146. Hanako and the Terror of Allegory, Vol. 3

Hanako and the Terror of Allegory, Vol. 3 by Sakae Esuno (Canada) - (US)
Hanako and the Terror of Allegory, Vol. 3

Pages: 249
Ages: 16+
First Published: 2005 Japan (Dec. 28, 2010, English translation)
Publisher: Tokyopop
Genre: YA, manga, horror
Rating: 3/5



First sentence:

...Allegorification!

Acquired: Purchased a new copy from an online retailer.

Reason for Reading: next in the series

This second to the last volume in the series has some good stories in it but is set up in an awkward manner which leaves the book with a final disappointing end.  First the book starts with the second part of a story about Aso himself becoming an allegory which was hard to follow since it had been so long since I'd read vol. 2.  Then came two very good stories , the first "Gap Girl" is based on an old Japanese folklore of a creepy yet attractive woman who haunts and squeezes into any gaps in a house, like between a dresser and a wall.  The other "Red Paper, Blue Paper" is again based on folklore where if an allegory asks you which is better and you answer red, you will be slashed to death and the blood will flow, but if you answer blue, you will be strangled until your face turns blue.  Their is a secret response.  Then the book ends with parts 1 and 2 of a very creepy story of a stalking and murderous doll.  Great story really; who doesn't love creepy doll stories?  But the book ends with a to be continued with part 3 of the same story and here is where the disappointment comes in.  The next Volume (4) was to be the concluding volume of this series, but Tokyopop closed their English publishing division and pulled the plug on all their upcoming titles.  I had this on pre-order and had it pulled only a few weeks before release date.  A real bummer, especially since it leaves the series hanging.  This is one I would have re-read all together to get the complete flow without the breaks between.