Manga for Month of October: Natsume Yuujinchou

MONTH OF October: Natsume Yuujinchou / Natsume's Book of Friends

[Manga]

Synopsis: Natsume's just an ordinary kid, except he can see spirits, just like his grandma Reiko could. Reiko, though, used to bully the spirits, and bound them to her will in the "Book of Friends." Now that Natsume has inherited this book, a never-ending stream of spirits is coming after him. With the help of a spirit "cat" (who really just wants Natsume to die so he can have the book), Natsume spends his days dissolving the contracts that bind the spirits and trying not to get killed.

Volumes: atm - 14
Status: Ongoing
Genres: Drama, Shoujo, Supernatural
Author: Midorikawa, Yuki (Story & Art)

Commentary:  So don't go into this story looking for a major plot.  If I could liken this to any other series, I would say it's a lot like Mushishi in that respect.  Except Ginko is now a kid in high school, the akayashi talk and torment him, and there's more of a plot structure.  Like, a lot more, at least in comparison.  The art is still beautiful and stylistic, with some humor thrown in between Natsume and Neko-sensei.

This author is also responsible for the heart-wrenching, tear-jerking story that is Hotarubi no Mori e and not spoiling, but I was crying practically through the whole ending.  If anything, that story is considered a prequel to this one, as it takes place in a similar universe where akayashi are just, sometimes, misunderstood when they clash with the human world.

Ya'know, like Mushishi only exorcists and plot and Natsume doesn't smoke.