Review by C.J. Bunce
Three Exorcism Siblings begins with that title–it’s both a reflection on typical manga supernatural stories, while also illustrating why manga don’t always benefit from an explanatory title. Yes, Three Exorcism Siblings certainly doesn’t hide what it’s about, and maybe what is lost in translation is how these kinds of titles actually help to proudly define the medium. It’s a bit weird, but you know what you’re getting.
The first six chapters of a 59 chapter story have been translated into English in Three Exorcism Siblings Volume 1, available now here at Amazon from Titan Manga.
This isn’t The Exorcist, it’s a monster story heavy on action, a fairly harmless tale without any occult overtones about three brothers and what they will do to look after each other.
The Yamaemori family is believed to be cursed by those around them. Mamoru Yamaemori is 21, the oldest of three sons. He was never able to live a normal life like his brothers Kei, the studious one, and Yu, the youngest, who is more about sports. Mamoru is charged with killing demon beasts called Tengu, who eat people and absorb their intelligence.
Mamoru has accepted the responsibility of ridding his world of these creatures, but if he slips up they will eat him, too, to return as a Tengu himself. And that’s just what happens. So what can his brothers do with a Tengu in the family?
As Kei and Yu come to terms with this event, others are ready to eliminate Mamoru straight away.
This is a manga story straight out of Asian action movies. Fans of any “five finger death grip” trope will appreciate the variations writer-artist Shinta Harekawa weaves into his story. It’s half action, but also half family drama. You’ll come for the monsters, but begin to like these characters in this introductory first volume.
Three Exorcism Siblings is the latest English edition of popular Japanese titles from Titan Books’ Titan Manga imprint, a more recent book in Titan’s catalog from Japan first published in 2021. For other stories, check out our borg reviews of Alpi–The Soul Sender here, Witch of Thistle Castle here, The Poetry of Ran here, The Great Yokai War: Guardians Volume 1 here, Speed Grapher here, and a discussion of Kamen Rider: Kuuga and Atom: The Beginning here.
For fans of supernatural action and monster stories, check out Three Exorcism Siblings Volume 1, now here at Amazon and look for Volume 2 coming in July, or add it to your pull list at your local comic shop.
