Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1 Review

 

Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1 Review

Writer & Artist: Yamada Jta

Original Story: Shinichi Koga

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: Matt Bookman

Translator: Andria McKnight

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: June 2, 2026

 

People think that business is all about the bottom line. But consider Mr Kurouri. As president of Kurouri Construction, he purchased an old house for the land it sat on. He dismissed the warnings against destroying a witch's home. But then, he didn't get to be such a successful businessman by being nice. How will local legends affect Mr Kurouri? And how will his family fare after he attracts the witch's interest? Let’s leap into Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

As Chihiro walks along, she notices another girl swaying. She helps her to a bench. And when she notices a scrape on her knee, Chihiro offers the girl her favorite handkerchief. Misa Kuroi explains she recently moved to town. When Misa asks her name, Chihiro stutters as she gives it. And when Misa notices the burns on her hands, Chihiro tells her about her troubled homelife. The other girls may shun her. But Misa takes an interest in Chihiro Kurouri's life.

 

Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1 follows Misa Kuroi’s return to the world. Kurouri Construction may have destroyed her home. Still, magic can make many things possible. As she sets her life in order again, she notices that a special book has gone missing. Misa also returns to her school to see how life has changed in her absence. As magic preserves her youth, Misa fits in and engages with other students as an equal.

 

Yet, in Yamada Jta’s story, Misa Kuroi has no equal. She stands between Humans and the forces that threaten our world. Sometimes they are demons of our making, such as greed and insensitivity to others' needs. Yet even when bright futures await people, they can feel the allure of the darkness. Whether their own passions drive them toward danger, or their desire to harness seemingly harmless magic threatens their lives, Misa looks out for them. She always hopes she can reach them in time. But Misa Kuroi cannot rescue everyone from their foolish decisions in Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1.

 

Art

Mr Kurouri smiles as he speaks into his phone at the worksite. But after an excavator pulls something unexpected in its bucket, the construction company president peers into a container in his office. His daughter’s blonde hair tumbles past her light-colored uniform. Yet Chohiro shows an affinity for darkness, with long-sleeved black cuffs and black leggings.

 

Later, as Misa studies her library, eyes appear amid the crowded shelves. In a nightclub, a young man sparkles as a girl gives him a present. At home, he studies his phone as he touches an unexpected object in a box. Phones frequently appear in Yamada Jta’s art. Yet at Chihiro’s school, another blonde girl with braided hair is more obsessed with pieces of stretched canvas. Misa approaches her and regards a painting on an easel. Yet a memory of hands touching her head and arms emphasizes the student's emotional state.

 

Skylar Rutan places black uppercase letters in dialogue balloons and boxes. The letters vary in size as fingers touch a medallion within a heart, while a cyclops peers at schoolgirls through the windows. When Misa tries to jog a student’s memory, giant white words accompany the white smoke that forms a Human face. Sound effects enhance the frightening encounters. Yet, the white words glowing within black fields may be the scariest of all in Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a physical review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The world can be cruel to people who don’t fit in. Some people aspire to riches and success. Or they seek to preserve their youth and attractiveness. They pursue their passions to create things that offer a form of immortality. And if they meet a person they like, they try to make that person fall in love with them.

 

Everyone needs a little help now and then to achieve their goals. For some, the magical world can offer a helping hand. Yet the unwary can pay a high price for success in Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For a look inside see my preview of Eko Eko Azarak Reborn Vol 1.

 

Record Journey Vol 1 Review

 

Record Journey Vol 1 Review

Writer & Artist: Ryoichiro Kezuka 

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: David Colderley

Translator: Jan Mitsuko Cash

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: May 26, 2026

 

When her grandfather dies, Mayana Okaya sorts through his home. She's overwhelmed by the job ahead of her. Then help arrives. Koyomi Miyama from Miyama Records wants to survey the record collection. She's impressed by how meticulously Mayana's grandfather cared for his collection. Then they discover a record Koyomi cannot identify.

 

Just as Mayana wonders why her grandfather wrote her name on the sleeve of a 45, Koyomi puzzles over the music it plays. What kind of instruments are on the single? And how might the music reconnect Mayana with her late grandfather? Let's leap into Record Journey Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

Mayana remembers her grandfather as a quiet man who kept to himself. Yet he left his belongings and an album of ethnic music for her. Koyomi is a studious girl who wants to know everything about everything she sells. And unlike Mayana, she works alongside her grandfather, sharing their mutual love of music. So, while Mayana seeks a greater connection with her late grandfather, Koyomi regards learning about the mystery album as another part of her own musical journey.

 

While Mayana and Koyomi pursue answers, Ryoichiro Kezuka transports readers to other times and places. One chapter follows Lana, a waitress in a dining hall. She listens to radio broadcasts each night. But in a country where music and books from other countries are banned, listening is bad enough. Owning an album of music she enjoys could send her to prison.

 

At the heart of Record Journey Vol 1 is Nikki Lanbretta, a young woman who plays music for Radio Seagull. Each time she stops off in port with Wilko, they risk capture. And each time Nikki broadcasts from their ship, they must avoid patrol boats seeking to shut down the pirate radio station. Whenever they make landfall in whatever port accepts them, the DJs head toward record shops on their itinerary. Nikki and Wilko may enjoy a modicum of celebrity. Yet they're not above helping those in need in Record Journey Vol 1.

 

Art

When Koyomi arrives, she finds Mayana surrounded by piles of belongings. Koyomi shows Mayana what she values as she makes stacks on the floor. Time lapses of Koyomi's face surround Mayana as she finds the 45 with her name on it. When they travel to her shop, T-shirts, records, and three-dimensional emblems from famous groups hang over browser boxes filled with records.

 

In a country where owning foreign records is a crime, cabinets filled with music guard a turntable and music magazines. Posters promote foreign films and music groups. While Lana imagines circles emanating from the antenna of a pirate radio ship, the crew of Radio Seagull pushes through storms in their battered vessel, pursued by military vessels. Yet a mop-haired boy band, who can afford to stay in the best hotels, braves the dangers of a street market in Record Journey Vol 1. Their likenesses appear on a poster in Miyama Records and evoke the musicians in an iconic 1960s band.

 

Skylar Rutan fills dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters as music notes float through panels. The letters swell for raised voices and shrink for lowered voices. Character’s thoughts fill boxes, while emotions change balloon shapes. Sound effects heighten tense encounters, raging storms, and help readers hear musicians seeking adventure inside an enclosed motorcycle sidecar. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a physical copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

For some, music is a profession. Others risk their lives to pursue their passions. If they can't afford to purchase instruments, they assemble their own from disparate parts. And when they can't attract a record deal, they make demos to share with their friends. As people pursue their passion for music, share the songs they love, and teach others how to play, they embark on transformative journeys in Record Journey Vol 1.

 

Rating 10/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Record Journey Vol 1. 

    

Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4 Review

 

Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4 Review

Writer & Artist: Yako Gureishi

Translator: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Cover Artist: Yako Gureishi

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: December 23, 2025

 

Crossing the Kosuna Desert could have been easy. Instead, Somali begged her father for an adventure. The tour guide agreed that an overland journey was preferable to an underground trolley ride. Responsible parenting involves more than keeping your children safe, he counseled. If parents don't provide their children with good memories, they will grow up to be good for nothing.

 

After the wonders of the Kosuna Desert, the Golem and Somali arrive in Winecup Village, the resting point for travelers braving the deserts. No underground trolleys or overland caravans are available for the next portion of their journey. But after Somali fights with a young Noble Harpy over the last bowl of sugarcane ice cream in a restaurant, the Golem and the Human girl befriend Haitora and his ward Uzoi. What dangers will they face while crossing the Osuna Desert together? And what discoveries will they make about each other? Let’s grab our walking sticks, leap into Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4, and see!

 

Story

Uzoi introduced Haitora as a Falcohol, a race with a bird head. But like Somali, Haitora wears a disguise. He is also Human. Unlike Somali, Haitora suffers from a fatal disease. Yet like Somali, Uzoi has also lost her parents. So as the two travel together, they seek a remedy for Haitora’s affliction. Yet, after a trying crisis in a cave, Haitora bears his soul to the Golem, not realizing that Uzoi is eavesdropping.

 

In Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4, Haitora tells the Golem about his life before he met Uzoi. He lived with other Humans in a farming community. Then the enchanted animal races found them. They burned their village and captured or killed the inhabitants. Seeking revenge and sustenance after the enchanted animals’ devastating attack, Haitora caught and killed a Noble Harpy. But while the enchanted animals can eat Humans, their enchantment brings sickness and death to any Humans who eat them.

 

While Yako Gureishi’s story addresses how prejudice weakens us, it also reminds us that forgiveness is essential to building strong relationships. As they explore their world and search for Somali’s people, the Golem and the Human girl reconnect with friends they've met along the way. They may live in a world of dangers, where Humans are a threatened species. Despite the Golem's desire to care for Somali, his one-thousand-year-old body nears its expiration date. Still, the Golem cares for her as best he can, and both find the kindnesses to others and the friendships they’ve made repaid in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4.

 

Art

Short hair on Haitora’s brow functions as a part. Long, straight hair frames his wife and daughter’s faces. Yet after he eats a Noble Harpy, feathers sprout from his right eye and cover his cheek. Haitora hides his affliction behind a bird mask with a long, downcurved beak. His ward, Uzoi, has long, blond hair like his late wife and daughter. But wings sprout from her head and back, and feathers surround her eyes and line her arms. She has talons instead of feet with toes. As Uzoi sits with Somali in the covered wagon, Haitora and the Golem direct their horse toward a whirlwind. Yet that is not the only danger they will face in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4.

 

As Yako Gureishi conjures worlds with his detailed art, cottages lining flagstone streets give way to multilevel buildings with arched, flower-bedecked windows. The multiple eyes on a tiny, refined character evoke false cat, one of the dangers Somali encountered in the first city she visited. And as pennants hang before intricate screens, the Golem and Somali encounter friends they met while following their outdated map through the forest. Forests lacking foliage recall the cost of the Golem abandoning his grove to return Somali to her people. Yet when multilevel flat-roofed homes crowd the pathways of another village, another opportunity for Somali to make more good memories awaits.

 

Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements translate the uppercase letters that appear in balloons, boxes, and panel backgrounds. Intense emotions turn the balloons spiky when Haitora recalls his traumatic past. Skylar Rutan’s sound effects enhance the dangers of the Osuna Desert, a skilled practitioner attending to Somali's needs, and the Golem learning new skills. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a physical review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

After the Golem and the Human girl search for the missing Humans they learned about in the Witch Village, the Golem and Somali experience many of the wonders of their world. Yet the greatest wonders are how they have grown, and how their relationship has enriched their lives in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 4.

 

For their adventures in Anthole City, see my review of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3. 

 

For their discoveries in the Witch Village, see my review of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2. 

 

For how this series started, see my review of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1. 

Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3 Review

 

Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3 Review

Writer & Artist: Yako Gureishi

Translator: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Cover Artist: Yako Gureishi

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: August 19, 2025

 

After departing the witch village, the Golem and Somali reach the foot of a mountain amid the forest. A guide directs them to the entrance and leads them inside to Anthole City. It's a thriving multilevel community tunneled into the heart of the mountain. Yet unlike the witch village, no one in the myriad of shops and restaurants offers them a free sample.

 

When the Golem tries to buy a map for the lands beyond the mountain, the shopkeeper suggests that they upgrade their wardrobe. Their clothes were fine for traveling through forests. When they reach the exit on the other side of the mountain, they will find the desert a more demanding environment. Can the Golem and Somali afford better clothes? And how does Somali feel about her life with the Golem? Let’s grab our walking sticks, leap into Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3, and see!

 

Story

While the Golem works for Kikilila and his wife Giina in their restaurant, Somali plays with the couple’s child. Kikila enjoys drawing flowers. So, when Somali shares her fear that he will eventually leave her, Kikila knows how to relieve her fears. Children aren't supposed to venture into the lower levels without adult supervision. But if Kikila and Somali can return with a Yozame flower, they can make her wish come true.

 

While Yako Gureishi keeps the spotlight on the Human girl in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3, the Golem also gets a chance to shine. As he stumbles amid the hurdles of parenthood, Kokilila serves as a coach. Another local takes an interest in the travelers as the Golem works to fund their journey. Muthrica warns the Golem not to promise Somali more than it should. Yet even after the Golem and Somali depart Anthole City, Gureishi checks in on the Woolly Shurigara family in his extra one-page stories in between chapters. Kokilila, Giina, and Kikila may live in a bustling city teeming with interesting people. Yet when their new friends depart, they leave part of themselves behind.

 

After the endless possibilities of Anthole City, the travelers discover that the desert is far from barren. Instead, it sparkles with life by day and night. Yet the greatest mysteries they face are their fellow travelers, and the relationship that the Human girl and the Golem are building in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3.

 

Art

While Somali disguises her appearance by wearing a horned cloak, Kikila resembles a bipedal llama. As they venture beneath Anthole City, plants, bushes, and flowers spring up amid the stalagmites. Mushrooms rise above them as in Alice in Wonderland, while a jellyfish wafts among the stalactites. Kikila helps the girl hide as a giant snail-like creature passes. But even the plants are on alert against travelers and eager to defend themselves.

 

Yako Gureishi grounds the imaginative with the recognizable to create a compelling fantasy world in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3. Detailed art and shading bring this world to life. A medieval-style inn amid a labyrinth of tunnels proves a welcome refuge. The Golem's purchases in Anthole City reveal its feelings for the girl and its growth. While night scenes glow with life and wonder, Somali's delight in each culinary discovery also contributes to the striking realism amid the fantastic.

 

Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements translate the uppercase letters that appear in balloons, boxes, and panel backgrounds. Intense emotions turn balloons spiky when Kikila demonstrates bravery, and his parents show their concern. Skylar Rutan’s sound effects enhance Kikila and Somali's adventure beneath Anthole City, their journey through the desert, and their encounters with the people and creatures they meet. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a physical review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The Golem fears that the enchanted animals will discover that Somali is a Human. The girl shows little interest in finding her own people and wants to remain with her "dad." But as the dying librarian told them in the witch village, they walk a different path from most people. The light she saw in the travelers' eyes may dim at times, but it never dies in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3.

 

Rating 10/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 3.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2. 

 

For how this series started, see my review of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1. 

Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 2 Review

      

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. 

Gran Familia Vol 2 Review

 

Writer & Artist: Kenji Hamada

Translation: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: Matt Bookman

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: December 30, 2025

 

Leo is the manager of Goodfellas Bistro in Manhattan. But his clumsiness irritates his chef and waitress. Still, no matter how many customers complain about spilled food and broken dishes, Zach and Rose stick by him.

 

Most Humans may write Leo off as a harmless goof. But they don't realize that Leo is the head of one of the most powerful Demi families on Earth. How will life change for Leo, Zach, and Rose when they take a young werewolf under their wings? And how will Clara adjust to life in their family? Let’s grab a cross and garlic, leap into Gran Familia Vol 2, and see!

 

Story

Some Demi families terrorize Humans. They call themselves the Demi Mafia and give their kind a bad name. Other Demi hide their abilities, fearing another war with the Humans. Leo uses his abilities to help those in need, whether they are Human or Demi. When he finds Clara living in the streets, he invites the werewolf to stay with his family. But bringing people into your home and making them part of your life means accepting their struggle. And Clara’s deepest desire is to find her brother Raul.

 

In Gran Familia Vol 2, Raul has worked his way up the police hierarchy. He did this not to uphold the law but destroy the department from within. When Leo and Clara find him, Raul is bitter and twisted by anger. He wants to kill the prejudiced Humans who enforce Demi repression. Raul wants Clara to help him by using her enhanced strength to slay their Human oppressors. But Leo urges the brother and sister to adopt a more tolerant attitude.

 

While Leo strives to keep the peace, another character seeks to enflame the tensions between the Demi and their Human neighbors. Johann Gambino is the Don of the Gambino Family. He believes the Demis must demonstrate their ability to control the overwhelmingly Human population. As the head of the Gran Familia and a leader in the Demi community, Leo stands in Johann's way. To reignite the war with the Humans that ended five years ago, Johann vows to kill Leo in Gran Familia Vol 2.

 

Art

Leo better resembles a friendly boy than the head of a powerful family. Zach may seem aloof, but Rose gives the male customers a reason to return to Goodfellas. When Leo transforms, bats swarm around a stylish leader with confident eyes. Zach's bald head sprouts ridges, and a bold chin accompanies the Golem’s imposing torso. As Mandrake, Rose’s hair transforms into leaves and sports a magnificent flower as she manipulates vines. Yet Clara remains a werewolf with ears that poke above her braided hair.

 

Unlike Leo, Johann’s unaffected demeanor never fades. He wears a wide-brimmed hat and long coat and calmly watches as people die. Like Leo, Johann also uses a handgun to focus his powers. But when he leaves his cathedral-like stronghold, Johann observes his Demi underlings launch the opening stages of battle in Gran Familia Vol 2.

 

Skylar Rutan adorns Kenji Hamada's story and art with uppercase letters in dialogue balloons of varying shapes and sizes. Placards introduce members of the Gambino Family, while sound effects accompany the destruction they unleash. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Leo finds it hard to change how Humans view their Demi neighbors when hatred and intolerance are the norm. Still, as the Vampire struggles to be a peacemaker, he takes the time to train a young Demi. Leo urges Clara to build up others instead of destroying her soul in Gran Familia Vol 2.

 

Rating 8.5/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Gran Familia Vol 2. 

 

For how this series began, see my review of Gran Familia Vol 1. 

Gran Familia Vol 1 Review

 

Writer & Artist: Kenji Hamada

Translation: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: Matt Bookman

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: September 30, 2025

 

Leo is the manager of Goodfellas Bistro in Manhattan. Along with Zach and Rose, his head chef and waitress, he runs a thriving business in New York City. But Leo is a klutz. Despite his cheery demeanor, he keeps dropping the food and breaking plates. It’s gotten so bad that Zach and Rose have considered firing him. Yet the three stick together, even if they disappoint customers with delayed or ruined meals. What binds these three people together? And why does the Human population of New York City live in fear of their Demi neighbors? Let’s grab a cross and garlic, leap into Gran Familia Vol 1, and see!

 

Story

Demi-Humans are mutants. Although they have special abilities, they can be born to nonmutant parents. Humans fear what they don’t understand. But they also have a reason to fear Demi. Whether they take form as Werewolves, Vampires, or another creature from mythology, they wield tremendous power. History is replete with examples of their deadly abilities. When Rose and Zach tire of Leo’s clumsiness, he complains that he’ll end up on the streets if they fire him. And then, he could be the victim of a Demi attack.

 

As Gran Familia Vol 1 opens, Leo is playing with the local kids outside IBIS Greengrocer. When they get rough playing Monster with Leo, Lisa shoos them away. Lisa urges him not to let the boys cross the line. Leo laughs despite taking a pounding. He is amazed that Lisa still runs the grocery store since her parents' deaths. But her grandmother lives with her and keeps Lisa company.

 

In Kenji Hamada's story, a Demi Mafia family has been raiding nearby businesses. Lisa and her grandmother hope they're not next on the crime family's list. But after Leo leaves, Virgo and his thugs visit the women. The Don of the Bartolini family can wield fire. And with all the ways New York discriminates against the Demi, he wants to remind the Humans why they should fear their mutant kin.

 

In Gran Familia Vol 1, Leo rescues Lisa and her grandmother. He brings them to Goodfellas Bistro, where Rose and Zach give them a place to sleep. Then Leo drops his carefree façade. He announces that they are going to meet with Virgo. Rose and Zach don't question his decision as they follow him to the Bartolini Family residence.

 

Art

Zach is a bald, densely muscled man who rarely smiles. Rose has an attractive figure, long dark hair, and frequently smiles or giggles. Leo's smile and spiky hair suggest he’s one of life’s innocents. Kenji Hamada provides flashbacks that demonstrate how Leo has suffered. Yet he also shows glimpses of the event that robbed Lisa of her parents. The locket around her neck contains a photo of her as a child with her mother and father. Leo wears a signet ring on a necklace. He doesn't display it often, as people would recognize the insignia.

 

With his sleek dark hair, suit, and manner, Virgo could stand in for Loki in the MCU. But when he summons his power, flames erupt from his head and body. When she transforms into a Mandrake, Rose’s head sprouts leaves and a flower, and she wields thorny vines. Zach adopts reptilian features, and his skin hardens as he becomes a Golem. Leo becomes stylish and confident as he places the signet ring of the Gran Familia on his finger. Bats swarm around him, and he wears a gun on his hip.

 

Skylar Rutan fills dialogue balloons of varying shapes and sizes with uppercase text. Placards introduce major characters, while anti-mutant graffiti adorns streets, and a Humans Only sign adorns a bus stop. He celebrates the characters’ transformations with calligraphy. Sound effects accompany Leo, Rose, and Zach’s confrontation with the Virgo, and the other mutants and villains they encounter in Gran Familia Vol 1. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The Demi represent a small percentage of New York City's population. Yet the fear they incite in the populace forces the NYPD to establish a Demi Crime Division. While Humans fear the atrocities that creatures like Vampires and Werewolves are capable of, they discriminate against their mutant kin. They force the mutants to disguise their appearance or risk losing their livelihoods. Leo, Zach, and Rose want to protect everyone they meet, regardless of their abilities or appearance. But they must do so while appearing Human in Gran Familia Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

To look inside see my preview of Gran Familia Vol 1.