Tokyo Undead – The Complete Collection (Manga)
Written by Shigeo Nakayama
Illustrated by Tsukasa Saimura
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
Suitable for ages 16+
If you remember our review for Hour of the Zombie Volume One, then this next manga will look very familiar to you. Illustrated by the same artist, Tsukasa Saimura, Tokyo Undead is an anthology of zombie stories all told within the same world. That would be our world of course, most specifically Tokyo (imagine that!). Zombies are on the loose and we get a look at how that affects different kinds of people within it. Some stories are tragic, some are hopeful, and all include plenty of bloody zombie goodness.
First thing we need to talk about is Saimura’s talent for illustrating zombies. There are tons of zombies in Tokyo Undead, all in their varying stages of decay. Most of the the ones shown in this anthology are seen as part of a crowd. However, even then Saimura manages to show them as individuals rather than just a decomposing mob. Each zombie has its own look, its own facial expression, it’s own specific clothing. Some are more memorable than others, but readers are rewarded for looking closer. One panel shows a woman in a one-piece swimsuit and swimming cap, another shows an old man who’s dentures fall out when he’s struck across the head, still another shows a doctor wearing a stethoscope around his neck with his glasses askew on his face. It’s these small details of personalization in the zombie characters that, while not distinctly relevant to the plot, really puts the readers in the world of Tokyo Undead.
Another great thing about Tokyo Undead is the wide variety of still breathing characters we see. There are elderly people, children, one story even features a pregnant woman. They all have their own believable personalities which lends authenticity to the stories. There’s also never a plan that goes off without a hitch in Tokyo Undead. Just like the unpredictability of the zombies, you never know how a plan is going to come together. There are decisions made on the fly, decisions that could either succeed, or fail catastrophically. But therein lies the drama, and the excitement of zombie tales. You never know who’s going to get out alive, so it feels so good when they do.
There are six different named stories in Tokyo Undead, all written by Shigeo Nakayama. All but one of these stories interconnect with the others in some way. One of the most memorable stories functions much like an intermission of sorts. It’s called “Ghost Town,” and shows the most often recurring character travelling through Tokyo on the utility wires. He uses a harness clipped to the wires with a carabiner to keep himself from falling to the zombie hordes below. In “Ghost Town” there is no spoken dialogue, and nothing dramatic happens. However, it works as a kind of segue into the rest of book, while showing us that the featured character is still alive in this cruel world.
The recurring character we spoke of before is Masaru, a lone man who’s been doing all he can to survive. In the beginning we meet him scavenging apartment buildings in search of food. He loses his water bottle, his only source of liquid at the moment. His desperation is clear on his face and how he reacts. This Masaru, at the beginning of Tokyo Undead, avoids zombies whenever possible. By the end of the book, he’s become a savior of sorts, much more experienced fighting zombies than before. His is the most developed character in the series since we seem him in many different situations.
Like any good anthology title, Tokyo Undead has a clear beginning, middle, and end but not necessarily in that order. Halfway through the book we get a glimpse at the beginning of the zombie outbreak through the eyes of office workers who have no idea what’s happening. The end (Spoiler Alert) brings with it hope, the possibility of an oasis amongst the chaos where humans have begun to rebuild society. After all, isn’t that what all good zombie stories should conclude with? Unless of course you’re the sadistic type and would rather see everyone nommed to death. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of om-nomming to death in Tokyo Undead for you.
Tokyo Undead satisfies in many ways. It has harrowing tales from a zombie apocalypse, enough variety in people/zombies to keep you entertained, and it all comes wrapped in a bloody anthology package. Even if you’re not an anthology fan, you’ll probably still enjoy Tokyo Undead since many of the stories relate to each other, making it feel cohesive. Saimura’s art is mesmerizing at times to look through, since many of the zombie mobs feature unique and memorable sights. And Nakayama’s writing is believable, yet dramatic. Tokyo Undead is set to release October 18th, and is available for pre-orders from a variety of retailers.
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Manga
Categorized:Reviews
