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I am a Hero Omnibus #1
I Am a Hero Omnibus, Volume 1
The zombie apocalypse has never been more surreal! A mentally unhinged manga artist witnesses the beginning of a zombie outbreak in Tokyo, and he's certain of only two things: he's destined to be the city's hero, and he possesses something very rare in Japan--an actual firearm! Kengo Hanazawa's award-winning series comes to Dark Horse, and this realistically-drawn international bestseller takes us from initial small battles for survival to a huge, body-horror epidemic that threatens all of humanity! These special omnibus volumes will collect two of the original Japanese books into each Dark Horse edition and include all of the color pages.
"Probably the greatest zombie manga ever." --Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide)
"Probably the greatest zombie manga ever." --Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide)
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
92 people are currently reading
2887 people want to read
About the author
Kengo Hanazawa
109 books134 followersKengo Hanazawa (花沢健吾 Hanazawa Kengo, born January 5, 1974) is a Japanese manga artist known for his seinen works. He won the Topic Award of the 2005 Sense of Gender Awards for Ressentiment and was nominated for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Manga Taisho for I Am a Hero.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
November 3, 2015
To call I Am A Hero another zombie story would be a huge disservice to anyone looking for a good horror manga. I would highly recommend I Am A Hero to anyone bored of zombie stories, bored of lackluster unoriginal Manga, or bored of the formulaic horror plots that over saturate the market. I Am A Hero is not just a great horror comic, this book is most brilliant piece of horror fiction to come out this year. There are so many things I love about this book. I enjoy how incredible and beautiful the artwork is, I can imagine the artist putting hours and days into the scenery on every panel. I love that the characters in this book are average humans, it makes the main lead more understandable and likable. You won't find super powered teenage girls or crazy plots about robots and warlocks in this story. This is a book about a regular man who lost his way in a normal society where we are measured only by the cash in our pockets. The messages hit close to home and it is hard for the average middle class individual to not sympathize with the male lead.
The dead eventually do pop up in this book but it is not until much later into the story. The majority of the tension is knowing that these creatures will be introduced eventually, but the author brilliantly shows incredible restraint by making the reader wait for that to happen. Instead we spend some time witnessing our protagonist oblivious to the clues and signs that something bad is bound to happen. When the outbreak happens it is horrifyingly wonderful, I haven't been this wowed since the 28 Days Later films. This book does have lots of gore, so I would not recommend I Am A Hero for the squeamish or those who don't enjoy horror films. One thing that really impressed me is that all of the usual cliche Japanese goofball humor is missing from the book. We don't get the stereotypes that plague the majority of anime and manga fiction in this book. It was almost like the author saw the same boring patterns and opted to do something entirely new. Regardless it is a breath of fresh air and I love it.
I Am A Hero has me as a fan for life. Even though the series is going to continue for awhile longer, I am very much look forward to the journey and future adaptations of this work. I am thankful for discovering this book after searching for the perfect zombie story for a long time. I am glad to finally find the masterpiece I secretly wished for.
The dead eventually do pop up in this book but it is not until much later into the story. The majority of the tension is knowing that these creatures will be introduced eventually, but the author brilliantly shows incredible restraint by making the reader wait for that to happen. Instead we spend some time witnessing our protagonist oblivious to the clues and signs that something bad is bound to happen. When the outbreak happens it is horrifyingly wonderful, I haven't been this wowed since the 28 Days Later films. This book does have lots of gore, so I would not recommend I Am A Hero for the squeamish or those who don't enjoy horror films. One thing that really impressed me is that all of the usual cliche Japanese goofball humor is missing from the book. We don't get the stereotypes that plague the majority of anime and manga fiction in this book. It was almost like the author saw the same boring patterns and opted to do something entirely new. Regardless it is a breath of fresh air and I love it.
I Am A Hero has me as a fan for life. Even though the series is going to continue for awhile longer, I am very much look forward to the journey and future adaptations of this work. I am thankful for discovering this book after searching for the perfect zombie story for a long time. I am glad to finally find the masterpiece I secretly wished for.
December 22, 2019
The first manga I've liked in a long time. I will warn you it starts off really slow. I almost gave up on it. The first half is about a struggling artist working his ass off in a manga studio. Some of it was lost on me. He hallucinates a lot and I struggled telling if things did or didn't happen. Zombies are very slowly hinted at through newscasts and the like as people get sick. But if you stick with it, the second half was fantastic. Once the zombies show up, I loved it. They are super creepy with lots of body horror elements as they can bend around in unnatural ways and still remember something of their previous life.
The art is fantastic. It's chock full of detail without any of that chibi look (Sorry, I hate those cartoony, over exaggerated faces.) that often plagues manga. It's gritty and real looking. I particularly loved the few color pages. I'd love to read a colored version of this book.
The art is fantastic. It's chock full of detail without any of that chibi look (Sorry, I hate those cartoony, over exaggerated faces.) that often plagues manga. It's gritty and real looking. I particularly loved the few color pages. I'd love to read a colored version of this book.
May 17, 2017
I actually waited a day before I reviewed this because I wanted to think about it. Did I love it"? No. Did I hate it? No. Did I love THINGS about it? Yes. Did I HATE things about it? Yes. So I'm going to try to break it down.
What I liked: The moments when people begin to turn is great. I actually love that they still hold a little of who they are. Sometimes speaking or repeating words of something they did last before turning. Also the way they move is freaky and scary. Crawling like the grudge ass creatures. I also enjoyed some of the humor. It's so over the top and crazy you can't help but laugh. I also got to say it was a relief to see some real life manga troubles. Shit is hard work, and any artist can relate. So that was nice.
What I didn't like: The pacing is all over the place. I'm all for character building but my God the first half is really slow, over the top, weird, and sometimes boring to read. The main character is also a total loser, and that always drives me crazy in cliche world of anime. The manga can also be confusing to read and sometimes gotta re-read panels to get it all. I just didn't care for many of the characters here.
So it's a interesting enough read. I probably will pick up volume 2 down the line but for now I'll just place it to the side. It's good enough to recommend to read but I wouldn't say it's a must buy or anything.
What I liked: The moments when people begin to turn is great. I actually love that they still hold a little of who they are. Sometimes speaking or repeating words of something they did last before turning. Also the way they move is freaky and scary. Crawling like the grudge ass creatures. I also enjoyed some of the humor. It's so over the top and crazy you can't help but laugh. I also got to say it was a relief to see some real life manga troubles. Shit is hard work, and any artist can relate. So that was nice.
What I didn't like: The pacing is all over the place. I'm all for character building but my God the first half is really slow, over the top, weird, and sometimes boring to read. The main character is also a total loser, and that always drives me crazy in cliche world of anime. The manga can also be confusing to read and sometimes gotta re-read panels to get it all. I just didn't care for many of the characters here.
So it's a interesting enough read. I probably will pick up volume 2 down the line but for now I'll just place it to the side. It's good enough to recommend to read but I wouldn't say it's a must buy or anything.
November 26, 2017
I don't know what people see in this manga. I get that it's nice to have an average joe as the main character, but Hideo is not average. He is pretty much the biggest loser the manga-ka could have invented. I did not find him sympathetic or likeable, and his oddities were annoying rather than endearing. He's the sort of character that I usually pray will die off quickly so that I don't have to keep reading about him.
The humor, if you can call it that, is not actually funny and often perverted. The plot takes forever to get off the ground, and when it does it feels like most standard zombie fare. I didn't feel like it was particularly unique. I also hated the art. People refer to it as realistic, but I disagree. While manga does tend to have overly-pretty characters, this book takes it to the opposite extreme: everyone is butt-ugly. Not only is nobody attractive, there's not a single average-looking character. (I take that back; the editors and the extras look reasonably human.)
I genuinely did not find a single redeeming quality in this manga, and I'll probably never understand why it gets so much praise.
The humor, if you can call it that, is not actually funny and often perverted. The plot takes forever to get off the ground, and when it does it feels like most standard zombie fare. I didn't feel like it was particularly unique. I also hated the art. People refer to it as realistic, but I disagree. While manga does tend to have overly-pretty characters, this book takes it to the opposite extreme: everyone is butt-ugly. Not only is nobody attractive, there's not a single average-looking character. (I take that back; the editors and the extras look reasonably human.)
I genuinely did not find a single redeeming quality in this manga, and I'll probably never understand why it gets so much praise.
June 30, 2016
At first I struggled to figure out what was so award-winning about this title. Then I remembered that the manga industry, like most entertainment industries, are run by men. If you are or ever have been a self-entitled misogynistic whining trash, I Am Hero is your Golden Legend.
Within the first chapter we learn the protagonist's thoughts on how attractive women make bad news anchors because their "only thoughts are about getting married or having an affair with a baseball player or producer" and that women cannot be trusted in an emergency as they lack courage and would abandon post at the first sign of danger.
Later our protagonist arrives home to his girlfriend's after a night at a singles mixer (where his buddies bitterly complain about the women who left early and refused to sleep with them) and his martyr-trope girlfriend, aware of his infidelity, makes him dinner.
Basically this entire volume made me want to vomit.
Within the first chapter we learn the protagonist's thoughts on how attractive women make bad news anchors because their "only thoughts are about getting married or having an affair with a baseball player or producer" and that women cannot be trusted in an emergency as they lack courage and would abandon post at the first sign of danger.
Later our protagonist arrives home to his girlfriend's after a night at a singles mixer (where his buddies bitterly complain about the women who left early and refused to sleep with them) and his martyr-trope girlfriend, aware of his infidelity, makes him dinner.
Basically this entire volume made me want to vomit.
May 3, 2017
Everyone in this manga is a misogynist.
March 5, 2017
Reread 3/5/17 in prep for second omnibus volume.
4/27/16 - This title has been getting a lot of attention because of the "zombie" aspect, something that folks have framed as The Walking Dead of manga. But I find that way of pigeonholing the series not only inaccurate, but also lazy. I understand why Dark Horse would want to publicize it that way, given the popularity of The Walking Dead and other zombie-type horror narratives, but this isn't really the same thing. At least that's the case in the first half of the omnibus. Where Hanazawa goes in the last half is more like the zombie manga that some have been touting. And while I have no problem with that kind of story, there's so much more potential here that Hanazawa teased in the first half, and it would be a shame if this series developed into nothing more than a survivalist/zombie narrative. I have hopes for this title, and I hope it doesn't let me down.
4/27/16 - This title has been getting a lot of attention because of the "zombie" aspect, something that folks have framed as The Walking Dead of manga. But I find that way of pigeonholing the series not only inaccurate, but also lazy. I understand why Dark Horse would want to publicize it that way, given the popularity of The Walking Dead and other zombie-type horror narratives, but this isn't really the same thing. At least that's the case in the first half of the omnibus. Where Hanazawa goes in the last half is more like the zombie manga that some have been touting. And while I have no problem with that kind of story, there's so much more potential here that Hanazawa teased in the first half, and it would be a shame if this series developed into nothing more than a survivalist/zombie narrative. I have hopes for this title, and I hope it doesn't let me down.
May 4, 2016
While this manga is not bad, it is just not one I particularly enjoyed. The pace is quite slow. Maybe because I was expecting more of the zombie aspect. Honestly, it is more a psychological story.
Hideo is a freaked out 35 year old that is afraid of just about anything. He often is found with some boy near him that is either a ghost or a character of his, etc. I never could quite figure out. He has a bit of an odd relationship with this girl yet feels threatened by another mangaka she reads.
You get a couple hints of trouble in the first couple hundred pages, but for any real zombie action, you have to wait until halfway through the book. And even then it is not much. Hideo doesn't know reality from nightmares half the time. He is paranoid yet takes zombies in stride. And these zombies are weird, almost still themselves is some ways. And flexible! Seeing a stand on their forearms, feet in the arm, flexed back over their heads, shove in another's mouth. Strange! And lots of awkward sexual references and moments. I often found myself wondering what I was reading and why.
The art is pretty good, but not my choice style. Yet the more realistic touches work for the setting.
I may or may not continue this series, but it is far from a priority. Yet if you like gritty slice-of-life mangas with a touch of horror and psychology, then you might like this.
*I received a digital copy of this in exchange for a fair, honest review.
Hideo is a freaked out 35 year old that is afraid of just about anything. He often is found with some boy near him that is either a ghost or a character of his, etc. I never could quite figure out. He has a bit of an odd relationship with this girl yet feels threatened by another mangaka she reads.
You get a couple hints of trouble in the first couple hundred pages, but for any real zombie action, you have to wait until halfway through the book. And even then it is not much. Hideo doesn't know reality from nightmares half the time. He is paranoid yet takes zombies in stride. And these zombies are weird, almost still themselves is some ways. And flexible! Seeing a stand on their forearms, feet in the arm, flexed back over their heads, shove in another's mouth. Strange! And lots of awkward sexual references and moments. I often found myself wondering what I was reading and why.
The art is pretty good, but not my choice style. Yet the more realistic touches work for the setting.
I may or may not continue this series, but it is far from a priority. Yet if you like gritty slice-of-life mangas with a touch of horror and psychology, then you might like this.
*I received a digital copy of this in exchange for a fair, honest review.
January 6, 2018
The main character is basically just an annoying paranoid neckbeard who hallucinates a lot and likes to go on boring rants about manga (I don't care?) It doesn't even start getting interesting until halfway through. I would like to erase this garbage from my brain but, since I cannot, I will leave this review instead.
March 2, 2023
“I don’t need to be the hero, but I’d at least like to be the main character in my own life.”
I FELT THIS QUOTE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY TOES HOLY SHIT but I’m amazed.
I’m so obsessed with this so far. I have yet to seen this kind of spin on a zombie apocalypse and let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share in just about anything zombie related.
The main character Hideo makes you want to choke him to death but also give him a big hug. The reality of it all is that maybe it isn’t reality? Or maybe that reality depends on the person. ITS ALL SO CONFUSING AND AMUSING I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!
I FELT THIS QUOTE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY TOES HOLY SHIT but I’m amazed.
I’m so obsessed with this so far. I have yet to seen this kind of spin on a zombie apocalypse and let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share in just about anything zombie related.
The main character Hideo makes you want to choke him to death but also give him a big hug. The reality of it all is that maybe it isn’t reality? Or maybe that reality depends on the person. ITS ALL SO CONFUSING AND AMUSING I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!
April 16, 2019
The first volume, or first half of the omnibus, is rather boring. It has hints to this zombie plague beginning, but I don't really care about the character and his personal life. The art isn't really my style either. The second half (or volume two) gets much more interesting with its zombie action, but it's still so generic. There's not really anything special or unique about it that stands out from every other zombie medium thing in the world today.
July 31, 2016
Huge pools of boredom between killer zombie action. The main character couldn't hold my attention. The love interest didn't go anywhere, so why force it in? This reminded me of a watered down Japanese version of Shawn of the Dead. The zombie scenes themselves, though, are gory enough for real zombie fans to appreciate. But as I said, the long waits centered on a lame main character were just too much for me.
Want to read
January 16, 2023So absurdly long that I don’t think I’d ever read this but I’ve always had a love for zombie apocalypses, so if I ever did read this I’d probably enjoy it quite a bit.
September 11, 2019
The first half was the setup but most of the time it just felt wacky without any structure. I also at times became bored. Once the zombies appeared it spiked my interest a bit, however I couldn't forget the first half.
February 16, 2017
WTF did I just read....
Chapter 1 can be a one-shot manga all in itself! It's a great look at a slightly~mental socially~awkward probly bit OCD 30-something manga assistant's night at home. The 'camera' gets in close & claustrophobic...
The entire first half of the book is getting to know Hideo, his g/f [?] and his work place... and how much he resents them all but not really but does. Oh, plus he tends to talk to himself (the voices in his head are visualized as all sorts of characters)
AND THEN ZOMBIE TIMES! Which in the semi-realistic artstyle gets incredibly grotesque & awful. Especially since our first look is presented in color! For a couple pages!!
______
On a funny note, this library book has that weird moldy smell to it, which really adds the 4th dimension to when zombies roll out on the pages
But a couple of excellent (and do mean hella gross) moments are 2-page spreads, with the juiciest of the action in the middle... so really gotta get those pages open to see it all. This poor book's spine won't survive for long....
Chapter 1 can be a one-shot manga all in itself! It's a great look at a slightly~mental socially~awkward probly bit OCD 30-something manga assistant's night at home. The 'camera' gets in close & claustrophobic...
The entire first half of the book is getting to know Hideo, his g/f [?] and his work place... and how much he resents them all but not really but does. Oh, plus he tends to talk to himself (the voices in his head are visualized as all sorts of characters)
AND THEN ZOMBIE TIMES! Which in the semi-realistic artstyle gets incredibly grotesque & awful. Especially since our first look is presented in color! For a couple pages!!
______
On a funny note, this library book has that weird moldy smell to it, which really adds the 4th dimension to when zombies roll out on the pages
But a couple of excellent (and do mean hella gross) moments are 2-page spreads, with the juiciest of the action in the middle... so really gotta get those pages open to see it all. This poor book's spine won't survive for long....
April 29, 2016
Gross and fascinating at the same time. You don't see too many stories written AS a zombie apocalypse is taking place. Usually you pick thing up shortly after it has happened. That make this interesting.
February 7, 2023
I dislike Zombie stories set in "the real world" or our world where people don't know that the thing in front of them is a zombie. I can understand shock or disbelief or horror that someone is trying to bite you or you see someone eating another human. But really? Zombies and undead are all over folklore and religion and I am a little sad there is another world with George A. Romero. Minus stars to the rating.
Then the main character is a mess. He has visions, hallucinations, dissociate reality, is his reality real? or is he just crazy? Did a zombie bite "cure" him? I have friends over the years that would need to be reminded "inside voice" when they would just go on and on about things or concerns that only they could see. It is just not that interesting, sure the main character can be anti-social, lack social skills or bathing skills or whatever that makes the character different before the end of the world. But that might be the point. So by the time the zombies come on strong it is almost a relief. It is almost too little too late to save the story.
Well see, I mean it is not bad but could be better. Sold 3 stars.
Then the main character is a mess. He has visions, hallucinations, dissociate reality, is his reality real? or is he just crazy? Did a zombie bite "cure" him? I have friends over the years that would need to be reminded "inside voice" when they would just go on and on about things or concerns that only they could see. It is just not that interesting, sure the main character can be anti-social, lack social skills or bathing skills or whatever that makes the character different before the end of the world. But that might be the point. So by the time the zombies come on strong it is almost a relief. It is almost too little too late to save the story.
Well see, I mean it is not bad but could be better. Sold 3 stars.
June 10, 2021
I want to give this 4 1/2 stars, 90%. I think it is good and I am looking forward to the next volume. I am open to the possibility that my opinion of the series as a whole will improve up from 4 1/2 stars.
October 19, 2022
4.5. This was a super fun read. Really fun, weird zombie manga. The art is awesome and I like the writing more than most manga too. It’s still got some typical manga cringiness to it, but it’s definitely not as bad as some with the weird cringey sexual talk.
September 20, 2019
I could not get into this book. It is supposedly about a zombie apocalypse, but it takes 10 chapters or so before they ever really appear. That is almost half of this volume. Now, I did like the hints that were dropped throughout the chapters leading up to that appearance. They are things that a normal person would notice and react to, but Hideo and his colleagues are all pretty much oblivious to them.
Hideo is a weird dude too. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for the book, but it makes it a lot harder to get into it. I did like the zombie creatures once they finally appear. They retain some element of themselves in spite of the transformation. The zombies look super creepy too. But it was hard to tell what exactly was supposed to be happening in a lot of the art.
I liked this book more towards the end, but not enough to pick up the second volume.
Hideo is a weird dude too. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for the book, but it makes it a lot harder to get into it. I did like the zombie creatures once they finally appear. They retain some element of themselves in spite of the transformation. The zombies look super creepy too. But it was hard to tell what exactly was supposed to be happening in a lot of the art.
I liked this book more towards the end, but not enough to pick up the second volume.
July 27, 2016
This is a weird, weird book.
Let's get one thing out of the way: the art is pretty much perfect. Wonderfully lush and lived-in.
So it's a zombie book, right? But...it starts out with a hallucinating manga artist who demeans women, has an inferiority complex, and is generally unlikable for the first 200 pages.
And then the zombie stuff kicks off, and guys, it's GROSS.
And it's all a very strange experiment that at least has me curious about volume 2, even if I'm not anxious for it.
Let's get one thing out of the way: the art is pretty much perfect. Wonderfully lush and lived-in.
So it's a zombie book, right? But...it starts out with a hallucinating manga artist who demeans women, has an inferiority complex, and is generally unlikable for the first 200 pages.
And then the zombie stuff kicks off, and guys, it's GROSS.
And it's all a very strange experiment that at least has me curious about volume 2, even if I'm not anxious for it.
December 15, 2020
La gente dice que este primer tomo es super lento, yo lo he disfrutado muchísimo, la cultura japonesa siempre me ha llamado la atención y aquí he conocido aspectos al detalle de la vida de un ayudante de mangaka, una joya. Si vienes por los zombies tendremos que esperar el segundo volumen, al que me pondré apenas pueda.
March 18, 2017
Hideo Suzuki is anxious to the point of hallucination, plagued by jealousy and low self-esteem, and trapped in a thankless, low paid job as a manga assistant. Just the type to discover his inner strength when the zombie apocalypse hits his dreary Tokyo suburb, then? Not really - Hideo wanders through his own story in a state of numbed shock and survives mostly by luck.
From the title down, I Am A Hero is a skilful, convention-twisting take on the overworked zombie genre, distinguished by its blend of disquieting imagery and ultra-dark comedy, its steady grasp of its protagonist's psychology, and in particular by Kengo Hanazawa's superb storytelling. This is a brilliantly paced comic, both on a macro level - the grim patience with which the first volume ratchets up the background horror behind its slice-of-no-life story - and on a technical one. The lines between reality and Hideo's imagination are ambiguous but never confusing, the action scenes are brief and visceral, and Hanazawa has a gift for drawing the ordinary which makes its disruption all the more disturbing. His bizarrely flexible zombies, once they do appear, are impressively ghastly too - there's a stunning sequence of double page spreads at the climax of v1, when we get our first close look at an infected victim: it's an unforgettable bit of storytelling and a moment only the sequential nature of comics (and the generous page count of manga) could make possible.
From the title down, I Am A Hero is a skilful, convention-twisting take on the overworked zombie genre, distinguished by its blend of disquieting imagery and ultra-dark comedy, its steady grasp of its protagonist's psychology, and in particular by Kengo Hanazawa's superb storytelling. This is a brilliantly paced comic, both on a macro level - the grim patience with which the first volume ratchets up the background horror behind its slice-of-no-life story - and on a technical one. The lines between reality and Hideo's imagination are ambiguous but never confusing, the action scenes are brief and visceral, and Hanazawa has a gift for drawing the ordinary which makes its disruption all the more disturbing. His bizarrely flexible zombies, once they do appear, are impressively ghastly too - there's a stunning sequence of double page spreads at the climax of v1, when we get our first close look at an infected victim: it's an unforgettable bit of storytelling and a moment only the sequential nature of comics (and the generous page count of manga) could make possible.
February 25, 2019
Doesn't start like your typical zombie story. In fact, the zombie part of the story doesn't start until the second volume! The commentary on the manga industry is quite fascinating as well, especially for someone outside of Japanese culture.
October 21, 2023
I love this manga.
Nothing more to add; "I Am A Hero."
Nothing more to add; "I Am A Hero."
July 6, 2018
Nice even start to what promises to be a wild, grotesque zombie apocalypse tale. I understand there’s a film, but I haven’t seen it yet.
Life isn’t easy for struggling Manga Artist, Hideo Suzuki. And it’s about to get much worse.
We get a glimpse into Hideo’s psychological issues: hallucinations, paranoia, crushing self-doubt, but also some hints at his potential strengths, too. Budding confidence, moments of courageousness.
Enough to ward off a zombie apocalypse?
If all else fails, he does have his rifle.
His girlfriend, Tekko, seems friendly and sweet but has her own issues which are revealed once she’s inebriated. Shockingly. His co-workers are overworked and demoralized.
The characters reflect the sharp juxtaposition of this story, the horror elements neatly situated against the (unintentional?)hilarious, over-the-top insanity of the initial outbreak.
Well-drawn throughout, the zombies are terrifying. Did I mention they sort of talk? Lending a creepy layer to an already frightening situation.
Two-thirds of the way through, the intensity ramps up, the mayhem kicks into high-gear and I felt myself rooting for our hero to survive just one more encounter, as he races blindly through the city, trying to make sense of the impossible cataclysm happening all around.
I’m a sucker for a good zombie story and this hit all the right marks with only a few cringe-y bits of dialogue (e.g., Boob Morning) that was easy to overlook. I look forward to reading on.
Life isn’t easy for struggling Manga Artist, Hideo Suzuki. And it’s about to get much worse.
We get a glimpse into Hideo’s psychological issues: hallucinations, paranoia, crushing self-doubt, but also some hints at his potential strengths, too. Budding confidence, moments of courageousness.
Enough to ward off a zombie apocalypse?
If all else fails, he does have his rifle.
His girlfriend, Tekko, seems friendly and sweet but has her own issues which are revealed once she’s inebriated. Shockingly. His co-workers are overworked and demoralized.
The characters reflect the sharp juxtaposition of this story, the horror elements neatly situated against the (unintentional?)hilarious, over-the-top insanity of the initial outbreak.
Well-drawn throughout, the zombies are terrifying. Did I mention they sort of talk? Lending a creepy layer to an already frightening situation.
Two-thirds of the way through, the intensity ramps up, the mayhem kicks into high-gear and I felt myself rooting for our hero to survive just one more encounter, as he races blindly through the city, trying to make sense of the impossible cataclysm happening all around.
I’m a sucker for a good zombie story and this hit all the right marks with only a few cringe-y bits of dialogue (e.g., Boob Morning) that was easy to overlook. I look forward to reading on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2016
This series wasn't really on my radar at all because I don't really go in for zombie stuff but I really enjoyed this! Our main character is probably one of the most interesting characters I've read in manga and it gives a unique take on the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of a mentally unstable man. The story starts out a little slowly but drops hints of the catastrophe that's going to happen shortly. We also see a change in panel structure as after the apocalypse hits, we see the structured and rigid panels in volume one disappear and they open up into amazingly detailed artwork in volume 2 of the omnibus.
I'm a sucker for hyper-detail and there is a ton of it in here. The artwork is really very good in general though! I'd liken it to Junji Ito's work rather than Housui Yamazaki's. The colour pages in here look fantastic too!
The only thing I'm worried about is what's going to happen in the next volume. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing though! I can't see where this series is going to go now so I'm excited and a little nervous about the next omnibus but after this strong start I think I'll be please with whatever comes our way. I'd highly recommend reading this manga! It's been a real treat!
I'm a sucker for hyper-detail and there is a ton of it in here. The artwork is really very good in general though! I'd liken it to Junji Ito's work rather than Housui Yamazaki's. The colour pages in here look fantastic too!
The only thing I'm worried about is what's going to happen in the next volume. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing though! I can't see where this series is going to go now so I'm excited and a little nervous about the next omnibus but after this strong start I think I'll be please with whatever comes our way. I'd highly recommend reading this manga! It's been a real treat!
August 6, 2017
This started so slow I almost gave up until about half way through. To compare, the first half of the book took me 3 hours and I put it down about 80 times. The second half I read in about 20 minutes. The story picks up and then it takes off.
I'm so confused about so many things. I need volume 2.
The main character, Hideo, randomly sees this guy in his apartment and talks to him but in other frames there is no one there. I'm so confused as to why this scene is in the story.
The story focuses on his relationship with his girlfriend who is unusually close to her ex and also Hideo's job in the manga industry but in the background you can see the beginning of the apocalypse. People are getting sick with flu like symptoms and starting to wear masks in public. News reports of random people biting people. Then one day Hideo sees a woman get hit by a cab and get up and walk away with an obviously broken neck. That point is really where the pace changes and starts to pick up.
I read that so far only 3 volumes are translated into English and I desperately hope they continue to translate all of them.
I'm so confused about so many things. I need volume 2.
The main character, Hideo, randomly sees this guy in his apartment and talks to him but in other frames there is no one there. I'm so confused as to why this scene is in the story.
The story focuses on his relationship with his girlfriend who is unusually close to her ex and also Hideo's job in the manga industry but in the background you can see the beginning of the apocalypse. People are getting sick with flu like symptoms and starting to wear masks in public. News reports of random people biting people. Then one day Hideo sees a woman get hit by a cab and get up and walk away with an obviously broken neck. That point is really where the pace changes and starts to pick up.
I read that so far only 3 volumes are translated into English and I desperately hope they continue to translate all of them.
May 15, 2020
Arvostelu koskee koko sarjaa. Sisältää juonipaljastuksia.
Aloitettuani lukemaan tätä sarjaa en voinut lopettaa, ennen kuin olin päässyt viimeiseen sivuun asti. Tämä on ehdottomasti yksi kaikkien aikojen parhaista mangoista, joita olen koskaan lukenut. Se on myös onnistunein kuvaus siitä, miten zombie-pandemia leviää tuhoten lopulta lähes koko ihmiskunnan.
Mikä tässä sarjassa sitten teki niin suuren vaikutuksen minuun? No, ensinnäkin aloitus. Se, kuinka hitaasti ja yksityiskohtaisesti tapahtumia kuvataan, on suorastaan hypnoottista. Pelkästään ensimmäisten sivujen kuvaus lukon ja oven avaamisesta on pysäyttävää. Puhumattakaan ensimmäisen pokkarin lopussa olevasta kohtauksesta, jossa Hideo tulee tapaamaan tyttöystäväänsä Tekkoa tämän voutua huonosti pari päivää. Hideon kurkkiessa postiluukun raosta näytetään kuin hidastetussa filmissä, kuinka Tekko nousee ylös sängystä ja lähtee ryntäämään kohti ovea, jonka takana Hideo kyyristelee. Haukon edelleen henkeäni sitä muistellessani.
Hideo Suzuki, 35-vuotias manga-piirtäjän avustaja, on täydellinen päähenkilö tähän sarjaan. Lievästi häiriintynyt, paranoidi hahmo, joka vaikuttaa jopa omassa elämässään turhalta sivuhenkilöltä. Hideon tavoitteena on tulla mangakirjailijaksi, mutta kun kustantaja hylkää hänen käsikirjoituksensa, sortuu hän syyttelemään epäonnistumisestaan kaikkia muita. Myös suhde tyttöystävään takkuilee Hideon kipuillessa mustasukkaisten ajatustensa kanssa.
Sinä päivänä kun epidemia räjähtää käsiin, Hideolla on sattumalta mukanaan harrastushaulikkonsa. Japanissa kenelläkään ei ole aseita, joten zombeja vastaan taistellaan lähinnä veitsien ja pesäpallomailojen avulla. Tässä tilanteessa Hideon status nouseekin kohisten muiden silmissä, hän kun on ainoa, jolla on mahdollisuus ampua päälle rynnistäviä zombeja. Hideo on kuitenkin pelkuri, joka selviää hengissä lähinnä pakenemalla ja tuurilla. Mutta kun Hideon seuraan liittyy muita selviytyjiä, saa hän vihdoinkin syyn muuttua paremmaksi, rohkeammaksi ja urheammaksi ihmiseksi. Vasta kun yhteiskunta romahtaa, on hänellä mahdollisuus nousta oman elämänsä sankariksi.
Kengo Hanazawa vie vision zombie-pandemiasta loppuun asti. Sarjan tapahtumat käynnistyvät hyvin, hyvin hitaasti eikä ensimmäisen pokkarin luettuaan voi kuin aavistaa mitä tuleman pitää. Mutta jo seuraavassa osassa siirrytään vauhdilla toimintaan tartunta-aallon levitessä ja paniikin kasvaessa joka puolella. Ensimmäisen osan viipyilevään ja yksityiskohtaiseen tunnelmointiin palataan kuitenkin usein, eikä toiminta (muutamia hyvinkin rajuja splatterkohtauksia lukuun ottamatta) hypi liikaa silmille. Kun ensimmäiset uutiset mystisistä hyökkäyksistä näytetään tv:ssä, herättävät ne vain lievää ihmetystä ja huvittuneisuutta. Vielä siinäkään vaiheessa, kun yksittäiset zombit ilmestyvät ihmisten keskuuteen, ei asia kiinnosta ketään. Vaikka kadulla kävelisi vastaan kuinka sairaan ja sekopäisen näköinen tyyppi, ohitetaan se vain tyynesti, kunnes tämä iskeekin hampaansa vastaantulijan naamaan. Ja silloinkaan muut kadulla kulkijat eivät kiinnitä tapaukseen huomiota. Voin kuvitella, että juuri näin japanilaiset oikeasti reagoisivat vastaavassa tilanteessa. Tämä onkin ensimmäinen kerta, kun zombie-pandemian leviäminen ja ihmisten reagointi epidemiaan on kuvattu oikein. Esimerkiksi viimeisinä elossa pysyvät hikikomorit, jo valmiiksi yhteiskunnasta eristäytyneet henkilöt. Mutta kuinka pitkään kukaan pystyy sinnittelemään omassa huoneessaan ruuan loputtua, kun oven takana (entiset) perheenjäsenet hakkaavat ovea?
Itse juoni etenee suht loogisesti. Alkuun Hideon harhanäyt hämmentävät hieman, mutta kun jatkaa lukemista, pääsee kyllä nopeasti kärryille, mitä ”todellisessa” maailmassa tapahtuu. Välillä myös hypätään muiden kuin Hideon saappaisiin, mikä tuo mukavasti uusia näkökulmia zombie-epidemian leviämiseen. Kyseessä on kuitenkin kaikkialla maailmassa leviävä pandemia, joten on hyvä, että myös muiden maiden kokemuksia väläytellään. Matkan aikana kuvataan muutaman ihmisen yritystä pysytellä hengissä mahdottomassa tilanteessa. Ruokaa ja tarvikkeita on saatava, ja sitä varten on otettava riskejä. Tästä seuraa luonnollisesti se, että myös ihmisten kieroutuneimmat puolet nousevat esiin. Puhumattakaan loppupuolen visioista, jossa zombius kehittyy aivan uudenlaiseksi elämänmuodoksi. Välillä mietin, mitä tabuja Hanazawa oikein on nappaillut, niin häiriintynyttä kamaa sarjassa on mukana. Esimerkiksi pedofilia ja raiskaukset eivät tunnu enää missään sen jälkeen, kun hän on päässyt kunnolla vauhtiin.
Kokonaisuutena kyseessä on huikea teos, jonka tulen varmasti lukemaan useampaan kertaan. Ainoa valittamisen aihe liittyy taudin puhkeamiseen/leviämiseen. Alkuun ihmiset joita on purtu, oireilevat parikin päivää ennen kuin zombius ottaa vallan. Kun epidemia lähtee leviämään, saattavat ihmiset muuttua jo muutamassa tunnissa tai jopa minuuteissa altistumisesta. Toisaalta tämän voi selittää esim. taudin yksilöllisellä kehittymisellä, mutta olisin silti toivonut yhteneväisempää kaavaa tartunnoille. Äärimmäisen koukuttava juoni ja realistiset henkilöhahmot riittäisivät jo yksinään nostamaan tämän sarjan huipputasolle, mutta sitten on vielä taide; manga on piirretty niin yksityiskohtaisesti ja taitavasti, että tuntuu kuin katsoisi tv-sarjaa, joka on vain piirretty ruuduille. Jokainen henkilöhahmo erottuu selvästi omana persoonanaan, ja esimerkiksi ilmeiden kuvauksessa mennään välillä suorastaan inhorealismin puolelle. Ei todellakaan mitään söpöjä ja suurisilmäisiä animehahmoja, vaan niin realistisia ihmiskuvia kuin mahdollista. Jotkin ruudut on piirretty niin upeasti, että niitä jää huomaamatta tuijottamaan pitkäksi aikaa.
"Kansalaisia pyydetään toimimaan ennaltaehkäisevien toimenpiteiden mukaisesti eli pesemään kätensä säännöllisesti, tarkkailemaan yskimistään ja välttämään ruuhkaisia paikkoja. Heitä, jotka ovat olleet läheisessä kontaktissa tartunnan saaneiden kanssa, kehotetaan ystävällisesti pysymään sisätiloissa. "
-Japanin terveys-, työ- ja sosiaaliministeriön tiedote pari päivää zombie-epidemian puhkeamisen jälkeen-
Aloitettuani lukemaan tätä sarjaa en voinut lopettaa, ennen kuin olin päässyt viimeiseen sivuun asti. Tämä on ehdottomasti yksi kaikkien aikojen parhaista mangoista, joita olen koskaan lukenut. Se on myös onnistunein kuvaus siitä, miten zombie-pandemia leviää tuhoten lopulta lähes koko ihmiskunnan.
Mikä tässä sarjassa sitten teki niin suuren vaikutuksen minuun? No, ensinnäkin aloitus. Se, kuinka hitaasti ja yksityiskohtaisesti tapahtumia kuvataan, on suorastaan hypnoottista. Pelkästään ensimmäisten sivujen kuvaus lukon ja oven avaamisesta on pysäyttävää. Puhumattakaan ensimmäisen pokkarin lopussa olevasta kohtauksesta, jossa Hideo tulee tapaamaan tyttöystäväänsä Tekkoa tämän voutua huonosti pari päivää. Hideon kurkkiessa postiluukun raosta näytetään kuin hidastetussa filmissä, kuinka Tekko nousee ylös sängystä ja lähtee ryntäämään kohti ovea, jonka takana Hideo kyyristelee. Haukon edelleen henkeäni sitä muistellessani.
Hideo Suzuki, 35-vuotias manga-piirtäjän avustaja, on täydellinen päähenkilö tähän sarjaan. Lievästi häiriintynyt, paranoidi hahmo, joka vaikuttaa jopa omassa elämässään turhalta sivuhenkilöltä. Hideon tavoitteena on tulla mangakirjailijaksi, mutta kun kustantaja hylkää hänen käsikirjoituksensa, sortuu hän syyttelemään epäonnistumisestaan kaikkia muita. Myös suhde tyttöystävään takkuilee Hideon kipuillessa mustasukkaisten ajatustensa kanssa.
Sinä päivänä kun epidemia räjähtää käsiin, Hideolla on sattumalta mukanaan harrastushaulikkonsa. Japanissa kenelläkään ei ole aseita, joten zombeja vastaan taistellaan lähinnä veitsien ja pesäpallomailojen avulla. Tässä tilanteessa Hideon status nouseekin kohisten muiden silmissä, hän kun on ainoa, jolla on mahdollisuus ampua päälle rynnistäviä zombeja. Hideo on kuitenkin pelkuri, joka selviää hengissä lähinnä pakenemalla ja tuurilla. Mutta kun Hideon seuraan liittyy muita selviytyjiä, saa hän vihdoinkin syyn muuttua paremmaksi, rohkeammaksi ja urheammaksi ihmiseksi. Vasta kun yhteiskunta romahtaa, on hänellä mahdollisuus nousta oman elämänsä sankariksi.
Kengo Hanazawa vie vision zombie-pandemiasta loppuun asti. Sarjan tapahtumat käynnistyvät hyvin, hyvin hitaasti eikä ensimmäisen pokkarin luettuaan voi kuin aavistaa mitä tuleman pitää. Mutta jo seuraavassa osassa siirrytään vauhdilla toimintaan tartunta-aallon levitessä ja paniikin kasvaessa joka puolella. Ensimmäisen osan viipyilevään ja yksityiskohtaiseen tunnelmointiin palataan kuitenkin usein, eikä toiminta (muutamia hyvinkin rajuja splatterkohtauksia lukuun ottamatta) hypi liikaa silmille. Kun ensimmäiset uutiset mystisistä hyökkäyksistä näytetään tv:ssä, herättävät ne vain lievää ihmetystä ja huvittuneisuutta. Vielä siinäkään vaiheessa, kun yksittäiset zombit ilmestyvät ihmisten keskuuteen, ei asia kiinnosta ketään. Vaikka kadulla kävelisi vastaan kuinka sairaan ja sekopäisen näköinen tyyppi, ohitetaan se vain tyynesti, kunnes tämä iskeekin hampaansa vastaantulijan naamaan. Ja silloinkaan muut kadulla kulkijat eivät kiinnitä tapaukseen huomiota. Voin kuvitella, että juuri näin japanilaiset oikeasti reagoisivat vastaavassa tilanteessa. Tämä onkin ensimmäinen kerta, kun zombie-pandemian leviäminen ja ihmisten reagointi epidemiaan on kuvattu oikein. Esimerkiksi viimeisinä elossa pysyvät hikikomorit, jo valmiiksi yhteiskunnasta eristäytyneet henkilöt. Mutta kuinka pitkään kukaan pystyy sinnittelemään omassa huoneessaan ruuan loputtua, kun oven takana (entiset) perheenjäsenet hakkaavat ovea?
Itse juoni etenee suht loogisesti. Alkuun Hideon harhanäyt hämmentävät hieman, mutta kun jatkaa lukemista, pääsee kyllä nopeasti kärryille, mitä ”todellisessa” maailmassa tapahtuu. Välillä myös hypätään muiden kuin Hideon saappaisiin, mikä tuo mukavasti uusia näkökulmia zombie-epidemian leviämiseen. Kyseessä on kuitenkin kaikkialla maailmassa leviävä pandemia, joten on hyvä, että myös muiden maiden kokemuksia väläytellään. Matkan aikana kuvataan muutaman ihmisen yritystä pysytellä hengissä mahdottomassa tilanteessa. Ruokaa ja tarvikkeita on saatava, ja sitä varten on otettava riskejä. Tästä seuraa luonnollisesti se, että myös ihmisten kieroutuneimmat puolet nousevat esiin. Puhumattakaan loppupuolen visioista, jossa zombius kehittyy aivan uudenlaiseksi elämänmuodoksi. Välillä mietin, mitä tabuja Hanazawa oikein on nappaillut, niin häiriintynyttä kamaa sarjassa on mukana. Esimerkiksi pedofilia ja raiskaukset eivät tunnu enää missään sen jälkeen, kun hän on päässyt kunnolla vauhtiin.
Kokonaisuutena kyseessä on huikea teos, jonka tulen varmasti lukemaan useampaan kertaan. Ainoa valittamisen aihe liittyy taudin puhkeamiseen/leviämiseen. Alkuun ihmiset joita on purtu, oireilevat parikin päivää ennen kuin zombius ottaa vallan. Kun epidemia lähtee leviämään, saattavat ihmiset muuttua jo muutamassa tunnissa tai jopa minuuteissa altistumisesta. Toisaalta tämän voi selittää esim. taudin yksilöllisellä kehittymisellä, mutta olisin silti toivonut yhteneväisempää kaavaa tartunnoille. Äärimmäisen koukuttava juoni ja realistiset henkilöhahmot riittäisivät jo yksinään nostamaan tämän sarjan huipputasolle, mutta sitten on vielä taide; manga on piirretty niin yksityiskohtaisesti ja taitavasti, että tuntuu kuin katsoisi tv-sarjaa, joka on vain piirretty ruuduille. Jokainen henkilöhahmo erottuu selvästi omana persoonanaan, ja esimerkiksi ilmeiden kuvauksessa mennään välillä suorastaan inhorealismin puolelle. Ei todellakaan mitään söpöjä ja suurisilmäisiä animehahmoja, vaan niin realistisia ihmiskuvia kuin mahdollista. Jotkin ruudut on piirretty niin upeasti, että niitä jää huomaamatta tuijottamaan pitkäksi aikaa.
"Kansalaisia pyydetään toimimaan ennaltaehkäisevien toimenpiteiden mukaisesti eli pesemään kätensä säännöllisesti, tarkkailemaan yskimistään ja välttämään ruuhkaisia paikkoja. Heitä, jotka ovat olleet läheisessä kontaktissa tartunnan saaneiden kanssa, kehotetaan ystävällisesti pysymään sisätiloissa. "
-Japanin terveys-, työ- ja sosiaaliministeriön tiedote pari päivää zombie-epidemian puhkeamisen jälkeen-
August 9, 2017
It's a zombie horror manga, but it hits all the same nerd notes. The hero's a shut-in who's wasted his life at work and his dreams are surpassed by others like his girlfriend's ex who writes a popular manga, etc. When the zombies slowly expand, it's in the background of the protagonist's life, and when they really attack, Hideo doesn't quite believe it. It's standard.
The art is very nicely detailed and cluttered. The zombies are influenced by Junji Ito's style of horror with bodies misshappened by being attacked or trauma and heavy veining. The fact that the zombie had trace memories of their past life and could use a phrase or two to attract friends and family as victims was a touch I had seen before, too. I didn't like the heavy sexual repression and hostility to the few female characters. Misogyny toward female newcasters, the girlfriend, the sole female manga worker, and random singles just got monotonous.
The art is very nicely detailed and cluttered. The zombies are influenced by Junji Ito's style of horror with bodies misshappened by being attacked or trauma and heavy veining. The fact that the zombie had trace memories of their past life and could use a phrase or two to attract friends and family as victims was a touch I had seen before, too. I didn't like the heavy sexual repression and hostility to the few female characters. Misogyny toward female newcasters, the girlfriend, the sole female manga worker, and random singles just got monotonous.
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