If you are a fan of dark fantasy and horror manga, then The Witch and the Beast is a series that you should definitely dive into online. Created by Kousuke Satake, this manga explores a haunting world filled with supernatural creatures and is sure to captivate readers with its gripping story and mesmerizing artwork. The Witch and the Beast follows the tale of Liselotte, a skilled witch hunter who is on a mission to seek revenge against a witch who has taken away her beloved friend and mentor. As Liselotte delves deeper into her quest, she encounters a strange beast-like creature named Lupa, who becomes her companion on this dangerous journey. What sets The Witch and the Beast apart is its unique blend of horror, mystery, and compelling characters. Satake masterfully builds tension and suspense throughout the story, keeping readers constantly on the edge of their seats.
My mother was nervous. Even though she had aspirin and antibiotics to give me, and we were both taking quinine for malaria, she wondered what it could be. She was also fascinated to know what the villagers would do. They told her they had called a witch doctor from another village who specializes in flying witches. A skinny old man came in carrying his satchel of herbs. He checked me over, bending my limbs, looking into my eyes. He rubbed herbs into my skin and mumbled prayers. He was paid. And when my mother looked at him expectantly, he said, “The witch is only playing with your daughter; it won’t kill her.”
Ours was an inland village, but one day some of my mother s informants the anthropological jargon for those who provide answers to the anthropologist s questions said, let s go visit a coastal village. Occult topics have long fascinated artists, and the subject of witches their imagined bodies and fantastic rituals was a popular one for painters and printmakers in early modern Europe.
Satake masterfully builds tension and suspense throughout the story, keeping readers constantly on the edge of their seats. The manga provides a dark and atmospheric setting that immerses readers into its captivating world. The artwork in The Witch and the Beast is truly breathtaking.
Witch Doctors
To return to my dying Asian pear tree that I wrote about a month ago: I finally did call the nursery. The horticulturalist assured me that the tree was certainly a Hosui variety – because Hosui get fire blight very easily – and he was certain it was fire blight.
“Pull it right out!” he commanded. “Fire blight will spread to the other trees.” He added that you have to be super vigilant with Hosui, which essentially means spraying Streptomycin in the spring when fire blight is a possibility. He said many people plant Kosui instead of the Hosui, but even that variety isn’t all that resistant. Not like Olympic, for example. “Orchardists are always pulling the Hosui and replanting with more resistant varieties.
I didn’t ask, “Why then, are you selling them?”
It turns out that my tree isn’t a Hosui or a Kosui – it’s a Niitaka. And even though every leaf blackened and fell, I decided to try and save the tree using a poultice of carbonatite, clay, and aloe, and some rubbing and mumblings. After a week, I was excited to see that a few of the buds were plumping and showing some green tissue. Now a witch doctor is an interesting phenomenon.
Dr. Annette Weiner, Kwaibwaga Village, Trobriand Islands, 1989
I had an experience firsthand when I lived with my anthropologist mother on a small coral atoll in New Guinea. Ours was an inland village, but one day some of my mother’s informants (the anthropological jargon for those who provide answers to the anthropologist’s questions) said, let’s go visit a coastal village. We walked a few miles over sharp coral to the far side of the island. As we neared the coastal village, I was struck by the trees we walked by. Their roots were above ground, tall intertwining webs formed tent-like structures that I could imagine hiding inside of.
When we entered the village, we felt oddly unwelcomed. The men were out fishing and the women were wary. That’s when I got something in one of my eyes. A piece of dirt or an insect. My eye stung, but no one could see anything in it. After hanging out for only a short while, we turned around to make the trip home. The suspicious looks from the villagers didn’t feel good, and we didn’t want to cause trouble.
We traveled back through the forest of amazing trees, back along the rough coral trails, and finally entered our village towards nightfall. By the time we were back, I was feverish and dizzy. Word buzzed around the village. Questions were asked. Had anyone said magic to protect me against flying witches. Flying witches inhabit the buttressed roots of those mysterious trees. Of course, the witches are jealous of young girls. They were certain that I had been attacked by a flying witch.
My mother was nervous. Even though she had aspirin and antibiotics to give me, and we were both taking quinine for malaria, she wondered what it could be. She was also fascinated to know what the villagers would do. They told her they had called a witch doctor from another village who specializes in flying witches. A skinny old man came in carrying his satchel of herbs. He checked me over, bending my limbs, looking into my eyes. He rubbed herbs into my skin and mumbled prayers. He was paid. And when my mother looked at him expectantly, he said, “The witch is only playing with your daughter; it won’t kill her.”
LH in Kwaibwaga Village in 1971 (fully recovered)
Norman Cousins, one of the early proponents of the mind-body connection, relates how when he visited the Schweitzer Hospital in Gabon, Africa, he commented to Dr. Schweitzer, “The local people are lucky to have access to the Schweitzer clinic and not have to depend on witch-doctor supernaturalism.” One look at Dr. Schweitzer and Cousins recognized his ignorance. The next day, Dr. Schweitzer took him to observe native African medicine. The witch doctor gave herbs in a brown paper bag to some patients and incantations in a brown paper bag to others, while still others he directed towards the Western doctor.
Dr. Schweitzer explained the three groups. The first had what he called functional issues; these would go away easily and the herbs would help. The next group had what he called psychogenic problems, and they were treated with African psychotherapy. The third had physical problems, like a tumor or broken bone, and these he sent to the Western doctor. When Cousins pushed for an explanation, Schweitzer said,
The witch doctor succeeds for the same reason all the rest of us succeed. Each patient carries his own doctor inside him. They come to us knowing the truth. We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides inside within each patient a chance to go to work.
—From The Mysterious Placebo, Norman Cousins
I believe plants aren’t so different from us. There is a doctor inside the trees that I hope I can motivate. I don't know if it has fire blight or a fungal disease. But rather than pull it, I will wait and see if its own wisdom along with my herbs will help.
Welcome to Apples, Art, and Spirit!
In 2001 I moved to a small farm in Harvard, Massachusetts with a rundown apple orchard. Something about apples and I could feel a small delight rise inside me. Pears, cherries, peaches are all delicious; but apples figure in mythology, history, and science, even religion.
“Could I grow apples?” I wondered. It took a few years for our first crop, but today thousands of people come each fall to Old Frog Pond Farm to pick certified organic apples, raspberries, and to enjoy our annual outdoor sculpture exhibit.
Yet every year is different. Weather, insects, the age of the trees and, more importantly, how I relate to them changes. I invite you to join me in the orchard for the next year. You don’t need loppers and work gloves, only an interest in how things grow and how they change. Apples, yes, but also people. I’ve found that we are similar to apples in many ways, and there is much to be learned from cultivating them.
Sign up to receive the blog in your inbox. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
Satake's detailed illustrations perfectly capture the eerie atmosphere of the story. The character designs are beautifully rendered, and the action sequences are dynamic and intense. Overall, The Witch and the Beast is an enthralling manga that is sure to leave readers craving for more. Its engrossing storyline, memorable characters, and stunning artwork make it a must-read for fans of the genre. So, if you are ready to be spellbound by an enchanting and dark tale, dive into The Witch and the Beast manga online and prepare to be captivated by its haunting narrative..
Reviews for "The Witch and the Beast manga: A compelling story of redemption and revenge."
1. Emily - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Dive into the witch and the beast manga online". The story was confusing and hard to follow, and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. It felt like everything was happening too quickly, and there wasn't enough time to develop the relationships between the characters. The art was also not to my taste, with some awkwardly drawn panels that took away from the overall experience. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.
2. Ryan - 1 star
I have to say, "Dive into the witch and the beast manga online" was a huge letdown for me. The story was cliché and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. I found myself struggling to get through each chapter, as it felt like a chore rather than an enjoyable reading experience. The art was also lacking in detail and didn't do justice to the potential of the story. Overall, I would not recommend this manga to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Dive into the witch and the beast manga online", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The storyline was confusing and convoluted, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters lacked depth and development, and their actions often felt forced and unnatural. Additionally, the artwork was inconsistent, with some panels looking rushed and poorly done. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this manga to those looking for a captivating and well-executed story.
4. Michael - 2 stars
"Dive into the witch and the beast manga online" failed to impress me. The plot lacked originality and felt like a rehash of similar stories I have read before. The characters were forgettable and lacked the depth needed to make me care about their journey. The artwork was decent overall, but there were times where it felt rushed and poorly executed. Ultimately, I found "Dive into the witch and the beast manga online" to be a forgettable and unremarkable read.