Manga Review: Zombie Loan Volume Two

[Jason]

Title: Zombie Loan
Volume: Two
Mangaka: Peach-Pit
Originally Serialized In: Gfantasy
Genre: Shonen, Supernatural
Licensed by: Yen Press
Price: $10.99/US

Volume two of Zombie Loan cranks up the action a bit, now that all the introductions are over. This series started out iffy, but it’s begun to pick up speed here. Michiru, having walked out on the relatives stealing her inheritance, is put up at the dorms where the zombie agents live. She meets the big bosomed (you have to have fan service, right?) Koyomi, as well as the chancellor of the school, a gothic loli girl of about ten (or so she looks), named Shimotsuki. Koyomi and Shimotsuki are a study in opposites. The former is very ebullient and friendly while the latter is highly reserved and cryptic. Determined to make the most of the decrepit dorm, Michiru sets out to clean, while Koyomi works up a little welcoming party.

However, poor Michiru finds out the hard way that inside of Koyomi is a spirit, Yomi, that gives her a “shinigami’s tongue”. Yomi is highly sexually aggressive and has the hots for Michiru. There is nothing subtle about the non-consensual yuri here. She tells Chika and Shito what happens. Of course, the boys just see this as a means to seeing girl on girl… wait, no, as a chance to use Michiru to lure out Yomi, who’ll in turn help them with their zombie hunting.

We also learn that Chika and Shito have to stay within range of each other, something Chika keeps forgetting until his hand rots off, and later we learn why that is. One of Chika’s best friends, Shiba, (before Shiba got into one of the exclusive high schools for brainaics) shows up. Chika’s demeanor improves immediately, but unfortunately for them, a serial killer calling himself “The Butterfly” then makes his appearance. Shiba, far from being put off by the boys’ morbid job, throws himself into helping, even if Shito doesn’t trust him, straining the relationship between the two young zombies even more.

Meanwhile, Michiru and Koyomi have been sent by the chancellor to buy necessities for the dorm. To Koyomi, this means shopping spree and Michiru is still pretty much the doormat she was in volume one, only a touch stronger, so she goes along with it. Naturally, Koyomi buys French Maids uniforms (don’t we all when we go shopping?). It ends with the boys getting a lead to the serial killer and the girls following Michiru’s shinigami eyes after a black ring around some zombie’s neck, yet only to land the girls in a cliff-hanger’s worth of trouble.

The story line is improving and I enjoyed this one. The art is a bit rough in places, but not horribly so. Everyone is rather attractive, though there are proportion problems with the necks. As I’ve said several times, Yen Press likes to leave the sound effects in place and add in both phonetic and English translations.

Overall, these are some of the most interesting zombies I’ve seen.

Reviewer: D.M. Evans
Proofer/Editor: Lissa Pattillo