16 - Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

104 plays · Jul 20, 2023

Apocalyptic Hijinks

Welcome to yet another episode of Lyfeblerd. I'm your host Cryptte, and today, we're jumping headfirst into the zombie-filled world of "Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead." Hold onto your brains because it's going to be a wild ride! But before we begin, let me tell you a bit more about the manga.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is written by Haro Aso and illustrated by Kotaro Takata. Both of them have accolades to their names, and together their talents shine just as brightly. Haro-san is good at blending genres, and in Zom 100 he's managed to balance comedy with horror and action. There’s currently a lot of excitement surrounding the manga right now as an anime adaptation recently started airing less than two weeks ago. There’s also a live-action movie slated to appear on Netflix on August 3.

Story

Ever worked a soul-devouring 9-5 that stripped you of not just your social life but also your health and any meaningful relationships outside of the office? Then you and our protagonist, Akira Tendo, have a lot in common.

Zom 100 begins with the 24-year-old office worker recounting how he wound up a modern-day zombie working for an exploitative corporation. He's three years into the job when a zombie apocalypse hits Japan and possibly the entire world. For Akira, this means no more work and he's suddenly transformed into a new man. In a bid to make the most of his newfound freedom, he creates a bucket list of things to do before he's turned into a zombie. Akira's depression is replaced with a curious adventurous spirit and a fearlessness that defies common sense.

Volume one sees Akira create his bucket list and check off a few items, like confessing his feelings to the woman he loves, riding a motorcycle and drinking beer at home all day. It's a hilarious tale that gets more and more absurd, as we see our hero braving the undead for a series of beer runs. The collapse of society has always afforded the survivors of apocalypses the luxuries they were denied in the past. It's everywhere in pop culture and literature, but few have done it as Akira does.

Akira is an ordinary guy that faces the undead armed with a sense of humour and a never-give-up attitude.

Reading List

Brains! Brains!!

Zom 100: Bucketlist of the Dead, written by Haro Aso and illustrated by Kotaro Takata - https://amzn.to/3Y02wsB
I am a Hero, written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa - https://amzn.to/3Q5BFcJ
Alice in Borderland, written and illustrated by Haro Aso - https://amzn.to/3pV9O4j

Genre-bending comedy

One Punch Man (Jump Remake), written by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata - https://amzn.to/3Y0inre
Mob Psycho 100, written and illustrated by One - https://amzn.to/3pUPVdG

Purchasing any of these books via the links provided will go a long way in keeping the lights on. Thanks in advance.

I hope you enjoyed this episode of Lyfeblerd. If you did, please subscribe and review on iTunes or anywhere else you get your podcasts. The theme song is Dreams by Rewayde.

Don’t forget to support your local comic book scene and keep reading the things you love. See you in the next one.

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Transcript

Speaker: Welcome to yet another episode of Lifeblood. I'm your host, Crypt, and today we're jumping headfirst into the zombie field world of Zom 100, bucket list of the dead.

Speaker: Hold on to your brains because it's going to be a wild ride. But before we begin, let me tell you a bit more about the manga. Zone 100 Bucket List of the Dead is written by Haru Aso and illustrated by Kota Rutakata. Both of them have accolades, their names and together their talents shine just as brightening. Haru -san is good at blending genres and in Zone 100 he's managed to balance comedy with horror and action.

Speaker: There's currently a lot of excitement surrounding manga right now as an anime adaptation recently started airing less than two weeks ago. And there's also a live -action movie slated to appear on Netflix on August 3rd.

Speaker: Have you ever worked a soul devouring 9 to 5 that stripped you of not just your social life but also health and any meaningful relationships outside of the office? Then you and our protagonist Accra tend to have a lot in common. Some 100 begins with the 24 year old office worker recounting how he wound up a modern day zombie working for an exploitative corporation.

Speaker: He's there three years when a zombie apocalypse hits Japan and possibly in the entire world. For Akira, this means no more work and he's suddenly transformed into a new man in a bid to make the most of his newfound freedom.

Speaker: He creates a bucket list of things to do before he's turned into a zombie. Akira's depression is replaced with a curious, adventurous spirit and a fearlessness that defies common sense. Volume 1 sees Akira creates his bucket list and checks off a few items, like confessing his feelings to the woman he loves, riding a motorcycle, and drinking beer at home all day. It's a hilarious tale that gets more and more absurd as we see our hero braving the undead for a series of beerons and other nonsense.

Speaker: The collapse of society has always afforded the survivors of apocalypses the luxuries they were denied in the past. It's everywhere in pop culture and literature, but few have done it like Akira does. He's an ordinary guy that faces the undead armed with a sense of humor and they never give up attitude.

Speaker: The first thing I love about Zone 100 is the humour, and I think everyone that has read it would agree. The manga has the ability to infuse horror with comedies and Marvel, but in one has witty dialogue and hilarious reactions from all the characters we encounter, which kept me entertained all through. Additionally, Koutarutakata's art is excellent.

Speaker: The drawings are able to capture both the comedic moments and the gruesome zombie scenes to perfection, making the manga a visual masterpiece. It's almost like they're separate styles for the zombies and the humans. I cross transformation from an enthusiastic new hire to overworked stuff and then fearless adventure might appear to be too huge a difference. However, I think it's very reminiscent of real people after they successfully escaped the shackles of a horrible job.

Speaker: The supporting characters are also well written, bringing them to life with their own unique quirks, which add more depth to the story. Yet, these are just scratching the surface of what ZOM 100 has to offer. My favourite scene is where Akira creates his bucket list, but I also love another scene that pays homage to old zombie movies. The chapter names are playful and it's a joy to see him gushing over new things.

Speaker: The only downside I can see with ZOM 100 is the slow pacing, which is why those accustomed to fast paced manga or action manga are not interested. The same applies to those not interested in its brand of humour. It bears a lot of similarities to Zombieland, down to lists and the main protagonist, who I caressed his things in his own direction very early.

Speaker: It's also clear that several other classic zombie flicks inspired the mangaka. In summary, Zone 100 is not a deep, complex, or gory zombie apocalypse story, so temporary expectations. Instead, it's quirky, hilarious, and all about living life to the fullest. It's for those that want to lose themselves in world adventure, and we all honestly need more of them. Conclusion

Speaker: Zone 100, bucket list of the dead, is just like it sounds. A crazy manga that's perfect for anyone who wants something different from the typical zombie story. The charming characters, creative plot and witty humor make it a must read and I will certainly be getting my hands on more. I also intend to watch the anime on Crunchyroll and the live action film on Netflix when it comes out in August. If while comedy during an action -packed adventure on a backdrop will harass your cup of tea, then this manga is for you.

Speaker: reading list. If some 100 -bucket list of the dead has tickled your fancy and you're in the mood for every move on the action, pick up I Am A Hero, written and illustrated by King Gohana Zara. It's a psychological horror scene and manga that's much darker and greeter than some 100. Another great work from Haruasu has a group of friends that find themselves in the mysterious and almost empty Tokyo. Ryuhei, Arisu and others must fight, kill and outsmart other players to survive.

Speaker: Yes, I'm talking about Alice in Borderland. If you want something lighter that's also funny and tries to do something different from the usual genre tropes, then One Punch Man by One is another great pick. It's a hilarious superhero gag manga that will leave you in stitches. It follows the life of overpowered superhero Saitama as he tries to find a worthy opponent while dealing with everyday life.

Speaker: Another must read by one is Mob Psycho 100, which is a mix of supernatural and comedy genres. In this manga, we follow Shigeo Kageyama, aka Mob, an awkward but incredibly powerful psychic who must navigate through lives or deals while trying to control these overwhelming psychic abilities. It's a great mix of action and comedy, and when you begin to see a pattern in the kind of work one loves,

Speaker: and there you have it, zone 100 pocket list of the dead the manga that tries to prove life is worth living even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse hope you enjoyed listening to me read about it and are maybe interested in reading yourself you can follow the links in the description to pick up a copy of the manga or any other titles I've recommended in the reading list

Speaker: Like, like, share and subscribe to the show on Apple podcast and everywhere else you get your audio fix. Stay safe and support your local comic book scene. The theme song is Dreams by the Way, see you on the flip side.

Speaker