Dorohedoro, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Q Hayashida (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 16, 2010 | Series: Dorohedoro (Book 1)

A blood-spattered battle between diabolical sorcerers and the monsters they created.

R to L (Japanese Style). Caiman was not lucky. A sorcerer cursed him with a reptile head and left him with no memory of his life before the transformation. Adding to the mystery, there's a specter of a man living inside him. But Caiman has one key advantage: he's now completely immune to magic. Along with his best friend, Nikaido, Caiman is hunting down sorcerers in the Hole, searching for the one who can undo his curse and killing the rest. But when En, the head Sorcerer, of the sorcerers, gets word of a lizard-man slaughtering sorcerers, he sends a crew of "cleaners" into the Hole, igniting a war between two worlds.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Known for her bold style and seamless creation of alternate universes, Q Hayashida made her manga debut with Maken X Another, which ran in Magazine Z and was subsequently adapted into a video game. She followed this series with a sequel, Maken X Another Jack. Dorohedoro is her latest series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (March 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421533634
• ISBN-13: 978-1421533636
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.5 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Grimey, Violent, Delightful April 10, 2010

By Leanne Franchville

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'd like to start off with a word to the unwise, this comic is published in IKKI for good reason. Dorohedoro is unapologetically violent and downright mad.

The story takes place in some strange dystopia where magic reigns supreme. We start out in "Hole," a literal hellhole where the entire population suffers at the whims of magic users. Grotesque mutations are commonplace and one such grotesque character is our hero Kaiman. Now Kaiman has been transformed into a lizard-man and lost all of his memories in the process. He and his good friend Nikaido patrol the streets in search of the magic user responsible.

Of course, there's a lot more to Kaiman's transformation than that. The story really takes off after the initial introductions and world-building (this first volume). The world itself is enchanting. Magic takes on a sinister air, there's not a hint of hiddly-piddly wand waving or charming little spells for the domestic housewife. It's dangerous stuff, unique to each person and usually deadly for the victim. There's no set good and evil in the series. We're introduced to Kaiman as he kills a man, and introduced to Shin and Noi as they massacre a gang. In contrast to this sinister vibe, the characters are all quirky, lovable, and light-hearted. Kaiman in particular acts quite childish at times. He's sheepish around Nikaido and quite confused about his past.

The artwork fits the series perfectly, it's actually how I heard about Dorohedoro. Q Hayashida was an assistant to Tsutomu Nihei, famous for BLAME! You can definitely feel his influence what with the dark alleys, exposed plumbing, and grime. But Hayashida has a style all her own and I can only describe it as quirky. She employs a dark humor in her artwork....

A note on the Viz's publication, Viz has translated a few things differently from the fan translations circling around the net. For example magic users are called sorcerers and Kaiman is spelled with a "C", Caiman. Also I believe I found a misspelled word, "heve" instead of have. Though perhaps it was meant to be an accent. But it's not censored, the book is slightly larger than most manga keeping the detail of Hayashida's work, and there are some lovely colored pages.

Overall, I'd recommend Dorohedoro for anyone looking for something unique, creative, and gory. Believe me, this series just gets better and better and the first volume is a great start. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Unique! September 6, 2010

By Saito Hajime

Format:Paperback

After being an anime fan for years, I have become quite picky, and it seems like so many anime and manga are just rip-offs of one another, but Dorehedoro is completely unique. It sets up a mystery right away, as the main character has a lizard head, with a human head inside his throat. Its violent, but in an almost comedic way, to where you aren't disgusted.
The artwork is also unique, some will love it,and some won't, but I love it. Anyway, it's just the first volume so I'm not sure just how good it is, but it is a good start.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Different March 14, 2013

By Joe Ream

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I wouldn't say I am a manga expert but I read a fair bit and deal with it a lot for my job and I have to say, this is one of the more unique ones I've found. At times it losses me but overall it's a gory, magical, lizard headed party. I will be buying the second volume.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!! July 7, 2011

By Katherine

Format:Paperback

This is one of the best series I have ever read. The artwork is beautiful and the concept takes the idea of a "wizzarding" world and a "normal" world to a completely diffrent level.