Genre: Horror/Manga/Action
Age range: 16+
List price 12.95 USD
In a recent column at comicsnob.com, Matt Blind brought up the idea that reviewers shouldn't only review the latest titles, but there was value to (re)introducing older titles to possibly newer readers.
I agree, and liked this idea enough that this week I thought I would put my money where my mouth is and talk about a title I really enjoy that doesn't (and didn't) get the attention it deserves.
The gramattically unique title Reiko, The Zombie Shop found its way to western shores late 2005. Unfortunately, the series was dropped after six solid volumes, but instead of seeing the glass as half-empty, I applaud the effort to bring a half-dozen complete volumes of this violent, funny, and oddly sexy story into English. Considering these are mostly episodic tales of varying lengths, there is value to checking out Reiko.
When she isn't acting like a typical high-schooler, Reiko is a "Zombie Shop", a freelance necromancer who can animate the dead, giving them the last word on what is often an untimely demise. However the zombie-fied undead aren't always thrilled to simply talk about their problems, and usually want to get a little revenge during thier brief second taste of life. That's why Reiko likes to get paid upfront.
There are a couple things that make Reiko, The Zombie Shop a title worth taking a look at. Really good horror manga is a rare treat in English, and while Rei Mikamoto may not be as well-known as horror heavies like Kazuo Umezu (Drifting Classroom) or Junji Ito (Uzumaki), but his style is remarkabley crisp, clean and sexy considering the often violent and graphic content. (Don't worry American moms and dads, it's only graphic in the violence. The sexy females in this series keep it covered.) This daring style/content conflict works perfectly. The episodic tales of Reiko's "jobs" vary in length, keeping the reader on his toes, especially with the shocking cliff-hanger that ends this first volume.
The combination of humor and attitude with brutal violence and zomies with a splash of sexy makes Reiko, The Zombie Shop one of the most unique modern horror titles in recent years that truly deserves a second look.
8.5