High School of the Dead Manga Opinion Review
High School of the Dead is a good manga. Though it has a bad rap. I enjoy reading it. It has some faults. However, it is still definitely worth reading for me. The anime was surprisingly good as well. Usually the anime version is worse than the manga, the only issue with the anime is that it leaves off at a point that you really have to start reading the manga. I actually started with the anime first. Though there are some differences in the anime it goes along the story line in almost the same way. The animation is good too so if you like the manga you should check the anime as well.
The absolute biggest issue I have with this manga is that it is so unreliable. I have never seen a manga be on hiatus as much as this one that was not completely dropped. I by no means hope for it to drop. It would suck to not see the ending. The new chapter after a year and 1/2 hiatus is out on the 9th of April 2013 in Japan. However, before that year and 1/2 hiatus the chapter before that one was after a year wait. The one before that had a shorter wait but still longer than normal. The chapters before that were out almost monthly. TriageX was started by the same author and this was put on the back burner. I had no interest in TriageX though. I never read it and it is not the type I want to read. It upsets me that this one plays second fiddle to it. However, there is nothing I can do about it. I just hope there will not be another year or year and 1/2 hiatus after this chapter. It seems like they could rap it up if they want to just get it done and over with soon. However, I hope that it is not like that. However, I am pretty sure it will be because the creators are obviously not as interested in doing it as they used to be. At least that seems to be the case to me.
As far as the story goes. I really like it. I think its really interesting. Though Zombie Apocalypse has been done before many times. This one is, in my opinion, better than many of the others I have seen and read. It has a ton of interesting characters and dialog that set it apart from the others.
As far as the characters go. I like Takashi and Saeko the most both as a couple and as individual characters. I also really think Kohta is a interesting character. Takashi is pretty much the lead. He is a pretty cool guy. Though I hope he kicks Rei to the curb completely after saving her. I doubt he will. Its too bad too cause Saeko is 100% better and would be a better girlfriend and would probably keep her promises too. She is not petty and full of drama like Rei. Takashi and Saeko and Kohta are the ones that don't have extremely annoying personality flaws. I really wish Rei's boyfriend lasted cause I thought he seemed like he would contribute some interesting plot to the story and also so Rei would not be on Takashi all the time. Kohta the gun lover is a interesting guy. He was quiet but as soon as it all goes to crap he is super reliable. I like that. Kohta's Love interest Saya, is bossy and a bit annoying but that is the type of character she is supposed to be she fits her character type well so she doesn't get on my nerves. The same goes for the bimbo nurse.
Rei is the most annoying character in the whole story. I cannot stand her. She dates Takashi's best friend when she was with Takashi originally and then blames Takashi for breaking her self proclaimed promise to be to him for them to be together forever. She feels no guilt or qualms about being the type of bitch to dump her boyfriend for his best friend. Takashi saves Rei from her boyfriend when he turns into a zombie by killing him just as he asked Takashi to do, but she is a complete bitch about it. Not even a day later she is getting angry that other girls like him like she has forgotten all about dude who died and she acts as though Takashi is now her property. She gets angry about other girls when they do things that he has no control over. If he actually ends up with her in the end. Which will most likely be the case by the way it is written, I will be so upset about that.
Over all this is a good manga and I suggest it to older teens and adults. It has a lot of fan service (though no actual sex as of yet) so if you have issues with that, it might not be for you. If you have a issue with that though you might have a issue with all the violence and blood as well. However, the story is very good and if you don't have too much of a problem with those type of things it is definitely worth you checking out.
