Whereas a lot of the AKB48 tasks will be linked to the precise group and the idols’ performances, there are some surprising ones too! Sailor Zombie is an ideal instance. It featured a have a look at a world after a zombie apocalypse and the younger girls and their lecturers that kind a group at a college in hopes of survival. Whereas the manga is over 10 years previous at this level, it nonetheless feels contemporary and pleasant due to the execution. Having all 4 volumes in an omnibus makes it simpler to see how properly all of it got here collectively.
Editor’s Word: There are not any spoilers for the Sailor Zombie manga under.
Maiko was residing an bizarre life, getting ready to placed on an idol efficiency together with her two greatest buddies for a college competition, when the zombie pandemic hit. It took one in every of them, B-ko, first. She managed to flee, and she or he’s residing on the run when some undead chase her previous Fujimi All Ladies’ Excessive Faculty. She sees the lights and runs in the direction of it, and “college students/residents” there named Mutsumi and Yuri see and save her. They convey her in to turn out to be a part of the group, which incorporates lecturers, authentic college students from that college, and different survivors who’d come by. Some are pleasant and welcoming, like Arisa! Others appear stand-off-ish and like potential bullies, similar to Momoka. Nevertheless, whereas this place looks like a peaceable haven, there’s no true respite in a world coping with such a disaster. And Maiko innocently releasing a male instructor accused of homicide and locked up for his crimes, claiming Mutsumi is an issue and no one within the faculty is sane, kicks off a collection of issues that begins together with her, Mutsumi, and Yuri being “exiled” except they discover and produce him again.
One factor that’s unbelievable in regards to the Sailor Zombie manga is the best way during which Maiko begins out seeming like a standard highschool woman. Whereas she carries a bow and arrow, she’s completely frightened of zombies. Mutsumi and Yuri are higher geared up for the scenario, however solely as a result of we see they’re established “defenders” on the faculty. (To not point out Mutsumi’s character is a bit warped in some methods.) It’s solely because the story goes on that she begins to adapt for varied causes.
The Isshin Inudo story can also be nice in the way it progressively foreshadows connections between conditions and characters. A lot in order that within the first quantity, you get an concept there’s some type of tie to what’s happening and Maiko. Nevertheless it’s solely later that we begin to see how her personal relationships meant she had her personal distinctive connection to every part that occurred. Likewise, her love for her first crush Takurou and admiration for the music from Aruru he shared together with her retains pulling issues collectively and advancing the story for not solely her, however others.
One other nice component of it’s that we see clearly how issues cascade. Once more, Isshin Inudo doesn’t inform us how societies and social constructs collapse. We see in actual time and watch with precise examples how issues begin to go awry, snowball, after which flip into absolute nightmares. It feels fairly lifelike, given the character of issues. Like although there are very supernatural components at play, it’s simple to know how these types of abuses of energy and darker sides of human nature may turn out to be the undoing of a possible secure haven.
Most significantly, Isshin Inudo designed it as such that you’d by no means know that is tied to AKB48 except you appeared it up or maybe acknowledged the performers within the live-action collection. The one trace that it could be related to it’s the truth that there are lots of references to music, particularly its affect on zombies. It’s dealt with so properly, and I really feel prefer it will increase its attain.
Sailor Zombie is an enchanting tackle the zombie apocalypse type of story, and the manga omnibus continues to be a terrific learn after 12 years. Particularly since, whereas tied to AKB48, you don’t want any expertise or information of the group to understand it. It’s only a story about hope, the downfall of society, and zombies.
The Sailor Zombie: Full Omnibus of all 4 volumes is obtainable now by way of Yen Press. A live-action drama appeared in Japan and an anime adaptation is in improvement.
