As the ultimate zombie apocalypse light novel, Highschool of the Dead (HotD) continues its phenomenal global success. Daisuke Sato wrote the original manga alongside illustrator Shouji Sato. Between 2006 and 2013, Tokyo MX serialized the books in an anime TV series with the Japanese animation studio Madhouse.
Besides creating 12 episodes covering the first four volumes, Madhouse also released Drifters of the Dead, an original animation video (OVA) directed by Tetsuro Araki. Such has been the success of HotD that other writers and anime artists followed in Sato’s footsteps, thus popularizing anime further across the globe with light novel series such as High School DxD and Death Note.
Highschool of the Dead features all the ingredients for global success; a gripping drama, captivating characters, gore, death, love, lust, and triumph in adversity. While suitable for young adults, the sexual nature or fanservice of some of the HotD scenes, such as the ecchi and panty shots, put it firmly beyond the reach of younger kids. Today, Gakuen Mokushiroku, as it is known in Japan, features on many hentai websites.
What is Highschool of the Dead about?
After the dead rise and cause havoc across Japan, it is up to the high school students of Fujimi High School to face down the monsters. Takashi Komuro, the hero of the story, has to kill his best friend when he becomes one of “them” after being bitten. Hell-bent on saving Rei, the girlfriend of the boy he just murdered, Takashi rescues her from the monsters’ clutches, only to discover that outside school, the entire city has fallen.
Together with Saeko Busujima, Kohta Hirano, Saya Takagi, and Shizuka Marikawa, Takashi Komuro and Rei Miyamoto must find missing family members and uncover the source of the deadly zombie attack. Luckily, the band of high school friends brings a solid skillset to the table. Saeko is the gorgeous Kendo Club President, Kohta Hirano has a gun otaku (a thing for guns), Saya is hyper-intelligent, and Shizuka is a curvey bombshell school nurse. Takashi is a deft hand with firearms and decent at melee, while Rei is kind-hearted and stubborn.
The full color edition
While purists may prefer the original black-and-white manga, the full-color edition is worth checking out. Not only does the story scape and characters come to life, but the color version features additional illustrations. Thus, the new HotD version levels up the original artwork with vibrant colors, making it a more pleasurable and entertaining read.
In early 2011, Kadokawa Shoten published the manga’s seven volumes in full color before serializing Yen Press’ Yen Plus in America in English dub. Today, two hardcover omnibus volumes are available in full color, with the first featuring volumes 1-4 and the second volumes 5-7.
3 Reasons why you should get the full-color version
One of the reasons why readers should opt for the color omnibus hardcover books is the added quality of the artwork. The books deliver more depth and detail, making the setting and characters more captivating. The full-color manga allows the reader to dive deeper into the atmosphere and mood of the characters.
The abundance of bonus materials, including concept sketches, extra illustrations, and behind-the-scenes interviews with the animators, make the color omnibus editions a must-buy. Anyone with a keen interest in the manga creation process will adore the full-color HotD edition.
Finally, the print quality and the hardcover make the books a collector’s item for fans and the best introduction to the series for anyone new to it.
About the authors
Born in 1964 in Ishikawa, Japan, Daisuke Sato was a prolific Japanese writer famous for his work in the manga industry and board game design. Apart from creating Highschool of the Dead, he penned several alternate history novels, including Seito and Red Sun Black Cross.
In the manga world, he wrote the plotlines for Imperial Guards (illustrated by Yū Itō) and the stories for Highschool of the Dead (illustrated by Shoji Sato). Imperial Guards received nominations for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2007.
While writing HotD, Sato fell ill, resulting in the series going into hiatus. Sadly, Daisuke Sato passed away in 2017 from ischemic heart disease. After his death, Highschool of the Dead drew to a close.
Born in Ōita Prefecture, Japan, Shouji Sato is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator who has significantly impacted the manga industry. He first became famous for his work on the manga series Futari Bocchi Densetsu and released several doujinshi using the pseudonym Inazuma. Before joining the manga world in his own right as an illustrator, Sato was Kōshi Rikudō’s assistant. Rikudō created the Excel Saga.
Throughout his career thus far, Shouji Sato has collaborated on major manga series, including Triage X, Fire, Fire, Fire, and the Trinity Seven Comic Anthology. By far, his greatest success lay in his Highschool of the Dead illustrations. Sato is also the founder of the erotic genre group Digital Accel Works.
Tired of reading? Listen to the best post-apocalyptic horror stories on Speechify
While you can get the complete collection of Highschool of the Dead on Amazon, another way of taking in some nail-biting apocalyptic horror is via Speechify Audiobooks. On the website, you have access to hundreds of novels in English and 13 other languages. Audiobooks are available for all device types.
To scare the wits out of your kids, check out Henry Winkler’s There Is a Zombie in My Bathtub or The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie by John Bellairs.
If you are after classic horror, check out the Two Horror Classics by Mary Shelly featuring Frankenstein and Dracula. And listen to Best New Horror by Joe Hill for more compelling dread.
FAQ
Why was Highschool of the Dead anime canceled?
HotD initially went on hiatus when its creator Daisuke Sato fell ill and discontinued after his passing in 2017.
Does Highschool of the Dead have a harem?
Highschool of the Dead falls into the harem genre with the love triangle between Rei, Takashi, and Saeko.
How many episodes are in Highschool of the Dead anime?
The original HOTD anime series features 12 episodes by Madhouse. In 2011, the Japanese animation studio also released an original video animation (OVA). Sentai Filmworks published the English dub version of the anime on Blu-ray and DVD in the United States.
