Reiko the Zombie Shop: Volume 1
by Rei Mikamoto
Although all the comics we bring to your attention are new to English-speaking audiences, Reiko the Zombie Shop is also relatively new to Japanese audiences as well, with the 11 volume series finishing up last year. Reiko the Zombie Shop: Volume 1 introduces us to Reiko, a high school girl with the unique and special power to raise the dead – at least partially – as the short life of the reanimated corpse will be that of a zombie. During this awakening the zombie can tell whoever is around how she died. And if she died at the hands of another, she might take her brief breath of life to inflict a zombie-riffic revenge.
Reiko doesn’t use her power simply for the benefit of her fellow man. She makes no bones about
it; she is in it for the money. The people that hire her are usually trying to find out how a loved one or friend passed away. Reiko recommends chaining down the body before bringing it back from the dead, as if the guilty party is in the room – the person that had a hand in the untimely demise – there is no telling what might happen. Of course, just because a person is a zombie, doesn’t mean they are brainless, and sometimes they have a wily way of getting out of those chains during their short stay in the land of the living…
Reiko the Zombie Shop is cleverly arranged as a group of short episodes combined with a longer story about a serial murderer who kills little girls in a small town. The stories combine elements of humor with horror, which keep the reader always guessing. You don’t know if you will be turning the page to a cute little scene, or a blood-soaked zombie attack!
The style of Reiko is more modern than some of the manga we have looked at recently. This works both to its advantage and disadvantage. Many of the characters, including Reiko, have a bit of the “standardized” manga character look – the well-known oversized eyes and Barbie doll measurements. On the other hand, this makes the scenes of violence that much more shocking when they happen. The clean look of much of a story is suddenly invaded, and although horror isn’t as graphic as some manga we have seen, the contrast is very sharp and very sudden. This style fits well with the pace and mood of the book.
The translation is handled very competently by Michael Gombos. (You may remember Michael helped us with our article on Dark Horse and manga translation earlier this year.) The English is smooth and appropriate for the story, (it is rated for older teens).
Reiko the Zombie Shop: Volume 1 bursts out of the gates, and sets the mood for the series right from the start. As the stories progress, they get more intense, and the end of the first volume explodes off the pages. It seems to be setting up for more in-depth stories in future volumes. Check here for future reviews of Reiko the Zombie Shop…(Volumes 1~4 are available now. Volume 5 is released December 6, 2006).
Although all the comics we bring to your attention are new to English-speaking audiences, Reiko the Zombie Shop is also relatively new to Japanese audiences as well, with the 11 volume series finishing up last year. Reiko the Zombie Shop: Volume 1 introduces us to Reiko, a high school girl with the unique and special power to raise the dead – at least partially – as the short life of the reanimated corpse will be that of a zombie. During this awakening the zombie can tell whoever is around how she died. And if she died at the hands of another, she might take her brief breath of life to inflict a zombie-riffic revenge.
Reiko doesn’t use her power simply for the benefit of her fellow man. She makes no bones about
it; she is in it for the money. The people that hire her are usually trying to find out how a loved one or friend passed away. Reiko recommends chaining down the body before bringing it back from the dead, as if the guilty party is in the room – the person that had a hand in the untimely demise – there is no telling what might happen. Of course, just because a person is a zombie, doesn’t mean they are brainless, and sometimes they have a wily way of getting out of those chains during their short stay in the land of the living…Reiko the Zombie Shop is cleverly arranged as a group of short episodes combined with a longer story about a serial murderer who kills little girls in a small town. The stories combine elements of humor with horror, which keep the reader always guessing. You don’t know if you will be turning the page to a cute little scene, or a blood-soaked zombie attack!
The style of Reiko is more modern than some of the manga we have looked at recently. This works both to its advantage and disadvantage. Many of the characters, including Reiko, have a bit of the “standardized” manga character look – the well-known oversized eyes and Barbie doll measurements. On the other hand, this makes the scenes of violence that much more shocking when they happen. The clean look of much of a story is suddenly invaded, and although horror isn’t as graphic as some manga we have seen, the contrast is very sharp and very sudden. This style fits well with the pace and mood of the book.The translation is handled very competently by Michael Gombos. (You may remember Michael helped us with our article on Dark Horse and manga translation earlier this year.) The English is smooth and appropriate for the story, (it is rated for older teens).
Reiko the Zombie Shop: Volume 1 bursts out of the gates, and sets the mood for the series right from the start. As the stories progress, they get more intense, and the end of the first volume explodes off the pages. It seems to be setting up for more in-depth stories in future volumes. Check here for future reviews of Reiko the Zombie Shop…(Volumes 1~4 are available now. Volume 5 is released December 6, 2006).
posted by John T at 3:10 PM
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