There’s something enchanting about the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service. No, it’s not the dismembered bodies or the murderers, though those do have their charm. It’s the way the team approaches the grisly and often violent nature of their work. They carry an optimism and a perseverance that rises above the gore to make this series standout among so many powerful horror manga. The delivery service carries out the last wishes of the dead, for a fee. Made up of a group of Buddhist-college graduates — most notably, Kuro who can speak with the dead — they troop around Tokyo looking for work.
Readers are warned that what they find is not always pretty. The series doesn’t hold back on nudity or graphic depictions of violence. It can sometimes be too much; however, the gore doesn’t linger and after discovering the bodies they quickly move onto getting the soul some relief. The dynamics of the team are hilarious (especially Yuji and his foul mouthed puppet), tender, and hopeful.
As far as the art goes, the covers are fantastic. Inside, grotesque details are given a loving treatment. It’s squeamish but impressive. The characters’ faces are given slight movements, like a twitching eye or a bent neck, little things that reveal insight into what they feel. All eleven volumes of the ongoing series are recommend for anyone wanting some humor and philosophy in their horror.
Fans of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service may also like Eiji Otsuka’s other horror series, MPD Psycho.
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, vol. 1-11
by Eiji Otsuka
Art by Housui Yamazaki
vol. 1 – 1593075553
vol. 2 – 1593075936
vol. 3 – 1593075944
vol. 4 – 1593075952
vol. 5 – 1593075960
vol. 6 – 1593078927
vol. 7 – 1593079826
vol. 8 – 1595822356
vol. 9 – 1595823069
vol. 10 – 1595824464
vol. 11 – 1595825282
Dark Horse, 2006-2010
