KEKKAISHI: Vol. 1

A family legacy, an inherited magical power, an attractive girl next door and fighting against monsters all come together in this humorous coming-of-age shonen manga. The kekkaishi are "barrier masters" who trap demons in a kind of force field, and Yoshimori is the latest to enter the family business. He's powerful but unsure of his talent—what he really wants is to bake cakes. He's also confused by his relationship with Tokine, the female successor of a competing neighboring clan. Yoshimori is only two years younger than Tokine, but the age gap often results in his losing out to her in battle. In addition, Tokine is happy with her role instead of chafing against family strictures. Although the two have similar backgrounds, constraints and pets (centuries-old demon dogs), this is clearly his story, with her as a supporting character. The obvious comparison is Romeo and Juliet , but the way Yoshimori's grandfather froths at mention of the other family's name, it's more like the Hatfields and the McCoys. Scenes of adventurous monster-trapping alternate with surprisingly solid character development. The character designs are cute but not cloying, and a strong but restrained use of black guides the eye through the pages. Tanabe's explanatory captions and diagrams allow the enjoyable story to unfold without confusion. (Apr.)