Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 8

The story: This time around the gang attempts to recruit some new club members, with mixed results. Later, they hire a part-timer and encounter a wedding planner who works for both the living and the dead -- not to mention yakuza. In the last tale, dead infants are abandoned at the local hospital and the gang is determined to find out why. All the while, Sasaki and Karatsu unknowingly grow closer for inexplicable reasons.

Reaction: There was a lot of Japanese culture on display in this volume, mostly in the chapter involving a marriage ritual for the dead and the yakuza thugs who profit off of it. It was interesting to learn about rural traditions and other Far East customs. Otherwise, this was a good volume, but perhaps not as good as the last one.

Deep thoughts: In the same wedding story, the yakuza are shown shooting and killing someone. This is unusual because Japan has a strict gun control policy in place. Unlike the United States, handguns are increasingly rare and rifles and shotguns highly restricted. In the democratic world, Japan has some of the most stringent laws in place.

Artwork: Some truly lonely young people are introduced in this volume, one of whom looks like a female version of Yata, carrying the same constant eye-shielding bangs. Unfortunately, she ends up having a particularly gross death. And on the "eww" scale, this book is definitely leaning towards the truly icky when we're shown and given a narration of how to clean a person's body following death.

The verdict: If only... This may not be Eiji Otsuka's and Housui Yamazaki's best volume, but it's certainly better than a lot of other shonen manga out there. Regardless, I'll still be reading the next volume as soon as I can get my hands on it. Here's to hoping they expand on the resident hacker's and psychic's connection soon! Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kusosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 7

The story: Our fab five(and a half)some is back with another slew of funny, if not zombie-filled, mysteries. In the first story, the boys are being exploited by the girls and get a painful gig moving gravestones. Thankfully, a trio of engineering students lend a robotic hand, but things go from bad to worse when the robot goes on an "hideous mission of otaku slaughter!" The second arc in this volume gets readers one step closer to the mystery that is Karatsu's spirit guide, Yaichi, when a jinmenso, or a haunting where the face of a murdered person appears on their killer's face, becomes bait for the two. The third and last vignette features a director ready to kill for the perfect film -- but, little does he know about the Kurosagi group's true skills!

Reaction: I really liked this volume; it might be my favorite from the series. The first story of a video game-loving, otaku-killing robot had hilarious lines that made me giggle openly and it definitely reminded me of one of my favorite zombie movies, Shaun of the Dead. In terms of overarching storyline, it was interesting to see the Shirosagi Corpse Cleaning Service return, this time with a hidden purpose. But most surprising was the development in Aoi's and Kuro's relationship.

Deep thoughts: At one point in this volume, freegans are mentioned. Freegans are a dumpster-diving subculture of anti-consumerism; the New York Times had an article on the lifestyle named for a portmanteau of vegan and free. While freegans believe what they do is a natural extension of an ethical lifestyle, in this volume it's used as an excuse for stealing dead bodies -- a none-too-ethical choice. Can we say irony?

Artwork: Visually, this volume is much the same as its predecessors. However, I must note that Housui Yamazaki does a particularly good job with the jinmenso tale, especially in his recreation of an "earmouse." And there's some great physical humor in the otaku-killing robot tale. Of course, there are plenty of realistically gruesome deaths, all of them grotesque in their own way.

The verdict: Highly recommended. As I mentioned previously, this is my favorite volume yet -- it has that perfect balance of seriousness and laughs, the hallmark of this series. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 6

The story: We're getting closer to the mystery behind Karatsu's guardian spirit. This volume is split into two main stories—the first deals with the death of an older woman and the daughter she kept hidden in her attic. The person connected to the older woman's murder is a man with a scarred face—much like that of Karatsu's spirit, but also someone familiar to Mr. Sasayama. While the reason for the daughter living a hidden life is never revealed, Karatsu seems intent on finding out the truth. At the end of that chapter, all we hear is a dead spirit shouting "Yaichi, Yaichi!" In the second story, titled "Kunio Matsuoka Demon Hunting Side Story," we travel back in time to the Meiji era. Here a monk with the same name and appearance as Sasayama is escorting a young boy named Yaichi from Kurosagi village to help investigate the gruesome murders of women in Matsuoka's city.

Reaction: While much of this volume focuses on the growing competition Kurosagi is facing, towards the end of this volume, there's a sense of urgency to figure out what's going on, especially since Karatsu is left in a cliffhanger ending. The side story added another layer of mystery with its character and content connections to the modern-day storyline. I found myself hoping I'd learn something that would help the puzzle pieces fall into place, to no avail. I'm hungry to know the meaning of those scarred faces and what connection Sasayama has to everything that's been going on. Of course, the side story could simply serve as a diversion from the main plotline and have no meaning at all.

Deep thoughts: Again, the Japanese language never ceases to amaze me with a specificity not seen in English. For example, in the first story, we learn about the term netsuki miko, or a rooted priestess. While, on the surface, she seems to have the same powers as Karatsu, she actually only has the ability to speak to "particular spirits of the land." Within two words, we find out what would be an entire phrase in English. It's amazing and shows the inherent difficulty in translating Japanese to English.

Artwork: I'll admit, the scarred doctor that Sasayama knew way back when reminded me of another, more popular scarred doctor—Black Jack. While I wouldn't call the resemblance uncanny because of the rather different art style employed by Housui Yamazaki, I will say that the similarities can't be ignored: black hair with a white patch above his right eye, a patchwork of scars covering his face and a great deal of skill in wielding a scalpel. I also enjoyed the historical setting of the side story; it was interesting to see the Western influence on Japan during the Meiji era. There's a balance of Victorian-era England with classic Japanese details and costumes.

The verdict: Highly recommended. I can't wait to read the next volume, especially after being fed small scraps of story regarding Karatsu's spirit. Besides that, there's all the other companies infringing on Kurosagi's business—will Kurosagi survive or will they be beat by the competition? Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 5

The story: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service seems to be diversifying its business with this volume. This time around they discover a dead body while volunteering at an old folks' home, then try to return the man to his village, which seems to have been wiped off the map. Later, they encounter a fake mummy and try to figure out who's behind the mystery with the help from their old "friends" at Nire Ceremony funeral home, who are diversifying their own business by providing ancient Egyptian-like burials reminiscent of the pharaohs. In another chapter, the group becomes professional mourners for hire and yet another layer of intrigue is laid regarding Karatsu's guardian spirit. Lastly, the gang encounters a cryogenic facility and its ever-youthful proprietor.

Reaction: I was so interested in the professional crying woman. Everyone simply called her "grandma," but she seems to know more about Karatsu than she's letting on. There were also some creepier little mysteries, like the mummy-like embalmer working for Nire Ceremony. There was also a laughably whimsical ending to the cryogenic story. While I don't want to give anything away, it seems that the fraudulent owner finally got his and in an entertaining way!

Deep thoughts: I thought it was interesting that there are actually professional mourners. While I've attended several funerals over the years, I never thought that there would be a need for professional mourners. The way Yata talks about it, it seems that professional mourners were popular in ancient Egypt and Rome, and, up until a few decades ago, were still popular in India, China, Korea and Japan. Surprisingly, professional mourners are still employed in the Middle East and in Africa. There's even an award-winning Filipino comedy, Crying Ladies, that revolves around the lives of three women employed in Manila's Chinatown.

Artwork: There are some jarring close-ups in this volume, from a mummified corpse come back to life to the sobbing face of an old woman to the gold-toothed grin of a severed head. The instantaneously recognizable expressions distill the mood in each scene and provide a shorthand of sorts for what other characters are feeling. I also appreciated all of the Egyptian details in the second story; there was an obvious deal of research done both for the content and the art, lending it a believable amount of credibility.

The verdict: Highly recommended. While there's not an obvious line of continuity here, I feel like we're getting closer to the reveal of the meaning of the spirit that follows Karatsu. She's become a silent seventh member of the group and I'm wondering what her larger purpose is in the story. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 4

The story: This volume is another collection of episodic stories, including the gang's assistance in a rural town's alien-based tourism effort, a Chinese company's involvement in a traveling exhibit showcasing preserved whole and partial human bodies, a woman's possession by her best friend's (and murder victim) spirit and how a parasitic snail is involved in the apparent suicide of people across Japan.

Reaction: There was a lot to absorb in this volume, none of it too telling with the exception of more being revealed about the spirit that constantly accompanies Karatsu. I also liked Yata's unapologetic attention to detail when it came to producing alien-like crop circles. Unfortunately, the last story seemed to introduce a needless buxom blonde from the U.S. This character, Reina Gorn, studies forensic entomology and proves helpful in this one episode. She seems to be a walking stereotype, from her lack of real clothing (she wears a bikini top instead of, you know, an actual shirt of some sort in one scene) to her awful accent. Honestly, I could have done without this character entirely, or at least a more reasonable semblance.

Deep thoughts: I was reminded of Parasyte with the last story because a parasitic snail seems to have evolved enough to infect an entirely new species. It's a great illustration of evolution and what species will do in order to proliferate and continue their life cycle. While the parasite causes some fairly appalling physical effects, its ingenuity is pretty amazing considering the influence of instinct. These creatures aren't thinking about how to infect another species, it simply happens out of necessity.

Artwork: While I've never been compelled to view the BODIES exhibition that's been traveling across the country, I will admit I was impressed by Housui Yamazaki's keen eye for human anatomy. Having such a consistent and reliable recreation of different layers of human tissue is fairly remarkable in my opinion and made this chapter all the more interesting in an almost clinical way. On the other hand, I absolutely could not stand the character design for Reina Gorn. Can we say fanservice?

The verdict: If only... I certainly enjoyed a great deal of this manga, but couldn't get past the seemingly thrown in American character. While she acted as a source of information on entomology, she was a constant eyesore and distraction for me. Hopefully, this is a momentary mis-step and I won't have to see Gorn ever again. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 3

The story: This volume is broken up into three distinctive stories: one about an illegal immigrant who is involved with a black-market organ transplant ring, a mysterious group "playing" at homicide and the discovery of a song that causes people to commit suicide. In the first story, Numata and Karatsu come across a near-death immigrant. While the man was not dead quite yet, they do meet up with him—and other pieces of him—soon enough. In investigating a ring of black-market organ transplants, the Kurosagi group meets Mr. Sasayama, a yakuza-looking man with the social welfare office in Shinjuku. Eventually, the group returns the various pieces of the immigrant to his home in the Middle East. In the second story, it seems that Yata, Numata and Karatsu have taken on part-time jobs for the local newspaper. In selling and delivering newspapers, they discover a dead body and a mysterious group of people who have made a game of killing one another. In the last story, the group investigates a rash of suicides near train stations throughout the Tokyo area.

Reaction: There are some pretty funny moments here, from the Rob Schneider-esque baldy nickname jokes to the jokes about a "Halal sausage fest." Of course, this helps balance out the otherwise grim and gruesome subject matter. Out of the three distinct stories, I probably liked the first and last ones the most because of the mysterious appearance of Karatsu's "helper spirit." This helper spirit, a woman with a scarred face, usually appears behind him when he temporarily reanimates the dead. Her appearance intrigues me so much, especially since Karatsu isn't particularly concerned about her involvement and influence over his skill.

Deep thoughts: Black market organ transplants are big business in certain parts of the world. While most countries have outlawed the practice, it's still difficult for those in need of a healthy organ, such as a kidney, to find a match. So, instead, they languish for years on transplant lists until someone appropriate can donate what they need. Still, others will pay for an organ from a willing donor, while others will sell the organs of unwilling donors. It's a dirty business and only underscores the importance of people making sure they're on donor lists, if appropriate.

Artwork: Perhaps I didn't notice it up until now, but Ao really wears some racy clothes, if any at all. From a see-through, spiderweb-patterned shirt to a lace-up, skin-tight shirt, her boobs always seem to be on display. On the flip side, Makino's appearance doesn't bother me as much as it did in the first volume, especially since she just seems to be more of a candy lolita type. In the second story, I really enjoyed seeing the inside of Yata's apartment, since it reveals him to be a toy-collecting otaku. Again, we're treated to a quick flash of his eyes during his one heroic moment. For some reason, he's become one of my favorite characters, probably because he's such a nerd!

The verdict: Highly recommended. While this volume seemed more episodic and disjointed than others, I liked the subjects explored. From war and the black market for organs to suicide, Kursagi Corpse Delivery Service never fails to make me think and laugh nearly simultaneously. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 2

The story: While Makoto and Karatsu suffer from a serious lack of work following graduation, Yata decides to find a paying line of work at Nire Ceremony, a popular, interfaith funeral home. But, there's something "off" about Nire Ceremony, especially after Yata sees the owner's adopted daughter bring a dead cat back to life. Meanwhile, someone's been asking a lot of questions about Kurosagi Delivery Service on campus, putting Ao on alert. But, Ao seems to be dealing with some issues of her own. What is Ao's recent obsession with the past and what is her connection to Nire Ceremony?

Reaction: I'll admit, I was a little creeped out by the zombie plotline in this volume, but it was intriguing in its own way, too. Learning about Ao's past was interesting and surprising considering her role on the team. It made me wonder how her past influenced her career interests and her creation of Kurosagi. There was some exploration of the other characters, especially Yata and his feelings of inadequacy in relation to the rest of the team. All in all, this volume revealed the depth of the characters that Eiji Otsuka has created.

Deep thoughts: If there's one prevailing theme in this second volume, it's of revenge. The revenge that the living want from those who have killed their loved ones, the revenge that the dead want against those who have wrongfully killed them and the revenge that hides in the hearts of those left standing on the sidelines. Revenge is so often seen as a defect of sorts, a dark black void in our hearts. But, it's much more than that. It can also inspire us, stengthen us and give some a reason to keep living, much as it does for both Ao and Mutsumi, the adopted daughter of Nire Ceremony's owner. While some would say revenge is unnecessary, I would say that it has its place, but can easily overwhelm those with weak spirits and hearts.

Artwork: Maybe its because of the intimacy of this story and Ao's backstory, but Housui Yamazaki's artwork seems to have a more personal feel to it. From small details like a birthmark on a fingernail to the floral pattern on the tea set at Nire Ceremony, Yamazaki seems to have taken extra care in this set of chapters. There's also some great character design here, too. Lastly, it's funny that I thought of it as such a "treat" when Yata's eyes were momentarily revealed during his heroic act in the last chapter. Since his eyes are almost always covered by his bangs, it was a nice surprise. But, I do have a couple of complaints, namely Ao's seemingly constant lack of clothing and that Hayashi doesn't look as old as one would expect, considering he's about 15 to 20 years older than the rest of the cast.

The verdict: Highly recommended. It would be so easy to simply say that Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is just a good manga, but, it's so much more than that. It explores deep questions about the meaning of life and death, and combines it with mystery, violence, interesting characters and a dash of good humor. I've found myself empathizing with these two-dimensional characters, wondering what their motivations are and noticing what a wonderful balance they have as a group. And there aren't too many books, let alone manga, that drive me to that type of curiosity. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 1

The story: Five students at a Buddhist university, all peculiarly skilled in their own way, have found that their college experience isn't proving too useful in the "real world." When Kuro Katsuro, who can speak to the dead, meets Ao Sasaki, an entrepreneur of sorts, at the school's job board, he has no idea what he's gotten himself into. Soon, he's traipsing through the woods with several other odd characters and helping the dead with their earthly attachments.

Reaction: The opening pages are quite a shocker, as they feature a dead man, covered in flies, hanging from a tree. Suddenly, the dead man moves and is crawling along the forest floor. Just by using these first few panels, the reader is provided with a mystery and, if not completely disgusted, compelled to find out what's going on. I found myself doing just the same, reading through this book quickly. Even more interesting than the ensemble cast are the usually depraved people they encounter.

Deep thoughts: I thought it was interesting that the two women of Kurosagi have what would be considered practical skills while the men are the oddballs. The three men in the service include a corpse-seeking dowser, a guy who talks to aliens via a hand puppet and Kuro, who communicates with the dead. Meanwhile, the two women consist of an embalmer and Ao, the boss for all intents and purposes. I especially like that the embalmer is portrayed as a cute woman, but is unafraid of touching, disinfecting and preparing a dead body; it defies an easy-to-hold stereotype. Then again, Ao is a tough, profit-seeking boss, which plays to the bossy woman stereotype often seen in business. Their contrast is unique though and neither portrayal turns me off in any way, especially since their likability is hard to gauge this early in the series.

Artwork: Holding true to its seinen roots, Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is realistic in its scenery and character design. Each character is unique not only in personality, but also in appearance. Of course, there are grotesque moments since the series involves dead bodies. And while there is some blood and gore that appears, it's not overdone. My only problem with the artwork is design of Makino, the embalmer. She seems to be built to moe-esque standards and looks younger than she should. While her personality doesn't match the appearance, it's a little off-putting.

The verdict: Highly recommended. Going into this manga, I didn't think I would like it nearly as much as I did because of the focus on death. But, it's dark humor and the mysterious nature behind it's main characters' gifts drew me in despite all that. While so many manga focus on the shinigami aspect of death, it's refreshing to see how real people, those that are still alive, deal with those who have passed. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is available in the U.S. from Dark Horse.