Yotsuba&! (2013)

[よつばと!]

Volume 12

Author/Artist: Kiyohiko Azuma
Publisher: Dengeki Comics

Synopsis:
Yotsuba tries her hand at painting, celebrates her first Halloween and later goes on a camping trip.

Story/Characters:
For a series that consistently provides plenty of great moments, this one really knocks it out of the park. Yotsuba getting into the paint is quite good. The Halloween chapter stands out too. By and large, Halloween isn't observed in Japan, which is part of what makes the Halloween chapter so interesting. Teenagers in the States would think nothing of going around in costume, but it's amusing to see Fuuka and Shimau's embarrassment as they take Yotsuba along around the neighborhood. There's also a nice little chapter with Tora stuck with Yotsuba while Asagi is out on an errand. Their dynamic is rather interesting as Tora isn't comfortable around kids but tries to humor Yotsuba, who looks up to her quite a bit. The camping trip that covers the latter part of the volume is really good, with some particularly funny Yotsuba-Yanda moments. There's a lot to love here for sure.

Art:
The quality of the art is as high as ever and special notice is warranted for the scenic vistas during the camping trip.

Conclusion:
While every volume in the series is near and dear to my heart, this is perhaps one of my favorites. You might think that Azuma would be running out of steam, but he continues to deliver. By all means, get this one for yourself.

Rating:
Own It