the volume to discover a grim revelation, yet the demon concerned has seemingly manifested in an earlier story.

A good first volume opened the series, and this is an even better selection of spooky treats.