Translated by Stephen Kohler
179 pages
Published 2023 (English translation published 2024)
Read September 11
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This is it. I’m now caught up with the current English language tankÅbon run of Witch Hat Atelier, with no more until January. Hard to believe I hadn’t even heard of this series when I googled for manga to sate my Delicious in Dungeon hunger this spring.
And what a stunning volume this is. After two fairly quiet, understated books, Shirahama unleashes magical violence in intricate panels, jaw-dropping splash pages, and adroit compositions. Action shots and moments of introspection are staged with equal finesse.
In the midst of the action, all the character development of the last two volumes amply pays off. Characters have climactic moments of trust, of doubt, of rising to the occasion. Tears sprang to my eyes more than once.
Witch Hat has dominated my summer the way few, if any, series ever have. I could have used these books when I was a kid, yet Shirahama is the rare author who pulls together a story just as compelling and comforting for adults as it is for younger readers. I’m sad to part from Atelier these next few months, but I’m so happy it’s become part of my life.
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