Seems like the more I watch the Ghost Stories series from now-defunct ADV, the happier I get about it.  Why?   Simple–because like I said in the title, it’s a study in rapid-fire contrasts.  Somehow it’s managed to become both scarier AND funnier than the first volume.

We’re still neck-deep in the adventures of our gang of five, who are still grappling with the various ghosts released since the condo development got started: tough girl Satsuki, her lecherous psuedo-boyfriend Hajime, nerdy Jewish boy Leo, born again right wing fanatic Momoko and Keiichirou, Satsuki’s semi-coherent crybaby of a little brother.

The ghosts, meanwhile, are getting a whole lot more belligerent…and a whole lot more murder-y.  Everything from ghosts who murder children left home alone to the Buddhist river of the dead will be represented here.

And even more, there will be plenty of jokes.  Everything from Christian Slater’s career to internet dating will be skewered here.

The dichotomy going on here is what’s really amazing–you’re going to laugh, AND you’re going to be scared.  The dialogue that these kids generate is an absolute riot.  Okay, so maybe there are a few too many weed jokes sometimes–but the fact that this anime can even generate weed jokes is interesting enough.

The Screenhead Ten Scale recognizes that this series is bringing its A-game and hands the second volume of Ghost Stories an eight out of ten.  I only hope it can continue to improve at this rate.