ZOM 100 – Manga First Impression

ZOM 100 was kind of a wild ride but I think that’s exactly what it wanted to be!

Ok so on a whim a few months ago I decided to just buy a bunch of volume 1 manga that I didn’t know anything about and figured if I found something I liked I would continue it. This has backfired horribly. Not only did I like most of the series I started but I absolutely loved receiving a box in the mail full of manga to discover and going through them one at a time in the evenings. It was like a different adventure every day!

And then, I did it again… This is not a cheap hobby by any means! I should just read digital versions. I really really should. And to kind of slightly justify it in my mind, I want to at least share my experience with you guys! Here’s what I thought of ZOM 100.

Why I Picked up ZOM 100

This is going to sound really silly. First I liked the cover and that’s pretty much 70 to 90% of my thought process whenever I pick new manga. This one is very pink! Sign me up. Second, I thought ZOM 100 sounded a lot like Mob Psycho 100 and I like Mob Psycho 100. It is a little embarrassing when I see it written out like that!

Official Summary

Surviving a zombie apocalypse beats a dead-end job any day!

After spending years toiling away for a soul-crushing company, Akira’s life has lost its luster. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira’s on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he…well, kicks the bucket.

In a trash-filled apartment, 24-year-old Akira Tendo watches a zombie movie with lifeless, envious eyes. After spending three hard years at an exploitative corporation in Japan, his spirit is broken. He can’t even muster the courage to confess his feelings to his beautiful co-worker Ohtori. Then one morning, he stumbles upon his landlord eating lunch—which happens to be another tenant! The whole city’s swarming with zombies, and even though he’s running for his life, Akira has never felt more alive!

My First Impression

Oh this is actually a work place comedy? It’s pretty witty. Wait it’s not a work place comedy. This is fun…

What I liked

I don’t think I’ve ever said it out loud. In fact I might not have realized it myself. I like Zombie stories. I just do!

There is something almost tangible about Takata’s description of soul-sucking and ego-crushing work. I have never had such a horrible job but there were aspects I recognized under the exaggerations and I really related to it.

Speaking of work, it’s relevant because the protagonist is an adult. And actual grown-up with a job and responsibilities and a mindset that is different from a high school student. Not necessarily more mature but you know! What I’m saying is that Akira is a full-fledged grown-up like you might meet in any professional setting. He doesn’t have arrested development or go back to high school or anything. He’s just allowed to be an adult. And the mood and comedy that stem from changing the demographic of the protagonist are different from 90% of action manga I have read.

I thought it was funny and actually really hopeful. This first volume just put me in a good mood. I liked it as a manga and I bet it would be a super fun anime.

Any drawbacks?

For me, there really weren’t any in the first volume. There’s a setup for a romance storyline so I guess we’ll see the execution on that but it’s not really explored so far.

It is what you would call horror-comedy. Think Shaun of the Dead. That happens to be a genre that I love but it’s niche. And acquired taste if you will. Personally, I have no idea why someone wouldn’t like it but I bet some don’t. I tried to find a negative review to get an idea but it’s pretty new so there aren’t tons out there. Only found the ones that thought it was funny…

So yeah, it’s the type of manga I like. I will be getting more volumes when they come out. It is violent and there’s some nudity so be warned I guess? If you have read ZOM 100, let me know what you think! I’d love to have someone to talk about it with.