Highschool of the Dead

Highschool of the Dead. Initially, I thought it was a parody, though I had no solid reason for that. When the anime came out and progress seemed slow each week, I opted to read the manga instead—and found myself unable to stop.

If you've seen the anime, know that the manga has significantly less fanservice, making it superior in my opinion. There are still some ecchi elements, but none of those absurd wind-blown panty shots.

So, what's Highschool of the Dead about? It’s about kids fleeing from school, dealing with love and hate, bizarre teachers who orchestrate bus orgies... and above all, there are "them"—zombies. A bite turns you into one of the living dead, ending your life as you knew it.

This plot might sound uninspiring, but HotD has something special: an amazing mood, excellent dialogues, and a compelling narrative. After reading a chapter, you'll realize you can summarize its content in two sentences. Yet, while reading, it feels like there's always something happening, something that keeps you hooked. The manga outshines the anime here; in my view, the anime's excessive fanservice distracts from the story. Even with music and other elements, the anime feels more relaxed. Some scenes that are powerful in the manga are rushed through in the anime, losing their impact.

Note that this isn't a masterpiece. Far from it. Why? A masterpiece needs a touching story, which HotD lacks—but it doesn’t need one. It’s not supposed to be that kind of anime, just like a comedy isn't criticized for lacking tragedy. When experiencing a masterpiece, you're supposed to feel emotions tied to the story. You don't read HotD because you care deeply about the characters; you read it for its atmosphere, which makes you want to keep reading. There are heartbreaking moments, but they quickly shift to ecchi or zombie attacks, diminishing their potential impact.

Don’t expect a masterpiece or an incredible story when diving into the manga. It’s not that. The story is, for lack of a better term, amazing.

Looking deeper, it’s not just about random kids escaping zombies. It’s about people confronting their fears, thinking about loved ones, and surviving regardless of their previous social status. Now, survival depends on individual capability.

Rating this series is tough. Personally, I’d place it between a 9 and 10. Objectively, I’d give it an 8. Here’s my breakdown:

Story - 9
Art - 10
Characters - 9
Enjoyment - 10

Overall - 9.5 (biased) and 8 objectively.

I highly recommend giving this series a try, whether you’ve watched the anime or not—it’s worth it.

The first thing I must say about this manga is: They should definitely turn it into an anime. I loved everything about this manga and wish the mangaka would hurry up and give me more to read.

There were several reasons why I liked this manga. First, it delves deeply into technical details. For example, what attracts "them"? If they're dead bodies, wouldn't "they" rot away? Besides the obvious fact that a zombie apocalypse could never happen, the manga fills in many plot holes left hanging by other zombie stories.

The second aspect I enjoyed was the comedy. Without it, the manga would be sorely lacking if it only consisted of people being eaten and everyone getting overwhelmed by zombies. The levity of character interactions creates a stark contrast; when "they" show up, it goes from "happy happy joy joy" to "OMG we are so screwed." The humor also helps readers relate to the characters more, making you care if they die or think, "Damn, why did he have to die? I liked him. Why didn't this guy die instead?"

The final and most distinguishing feature of this manga is how the author focuses on how people would actually react during a zombie apocalypse. People looting everything? Check. People betraying each other to survive? Check. All the scumbags trying to get some action before they die? CHECK.

Everyone's true nature is revealed knowing they might die soon. There are the high and mighty falling apart, delinquents rising to become leaders, geeks becoming heroes, and everyone's mental health teetering on the brink of collapse.

If you just read the first chapter, you'll understand what I mean. The first page is a splash of death and gore. You're instantly tossed into the chaos that is High School of the Dead but quickly guided out as the main protagonists band together and fight for their lives.

Enjoy, my friends.

As a huge enthusiast of zombie narratives, I immediately delved into Highschool of the Dead upon discovering it. Much like any classic zombie tale, HotD plunges readers straight into the heart of the action from the very first pages of the manga, maintaining an unrelenting atmosphere of adrenaline, horror, and survival reminiscent of the old Resident Evil games.

The outbreak is depicted right at its origin within a high school, marking the beginning of Takashi Komuro's story, a student striving to survive alongside a handful of friends from his school. As they attempt their escape, the challenges mount, encompassing conflicts, encounters, and rescuing other survivors – all quintessential elements of a gripping zombie saga.

The artwork might initially seem peculiar but grows on you over time. One aspect I found less appealing was the abundance of ecchi scenes. Expect plenty of these along with fanservice, which many might appreciate more than I did.

Moving onto the characters, your initial impression might be that they are quite ordinary. However, as the story progresses, you'll likely find yourself relating to one or more of them, thanks to their well-developed arcs through various intense scenarios.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of action-packed, horrifying, survival stories akin to those experienced while playing the older Resident Evil games in dimly lit rooms for added effect, then give Highschool of the Dead a try. It faithfully adheres to the conventions of renowned zombie tales and offers a fantastic quick read for enthusiasts of the genre.

WOW!!! Amazing and interesting, you get hooked right away. I'm not a huge fan of ecchi manga, but this story just grabbed me. At the beginning, you find out there are man-eating zombies at a school and big-breasted girls kicking ass, along with a fat nerdy guy making a gun out of a nail gun who knows more about guns than anyone you'd know in high school. Then there's a ditzy nurse, a little girl with her puppy Zeke, Rei, the police chief's daughter, a samurai girl, and their leader who gets really crazy sometimes with a gun. Love the story and the artwork and the characters and hope you will read it as well.

I had heard about this series beforehand and thought it was a stupid idea. One day, while browsing through my local bookstore, I saw the first two volumes sitting on the shelf. The first one was nicely wrapped in plastic. From the back cover, I gathered that it was your typical story of an unknown disease infecting a town or city, with the main characters trying to survive. Since I had nothing else to read, I decided to pick up the two volumes.

As soon as I began reading, instant zombie action is thrown at you. This immediately intrigued me. The outbreak's explanation is short and simple, not bogged down by pages of scientific or accidental nonsense. A man shows up infected, bites someone, and starts a chain reaction. At first, the characters seemed bland, but they quickly developed beyond that initial impression.

Takashi, one of the main students fighting to survive, is your typical laid-back student drowning in self-pity. It’s fun to watch him transform over the course of the first book from that to an excited protector who will kill anyone in his way. Rei, Takashi's former love interest, whom he still loves even though she dumped him for another boy, initially seemed like she would be a damsel in distress. However, she turns out to be quite capable, especially due to her involvement in the karate club (in the English version).

Eventually, they run into two other survivors, Hirano and Takagi. Hirano is your typical nerdy guy who is quiet and unassuming until you hand him a firearm. Then, he becomes one of the most enjoyable characters, thanks to his extensive knowledge of weapons. It’s also entertaining to see his transformation into a killing machine with a twisted look on his face. Takagi, on the other hand, is a different story. She's the type of person who thinks she’s better than everyone else, knows more, and acts superior. Her presence brings a negative vibe to every scene she’s in, making them gloomy and unpleasant.

The last two survivors I’ve encountered so far are Saeko Busujima and Ms. Shizuka. Saeko is a character that every anime/manga should have—a girl who can kick ass with a sword yet remains very sexy. She refuses to let anyone take on the burden of protecting her. Being the oldest of the students, a senior, and the captain of the kendo club, she is a formidable force. Ms. Shizuka, on the other hand, is a bubbly woman with large breasts. Although she doesn’t do much along with Takagi, sitting in the background and taking up pages with dialogue, her innocence and caring nature as the school nurse make scenes more enjoyable and bring light to dark situations.

This is your main cast, but there are likely others they’ll meet along the way. They discover various things about the zombies and use different weapons as they move further through Japan. The fan service isn't as high in the manga as in the anime, but I won't complain about it compared to Rosario + Vampire. In High School of the Dead, the fan service feels natural rather than forced. Of course, the boob jiggling isn’t necessary, but let’s be honest—you enjoy it. Plus, the first 12 episodes follow the manga closely with minimal changes.

To sum everything up, this feels like a Romero movie with a Japanese twist. It keeps the reader on their toes and makes you turn page after page, wondering what’s going to happen next and how the survivors will escape the zombies. The art style is unique and visually appealing. I've never seen a manga drawn in such a style, which works well with the violence. The story becomes more complex as they move through the city, which is how a manga should progress—basic to complex, yet easy to follow.

Overall, I give it an 8 and happily recommend it to anyone looking for something to read. If you find these books in your local bookstore, pick up the first one and give it a try. You'll be hooked and wanting more.

This is an excellent manga, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys action and horror genres. While browsing a manga reading site, I stumbled upon this one. Initially, it didn't seem too appealing, but on a lazy afternoon with no homework, I decided to give it a try. I'm incredibly glad I did because after the first chapter, I was completely drawn in by the artwork and characters.

Characters - The characters are exceptional. My favorite character is Saeko Busujima, whose combat skills and wooden sword are impressive. She's depicted as calm and composed, yet she also has a softer side (you'll discover this as you read). The personalities of the characters vary widely, from a geeky gun enthusiast to a fierce swordswoman from a kendo club, to a school nurse. There's also Takashi, the main character, along with Alice, Rei, and Saya. (I don't find Takashi or Rei particularly interesting)

Story - The plot is straightforward. In High School Of The Dead, you have a typical zombie apocalypse scenario. A mysterious disease spreads rapidly, infecting the world. The story follows the main character and his friends as they fight zombies and strive to survive. Although the storyline isn't groundbreaking, it's incredibly entertaining and enjoyable.

Art - The artwork is good, better than some other manga I've seen. I agree with HappyPear that it's unnecessary for most female characters to have disproportionately large breasts. It’s not something I mind much, but showing less cleavage and skin would make women appear more human. Nonetheless, the zombies were well-drawn, and I liked how most characters looked. I especially loved Saeko's hair; it looked fantastic.

Enjoyment - What can I say? I’ve mentioned multiple times in this review how much I enjoyed this manga. So, let me state it again: I ENJOYED THIS MANGA VERY MUCH!! I eagerly await more chapters, and it frustrates me to be so attached when it's on hiatus in Japan. *Sigh* It really sucks, right?

In conclusion, I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS MANGA TO YOU!! :D Go read it... now...

After I grew tired of watching anime, I began exploring lesser-known manga. One evening around 9 p.m., I was browsing through a website's offerings to find something intriguing. After skimming through some uninteresting options, I stumbled upon "Highschool of the Dead." The very first page hit me with zombies attacking well-endowed women, instantly hooking me due to my love for blood and gore. Though I anticipated just a relentless bloodbath, by chapter three, I couldn't put it down.

Besides the graphic violence, what really captivated me was the stark portrayal of survival among teenagers in dire circumstances. It was both frightening and awe-inspiring to see these kids resort to murder for the group's survival, a brutally honest depiction rarely seen before. By chapter five, I expected my mind to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of carnage, but the story lightened up with scenes of drunk girls playfully jiggling each other's breasts.

The storyline took a darker turn with the corrupted teacher leading half of the students, using sex and a fanatical religious system based on fear to control them. The idea of being cast out into a hell filled with undead and deranged humans was genuinely terrifying. Combined with the beautifully accurate arsenal of guns introduced throughout, "Highschool of the Dead" stands out as one of the best manga to date.

Even though the author has passed away, leading to the discontinuation of Highschool of the Dead, it's still worth reading. We may never get a true ending, but what remains is truly precious. I feel sad, yet not frustrated that it has come to an end; there are no great mysteries left to unravel.

This manga boasts a BEAUTIFUL full-color version from Yen Press that you should definitely seek out if you're thinking about reading Highschool of the Dead. I purchased the digital version, and it was quite impressive. For those of you who are about to experience this edition for the first time: I envy you.