Story by Ryukishi07, art by Jiro Suzuki
Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen

Another Higurashi When They Cry arc begins, and you know what that means: writer Ryukishi07 hits the reset button, undoing all the carnage from the Cotton Drifting storyline. In keeping with the formula established by the last arc, Keiichi and his harem of gal pals are alive once more, but how long before the mysterious Oyashiro-sama’s curse rears its ugly head again?

Loyal Higurashi readers know the drill by now. Keiichi is a city boy whose family recently moved to idyllic Hinamizawa Village, and he’s already made close friends with some female students at his school. The harem members vary in size, shape, and personality characteristics, but one always stands out in particular, depending on which arc. This time the focus is on Satoko, the Lolita type who constantly victimizes Keiichi with well-placed booby traps. Like the Cotton Drifting arc did for Mion, the Curse Killing arc shows us contrasting sides to her character via a lunch-making contest at school, and later, a baseball game.

Thanks to the cooking contest, we find out that beneath her seemingly childish nature, Satoko has a responsible side. It’s probably best not to say more—suffice it to say that she and Keiichi develop a kind of sibling relationship. In the past, we’ve seen plenty of Keiichi acting like a big brother, threatening one of his mighty forehead flicks as retribution for a prank, so it’s interesting that these two characters get to reverse roles this time.

That alone should get Higurashi faithful picking up the Curse Killing arc. However, for those who may not be overly fond of Satoko, this storyline also seems poised to address what happened to Satoshi, her brother. Prior arcs hinted that Satoshi was “taken” by Oyashiro-sama’s curse, which could have meant either demonic possession or murder by Hinamizawa’s fanatic villagers. It’s a point that could use clarification, but from some of the hints given by Ryukishi07 in this volume, there could be, I think, an unexpected surprise in store for longtime readers. (Notice the physician who knows all about Satoko’s tragic past and, as far as I can tell, is somehow never addressed by name.)

Along with Satoko getting more panel time, another new wrinkle is an emphasis on food, which seems to be the new motif, replacing the twins and cosplay girls from the Cotton Drifting arc. Things get surreal at times: for example, there is a dialogue-heavy debate on whether a lunch composed of pre-made food—but packed by a person—can express as much “heart” as a thoroughly homemade lunch. Later, Keiichi convinces a baseball player who devours elaborately decorated desserts because they remind him of young girls that it may be perverse, but there’s nothing wrong with being a pervert.

The contrast between a growing sense of dread as a result of Oyashiro-sama’s curse, and all the food-related imagery and dialogue—some of which is pretty darn wrong—might seem too bizarre for new readers, who don’t know that the reinvention is part of the fun. But those well-versed in the formula will probably find Curse Killing to be a solid arc thus far. I’m looking forward to the concluding volume, even if things probably aren’t going to end well.

Volume one of Higurashi When They Cry: Curse Killing Arc is available now. This is the fifth volume of the series overall.

Review copy provided by the publisher.