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ダークギャザリング [Dark Gathering] #1
Dark Gathering, Vol. 1
After a dangerous encounter with a malevolent spirit, Keitaro Gentoga wants nothing to do with the supernatural. Unfortunately for this reluctant ghost magnet, he’s stuck helping Yayoi Hozuki—a strange young girl who’s intent on capturing Japan’s most terrifying ghosts and ghouls.
Keitaro is ready to stop living as a shut-in. He’s starting university. He’s reconnecting with his childhood friend. He’s taking a tutoring job. And he’s not messing around with ghosts anymore. At least that’s what he thinks, until he finds out the elementary schooler he’s tutoring is an occult-obsessed genius who’s hunting down dangerous spirits and won’t stop until she’s found the one that took her mom!
Keitaro is ready to stop living as a shut-in. He’s starting university. He’s reconnecting with his childhood friend. He’s taking a tutoring job. And he’s not messing around with ghosts anymore. At least that’s what he thinks, until he finds out the elementary schooler he’s tutoring is an occult-obsessed genius who’s hunting down dangerous spirits and won’t stop until she’s found the one that took her mom!
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
22 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 15, 2023
It is hard to deny that Dark Gathering is good horror. It makes use of both terror and horror for a story that’s visceral in two different ways, and that’s even without the revulsion I felt every time Yayoi’s eyes were drawn facing forward. From hair creeping down throats to damned spirits to a gruesomely haunted phone booth, this book has an impressive variety of horrible things for its protagonist Keitaro to be subjected to.
And that’s where my issue with the book comes in: Keitaro is anything but a willing participant in this tale. His childhood friend Eiko is fully aware of this – she’s one of the people who convinced him to come out of his room after the elementary school incident – and yet she still sets him up to “tutor” her creepy cousin Yayoi and repeatedly drags him off to haunted places. I absolutely could be reading this with the wrong mindset. I’m nearly certain that Eiko and Yayoi’s actions are meant to come across as funny and urgent rather than pig-headedly selfish. But the fact remains that all of the well-done horror in the world can’t make me see this as anything but needlessly mean.
And that’s where my issue with the book comes in: Keitaro is anything but a willing participant in this tale. His childhood friend Eiko is fully aware of this – she’s one of the people who convinced him to come out of his room after the elementary school incident – and yet she still sets him up to “tutor” her creepy cousin Yayoi and repeatedly drags him off to haunted places. I absolutely could be reading this with the wrong mindset. I’m nearly certain that Eiko and Yayoi’s actions are meant to come across as funny and urgent rather than pig-headedly selfish. But the fact remains that all of the well-done horror in the world can’t make me see this as anything but needlessly mean.
October 11, 2023
I saw this one was getting an anime adaptation and thought I would check out the manga to see if it was really as good as it sounded based on the blurb. And yes. It is spooky, scary, awesome, Yayoi takes a bit of time to get used to but in the end I quite liked her and loved that she kept going despite everything that happened to her, our MC... I could understand many of his hesitancies, but wished he had stood up for himself just a tad more. It was sweet that he started caring more about Yayoi though and even went as far as to help her out when she was in trouble.
And then there is Eiko, she seems so bubbly and fun, but there are moments that had me thinking something was very wrong here.
The ghosts are spooky and scary! Great urban legends as well! Pretty good art~
But sorry, two pupils? That is what you worry about the most? Not about the fact they are shaped like FREAKING SKULLS? EXCUSE ME!
And then there is Eiko, she seems so bubbly and fun, but there are moments that had me thinking something was very wrong here.
The ghosts are spooky and scary! Great urban legends as well! Pretty good art~
But sorry, two pupils? That is what you worry about the most? Not about the fact they are shaped like FREAKING SKULLS? EXCUSE ME!
June 5, 2023
This gives SUCH old school manga vibes!! Obsessed with how creepy the supernatural and horror elements are in this it’s amazing!! It’s just so spooky and gross I love it!
December 29, 2023
Having recently watched the first season of the anime adaptation, I had high expectations for Dark Gathering. I am happy to say that it has met those expectations. The premise of the story is intriguing and I love the main character design. The art has a darker quality than most manga. I mean that not just in the sense of the content, but also in the shading and drawing. It creates a different atmosphere while reading. Kondo has a knack for cool ideas too, like how Keitaro has to regularly exorcise the curse on his hand. This volume is mostly an introduction to the world and the three main characters, but it has some excellent moments of horror and humor. Even if I did not know what was coming, I would happily want to read on in the series.
May 20, 2023
After a disastrous encounter with the supernatural took him out of high school and left him cursed, Keitaro has finally pulled his life back together. Except he still sees spirits, and a young girl named Yayoi has no issue with exploiting that for her own ends.
Boy, I guess we just don’t care about PTSD in this world? Or at least nobody seems to, as Keitaro just lets himself get dragged into a bunch of horror stories along with the kind of awful Yayoi, who knows his issues and just ignores them to further her own ends.
To be fair, they give Yayoi a pretty good reason for wanting to use whatever and whoever she can, but Keitaro is both helpless against these things and a magnet for them, so even with Yayoi he’s basically a walking meal who may or may not get his bacon saved. The story seems to want to play this for laughs, but it’s way too silly for my taste.
I certainly like the horror stuff. The urban legend about the phone booth is fun, the cursed dolls section is particularly effective because it has some really icky visuals based around something that I’ve always found nasty as all get out. The shrine for miscarried babies does pull a lot of punches, but in retrospect that’s almost certainly for the best.
And the art does some really nice two-page spreads and keeps things pretty solid during the brief flurries of action that punctuate the storytelling. Minus one glaring person, the art is really well done and crisp. It’s certainly not the worst thing I’ve read lately, at least part of the time.
However, this story is simply trying too hard. That’s the problem. Yayoi’s design is entirely too garish to do anything but distract (she has the distinction of having the worst shoes of any manga character I have ever seen) and when you compare this to other horror manga like Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service or Mieruko-chan? Oh no.
Yayoi is a lot of the story’s problem, honestly. Back to her design - the whole double pupil design is one thing, but the way her eye… markings(?)… make them both look like skulls is a little much. Doubly so with how normal Keitaro and his friend, and Yayoi’s cousin, Eiko look. It’s like creepy got dressed in a clown car.
I get the need to inject levity into things, but the joking around here is so over the top that it’s a real distraction. It doesn’t help that they have a legitimate catchphrase they yell when they get in the car, which makes me feel like this should be a Saturday morning cartoon from the 80s, except the horror sections go way too far, so the pivot, one of those things that always concerns me in a story like this, is waaaaay too extreme.
I wish they did more with Eiko too, who basically exists to chauffeur and involve Keitaro until the reveal at the end. She has one moment where she goes real creepy for a panel, but in that instance they don’t make enough of it.
The story is trying really hard to make Keitaro the reluctant hero, suggesting that he has an affinity for all the things he’s trying to avoid, but it still can’t disabuse the notion that he’s being used for what he has, not appreciated for who he is.
Honestly, I probably would have enjoyed seeing him overcome his trauma and get back on his feet in life after his accident more than what happens here. He’s too tormented and the girls are too excited to exploit him. If that doesn’t bug you, it’s a good time.
3 stars - I don’t like one of the two main characters all that much and if I want a taste of Japanese horror I already listed two better examples. If you need a new entry in this genre, sure, it’s okay, the actual horror is quite strong, it’s just the trappings that are not. But I don’t think this will scare up a second volume from me.
Boy, I guess we just don’t care about PTSD in this world? Or at least nobody seems to, as Keitaro just lets himself get dragged into a bunch of horror stories along with the kind of awful Yayoi, who knows his issues and just ignores them to further her own ends.
To be fair, they give Yayoi a pretty good reason for wanting to use whatever and whoever she can, but Keitaro is both helpless against these things and a magnet for them, so even with Yayoi he’s basically a walking meal who may or may not get his bacon saved. The story seems to want to play this for laughs, but it’s way too silly for my taste.
I certainly like the horror stuff. The urban legend about the phone booth is fun, the cursed dolls section is particularly effective because it has some really icky visuals based around something that I’ve always found nasty as all get out. The shrine for miscarried babies does pull a lot of punches, but in retrospect that’s almost certainly for the best.
And the art does some really nice two-page spreads and keeps things pretty solid during the brief flurries of action that punctuate the storytelling. Minus one glaring person, the art is really well done and crisp. It’s certainly not the worst thing I’ve read lately, at least part of the time.
However, this story is simply trying too hard. That’s the problem. Yayoi’s design is entirely too garish to do anything but distract (she has the distinction of having the worst shoes of any manga character I have ever seen) and when you compare this to other horror manga like Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service or Mieruko-chan? Oh no.
Yayoi is a lot of the story’s problem, honestly. Back to her design - the whole double pupil design is one thing, but the way her eye… markings(?)… make them both look like skulls is a little much. Doubly so with how normal Keitaro and his friend, and Yayoi’s cousin, Eiko look. It’s like creepy got dressed in a clown car.
I get the need to inject levity into things, but the joking around here is so over the top that it’s a real distraction. It doesn’t help that they have a legitimate catchphrase they yell when they get in the car, which makes me feel like this should be a Saturday morning cartoon from the 80s, except the horror sections go way too far, so the pivot, one of those things that always concerns me in a story like this, is waaaaay too extreme.
I wish they did more with Eiko too, who basically exists to chauffeur and involve Keitaro until the reveal at the end. She has one moment where she goes real creepy for a panel, but in that instance they don’t make enough of it.
The story is trying really hard to make Keitaro the reluctant hero, suggesting that he has an affinity for all the things he’s trying to avoid, but it still can’t disabuse the notion that he’s being used for what he has, not appreciated for who he is.
Honestly, I probably would have enjoyed seeing him overcome his trauma and get back on his feet in life after his accident more than what happens here. He’s too tormented and the girls are too excited to exploit him. If that doesn’t bug you, it’s a good time.
3 stars - I don’t like one of the two main characters all that much and if I want a taste of Japanese horror I already listed two better examples. If you need a new entry in this genre, sure, it’s okay, the actual horror is quite strong, it’s just the trappings that are not. But I don’t think this will scare up a second volume from me.
April 20, 2024
A good horror manga that isn’t Junji Ito is so hard to come by, that when Mieruko Chan and this one came out, I jumped on them as soon as I heard about them. When I think of occult and manga, it’s exactly this. A cutesy anime girl who’s a little quirky but in a spooky way, and of course the main character who’s just going along for the ride. My only ick so far is that Yayoi (the main girl) knows her power too well and it’s possible this character may stagnate further down but I’m hoping something happens and changes this so that doesn’t happen. But over all, a good start to a series that’s still in its infancy. One thing I want to include too is that if you enjoy series like The Conjuring, this sort of feels like that.
July 27, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, Great horror elements with some touches of humour 🤌🏻✨ I personally relate to the character Keitaro, Heavy social shut-in working on social skills 🤘🏻 Relatable 🤣 anyway, can’t wait to continue reading this series; Overall a great lil page turner ✨💯
September 4, 2024
RB: Goatllama
July 21, 2023
Yayoi's pupils are just so off putting and her design on general just doesn't fit within the world.
March 24, 2025
This was absolutely a cover pick, the cover is great! Unfortunately the story itself wasn't quite what I expected and while it was still enjoyable, I don't feel the desire to pick up the next volume.
The characters were written well enough, but I didn't feel invested in any of their stories. The world building was well done. So far there hasn't been much to the plot; the most intriguing part being the curse Keitaro has.
I might continue with this series in the future, but there are many other manga that I'd like to read first.
The characters were written well enough, but I didn't feel invested in any of their stories. The world building was well done. So far there hasn't been much to the plot; the most intriguing part being the curse Keitaro has.
I might continue with this series in the future, but there are many other manga that I'd like to read first.
October 10, 2023
2.5⭐
[Recenzja tomów 1-3]
Moim pierwszym skojarzeniem było, że jest to straszniejsza wersja ,,Mieruko-chan", i to podtrzymuję. W obydwu tytułach głównym motywem są duchy widziane przez główną bohaterkę/bohatera, z tym że tutaj pojawia się więcej elementów horrorowych - krew, opętania, próby zabicia głównego bohatera itd. Od początku wiadomo też, do czego zmierza fabuła - do uratowania mamy Yayoi, która została porwana przez jednego z duchów, ale nie będzie to proste, bo najpierw tego ducha trzeba odnaleźć. Do tego, choć pierwszy tom był moim zdaniem słaby, tak dalej historia staje się coraz bardziej interesująca i straszniejsza.
Brzmi ciekawie i takie jest... dla osób, które lubią komedio-horrory, bo tej komedii jest tu całkiem sporo. I właśnie to, że nie lubię tego gatunku, skutecznie mnie zniechęciło do dalszego czytania tego tytułu. Obejrzę do końca, skoro już zaczęłam i pozostaje mi liczyć, że kiedyś pojawi się jakiś horror, który nie będzie miał elementów humorystycznych 🙏.
[Recenzja tomów 1-3]
Moim pierwszym skojarzeniem było, że jest to straszniejsza wersja ,,Mieruko-chan", i to podtrzymuję. W obydwu tytułach głównym motywem są duchy widziane przez główną bohaterkę/bohatera, z tym że tutaj pojawia się więcej elementów horrorowych - krew, opętania, próby zabicia głównego bohatera itd. Od początku wiadomo też, do czego zmierza fabuła - do uratowania mamy Yayoi, która została porwana przez jednego z duchów, ale nie będzie to proste, bo najpierw tego ducha trzeba odnaleźć. Do tego, choć pierwszy tom był moim zdaniem słaby, tak dalej historia staje się coraz bardziej interesująca i straszniejsza.
Brzmi ciekawie i takie jest... dla osób, które lubią komedio-horrory, bo tej komedii jest tu całkiem sporo. I właśnie to, że nie lubię tego gatunku, skutecznie mnie zniechęciło do dalszego czytania tego tytułu. Obejrzę do końca, skoro już zaczęłam i pozostaje mi liczyć, że kiedyś pojawi się jakiś horror, który nie będzie miał elementów humorystycznych 🙏.
February 13, 2024
J’ai repéré ce titre en regardant un peu les sorties de Février et j’avais repéré celui ci. Pour être honnête, c’est la couverture qui a attiré mon regard en vérité. En me penchant sur le résumé, je me suis dis que cette histoire allait être plutôt pas mal. Alors bon, c’est vrai que ce n’est pas l’histoire du siècle qui révolutionne le genre mais malgré tout, j’ai passé un bon moment pendant ma lecture. J’étais vraiment prise dans l’histoire et j’ai surtout envie d’en savoir plus maintenant!
Dans ce premier tome, alors que sa meilleure amie a fait les frais de ce pouvoir inquiétant et qu’un sentiment de culpabilité profond continue de hanter le jeune homme, ce dernier fait de son mieux pour éviter les esprits… et les humains ! Pourtant il se retrouve bientôt professeur particulier d’une jeune surdouée du nom de Yayoi dont l’intelligence hors du commun n’est pas la seule particularité… En effet, elle semble elle aussi dotée de pouvoirs occultes mais, contrairement à Keitaro, elle ne cherche pas à fuir les fantômes et invite bientôt son professeur à la suivre dans un lieu hanté !
Ce que j’ai aimé dans ce premier tome, c’est l’ambiance pesante et angoissante qui pèse au dessus de notre tête. On la ressent pendant la lecture, pas tout le temps mais du moins pendant certaines scènes. Moi qui suis d’habitude une véritable trouillarde, là je me suis laissée prendre au jeu et puis c’est plus angoissant qu’effrayant finalement. Le personnage de Yayoi m’a particulièrement marqué. Déjà son histoire est très triste pour le coup mais c’est aussi la personne qui est particulière. Tant physiquement que mentalement, elle est spéciale. Elle possède deux pupilles et a la capacité de voir, parfois, des fantômes. Sauf qu’elle, contrairement à Keitaro, elle ne cherche en aucun cas à les fuir, bien au contraire même! Mais quand on sait véritablement pourquoi elle fait ça, on la comprend tout de même un peu mieux. Mais parfois elle peut se montrer si spéciale qu’elle peut facilement nous mettre mal à l’aise.. Elle est vraiment très très particulière. J’ai bien aimé le personnage de Keitaro, lui qui réapprend à vivre aux contacts des autres après des années reclus chez lui, a été maudit étant plus jeune. Depuis il ne cesse de fuir tout ce qui a un rapport avec l’occulte. Pas de bol pour lui, c’est devenu le professeur de la petite Yayoi.. J’aime bien le « comique de situation » entre les deux. Elle qui cherche les fantômes, lui qui veut tout le contraire mais il va finir par suivre Yayoi. J4aime aussi la relation qui naît entre les deux, du moins l’amitié qui naît, je ne parle pas de sentiments amoureux au contraire. L’intrigue est intéressante et ça donne envie d’en savoir plus, heureusement que le second tome est à mes côtés, je vais pouvoir enchaîner!
C’est un premier tome qui se termine d’une telle façon qu’on a qu’une seule envie : lire la suite. Je m’en vais de ce pas dévorer le second tome et continuer de découvrir cette histoire sombre. Certes ce n’est pas un manga qui marquera mon année mais ça reste une chouette découverte qui me fait passer un bon moment. Finalement, c’est tout ce que je demande quand je lis un livre!
Dans ce premier tome, alors que sa meilleure amie a fait les frais de ce pouvoir inquiétant et qu’un sentiment de culpabilité profond continue de hanter le jeune homme, ce dernier fait de son mieux pour éviter les esprits… et les humains ! Pourtant il se retrouve bientôt professeur particulier d’une jeune surdouée du nom de Yayoi dont l’intelligence hors du commun n’est pas la seule particularité… En effet, elle semble elle aussi dotée de pouvoirs occultes mais, contrairement à Keitaro, elle ne cherche pas à fuir les fantômes et invite bientôt son professeur à la suivre dans un lieu hanté !
Ce que j’ai aimé dans ce premier tome, c’est l’ambiance pesante et angoissante qui pèse au dessus de notre tête. On la ressent pendant la lecture, pas tout le temps mais du moins pendant certaines scènes. Moi qui suis d’habitude une véritable trouillarde, là je me suis laissée prendre au jeu et puis c’est plus angoissant qu’effrayant finalement. Le personnage de Yayoi m’a particulièrement marqué. Déjà son histoire est très triste pour le coup mais c’est aussi la personne qui est particulière. Tant physiquement que mentalement, elle est spéciale. Elle possède deux pupilles et a la capacité de voir, parfois, des fantômes. Sauf qu’elle, contrairement à Keitaro, elle ne cherche en aucun cas à les fuir, bien au contraire même! Mais quand on sait véritablement pourquoi elle fait ça, on la comprend tout de même un peu mieux. Mais parfois elle peut se montrer si spéciale qu’elle peut facilement nous mettre mal à l’aise.. Elle est vraiment très très particulière. J’ai bien aimé le personnage de Keitaro, lui qui réapprend à vivre aux contacts des autres après des années reclus chez lui, a été maudit étant plus jeune. Depuis il ne cesse de fuir tout ce qui a un rapport avec l’occulte. Pas de bol pour lui, c’est devenu le professeur de la petite Yayoi.. J’aime bien le « comique de situation » entre les deux. Elle qui cherche les fantômes, lui qui veut tout le contraire mais il va finir par suivre Yayoi. J4aime aussi la relation qui naît entre les deux, du moins l’amitié qui naît, je ne parle pas de sentiments amoureux au contraire. L’intrigue est intéressante et ça donne envie d’en savoir plus, heureusement que le second tome est à mes côtés, je vais pouvoir enchaîner!
C’est un premier tome qui se termine d’une telle façon qu’on a qu’une seule envie : lire la suite. Je m’en vais de ce pas dévorer le second tome et continuer de découvrir cette histoire sombre. Certes ce n’est pas un manga qui marquera mon année mais ça reste une chouette découverte qui me fait passer un bon moment. Finalement, c’est tout ce que je demande quand je lis un livre!
May 7, 2023
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is certainly unusual - relying on quirkiness as much as horror in its storytelling. The grounding here is Japanese myths and mythologies, adding a more interesting dimension than the usual blood and guts scary stories. The art is dense and dark and somewhat muddled at times. But in all, it looks intriguing.Story: Keitaro has always sensed and attracted spirits. It made it difficult for him to interact with others. But when a spirit attacks both him and his best friend, he is left cursed and withdraws from society altogether. Years later, he finally finds the courage to go out and learn to socialize again. With the help of childhood friend Eiko, he takes on a job tutoring her cousin. Turns out, little Yayoi has more than just a strong connection to the supernatural herself.
The premise of the plot will be Keitaro and Yayoi finding and containing spirits. This first volume sets up the characters: from Keitaro's fear of the supernatural, Eikos endless cheerfulness, and Yayoi's determination to find the spirits. There is a subplot of Yayoi looking for a particular spirit, an issue with Eiko, and of course Keitaro overcoming his fear of the supernatural that will be series long.
The artwork has a lot of dark textures and can be very busy, making visuals a bit murky. You can get a feel for this in the cover art. For the most part, the action is easy to follow and the horror appears more to be about scary things than blood and guts. It is determined early on why Yayoi is the way she is - and why she is obsessed with the supernatural.
In all, something a little bit different in the spooky genre with room to grow. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
May 27, 2023
After a terrifying encounter with a malevolent spirit that left him and a dear friend cursed, Keitaro Gentoga wants nothing to do with the supernatural.
His curse caused him to become a shut-in. Not wanting to live in misery forever, Keitaro decides he wants to go back to school and re-enter life.
Unfortunately, he tends to attracts negative forces.
Ghosts follow him around and appear at the worst times, attracted to him or, rather, to his curse. It’s quite unpleasant.
As part of his bid to try and live a normal life, Keitaro applies for a part-time job. His childhood friend, Eiko, recommends he try being a tutor since he’s top of their class.
He quickly finds himself paired with an odd, elementary school genius — Yayoi Hozuki, who happens to be Eiko’s cousin. After the tragic death of Yayoi’s parents in an accident, she’s been living with Eiko.
Yayoi is obsessed with the supernatural and the occult — which makes her immediately drawn to Keitaro. He’s practically drenched in spirit energy.
Yayoi immediately recruits Keitaro to help her hunt down spirits — much to Keitaro’s dismay. He doesn’t want to attract any more spirit attention than necessary. Plus, they’re scary.
But, Yayoi is determined.
Nothing will stop Yayoi in her quest to hunt down the spirit that caused her parents’ accident and stole her mom!
THIS IS SOOOO GOOD!
I wasn’t expecting this to be as great of a story as it’s turned out to be! I am so OBSESSED with everything about this story!
From the aesthetic and style to the tone and the premise and, of course, the characters — this story is so delightfully macabre and thoughtful throughout. I love how the author weaves horror with drama and blends both together so tenderly.
This spooky little story ROCKS!
I definitely recommend for horror fans out there — the ghosts and spirits are sickening. It’s a great read for those of us who enjoy a spooky series that blends the horror with the cute~
His curse caused him to become a shut-in. Not wanting to live in misery forever, Keitaro decides he wants to go back to school and re-enter life.
Unfortunately, he tends to attracts negative forces.
Ghosts follow him around and appear at the worst times, attracted to him or, rather, to his curse. It’s quite unpleasant.
As part of his bid to try and live a normal life, Keitaro applies for a part-time job. His childhood friend, Eiko, recommends he try being a tutor since he’s top of their class.
He quickly finds himself paired with an odd, elementary school genius — Yayoi Hozuki, who happens to be Eiko’s cousin. After the tragic death of Yayoi’s parents in an accident, she’s been living with Eiko.
Yayoi is obsessed with the supernatural and the occult — which makes her immediately drawn to Keitaro. He’s practically drenched in spirit energy.
Yayoi immediately recruits Keitaro to help her hunt down spirits — much to Keitaro’s dismay. He doesn’t want to attract any more spirit attention than necessary. Plus, they’re scary.
But, Yayoi is determined.
Nothing will stop Yayoi in her quest to hunt down the spirit that caused her parents’ accident and stole her mom!
THIS IS SOOOO GOOD!
I wasn’t expecting this to be as great of a story as it’s turned out to be! I am so OBSESSED with everything about this story!
From the aesthetic and style to the tone and the premise and, of course, the characters — this story is so delightfully macabre and thoughtful throughout. I love how the author weaves horror with drama and blends both together so tenderly.
This spooky little story ROCKS!
I definitely recommend for horror fans out there — the ghosts and spirits are sickening. It’s a great read for those of us who enjoy a spooky series that blends the horror with the cute~
July 27, 2023
In the eyes of death
Looking at the cover I was under the impression that the young girl was the dqaughter of some kind of shinigami or other supernatural creature but upon reading I found out she may be able to see the world of the supernatural but her sight is a result of the double irises in her eyes that give off an unusual skull like appearance and not some kind of supernatural parentage. In the mean time the main male character is not only a sensitive to the supernatural world but he is like a magnet attracting thing not of our world. While the book does have its humorous moments between the occasional scary stuff (after all this is a horror manga) the story is primarily a revenge story with possibly a rescue theme as an unfortunate event turns a girl capable of seeing ghost into recruter of evil spirits.
Being a horror manga it is not always easy to portray a creepy vibe (especially without a soundtrack) and although this story contains ghosts and curses the lack of showing details did not do it any favors while making it safer for younger readers rather then say something Junji Ito may publish or any of the Mieruko-chan series. All in all this is a little less horror so far and a bit more in the action genre as one girls fascination of the occult and a strong love for people close to her creates a manga to take down a great threat so not bad but nothing really extraordinary either save for those creepy yet cute eyes.
Looking at the cover I was under the impression that the young girl was the dqaughter of some kind of shinigami or other supernatural creature but upon reading I found out she may be able to see the world of the supernatural but her sight is a result of the double irises in her eyes that give off an unusual skull like appearance and not some kind of supernatural parentage. In the mean time the main male character is not only a sensitive to the supernatural world but he is like a magnet attracting thing not of our world. While the book does have its humorous moments between the occasional scary stuff (after all this is a horror manga) the story is primarily a revenge story with possibly a rescue theme as an unfortunate event turns a girl capable of seeing ghost into recruter of evil spirits.
Being a horror manga it is not always easy to portray a creepy vibe (especially without a soundtrack) and although this story contains ghosts and curses the lack of showing details did not do it any favors while making it safer for younger readers rather then say something Junji Ito may publish or any of the Mieruko-chan series. All in all this is a little less horror so far and a bit more in the action genre as one girls fascination of the occult and a strong love for people close to her creates a manga to take down a great threat so not bad but nothing really extraordinary either save for those creepy yet cute eyes.
July 23, 2023
Keitaro is a recovering shut-in with the ability to sense and attract the supernatural. And he hates it because his abilities led to both he and a classmate getting horribly cursed, which is why he became a shut-in. But now that he's a college student, he's attempting to rejoin society with the help of a close childhood friend. His first step: getting a job tutoring a child prodigy.
This goes well until he finds out that his new pupil (Yayoi) is the ghost obsessed cousin of his childhood friend (Eiko) and the two of them keep dragging him along on ghost hunts that go dangerously sideways.
But among all this horror, there is a wholesome undertone because the characters have pretty good reasons for their actions, even if those actions could result in trauma. It's clever and spooky and a good match for anyone who is a fan of Mieruko-chan but also wants a little more action. Very good series.
This goes well until he finds out that his new pupil (Yayoi) is the ghost obsessed cousin of his childhood friend (Eiko) and the two of them keep dragging him along on ghost hunts that go dangerously sideways.
But among all this horror, there is a wholesome undertone because the characters have pretty good reasons for their actions, even if those actions could result in trauma. It's clever and spooky and a good match for anyone who is a fan of Mieruko-chan but also wants a little more action. Very good series.
September 8, 2023
I LOVED THIS! I was so unsure but I really liked sound of the concept so I gave it shot.
So Keitaro, a college student with a dark past, starts tutoring Yayoi, an elementary school girl and the cousin of his childhood friend, Eiko. But upon arriving to his first tutoring session, Keitaro senses right away that Yayoi isn’t normal. In fact, she’s actually super creepy. But what Keitaro wasn’t expecting to find out during their tutoring session was that Yayoi not only sees spirits but she also hunts them down and entraps them in a shrine of her own. But these aren’t just your friendly attic ghost or a grumpy basement ghouls. No no, these are japans most malevolent and terrifying spirits. And she’s just a little girl! An unstoppable little girl.
I was genuinely impressed with the whole story and I love the characters! 10/10 highly recommend.
So Keitaro, a college student with a dark past, starts tutoring Yayoi, an elementary school girl and the cousin of his childhood friend, Eiko. But upon arriving to his first tutoring session, Keitaro senses right away that Yayoi isn’t normal. In fact, she’s actually super creepy. But what Keitaro wasn’t expecting to find out during their tutoring session was that Yayoi not only sees spirits but she also hunts them down and entraps them in a shrine of her own. But these aren’t just your friendly attic ghost or a grumpy basement ghouls. No no, these are japans most malevolent and terrifying spirits. And she’s just a little girl! An unstoppable little girl.
I was genuinely impressed with the whole story and I love the characters! 10/10 highly recommend.
January 17, 2024
I'm not all that impressed despite some hearty recommendations. I'll probably give the second volume a shot before I drop it, but I'm just not thrilled with the protagonist and I don't think the setup here has anything all that unique going for it when we have so many brilliant supernatural and horror manga series out there right now. I think Yayoi's design and presence is the whole reason this book didn't get cancelled in its first couple chapters, so I hope the author surprises me with more interesting things to say.
The art is great, and the spirits are all very menacing. I don't think it's as scary as it's supposed to be but that could evolve too. I did think Yayoi's plushy reveal was quite clever and unique.
The art is great, and the spirits are all very menacing. I don't think it's as scary as it's supposed to be but that could evolve too. I did think Yayoi's plushy reveal was quite clever and unique.
December 3, 2023
The mixture of comedy and horror in this manga makes Keitaro's story a pleasure to read. Keitaro can see spirits. Other than that, he's just a normal high school student, and takes on a normal job - tutoring. When Yayoi, the girl he tutors, has skulls for pupils and can not only see spirits, but is actively seeking them out, Keitaro isn't so sure about the whole idea. This manga has the three Hs - Heart, Horror, and Humor. I think it would be perfect for Jujutsu Kaisen or Chainsaw Man fans. The characters are so clearly defined that I can already imagine Cherami Leigh voicing Yayoi in the English dub of the anime.
July 13, 2023
Dark is definitely a good word to describe this manga. The basic plot is very typical of the shonen genre, kid with supernatural powers meets kid with supernatural powers and go off on a quest to find a missing parent and undo a curse. But it's the details of all this that really get you. When you think it's veering back into standard, happy-go-lucky shonen plot, something happens that continues to give you the feeling that this story is not going to end well. A bit like Chainsaw Man, but not as action centered and with characters who aren't nearly as f*cked up.
November 3, 2023
*Spoiler Free*
Sometimes it can be so difficult to rate a manga, this one made it easier to rate because I hadn’t a clue what was happening throughout most of the book.
I really enjoyed the artwork, it was well done an extremely vivid. There were 1 or 2 parts that were somewhat cohesive and when it was it was pretty interesting. It was especially unique to read a horror manga.
I can’t really tell you much more than that. The writing was all over the place and hard to keep up with at times so it made it hard to understand.
I’ll be donating this one.
Sometimes it can be so difficult to rate a manga, this one made it easier to rate because I hadn’t a clue what was happening throughout most of the book.
I really enjoyed the artwork, it was well done an extremely vivid. There were 1 or 2 parts that were somewhat cohesive and when it was it was pretty interesting. It was especially unique to read a horror manga.
I can’t really tell you much more than that. The writing was all over the place and hard to keep up with at times so it made it hard to understand.
I’ll be donating this one.
November 30, 2023
Hey, I'm still alive!
Anyway, I wanted to check out the Dark Gathering manga since I like the anime that's currently still airing. The manga is pretty much the same, but maybe makes some plot points a little clearer. It's a bit chaotic, but the actual horror in this series is very cool (by which I mean absolutely messed up). However, I do think it's absolutely necessary to read Yayoi's lines and hear her voice from the anime in your head, because her voice actor is absolutely perfect (talking about the original Japanese version, at least).
Anyway, I wanted to check out the Dark Gathering manga since I like the anime that's currently still airing. The manga is pretty much the same, but maybe makes some plot points a little clearer. It's a bit chaotic, but the actual horror in this series is very cool (by which I mean absolutely messed up). However, I do think it's absolutely necessary to read Yayoi's lines and hear her voice from the anime in your head, because her voice actor is absolutely perfect (talking about the original Japanese version, at least).
April 13, 2024
Keitaro tries to get back out in the world and ends up tutoring a girl who is hunting for the ghost who killed her mother.
This has some nice creepy moments in it including the 'double pupil'/skull that appears in Yayoi's eyes (I also approve of her ridiculous alligator-like mouth shoes). I've always thought that being able to 'see dead people' would be terrifying so Keitaro immediately has my support. He nearly dies twice in this volume alone. I will read the next one and watch Yayoi strangle more stuffed animals!
This has some nice creepy moments in it including the 'double pupil'/skull that appears in Yayoi's eyes (I also approve of her ridiculous alligator-like mouth shoes). I've always thought that being able to 'see dead people' would be terrifying so Keitaro immediately has my support. He nearly dies twice in this volume alone. I will read the next one and watch Yayoi strangle more stuffed animals!
April 16, 2024
Don't think I ever would've anticipated enjoying this as much as I am, but here we are. The art, in spite of itself, works (especially the horror-- creepy without trying too hard). The storytelling doesn't drag in the slightest, and everything feels high-stakes. Thankfully Yayoi is (so far) nicely overpowered and ready to address the ghosties. Just really charming and enjoyable, and I get the feeling that the author has really taken time to think about where it's going, and how it'll end. Excited! (review of volumes 1-6)
Recommended review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recommended review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 20, 2025
Okay so I read the first chapter when it came out but I didn’t really read any further cuz I just wasn’t keep up to date with manga at the time. But I bought the first volume when it came out and now I’m fully reading it and I gotta say I really enjoyed it.
I really like stories that have supernatural elements, I am curious about Yayoi’s mother and the thing that took her. I’m definitely going to read the next volume when I get my hands on it.
I really like stories that have supernatural elements, I am curious about Yayoi’s mother and the thing that took her. I’m definitely going to read the next volume when I get my hands on it.
December 3, 2025
Absolutely fantastic horror manga about a little girl hunting ghosts. I'm reading this after watching the anime and I am absolutely blown away by the creative twist on the hunting, capturing, and warding methods employed by the author. The concept he came up with for fighting spirits was fresh and it's a lot of fun to read and watch them go.
Out of all the ghosts and ghouls they encounter, Yayoi is the scariest.
Out of all the ghosts and ghouls they encounter, Yayoi is the scariest.
March 1, 2024
I love horror manga, so of course I got this and I wasn't disappointed.
The story line is very interesting and keeps you on your toes. The characters are a little bland but they have room to grow and evolve. The only thing I wish is it was a bit creepier, there was only one part in which I genuinely had a slight chill. Though I feel as if there will be more chills in the volumes to come.
The story line is very interesting and keeps you on your toes. The characters are a little bland but they have room to grow and evolve. The only thing I wish is it was a bit creepier, there was only one part in which I genuinely had a slight chill. Though I feel as if there will be more chills in the volumes to come.
September 26, 2024
Randomly found this while at the book store and I quickly glanced at the back. Supernatural, cover looks fun, sure why not. I did not expect it to be a horror manga with some really weird, eerie, and intense moments specifically with the artwork. Loved it so much more than I was expecting and am excited to continue the story!
January 6, 2025
A good start, but I'm confused by a lot of what's going on. It kind of just dumps you into things without explaining much. But I do think it'll give more details as it goes.
The artwork is pretty good, and for a horror series I feel like it gets a lot of the intensity and visuals that kind of thing needs.
The artwork is pretty good, and for a horror series I feel like it gets a lot of the intensity and visuals that kind of thing needs.
May 24, 2025
So creepy! I love it! Yayoi is a creepy but loveable little girl and and Keitaro is her tutor who can sense ghosts while she can see them. these two are an unholy match for sure. she needs Keitaro to help find the ghost who took her mother. along this volume there are definitely some creepy incidents like the phone booth. I definitely want to read more of this!
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