REVIEW: ‘Can’t Stop Cursing You’ Volume 2

Written by Kensuke Koba, Can’t Stop Cursing You Volume 2 features art from Natsuko Uruma, is published by Yen Press, localized in English by Square Enix, translated by Christina Rose, and features letters by Rachel J. Pierce. If you’re not familiar with this deeply dark supernatural manga, here’s the gist. In Can’t Stop Cursing You, curse-gods exist, toying with humans, using the most unhinged among them to cause chaos through curse-killings in the world. Curse-Breakers exist to stop them and save the humans who are pawns in this dangerous game. Our lead character Saeyama is one of those Curse-Breakers, and after stopping a curse-killer at a local high school, young Yamakazi has become his assistant.

Now in Can’t Stop Cursing You Volume 2, Saeyama and Yamakazi are pulled into a bigger curse, one that pushes them to a city-wide search. Only this time, the culprit’s been caught, and the team is searching for her victims. Pulled into her game, Saeyama and his team of investigators enter a dangerous game of hide-and-seek to identify the curse targets before time runs out. But with the clock ticking and the Curse-Killer completely deranged and focused on causing pain, finding 5 people isn’t easy.

I said it in my review of Volume 1, and I’ll say it again, Saeyama fills the L-shaped hole in my Death Note-loving heart. While the similarities between the two properties are all gone now other than the death gods, Saeyama’s demeanor, apathy, and intelligence are so deliciously crafted that he’s going to remain one of my favorite investigators, right up there with L. This volume seals that by highlighting his style and skill against a cast of characters that are growing more into their own — especially Yamakazi.

Additionally, the choice to use one volume to cover one case helps set pacing that is easy to fall into. I don’t have to worry about remembering case details from previous volumes and adding a monster-of-the-week feel to the series. But where it really shines is giving the villains a focus that lets Koba and Uruma craft unsettling psychosis both in their dialogue and their visuals. In this case, the Curse-Killer, this volume is pushed by her past and obsessed with blood, and showcasing the emptiness of the world. In her, Uruma’s dark art style shines and makes Can’t Stop Cursing You a stand-out series.

The only issue I have with Can’t Stop Cursing You Volume 2 is how difficult it is to read the word balloons with heavy exposition. While I understand the importance of delivering exposition and breaking down Saeyama’s thought process, it’s extremely difficult to read at times. In fact, the dense lettering on the manga’s opening page meant I actually hesitated reading through the book. That said, this barrier is easy to step over for the bulk of the volume, and the story that’s delivered and the art that comes with it is more than worth picking up.

Can’t Stop Cursing You Volume 2 is well worth picking up, and while I beg you to pick up Volume 1 of the series too, the way the story is structured, you can jump right in at Volume 2 without much trouble. And for the first time in a long time, this series has me craving an anime adaptation.

Can’t Stop Cursing You Volume 2 is available now wherever books are sold.