Kitaro and the Great Tanuki War [Paperback]

Kitaro faces off against a swamp monster, a paper screen come to life, and an army of mythical raccoon dogs

Kitaro and the Great Tanuki War features adventures of Shigeru Mizukis beloved yokai boy. In the epic title story, Kitaro battles the tanuki, a Japanese animal that features prominently in the countrys yokai legends. The furry beasts draw on the power of the blood moon to awaken the monstrous catfish that lives in the depths of the earth. The twisting of the catfish causes earthquakes that threaten to destroy all of Japan. With his yokai allies captured, Kitaro is the only one left who can take on the great tanuki and his army. Will he be up for the challenge?

This volume contains two additional stories about traditional folklore monsters as seen through Mizukis whimsical and genre-defining lens. In Mokumokuren, Kitaro faces off against a paper screen come to life, while The Obebenuma Yokai introduces a grisly swamp creature. Kitaro and the Great Tanuki War showcases the golden age of the Gegege no Kitaro series from the 1960sand has never before appeared in English.

D+Qs Kitaro series celebrates Mizukis expert blend of folklore, comedy, and horror, sharing the all-ages stories that made Kitaro one of Japans most beloved characters. This kid-friendly edition also features a History of Kitaro essay by the award-winning series translator and Mizuki scholar Zack Davisson.The world of Japanese demons was never more delightful as it is in Mizuki's Kitaro.PopMatters

Manga fans will spot the origins of many of the format's tropes, including shape-shifters, cuddly monsters, and mecha battles. & these strange, charming stories&should find [Kitaro] an appreciative audience.School Library Journal<