GHOST HOG

A wild pig’s ghost must choose between seeking revenge against the hunter who killed her or freeing her still-living parents, who have been enslaved by a demon.

When Truff, the deceased wild-pig protagonist, scares off two teenage boys out to pick “luminous plums,” her “disembodied squeal” echoes so loudly it catches the attention of Claude and Stanley, two forest spirits interested in “keeping the peace.” Claude and Stanley sense Truff’s “serious negative vibes” and, after investigating, conclude this “haunting” results from a spirit “bound due to strong, unresolved feelings, or unfinished business.” Claude and Stanley convince Truff to search for her parents, but when they reach Truff’s home, they discover her parents have been captured by Mava, a mountain demon. Just as the three stand ready at the entrance to Mava’s domain, the distant sound of the hunter draws Truff’s focus back to desires of retribution, and she must decide between payback and family. The story’s approach to the afterlife, mention of vegetarian “monks,” and moral relativism reflect a modern outlook with roots in Eastern philosophies. Even the demon’s name may remind readers of the Buddhist figure of Mara. Weiser’s graphic novel, with its lively artwork reminiscent of Sunday comic strips, renders the complex themes both entertaining and understandable. Additionally, Stanley’s straight man to Claude’s funny man provides comedic moments.

A light look at “vengeance” and what it really takes to “calm a wounded spirit.” (Graphic fantasy/folklore. 8-12)