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Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation #1
Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, Vol. 1
Exorcism Specialists in Supernatural Law Enforcement
Are you a victim of unwanted spirit possession? Is there a ghost you need sent up and away...or down to burn for all eternity? If the answer is yes, then you need Muhyo and Roji, experts in magic law. Serving justice to evil spirits is their specialty.
When the ghost of a tormented schoolgirl starts terrorizing subway passengers, can Muhyo and Roji resolve the paranormal crisis before it totally derails?
Are you a victim of unwanted spirit possession? Is there a ghost you need sent up and away...or down to burn for all eternity? If the answer is yes, then you need Muhyo and Roji, experts in magic law. Serving justice to evil spirits is their specialty.
When the ghost of a tormented schoolgirl starts terrorizing subway passengers, can Muhyo and Roji resolve the paranormal crisis before it totally derails?
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2005
5 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews
July 23, 2019
I’ve read all volumes in Japanese before, and I knew it was fun. That’s why I started to read in English. Also I remember the story, so it’s easy to read smoothly. These two protagonists are a really good partner each other. Muhyo’s spell is so cool everytime. I can’t wait to see another spell!
January 23, 2017
Saw this marked for $2.99 at a thrift store and figured why not since it's so rare to see manga at my local thrift store. Overall, glad I got it cheap because while the story isn't terrible, it's also simplistic in that every huge problem seems to be solved with a somewhat simple solution. To people who crave a lot of variety and innovation in solutions,you might get bored. However, the first story/case in the Volume was somewhat sweet and touching so that was probably what gave me the burst of energy and emotional investment to read all the way to the end. It's something best enjoyed by those new to manga or teen readers.
January 29, 2015
Intriguing premise about a different kind of ghost busters. The magic law background seems like it will have a lot of interesting back story. Pretty creepy depictions of ghosts and possession. I'm not very invested in the characters yet, in fact I find them annoying, but this happens often with strong characters and time will tell whether they grow on me. I suspect they will.
July 30, 2018
"Please drop by if you are experiencing any ghost problems."
Ah, this was just the thing I was in the mood for. I heard that this one would get an anime, I even thought it was already out. :P Since the anime is not out yet, I decided to check out the manga and see if it was a good one.
And it was! Oh it was! Ghosts, monsters, weird art that still strangely fits with the manga, a duo that doesn't seem to match, and more. Each chapter is a new client (or at least a new monster/ghost).
Jirou (the assistant) and Muhyo (the executor/lawyer). These two will help you with your ghostly problem no matter how big or small. Jirou generally explains stuff while Muhyo just sits next to him. He sometimes does demonstrations, but it seems Jirou is the designated explain guy.
The ghosts/monsters are properly scary, not those wussy things you see at times in ghost stories, oh no, these critters will definitely kill you if they have a chance. Things with too many arms, a thirst for blood, and did I mention a chair that is hungry? I am happy that I read these stories during the day, and not at night, because I would probably not have slept that soundly.
I hated Muhyo's rule that they couldn't ever meet up with a client again once the case was closed. I felt it was just too much, too rude. Those people may want to thank you, or you may want to check up on them (like in the case of Grandma Kiyomi). I may have an inkling of an idea why Muhyo is so strict about it, but still... there should be some leniency in a few cases.
The magic laws, the ranking, the magic, it was all interesting. I still have questions, but I have the feeling that as this story continues we learn more and more about this and the magic world. I do hope that we also will learn how Jirou/Rouji got to be Muhyo's assistant. How did these two get matched up, at times you can see they have a great partnership... but other times... Oh good grief. These two bicker like a married couple.
I love how Muhyo is able to give out a punishment (or rewards as that also happens if a ghost is still good). It seems a bit too easy at times, they barely have to do anything, just open the book, say a few words/dole out a punishment/reward, and bang, solved. We do see that there is a struggle at times, a small fight or people having to be saved, but generally I would love to see a bit more action. Make it more exciting. A bit more danger, and not just for Jirou (that poor dude) or people standing by. I would like to see Muhyo do a bit more effort. Though it is funny that after such an event he has to sleep for 3 days (so people just have to hope they don't get in trouble in those days).
The art wasn't always my favourite part. The style is a bit weird, sharp, but I have to say, after reading all the chapters in the first volume I am actually quite liking it more than I did in the beginning. And I guess I have to admit, it does fit the creepiness and the weirdness of the manga.
All in all, I am going to be reading volume 2 quite soon, I just don't want to stop reading, but I guess I will be pacing myself. 2 volumes each month! No more. I don't want to burn through this one in one go (I actually do want that, but....).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Ah, this was just the thing I was in the mood for. I heard that this one would get an anime, I even thought it was already out. :P Since the anime is not out yet, I decided to check out the manga and see if it was a good one.
And it was! Oh it was! Ghosts, monsters, weird art that still strangely fits with the manga, a duo that doesn't seem to match, and more. Each chapter is a new client (or at least a new monster/ghost).
Jirou (the assistant) and Muhyo (the executor/lawyer). These two will help you with your ghostly problem no matter how big or small. Jirou generally explains stuff while Muhyo just sits next to him. He sometimes does demonstrations, but it seems Jirou is the designated explain guy.
The ghosts/monsters are properly scary, not those wussy things you see at times in ghost stories, oh no, these critters will definitely kill you if they have a chance. Things with too many arms, a thirst for blood, and did I mention a chair that is hungry? I am happy that I read these stories during the day, and not at night, because I would probably not have slept that soundly.
I hated Muhyo's rule that they couldn't ever meet up with a client again once the case was closed. I felt it was just too much, too rude. Those people may want to thank you, or you may want to check up on them (like in the case of Grandma Kiyomi). I may have an inkling of an idea why Muhyo is so strict about it, but still... there should be some leniency in a few cases.
The magic laws, the ranking, the magic, it was all interesting. I still have questions, but I have the feeling that as this story continues we learn more and more about this and the magic world. I do hope that we also will learn how Jirou/Rouji got to be Muhyo's assistant. How did these two get matched up, at times you can see they have a great partnership... but other times... Oh good grief. These two bicker like a married couple.
I love how Muhyo is able to give out a punishment (or rewards as that also happens if a ghost is still good). It seems a bit too easy at times, they barely have to do anything, just open the book, say a few words/dole out a punishment/reward, and bang, solved. We do see that there is a struggle at times, a small fight or people having to be saved, but generally I would love to see a bit more action. Make it more exciting. A bit more danger, and not just for Jirou (that poor dude) or people standing by. I would like to see Muhyo do a bit more effort. Though it is funny that after such an event he has to sleep for 3 days (so people just have to hope they don't get in trouble in those days).
The art wasn't always my favourite part. The style is a bit weird, sharp, but I have to say, after reading all the chapters in the first volume I am actually quite liking it more than I did in the beginning. And I guess I have to admit, it does fit the creepiness and the weirdness of the manga.
All in all, I am going to be reading volume 2 quite soon, I just don't want to stop reading, but I guess I will be pacing myself. 2 volumes each month! No more. I don't want to burn through this one in one go (I actually do want that, but....).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 27, 2019
Think Bleach, but with less swordplay and more Soul Reaper red tape, add a dash of Mob Psycho, and that's kinda what Muhyo & Roji is. The title characters are sort of detectives for hire, in charge of punishing evil spirits who violate Magic Law. It's a fine enough concept, even if it's very "villain of the week" so far, but there's a problem in its execution.
Pretty much every chapter so far has followed the basic format of: Muhyo & Roji banter between each other. A case presents itself, which they may or may not immediately take. An evil spirit appears and threatens someone, forcing them to take action. Muhyo reads off a punishment from his book of Magic Law, and solves the problem. It's that last part that's problematic, because Muhyo literally does just read out of his book, something happens that the evil spirit has no defense against, and the day is saved. Sure, he might drop the book or something, but there's no real tension--or any real conflict--once he shows up. It's essentially, "You were a bad spirit! Go to your room!" And the spirit just does it.
Each spirit is interesting in its origins and nature, and visually they're incredible to look at, but Muhyo never struggles against them. It's like Superman showing up to bust petty crooks: Once he enters the scene, it's clear how it's going to end, regardless of what the criminal's backstory is. And while we are starting to learn small snippets of how Magic Law is organized, the punishments all seem kind of random, and thus lacking in relevance or gravity. This all might change as the series goes on, but right now, its conflicts feel very lacking.
I'm reading this online as part of my Shonen Jump subscription, so I'll probably keep going with it for awhile. If nothing else, the creature designs are very creepy and inspired, which is certainly something to keep my interest. I just hope the narrative evolves beyond this simple template soon, or a least elaborates more on the workings of Magic Law, because as it stands, that's a lot of mediocrity to sit through for some admittedly great art.
Pretty much every chapter so far has followed the basic format of: Muhyo & Roji banter between each other. A case presents itself, which they may or may not immediately take. An evil spirit appears and threatens someone, forcing them to take action. Muhyo reads off a punishment from his book of Magic Law, and solves the problem. It's that last part that's problematic, because Muhyo literally does just read out of his book, something happens that the evil spirit has no defense against, and the day is saved. Sure, he might drop the book or something, but there's no real tension--or any real conflict--once he shows up. It's essentially, "You were a bad spirit! Go to your room!" And the spirit just does it.
Each spirit is interesting in its origins and nature, and visually they're incredible to look at, but Muhyo never struggles against them. It's like Superman showing up to bust petty crooks: Once he enters the scene, it's clear how it's going to end, regardless of what the criminal's backstory is. And while we are starting to learn small snippets of how Magic Law is organized, the punishments all seem kind of random, and thus lacking in relevance or gravity. This all might change as the series goes on, but right now, its conflicts feel very lacking.
I'm reading this online as part of my Shonen Jump subscription, so I'll probably keep going with it for awhile. If nothing else, the creature designs are very creepy and inspired, which is certainly something to keep my interest. I just hope the narrative evolves beyond this simple template soon, or a least elaborates more on the workings of Magic Law, because as it stands, that's a lot of mediocrity to sit through for some admittedly great art.
August 21, 2022
"By the Laws of Magic...!"
I feel like the first chapter starts off a little slow but once things get moving this is an amazing ride that just won't stop! The monsters, the magic, the mayhem, the mystery, everything about it is so much fun.
Forget Ghostbusters, I want these boys to investigate my paranormal crises. There's a lot of world building and magic law explaining, (which slows down in the further volumes,) that is very necessary and not done in the same way twice making each explanation a fun lesson. The art for each ghost is unique, matching each of the spook's personalities and reasons why they're haunts.
The characters are mysterious folks, especially Muhyo, and I really want to learn more about how Muhyo and Roji came to become a team. And what is up with all of Muhyo's rules, I'm sure it will be explained later and that most of them are all actually for Roji's benefit. (Muhyo likes to play the tough guy, but I think he is actually a big (little) softy.)
It also carries a Halloween vibe which I find similar to Soul Eater, Vol. 1.
All in all, a fun series that I look forward to unraveling the many mysteries of Muhyo and co..
I feel like the first chapter starts off a little slow but once things get moving this is an amazing ride that just won't stop! The monsters, the magic, the mayhem, the mystery, everything about it is so much fun.
Forget Ghostbusters, I want these boys to investigate my paranormal crises. There's a lot of world building and magic law explaining, (which slows down in the further volumes,) that is very necessary and not done in the same way twice making each explanation a fun lesson. The art for each ghost is unique, matching each of the spook's personalities and reasons why they're haunts.
The characters are mysterious folks, especially Muhyo, and I really want to learn more about how Muhyo and Roji came to become a team. And what is up with all of Muhyo's rules, I'm sure it will be explained later and that most of them are all actually for Roji's benefit. (Muhyo likes to play the tough guy, but I think he is actually a big (little) softy.)
It also carries a Halloween vibe which I find similar to Soul Eater, Vol. 1.
All in all, a fun series that I look forward to unraveling the many mysteries of Muhyo and co..
September 4, 2018
Muhyo and Roji are a team that investigate supernatural beings. Each chapter of the graphic novel brings the duo a different ghost to investigate, and then “help” to cross over to the other side (either up OR down). Muhyo is the “expert” in the laws of magic (he does have a book) and Roji is more of the people person. Together, they help people deal with ghost problems.
What I liked: two great characters! The two main characters are so complex and different, and evolve as the book goes on. Each chapter is a different story and the ghosts are as diverse as the problems they create. I also really loved reading the book backwards (for us), it made the experience all the more fun!
What I did not like: things moved almost too quickly. Because each chapter is a different story, the story arc is very short and sometimes I found it a little too abrupt. But, it is understandable as the story has to fit into a small number of pages.
All in all, a fun (albeit different) read.
4.5 out of 5 stars
What I liked: two great characters! The two main characters are so complex and different, and evolve as the book goes on. Each chapter is a different story and the ghosts are as diverse as the problems they create. I also really loved reading the book backwards (for us), it made the experience all the more fun!
What I did not like: things moved almost too quickly. Because each chapter is a different story, the story arc is very short and sometimes I found it a little too abrupt. But, it is understandable as the story has to fit into a small number of pages.
All in all, a fun (albeit different) read.
4.5 out of 5 stars
January 20, 2020
this is actually the best book ever known to mankind.
The entire series is great. It has some flaws here and there, such as a few tonal issues as well as some character development problems but I personally didn't mind them.
The main character Muhyo does not actually develop very much over the course of the series which was fine with me because I love him just as he is but if you're not into assholes you may not enjoy how long it takes for him to become less of a jackass.
Nishi published the series in shonen jump which of course, is for young boys. However, I feel that he really wanted to make a horror manga and that is why tonally the series is a bit all over the place. A lot of very grim things happen to people and the Nishi's art can be absolutely demented at times. I enjoyed this aspect of the series but many people may not.
All in all, I would recommend this book to other people and have many times before. Sadly, no one has actually read it yet but one day for sure.
The entire series is great. It has some flaws here and there, such as a few tonal issues as well as some character development problems but I personally didn't mind them.
The main character Muhyo does not actually develop very much over the course of the series which was fine with me because I love him just as he is but if you're not into assholes you may not enjoy how long it takes for him to become less of a jackass.
Nishi published the series in shonen jump which of course, is for young boys. However, I feel that he really wanted to make a horror manga and that is why tonally the series is a bit all over the place. A lot of very grim things happen to people and the Nishi's art can be absolutely demented at times. I enjoyed this aspect of the series but many people may not.
All in all, I would recommend this book to other people and have many times before. Sadly, no one has actually read it yet but one day for sure.
October 27, 2022
This was a fun start to a new series. We follow two boys who run an investigation bureau tasked with finding ghosts and helping them cross over. Humans will come in with a supernatural problem, and they help them out. It was a fun first volume and introduced the world and the characters very well. If you want a good spooky manga to read for Halloween, I recommend it.
July 25, 2017
Wasn't my cup of tea ! :p
May 29, 2019
Pretty awesome manga so far, Really love the art, characters and the story 😻😻😁💕💕
December 22, 2020
So I wasn't to impressed with the first two chapters, but the art got better with the third. I like the monster design and it's got a simple premise so far. An easy enough read.
May 6, 2012
A ghost-hunting manga, in its way. 80,000 people a year disappear, and its estimated that 10% of them are from ghosts! How to fight back? Why, using magical law, a system which can exorcise ghosts from the human world to a fate appropriate to their actions, from punishment to being sent to heaven.
This first volume is a bunch of short stories introducing us to some of the basic ideas of the world - what magical law is and does, where ghosts come from and what they can do. there's a little bit of mood whiplash as it sometimes goes from jokey and silly to really disturbing. The look of the characters can take some getting used to, but the looks and sounds of the ghosts are pretty creepy. Not a super fantastic book, but definitely one I reread on a regular basis for the fun and the creep factor.
This first volume is a bunch of short stories introducing us to some of the basic ideas of the world - what magical law is and does, where ghosts come from and what they can do. there's a little bit of mood whiplash as it sometimes goes from jokey and silly to really disturbing. The look of the characters can take some getting used to, but the looks and sounds of the ghosts are pretty creepy. Not a super fantastic book, but definitely one I reread on a regular basis for the fun and the creep factor.
November 30, 2011
This is the first in a series (2004) about a couple of "ghost busters" in Japan. The supernatural adventures include an executor who is very short and resembles a vampire (coincidentally, he sleeps a lot) and and his tall blonde "second clerk" who bungles some of the attempts which makes the stories fun. This series was suggested to me by a tween who reads a lot, visits the library a lot and is extremely articulate. I liked his suggestion and can understand why he's waiting for the next in the series - I'm going to put the next one on hold . . .
December 19, 2017
This book was so fun to read! It was really eerie and scary in some spots. My favorite part was when Taeko was happy because she was holding Rie's hand and the fell into the underworld, only to be left at the River Styx. I also really liked Aya, and how talented with the piano she was. I look forward to reading the next books in the series, (if I can ever find them). What was really cool was how this book focused on Japanese spiritualism, or Korei-jutsu (交霊術)
Overall Rating: *****^ (5 1/2 stars)
Overall Rating: *****^ (5 1/2 stars)
January 11, 2009
This series was my graphic novel pick for 2008 in my Library's annual "Staff Picks". I really love the way this series can be read by most all ages. The "horror" part is never too gruesome...and in the wake of the end of "Harry Potter" mania, the way they use magic in this series is fairly fresh.
December 16, 2014
This is some awesome manga for the middle-grade Ghostbusters fan. It features some nice humorous back-and-forth between the main characters, a few jokes, and some genuinely spooky parts with great, creepy artwork. It fell back on the pretty-girl-as-victim trope a bit too often for my taste, but I feel like that's a fault of the genre.
June 13, 2015
It is essentially a buddy-cop story set in a Harry Potteresque world brimming with horrifying apparitions and charming characters. The art is memorable among standard shonen fair and so are the tragic antagonists whom you'll sympathize with given the nature of their descent into villainy.
July 13, 2012
Yes, yes, it's manga. Most people think weird Japanese comics and cosplay when they think manga, BUT this one is pretty good. It's funny, entertaining, and has an interesting plot. The first volume just introduces the characters and world they live it. Roji is hilarious.
November 14, 2014
Baca versi terjemahannya Elex Media. Pertama lihat gambarnya, langsung teringat sama Gash Bell :v.
Ceritanya masih terasa biasa aja sih. Belum ada sesuatu yang bener-bener "gigit". Gambarnya kurang suka. Dua setengah bintang lah. Pembulatan jadi 3.
Ceritanya masih terasa biasa aja sih. Belum ada sesuatu yang bener-bener "gigit". Gambarnya kurang suka. Dua setengah bintang lah. Pembulatan jadi 3.
December 31, 2011
Fun - though surprisingly disturbing at times.
June 29, 2012
these are cool
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2013
This isn't bad, but it's not great. I find the art, and the depiction of Muhyo in particular, to be rather hit or miss.
October 29, 2014
Comedy/supernatural combo that is entertaining enough. I always enjoy how grotesque Japanese monsters and ghosts are; however, these is definitely not a horror title.
Read
February 26, 2015vol. 1
March 6, 2017
I'm usually not too enticed by case-by-case stories, but all the ghosts in this were awesomely creepy!
March 20, 2016
I really enjoyed this! It's very clever, witty, and funny. I've spread the word about it to friends and look forward to reading the next volume.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews