I am beginning to suspect that not even Shun Numa has any idea what to do with the titular Super Psychic Policeman Chojo. We are now at its fourth volume, and the guy whose name graces the title of this series has truly found his niche. Meanwhile, the likes of Nao, Cop-Bot, and even the most random of characters have found the things that make them likable! Hell, a freaking puppy is given more love and thought into its character development than Chojo himself here!

The volume even starts off with a story with no Chojo in sight, save for its final panel. Heisuke convinces Hyuji to check out a maid café, and the latter has no idea what makes such a place so appealing. But when he bonds with one of the maid girls, Hyuji finds a little piece of his past in the maid’s current failings. It leads to a humorous tale of a prison-grown man and his quest to cheer on a maid café worker, with some sprinkling of yakuza trouble that turns Hyuji into an unlikely hero.

Chojo gets a few moments to shine, starting with a chapter involving a TV show following his daily routines. It’s a nice moment that demonstrates that he’s not always someone willing to put on a show for the sake of looking good, even if it might boost his popularity. Haruka’s reappearance forces Chojo’s mind to warp his perception of Nao, to the point where wedding bells keep on ringing in his imagination.

When a puppy pops up at the station, Chojo and Nao fight to be the best dog parent around. Watching as Cop-Bot acts like the mature one of the group does lead to some good laughs, especially when you think of his short stint as a delinquent in the last volume. However, the story ends on a bittersweet note, as most random character appearances tend to go, but it does lead room for the tiny dog to show up in future chapters.

Perhaps the best chapter in the volume involves a gorilla running loose. Naturally, the escaped ape finds sanctuary at the police station, where they blend in a little too well. It’s a joke that can’t be spoiled in the slightest, and only gets better when Nao shows up. But I will say this: we do see Nao do some sweet judo on that giant monkey!

Our Super Psychic Policeman gets more focus time in the last few chapters, ranging from aiding an idol group to being hounded by a rich girl who wants to buy his services. But the best chapter is saved for last, involving the magical power known as “lucky lecher”. When Chojo keeps having visions of his female comrades being in promiscuous situations, he does everything he can to keep those moments from happening. Not only are the gags surprisingly well-timed, but the punchline involving one hapless victim is a surprising knockout.

There are still lingering problems with Super Psychic Policeman Chojo, especially when it comes to our main character. Every time a new character arrives, they almost always seem to outshine Chojo. Meanwhile, the psychic still hasn’t discovered the thing that should make him stand out from the rest of the crowd, making me wonder when Shun Numa will find it. Unless…is the fact that Chojo isn’t all that special supposed to be part of the joke?

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.