Tokyo Zombie

First of all, this book is ridiculously short, especially considering half of the storyboards are wrestling scenes with corny onomatopoeia at the rate of five words a page. I read it in under an hour and I read slow. The drawings are pretty goofy and simple, and the action sequences, again, are long and not much to look at. The gore, however, is awesomely extravagant and Hanakuma's bare-bones (i know, i know), stylized anatomy detracts from the horror and lets you laugh. Because the book is just hilariously cruel and gross at times. Really funny and campy. Great zombie attacks, heroic story, and pretty decent social commentary. By about page five, which is to say 20 seconds in, you'll either be completely engrossed or completely grossed-out, or, ideally, both.

I really can't say anything really bad about the whole process of buy this book. It was cheap, delivery was quick, and when the dealer said the book was still in good shape they didn't lie! not that I'm saying that I've had previous accounts order communication confusion, but you get the just of what I'm saying. Five stars.

It's sad to see such good work go mostly overlooked by the comix community. But at the same time, it's understandable; this is far from typical art. It could even be considered dada - a step up from traditional shonen storytelling yet a step down in artistical merit in compensation for its unique and ball-busting style. (The style of drawing itself is called "heta-uma" - which means "bad, but good"!) This manga was originally published ten years ago, but thankfully it's been revived by Ryan Sands and published by Last Gasp. Afro and Hage represent the working class, and those who indulge in on-shift wrestling matches as well. When the mountain of Black Fuji erupts not in fire and ash but with zombies and fellacio, this comic really kicks everything up to eleven and doesn't let up until its end (which feels like it comes all too soon). This is something you'll be coming back to read again. And seeing that Afro & Hage have had their fair share of shine in the comic world of Japan, here's hoping that more of Hanakuma's wonderful humor and zombie-loving satire make it stateside. This is just too good.

This manga rox! Anyone who is a fan of zombies, Japan, dogs, blood sports, pig farming, afros, Mt. Fuji and bringing down the upper class, this one's for you! Rah! Rah!! Rah!!!