Panic X Panic by Mika Kawamura

Title: Panic X Panic
Mangaka: Mika Kawamura
Age Group: Teens
Series is: Completed with 2 volumes
Volume(s) Reviewing: 1
My Rating: 3.5/5

Mitsuki Kamishiro is an energetic thirteen-year-old whose family runs a shrine. She rivals with Kakeru Kuon, where the church is ran by his family. The two never get along with each other. That is, until demons that were sealed two thousands years ago in their area got released! An ancient scroll states that the two must work together in order to reseal the demons. Will they be able to do it?

Panic X Panic is another typical shojo-esque manga that evolves around a cute, big-eyed female protagonist with guy who everyone loves. Except with some demon action.

The plot is more of youthful fun rather than action, even if it has demons. In the first volume, you have Mitsuki being controlled by some sort of spell in which she consumed through a cookie. It is supposed to make her fall in love with the first boy she sees. Things get a little weird when it is Kakeru! Shortly after, a demon disguised as a human becomes a transfer student at school! The story goes on with a very light and funny voice, one that the younger audience will most enjoy. It was nothing new to me but there were some parts that were cute to read. Others, they were already seen before.

I actually prefer the side characters over the main ones in this series. There is an adorable cat demon who crushes on Kakeru that causes a bit of trouble for him and Mitsuki. I love the design for her because the mangaka's art style worked on her a lot better than it did with the rest of the characters. Also, classmate Manta Aoi is such a cool dork. The kid is obsessed with the paranormal and seeing him excited about it is so refreshing.

There is a bonus story called The Secret of Boys at the end. This one is about a girl name Chika whose friends asked her to find out about, like the title says, secret of boys. She disguises herself as her twin brother to hang out with his friends in order to research. It was an alright short manga, a pretty predictable one too.

I recommend Panic X Panic to fans of outright, cliche shojo mangas. Or if you have a younger sister or cousin who likes mangas, this one is for them.

Review copy provided by Del Rey.