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Title: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Vol 9

Story: Eiji Otsuka

Art: Houshui Yamazaki

Publisher:  Dark Horse

ISBN: 9781595823069

May Contain Spoilers

This volume of Kurosagi was a little uneven, and I didn’t get as caught up in the bizarre scenarios.  There wasn’t much character interaction in the beginning, and since the unique mix of personalities makes the book for me, I was a little disappointed at first.  However, everything gets firmly back on track in the middle, and everyone’s little quirks are paraded around for everyone to make fun of.  I love how each of them thinks that they are the normal one, and everyone else is a weirdo.  Still, there must be some kind of comfort hanging around with people who don’t think a preoccupation with corpses is strange or unhealthy, and who ultimately accept all kinds of odd behavior with hardly any fuss.

Other than the emotional reactions from Kereellis, the chapter about the possessed dolls didn’t hold my interest.  “Grape-colored Experience” was a little more fun, as it explored urban legends.  It did get a chuckle at the thought of the lengths a peeping tom will go to catch a glimpse inside of a girls dressing room.  Too bad the price paid was painful and very final.

Things picked up again with “White House by the Sea.”  It was a little creepy, and featured a reunion between Karatsu and Kikuchi.  Karatsu even musters the energy to smile.  Now, for him, that is really strange behavior.  The brief exchange between Sasaki and Kikuchi made the entire episode for me.  Sasaki is tough and smart, but like the rest of the cast, she is emotionally vulnerable.  The atmosphere between her and Kikuchi is tense, but only because Kikuchi, quiet and unassuming, has managed to do what Sasaki’s sass and self-confidence hasn’t; she’s caught Karatsu’s attention, even if they haven’t gotten past the shy looks and tentative smiles that you’d expect from little kids.

The best chapter is the last, as we get a glimpse into both Yata and Makino’s tragic pasts.  Now you don’t wonder quite so much about Makino’s fascination with embalming and preserving the dead.  It now makes perfect sense.  But can you embalm a memory?  I love Kereellis in this chapter, because even though he pretends to be a foul-mouthed little turd, he really comes through, both for a sad little girl and for a nostalgic Makino.  This chapter blended together comedy and sorrow into a compelling and moving moment. 

While I thought that this volume of Kurosagi was a little uneven, it still showcased its zany sense of humor and eerie supernatural elements.  It’s a unique series with powerful writing and dramatic art.  It’s also an easy one to jump into at any point, so give it a try if you haven’t already.

Grade:  B

Review copy provided by Dark Horse