Reiko the Zombie Shop Volume 1

Reiko the Zombie Shop, necromancer for hire is a young girl who can raise the dead. There are six volumes in the series, and all build upon the idea of raising the dead to find out what killed them. Of course there are also some interesting twists that go along with this, and surprising stories as well. Overall the series is really good, starting off with Volume 1, where Reiko shows up in town to help solve the murders of 29 young girls. Reiko is a professional necromancer, meaning for a fee she will raise the dead to see what killed them. What makes the book difficult at times is that it is disconnected, in that this is in an episode format. You have to read the book, not just necessarily skim it to get the full story of what is going on, it is easy to miss important bits in the book which means you get to go back and reread sections if you missed an important point. Overall this is a pretty decent series, with Volume one standing out because of some of the more taboo issues that are raised in the book. Like a young girls suicide that is investigated, (plot twist, no spoilers), with a very surprising ending. In all, good book to pick up, good series to read, entertaining, but you really have to pay attention at times; otherwise you find yourself flipping back and forth in the book, which also isn't all that bad unless you are in a hurry.

its a pretty good book. i want to get the other ones and see how they compare. but this was pretty sweet. some gore and blood. good stuff.

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 life the reanimated corpse will become a zombie for a short time. 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. (Volumes 1~4 are available now. Volume 5 is released December 6, 2006).

The title itself is splendid -- "Reiko the Zombie Shop." The first thing that came to mind when I read that title at the comics store was that it would deliver B-Movie credentials. I got myself volume one and two just for the sake of it after flipping through the pages to see how it looked. I like the art and although it gets a little cutesy at times and a bit generic, the direction is nicely done. Basically, the main character Reiko is a 'Zombie Shop,' a girl who takes up jobs from people who want to know the cause of death behind their loved ones or people they know. Reiko has the ability to resurrect the dead with a Satanic chant and she has a pentagram on her palm. Once the dead are resurrected, they explain the cause of their death under a certain condition; if they died due to a grudge (often the case), their awakening won't be calm and will require chains to wrap them in. Reiko is joined later on by other summoners who each have an individual Zombie that they control, but that's in volume two. Anyway, the action is pretty bloody and gorey, so if you're a fan of movies like the 'Evil Dead' or the thousands of obscure Zombie titles out there, 'Reiko the Zombie Shop' might just be your cup of tea. Of course, that's saying that you shouldn't take this series too seriously and expect some amazing storyline. The story itself is pretty short of amazing or astonishing, but it's all about how it was done that makes it pretty good. The main story behind this volume revolves around a psychopathic serial killer named Saki that goes on a killing spree murdering up to twenty nine little girls. Why? Well, her past isn't revealed, but it has something to do with her offering the little girls individually at different times a chance to be her little sister. When they refuse, she kills them quite violently. Of course, she and Reiko end up fighting each other and what a surprise it is in the end. Anyway, it's a good first volume that definitely shapes up things for the future.

During the day, Reiko Himezono is your average high schooler, but after a hard day of academic life, she relaxes with the job where she earns some pretty good money. Reiko, "The Zombie Shop", has the unusual ability to call on that most understood of angels, Satan, to revive dead corpses to a semblance of life for a short time, allowing the dead person to speak and move around. She's not really ever called upon to revive someone for positive reasons. Reiko usually gets involved in situations where someone was murdered, committed suicide, or otherwise died under suspicious circumstances. I guess if a loved one died in a normal manner, the relatives assume they died in peace. But when someone has a doubt, Reiko can be enlisted to set their minds at ease. It's not a very safe job either, because the dead spirits sometimes crave revenge or the person who hired her is revealed to be involved in the death somehow and now wants to kill Reiko. I didn't think I was going to like this book at first because a lot of the early stories were too short and episodic, but once the characters wheedled their way into my mind, I was hooked. Especially gripping is the main storyline that runs through the book about a serial killer who targets young children, who is on a collision course with the Zombie Shop. Reiko at first seems like a cruel mercenary who isn't very likeable, but later on we find out how loyal she is to her good friends. Even though she says she only does her job for money, her actions nevertheless bring justice to those who cannot seek it themselves...the dead. Good book. I would also recommend the manga Chrono Crusade.