Author: Eiji Otsuka
Manga-ka: Housui Yamazaki
Publisher: Dark Horse
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: Febuary 2008

Synopsis: “There’s rivalry all around when Kurosagi finds its rather loose business model challenged by a postman who guarantees the next world on time! But it’s not only the clean-cut trying to compete – the oddball duo calling itself the Shirosagi Corpse Cleaning Service aren’t just out to eat Kurosagi’s wormy lunch, they’re going to start revealing trade secrets – namely, the hideous history of the ghost which haunts Karatsu!”

In volume six of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, the crew remains in financial trouble as corpse delivery rarely proves are profitable as they’d like. Just when they think they have the perfect idea to bring in the business, a postman and his assistance beat them to the goal. On top of that, another corpse service appears on the scene calling themselves the Shirosagi Corpse Cleaning Service. But for Karatsu and his corpse finding friends, this new group may prove to be more than a little competition.

I love how things are getting more and more connected as this series progresses. While episodic stories remain the staple of the series, the evolving core plot continues to make itself more and more relevant. After some new faces in this volume, I’m a little confused but all the more interested in everything finally getting explained. Who’re these new ‘corpse cleaners’? And what is up with the severely scarred faces? Things also start getting a little more personal when work invades Numata’s home (or vice versa I should say), and even their police buddy, Mr. Sasayama, finds himself entangled within the events more so than usual.

And after the corpse delivery is through, leaving us on a cliff hanger, the last few chapters of the book are dedicated to years long since past in Japan. The story follows a poetic lawyer on the trail of a serial killer who’s brutally taking the lives of women around the city. At his side is a child named Yaichi, a strange young boy whose face is covered with scars and who possesses extraordinary abilities. I think the boy is the ghost who haunts Karatsu in the present day, and if so, it’s one more piece of this ever-growing puzzle. What we’ve learned here in this story (which is an interesting murder-mystery following the same story vein as the rest of the series), mixed with some yet-to-be-explained clues from past volumes, and Karatsu’s life in danger, it all leaves future volumes with a lot to answer and I’ve no doubt it’ll be worth it.

So as the story grows ever deep, and the corpses ever rotting, Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is a series that remains a little scary, a little suspenseful and a whole lot of entertaining. Volume six is certainly no exception.

Review written August 17, 2008 by Lissa Pattillo.
Book purchased from Dragon Comics vendor at Fan Expo 2008

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About the Author: Lissa Pattillo

Lissa Pattillo is the owner and editor of Kuriousity.ca. Residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia she takes great joy in collecting all manners of manga genres, regretting that there's never enough time in the day to review or share them all. Along with reviews, Lissa is responsible for all the news postings to the website and works full time as a web and graphic designer.