The chilling world of Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is about to leap off your screen and onto the pages of a manga! Fans of the horror visual novel series can rejoice as the sequel to Death Mark receives a manga adaptation, promising a new way to experience the terror and suspense.
Ena Brings the Spirits to Life
The manga adaptation will be helmed by Ena, and is scheduled to launch in the June issue of MAG Garden Corporation’s Monthly Comic Garden magazine on May 2, 2025. Ena’s previous work includes Crime Game ~Hо̄ritsu no Nai Sekai~ (Crime Game: A World Without Laws), created with Okushō, demonstrating their ability to handle complex narratives and potentially dark themes, making them a fitting choice to bring the world of Death Mark II to life in manga form.
What is Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II?
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is the latest installment in the Spirit Hunter series, known for its gripping horror narratives rooted in Japanese folklore and urban legends. The game, developed by Experience Inc. and published by Aksys Games, was released in February 2024 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It continues the story of Kazuo Yashiki, who is drawn back into the world of spirits and supernatural occurrences.
Story
In Death Mark II, Kazuo Yashiki returns to H City to investigate strange events at Konoehara Academy. The academy is plagued by rumors of “Hanako of the Toilet,” a vengeful spirit of a student who committed suicide due to bullying. As Yashiki investigates, he discovers that the school has become a playground for an evil entity targeting the students.
Drawing heavily on Japanese myths and folklore, Death Mark II weaves a complex and immersive tale of terror. Players must navigate treacherous situations, solve mysteries, and confront malevolent spirits, where a single mistake can lead to a gruesome demise.
Gameplay
Death Mark II retains the series’ signature blend of visual novel storytelling and exploration. A new 2D side-scrolling mode offers a fresh perspective as players investigate haunted locations. The game emphasizes puzzle-solving and strategic decision-making during encounters with spirits. The choices players make can have dire consequences, leading to multiple endings and a high degree of replayability.
A Legacy of Horror: The Spirit Hunter Series
Death Mark II builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessors, Death Mark and Spirit Hunter: NG, expanding the lore and introducing new characters and threats.
Death Mark
The original Death Mark launched in Japan in 2017 for the PlayStation Vita, later arriving on PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The game follows a group of individuals marked with a mysterious stigma that leads to their impending death. Players must team up with other Mark Bearers to investigate supernatural phenomena and find a way to lift the curse before it’s too late.
Spirit Hunter: NG
Spirit Hunter: NG continues the series’ focus on psychological horror, delving into themes of fear, paranoia, and the consequences of past actions. Players assume the role of a young man drawn into a web of supernatural events, where they must confront vengeful spirits and uncover dark secrets to survive.
Common Elements
The Spirit Hunter games are united by several key elements:
- Horror Visual Novel Gameplay: The series combines visual novel-style storytelling with exploration, puzzle-solving, and strategic decision-making.
- Japanese Folklore: The games draw inspiration from Japanese myths, legends, and ghost stories, creating a rich and atmospheric world steeped in tradition.
- Compelling Characters: Players encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique backstories, motivations, and connections to the supernatural.
- High Stakes: The games feature permadeath mechanics and branching storylines, where player choices have significant consequences, adding weight to every decision.
The Manga-verse Expands
This isn’t the first time the world of Death Mark has been adapted into manga form. An earlier manga adaptation of the original Death Mark was created by Ena and published by Kakkiteki in Japan starting in February 2019. Additionally, the original game has also been adapted into a novel, Shiin, written by Hitomi Amamiya.
What to Expect from the Death Mark II Manga
While details about the Death Mark II manga adaptation are still emerging, fans can anticipate a faithful adaptation of the game’s storyline, characters, and themes. Ena’s artistic style and storytelling sensibilities will likely bring a unique visual interpretation to the world of Death Mark II, highlighting the suspense, horror, and emotional depth of the narrative.
The manga format may also allow for a deeper exploration of certain characters or plot points, providing new insights into the world of Death Mark II. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer curious about the world of Spirit Hunter, the Death Mark II manga adaptation promises to be a terrifying and thrilling read.
Where to Find the Manga
The Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II manga adaptation will launch in the June issue of MAG Garden Corporation’s Monthly Comic Garden magazine on May 2, 2025. Keep an eye out for it at your local manga retailers or online platforms that carry Monthly Comic Garden.
