Review by Frank Plowright

Transferred to another world, Yukito Urabe found himself in a very serious situation, so in desperation invoked the god he always believed his father had made up. It turns out Mitima exists and is extremely powerful. Except now Yukito has some dangerous enemies and in a world where there’s been no previous religious belief Mitima’s power can only be sustained by acquiring followers. The more who believe, the more powerful she is. Except given the threat heading Yukito’s way to end Working for God in a Godless World 1, she may not yet be powerful enough.

Yukito, though, may be young, but he’s incredibly resourceful, and in Aio Akashiro he has a writer imaginative and innovative when it comes to use of magic. He’s had Mitima pull a feudal society into the modern era where what we take for granted immensely improves the quality of life, and she can supply plumbing or farm vehicles to all believers.

Despite the presence of an emperor ruling by force, Working for God in a Godless World is a relatively cheerful series, accentuated by artist Hangetsubansonsyo frequently slipping into exaggerated reactions and drawing Mitima as a child. However, basing the art almost exclusively on people and never employing distance makes what’s happening confusing to follow at times. At moments when the characters express surprise, you’ll wonder what they’re surprised at. However, as seen via the sample art, when Hangetsubansonsyo wigs out the results resemble something from a demented 1960s drug-influenced comic.

These moments accompany even profound revelations, as there’s thought behind the background, and Yukito may believe that through Mitima he’s in control, but the truth is something different. Akashiro ties that in with a disclosure explaining some of the first volume’s more left field moments. It’s clever, but could have been handled in a way avoiding head-scratching last time. Even with the explanations, though, some of the transitions aren’t fully smooth, jumping back and forth from past to present.

Greater definition to the background and a new purpose end this volume strongly, but the potential needs to be fulfilled in Working for God in a Godless World 3.