Mushishi, vols. 1-2 (Yuki Urushibara)

This intriguing series postulates the existence of another type of lifeform, psychic entities called mushi that often live out their lives with no interaction at all with the human race. Unfortunately, sometimes they become pests or parasites. That's where Ginko, the wandering mushishi, or mushi expert - and hero of the series - comes in. Ginko can often cure infestations of mushi, but because there are so many types, the process can be lengthy and mysterious, requiring Ginko to do research and experiments. The episodes are more in the form of individual short stories rather than a continuing series. Part medical mystery, part supernatural tale, Mushishi isn't really like anything else!

The story is set in some sort of never-never time: most of the villages Ginko visits seem to be existing anywhere from 75 to 200 years ago, but Ginko himself seems to be a hip, intellectual drifter from the more recent past. It doesn't matter: the stories are fascinating, poignant, disturbing. A teenaged boy lives by himself because anything he draws comes to life. A young girl's eyes have become so sensitive to light that she screams if any gets under her lids - yet she talks about seeing a river of light when she is placed in total darkness. A man believes that his dreams have become prophetic. An entire town is starting to lose its hearing - except for one child whose ears are being inundated by a cacaphony of sounds that only he can hear. The endings are not always happy, but the stories linger in the mind afterward, like dreams.

( Read more ... with spoilers! )

I will continue to follow this oddly tasty series.