This book is presented in the traditional Japanese manner and is meant to be read from

right to left. The cover at the opposite end is considered the front of the book.

To begin reading, please flip over and start at the other end, making your way

“backward” through the book, starting at the top right corner and reading the panels

(and the word balloons) from right to left. Continue on to the next row and repeat.

Let’s …AH!

SHAKE HANDS ANd FORGET ABOUT IT.

IT’S STUCK

…

WHOOPS! MUST’VE POURED IN QUICK-DRYING CONCRETE BY MISTAKE…HEH HEH

HEH

IT’S TOO MUCH FOR KITARO.

HA HA HA HA HA

AlmOst!

WHAT A CRUEL FATE FOR OUR HEROES…THE VILLAIN DUG THE HOLE IN ADVANCE AND RIGGED IT TO COLLAPSE. AND NOW HE POURS CONCRETE OVER THEM TO KEEP THEM THERE FOREVER…

THEY STRUGGLE DESPERATELY…

DEAR ME…

HEY! OVER HERE!!

HURRY! HELP US!!

THE GROUND WASN’T QUITE STABLE…I’LL CALL SOMEONE FOR HELP…

THE GROUND GIVES WAY!

HERE’S SOME TREATS FOR

YOU.

MIDNIGHT NEAR THE STANDING STONES…

I jUst HavE SOME QUICK QUESTIONS…

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STRANGE

CIRCLE OF STONES…

SEE! THE RICH MR. YAMADA!

ALWAYS… WE’RE BOTH STARVING…

OF COURSE!

MIDNIGHT?

HEre’S A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOUR

TROUBLES.

I’VE TAKEN A SHINE TO KITARO! LOVE TO TALK TO HIM MORE, GET TO KNOW HIM.

MEET ME AT THE FIELD, NEAR THOSE OLD STANDING STONES…YOU UP FOR

A FEAST?

…SO kitaro CAN BE KILLED?

MAYBE TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT…

A HUNDRED BUCKS! LIKE IT’S NOTHING.

INTERESTING…HAVE SOME MORE CAKE.

DON’T MOUTH OFF IN FRONT OF RICH MR.

YAMADA!

HOW’S THIS INSTEAD?

STEADY ON NOW.

CONSIDERING THE CIRCUM-

STANCES…

WORD ON THE STREET SAYS HE’S

IMMORTAL.

YOU OKay?

THAT WAS KITARO?

NONSENSE!

SORRY ‘BOUT THAT.

YOU’RE TELLING ME…YOU’RE

LOADED?

SO WHERE ARE THEY?

WHY YOU…!

YEAH.

YOU FOUND SOME CHANGE! you SAID YOU WERE GONNA BUY US CARA- MELS.

HUFF…K…KITARO…

NOW BE A GOOD BOY AND GO PLAY.

well…

THIS RUDE LITTLE BOY IS

KITARO.

NEZUMI OTOKO! I’VE BEEN WAITING!

so?

EASY NOW… I CAN CALL KITARO…

I WOULDN’T SAY PALS.

MORE LIKE I’M HIS MENTOR,

YA KNOW?

THE BALL…

I DON’T NEED IT ANYWAYS.

KEEP IT. OH, THAT?

WHOA! A GRAND!

You know kitaro?

MENTOR, HUH? HE LOOKS

UP TO YOU…

My NAME’S YAMADA. COME UP-STAIRS. LET’S TALK.

YOU’RE HIS PAL, THEN…

HEY…HANDS OFF MY

BALL!

YOU STUPID? I DROPPED THIS BALL. FROM MY OWN HAND.

COME ON NOW. THAT’S

MY LUCKY BALL!

I’d SayYouR lUck hAs Run oUt!

GIVE IT BACK!