Kokkuri—A form a divination created long ago during a time of mass hysteria, and a favorite hobby of a young girl and self-proclaimed human doll, Ichimatsu Kohina. One day, she successfully summons Kokkuri-san through the divination game, but to her annoyance, she finds the handsome fox spirit clingy and immature. Seeing how Kohina lives alone and eats instant ramen every day, Kokkuri-san vows to cook her healthy meals and raise her properly! Enjoy the comedic and fluffy tales of this stoic girl and the eccentric spirits that she encounters along the way.

This comic book attempts to blend humor and supernatural elements but ultimately struggles to deliver a cohesive and engaging narrative. While the premise of this comic book has the potential for quirky charm, the execution leaves much to be desired in both storytelling and character development.

The story in this comic book centers around Kohina, a young girl who inadvertently summons Kokkuri-san, a fox spirit, through a traditional Japanese game. The spirit, instead of haunting her, takes on a protective role, leading to a series of comedic and supernatural misadventures. This setup offers ample opportunity for humor and heartwarming moments, but the manga falls short of fully capitalizing on its potential.

The character development is one of the weaker aspects of this comic book. Kohina is portrayed as emotionally detached, which, while intentional, often renders her interactions flat and repetitive. Her dynamic with Kokkuri-san lacks depth, as the spirit’s overprotectiveness quickly becomes predictable and one-dimensional. Supporting characters, intended to add variety and humor, are similarly underdeveloped and fail to make a significant impact on the narrative.

The humor in this comic book often relies on repetitive gags and slapstick comedy, which can feel forced and lack originality. While some moments are amusing, they are overshadowed by a reliance on clichés and predictable jokes that do little to advance the story or develop the characters. The comedic timing occasionally misses the mark, leading to a disjointed reading experience

The artwork in this comic book, is a redeeming feature of this comic book. The illustrations are clean and expressive, capturing the whimsical nature of the story. The character designs are visually appealing, with distinctive features that reflect their personalities. The artwork in this comic book has the ability to convey emotion through facial expressions adds some charm to the otherwise lackluster narrative.

The dialogues in this comic book tends to be straightforward but lacks the wit and nuance that could elevate the character interactions. Conversations often feel superficial, serving more as vehicles for jokes than as meaningful exchanges. More layered dialogue could have added depth to the relationships and provided insight into the characters’ personalities and motivations.

Despite its shortcomings, this comic book does have moments that hint at untapped potential. The concept of a fox spirit navigating the human world alongside a quirky young girl offers a framework for creative storytelling. With more focus on character depth and innovative humor, future comic books in this series could improve upon the foundation laid in this initial issue.

I Give This Book 2 / 5