James Nicoll Reviews

The manga series Alive: The Final Evolution (Saishū Shinkateki Shōnen) was written by Tadashi Kawashima and illustrated by Adachitoka. It ran from 2003 to 2010; the final instalment was published shortly before Kawashima’s death. The first volume covers the first three instalments. 

Small and timid, Yuichi Hirose is a natural target for his school’s bullies. His only defense is provided by his friend Taisuke Kanou. Taisuke is an orphan, which would likely make him a target too … if it weren’t for Taisuke’s determined pugnaciousness. Taisuke never hesitates to step between Hirose and his tormentors, despite the fact that Taisuke always loses the scuffles that follow. 

It turns out that all Hirose needs to do to end his torment is to tap new potential. 

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 11 collects issues 40 to 43 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. The manga was first published in 2014; the English translation was published in 2016. Included in the volume are 

• 40. ​“We Not-So-Humbly Pray” (恐み恐みも白さず ​“Kashikomi mo Mōsazu”) 

• 41. ​“A Picture Together” (一緒に写真を ​“Issho ni Shashin wo”) 

• 42. ​“Causes Nothing but Disaster” (厄災しか起こせない ​“Yakusai Shika Okosenai”) 

• 43. ​“Secrets” (秘め事 ​“Himegoto”)

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 10 collects issues 35 to 39 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. The manga was first published in 2014; the English translation was published in 2016. Included in the volume are 

• 36. ​“Binding Curse” (呪縛 ​“Jubaku”)

• 37. ​“The Sound of You Calling My Name” (君の呼ぶ声 ​“Kimi no Yobu Koe”) 

• 38. ​“Because I Promised” (約束したから ​“Yakusoku Shitakara”) 

• 39. ​“Until Now and From Now On” (コレマデとコレカラ ​“Koremade to Korekara”)

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 9 collects issues 32 to 35 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. The manga was first published in 2013; the English translation was published in 2015. Included in the volume are 

• 32. ​“She Who Invites” (誘な女 ​“Izanami”)

• 33. ​“Wielder of an Iron Will” (イシ椎い持ち ​“Ishi Tsutsui Mochi”) 

• 34. ​“Such Were Their Desires” (斯く在りし望み ​“Kaku Arishi Nozomi”) 

• 35. ​“Death” (死 ​“Shi”)

Things are not going well for Yato and his former shinki Nora. In fact, the two find themselves in hell. 

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 8 collects issues 28 to 31 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. The manga was first published in 2013; the English translation was published in 2015. Included in the volume are 

• 28. ​“God of Calamity” (禍津神 ​“Magatsukami”)

• 29. ​“The Three Affairs of Three Realms” (三つの国の諸事情 Mittsu no Kuni no Sho Jijō) 

• 30. ​“The Sound of Thread Snapping” (糸の切れる音 ​“Ito no Kireru Oto”) 

• 31. ​“Like Parent, Like Child” (親なり、子なり Oya Nari, Konari”) 

Yato, newly minted god, vanishes. 

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 7 collects issues 24 to 27 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. The manga was first published in 2013; the English translation dates from 2015. Included are: 

• 24. ​“Always” (ずっと一 ​“Zuttou”)

• 25. ​“When Sleeping Gods Are Provoked” (触った神の祟り ​“Sawatta Kami no Tatari”) 

• 26. ​“How to Worship a God” (神様の祀リ方 ​“Kamisama no Matsuri Kata”) 

• 27. ​“Do and Due” (業と業 ​“Gyō to Gō”) 

Yato is a god, but even a god suffers when snubbed by a friend. 

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 6 collects issues 20 to 23 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. The manga was first published in 2013; the English translation dates from 2015. Included are: 

• 20. ​“Prayerful Oath” (神祝き、呪きき ​“Kamuhosaki, Hosakiki”) 
• 21. ​“Don’t Go — Stay with Me” (消えないで、傍にいて ​“Kienai de, Soba ni Ite”) 
• 22. ​“What Must Be Done” (為すべきこと ​“Nasubeki Koto”) 
• 23. ​“Guiding Light” (道標 ​“Michishirube”)

The last volume ended on something of a cliffhanger, as Yato’s shinki (ghost servant able to manifest as a weapon) Yukine was shattered by Bishamonten. Perhaps it’s significant that Yato is god of nothing in particular, whereas Bishamonten is a god of war. Poor Yukine; no doubt that was the end for him. 

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Adachitoka’s Noragami Volume 5 collects issues 16 to 19 of the adventures of the stray god Yato. 

• 16. ​“Hell” (地獄 ​“Jigoku”)
• 17. ​“Yearning for Someone to Trust” (寄る辺を求めて ​“Yorube o Motomete”) 
• 18. ​“Naked Sword” (抜き身 ​“Nuki Mi”) 
• 19. ​“Prayer” (願 ​“Negai”)

Of all those who despise Yato, none hate him more than the war god Bishamonten. Bishamonten’s hatred blinds her. She is also blind to the dangers she incurs by her greed to recruit as many ghosts as she can, ghosts who will serve as her shinki, servants¹. Both blindnesses are weapons that her enemy will use against her. 

Unfortunately for Bishamonten, that enemy is not Yato, but someone she considers her closest ally. 

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Noragami, Volume Four collects issues 12 to 15 of Adachitoka’s on-going series about the stray god Yato and his peers: 

• “To Kill, or Not To Kill” (きる、きらない ​“Kiru, Kiranai”), 

• “Omen” (兆し ​“Kizashi”),

• “Her Memories” (彼女の思い出 ​“Kanojo no Omoide”), 

• “That Which Withers” (枯れゆくもの ​“Kare Yuku Mono”). 

Having survived his servant Yukini’s flirtation with corruption, Yato must now figure out how to help his human friend Hiyori. 

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Noragami Book 3 collects issues 8 to 11 of Adachitoka’s on-going series. Although just how long it will be on-going is open to question in these issues. 

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