Yo-Kai Watch: Volume 1 manga review

Manga
Yo-Kai Watch: Volume 1 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
November 3, 2015 - 11:55

Viz Media
Writer(s): Noriyuki Konishi, Tetsuichiro Miyaki, Aubrey Sitterson
Penciller(s): Noriyuki Konishi
Letterer(s): William F Schuch
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8251-1
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, 192pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: G (General Audiences)

Yo-Kai Watch Volume 1 cover image

Rated “A” for “All Ages”

VIZ Media's latest addition to their “Perfect Square” imprint is the manga, Yo-Kai Watch. This manga is inspired by the Yokai Watch video game created by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS. The manga is produced by mangaka, Noriyuki Konishi.

Yo-Kai Watch, Vol. 1 (entitled Nate's Lucky Day; Chapters 1 to 7) introduces Nate Adams, an ordinary elementary school student. One day, Nate meets a strange yokai (called “yo-kai” in this series) named “Whisper.” The floating, blob-like Whisper gives to Nate a gift. It is the “Yo-Kai Watch,” which allows Nate to see yo-kai that are invisible to the human eye. Soon, Nate is helping yo-kai and collecting from each one a “Yo-Kai Metal,” a memento of friendship that allows him to call on each one when he needs help.

[This volume includes the bonus story, “Late to School!!]

THE LOWDOWN: The Yo-Kai Watch manga is a good graphic novel series for young comics readers, especially those already familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that Yo-Kai Watch is inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh! Both franchises encourage fans to collect franchise-related creatures and creature-inspired objects and ephemera.

That aside, Yo-Kai Watch Volume 1 is a good read. The stories are not exactly taken from the “wheel of morality,” but each offers a lesson to learn. Also, Nate Adams is an all-around good guy, who is always up for adventure and discovery, which is a good thing in a lead character, whether the story is for young or old.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Young readers interested in manga will want to try the Perfect Square series, Yo-Kai Watch.

Rating: B/10