Eerie Queerie!

    (Tokyopop, 2004 )
™ and © 2004 Shuri Shiozu
Graphic novel, Reads right to left, B&W


When there’s a note from a manga creator thanking you for reading his or her first graphic novel, it’s usually a sign you’re in for awkward comics.

But, except for slightly uneven art, that’s not the case for Eerie Queerie! which has well defined characters and assured storytelling. It’s Ghost meets Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, when lonely high school student Mitsuo sees dead people: female ones who need to borrow his body to take care of their unfinished Earthly business.

His occasional burst of feminine behavior soon has him being taunted as gay, but handsome magic–charm–wielding classmate Hasunuma doesn’t mind—he’s happy to help Mitsuo give closure to the departed.

Soon, they’re sharing meals and meaningful looks, which suggest it’s only a matter of time until they find each other. The supernatural stuff is OK, but it’s the guys’ sweet, tentative buddy romance that gives this “pretty boy meets still prettier boy” story its emotional resonance.

— S.A. Bennett
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