By Queenie Chan and Dean Koontz
Del Rey, 176 pp.
Rating: Teen (13+)

There’s nothing inherently wrong with In Odd We Trust, but not much that’s exceptional either. Based on characters created by bestselling author Dean Koontz, this new manga accomplishes everything one might expect from the first in a series: it introduces the reader to the central protagonists, lays out the rules of the world they live in, and leaves the stage open for future adventures.

In Odd We Trust takes place in a small California town called Pico Mundo, which is totally unremarkable save for one inhabitant: Odd Thomas. It seems Thomas, who works as a fry cook, is able to see the spirits of dead people, and regularly encounters Elvis and ex-president Lyndon B. Johnson while walking to work. Lately he’s seen the ghost of Joey Gordon, a seven-year-old boy who was brutally murdered.

The Gordon case has the local police stumped, so the chief, who knows all about Odd’s gift, enlists his help. Odd is quick to volunteer, but to his surprise, so is his girlfriend Stormy Llewellyn. It seems the nanny who found Joey’s body had been receiving creepy letters for months; that nanny is Sherry Sheldon, who grew up with Stormy in an orphanage.

What follows is a race to stop the killer before he can strike again, told in an almost cinematic fashion that tries really hard to be thrilling. Unfortunately, the plot doesn’t really add up to much, despite the third act twist tossed in by Koontz and Queenie Chan, who serves as both artist and co-writer. Chan in particular tries hard to sell it, but no amount of wild takes by Odd can overcome the awkward combination of cartoonish faces and more realistic-looking backgrounds. To her credit, she does turn up the shadow once characters start venturing into potentially-dangerous situations, but even then, her illustrations aren’t exactly dripping with atmosphere.

Along with never seeming as suspenseful as it could be, despite the relatively-high stakes and appearances by ghosts, the tone of the writing also seems to favor characterization over chills. One is more likely to come away with an appreciation for the characters, especially Odd and Stormy, than the serial killer-related plot mechanics. Indeed, despite a mutual affection that can get downright sappy at times, the young couple stays likeable thanks to their smart-alecky and upbeat attitude. Their dynamic is actually interesting: he’s sensitive and nurturing, she’s a gun-toting hothead who loves trouble. The villain, by comparison, is bland and uninteresting, his motives practically non-existent beyond being crazy.

But even if I can’t recommend In Odd We Trust to general manga audiences or those looking for a good scare, this first volume is inoffensive to the point where it might be suitable for young adults. And there’s always fans of the “amateur sleuthing” genre, the one where nefarious things always seem to be afoot in the seemingly-tranquil suburbs, and youthful main characters inevitably get to the bottom of things through a combination of brains, luck, and youthful verve. This time, there just happens to be ghosts and a gun, too.

In Odd We Trust is available now.