Inukami!, Volume 1

by Mari Matsuzawa and Mamizu Arisawa

Inukami: a sacred being with a dog-like appearance that forges a contract with a powerful human tamer to help them eliminate evil monsters and demons. Though Kawahira Keita is the descendent of a long line of Inukami-tamers, he seems to lack the necessary ability and has been forsaken by his family. One day, he meets a cute Inukami named Yoko, who, at first glance, looks graceful, obedient, and beautiful...but upon forging a contract with her, Keita...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765321467
• ISBN13: 9780765321466
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
• Length: 177 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 16 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 11 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

amusing manga fantasy

Hedonistic and selfish Kawahira Keita has shamed his famous family as the first one to fail to obtain an Inukami for him to tame; the spirit dogs scorned him as being too self centered. His grandma gives the slacker Keita some hope when she informs him there is an Inukami who selected him, but was unready at that time. He is euphoric and more so when he meets his "dog" a beautiful looking babe Yoko. They agree to a contract for him to tame her so they can battle as a team fighting evil, but he only forges his half of the deal. He soon learns that his failure to complete the binding leaves him open to attack by demons wanting to steal his soul. Keita also finds out the hard way about his partner's selfishness that rivals his when his disobedient dog leaves him naked in public; she is impish and considered by her peers as un-trainable. Instead of her serving him, he serves her as she punishes his transgressions, real or not. Worse another Inukami Nadeshiko is sent to train the pair on proper behavior, but that only outrages Yoko who is jealous. This is an amusing manga fantasy that targets older teens with its innuendos and beastly humorous take on relationships (though the Inukami look human, manga style, except for their tails). The story line is a bit thin, but fun to follow as two selfish individuals star in an outrageous cross-species jocular gender war. Harriet Klausner

Great fun to read from cover to cover

Volume one of Inukami! is the debut graphic novel of a new manga (Japanese comic) series about the unique relationship between a boy and a powerful spirit. Though their names would suggest a canine connection, the only visibly doglike aspect of inukami spirits is their bushy tails. Young Keita Kawahira is the scion of a long family line with a tradition of partnering with inukami to fight against evil spirits. But Keita's selfish personality repulses all available inukami except one - Yoko, an equally selfish outcast among her own kind, isolated for most of her young life, who sees this supposed "partnership" as a golden opportunity to escape and explore the human world! It's a raucous clash of personalities as boy and girl-dog-spirit vie for dominance, but in the process, could it be that they just might learn to respect and care for one another? (Perhaps, but not before she takes many an opportunity to punish Keita for real or perceived infractions by stealing his clothes!) The relationship gets further confused when another inukami comes to temporarily serve Keita, ostensibly to teach Yoko basic housekeeping skills, but unwittingly sparking her jealous ire! An action-packed comedy, recommended for older teens and adults (age 16 and up) due to raunchy humor and mature themes, Inukami! is great fun to read from cover to cover. Highly recommended.