Manga Monday: When a Cat Faces West Vol. 2

Series: When a Cat Faces West
Writer/Artist: Yuki Urushibara
Publisher: Kodansha
Released: June 21, 2022
Received: Own

Find it on Goodreads |

Summary:

Flow is a (natural?) phenomenon that the city has been forced to deal with for years. Where it appears everything can change, oddities arise, people disappear, and the rules of physics alter. That’s where the Flow Disposal department comes into play. It’s their job to find the Flow source and help resolve it when possible.

Hirota has made it his life’s work to help others cope with the changes Flow brings. Sometimes, he can help them find normalcy again. Other times, he has to help them wait it through. For example, his employee – Chima-chan, looks significantly younger than she is, thanks to the effect of Flow.

Review:

I forgot how much I loved this series. Why did I take so long to read the second volume?! (Note to self: go buy and read the third volume asap). When a Cat Faces West Vol. 2 is such a fun and entertaining read for various reasons.

Yes, there is a bit of a lesson to be learned in each slice-of-life-style adventure. Sometimes we’re meant to learn about patience, or sometimes to teach us about going with the flow (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

There’s also something so human about how Yuki Urushibara portrays the characters. Ironically, I still feel like we need to learn about Hirota. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Shacho (the cat). He’s adorable.

There are some somber notes in When a Cat Faces West Vol. 2. Chima’s story, for example, has some highs and lows. Likewise, one of the little adventures Hirota goes on hits hard until the big reveal, at least. I wasn’t expecting that, but I’m not complaining.

Highlights:

• Slice-of-life
• Fantasy/Sci-Fi
• “Flow”
• Cat!
• Monster of the week vibes

Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy