Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2 Review
Writer & Artist: Yako Gureishi
Translator: Mellow Brown
Letterer: Skylar Rutan
Cover Artist: Yako Gureishi
Publisher: Titan Manga
Price: $12.99
Release Date: March 26, 2025
A traveler in the woods suggested they visit the witch
village. So, following their outdated map, the Golem and Somali reach a cluster
of buildings in the forest. As they traverse the streets, the witches ply them
with food and drink. While the little girl loves the samples, the Golem knows
they are short on funds.
After the Golem explains why they've arrived, the witches
direct them to the library. There, Hazel searches for a book written by a
Human. Can The Chronicles of Haraiso tell them where the Humans have gone? And
can the Golem reunite the little girl with her people? Let’s grab our walking
sticks, leap into Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2, and see!
Story
Hazel obeys the rules stringently, but her sister observes
them more in spirit than in practice. Praline has removed the book without
authorization. Worse, she keeps it in a dusty room where she eats. When Somali
pulls the book from the shelf, another cloud of dust summons the Pescafish. The
creatures swarm in the room, seeking to devour all the ink-soaked pages.
In Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2, the witches worship
the Earth and travel the world in search of wisdom. They collect books, store
them in their library, and study the world and its inhabitants. Praline's
disregard for the rules has endangered what her community most prizes. Even if
they can fend off the Pescafish, Praline faces dire consequences for her
infraction. But the Golem doesn’t care about the witches’ rules. While he
protects Somali, he also fights to find any Human settlements in a world where
the other intelligent species hate them.
In Yako Gureishi's story, Somali doesn't share the Golem's
urgency. She calls him Father and delights in his company. But the Golem knows
it doesn't have much time left. Before its mechanisms stop functioning, the
Golem wants to help return Somali to her people. After spending most of its
life caring for the forest, the Golem never tries to harm people in Somali and
the Forest Spirit Vol 2. But like Praline, it disregards the rules and laws of
the societies it visits. After learning what it can from the library, this
creature of gears, levers, and science braves the witches' magical defenses for
clues to where he can find any communities of the endangered Human species.
Art
After meeting the witches who offered them platters of food
and goblets of magical wine, surrounded by fluttering fairies, the Golem
clutches Somali as fish with transparent skin swim through the air. Hazel
summons bird familiars and conjures magic to defeat the bookeaters. But the
school of Pescafish surprises her by forming a giant fish that gobbles up books
in its massive maw. Like a medieval knight, the Golem stands before Somali,
crossing his armored arms, intent on sacrificing itself to protect the Human
girl.
Yako Gureishi enhances the detailed art with shading,
crafting memorable characters and settings in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol
2. Hazel and Praline resemble teenagers. Yet when a young witch briefly takes
over the narrative, her similarity to Somali clarifies Hazel's explanation of
how witches differ from Humans. In addition to their innate differences, the
two species also craft their villages differently. Humans favor straight lines
and rectangular structures. The witches build round homes, and their
multilayered village extends into the interior of an enormous tree. While the
Humans' inhabitations represent the known, the witches' community invokes awe
at the wonders it holds.
Mellow Brown translates the uppercase letters that appear in
balloons, boxes, and panel backgrounds. A weakened witch’s speech fills blobby
balloons and boxes. And when a young witch grows frightened, white uppercase
letters appear in black balloons. Skylar Rutan’s sound effects enhance the
battle in the library, the Golem’s desperate search for the truth, and an
accident that threatens to separate two friends forever. Thanks to Titan Manga
for providing a physical review copy.
Now, let's take a look inside:
Final Thoughts
Some enchanted animals kill Humans for sport. Others buy
them in the market when they can find them, even if their meat isn’t the best
for cooking. Someone left Somali shackled in the Golem’s forest. So, after
disguising the Human girl, it takes her on a journey to find her people. In
this story about friendship, fear, and found family, the Golem learns more
about its own kind and why the other intelligent species hate Humanity in
Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2.
Rating 9.8/10
For what happened before, see my review of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1.
