Customer Reviews

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo Volume 1 (v. 1)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, I have to agree with the person who said; "I wanted to love this, but it really disappointed me." It's quite true. This continuation of Pet Shop of Horrors isn't what I expected, especially looking at Matsuri Akino's previous work. The original was truly one of the most enjoyable manga I had read in a while, and when I learned that it had a sequel, I was looking forward to something just as wonderful as the original. Even though I knew that there was no way Leon, Jill and Chris,who made the prequel so enjoyable, would be there any more, I was sure Miss. Akino would come up with some other characters to fill the void they left.
But sadly, that just didn't happen, and Wu Fei is the kind of guy who, if he's around, just makes a story boring and stiff. I am by no means a fan of perverted jerks, but I have to admit that without Leon, this story just isn't the same anymore.
That said, I suppose you can guess that D's not the same as he used to be either. He just isn't the half-comical, half-serious guy who we saw, sparring playfully with Leon, anymore. He's more like the DVD version represented; wierd and really quite frightening at times. And none of the 'special' animals, like Tetsu, Ten-chan, Pon-chan and Honlon, whom we all knew and loved from the original series get as much page time as they used to. (And Q-chan, one of the cutest animals in the place, turned out to be D's grandfather, so Q-chan's not around anymore either! What a shame!) And with Wu Fei as the D's new 'enemy', the animals have no one to mess around with the way they did with Leon.Apart from that, the stories, too, no longer hold much appeal for me. They don't carry the flavour of the original.
So, all in all, I can say that this sequel isn't what I expected. Even though I will continue reading it, in hope that the stories will brighten up soon, I will probably never enjoy it as much as I did its prequel.

For those who have no clue, this is the sequel to PET SHOP OF HORRORS -- a ten volume anthology horror series often described as a cross between THE TWILIGHT ZONE and GREMLINS. It was Matsuri Akino's first manga out of her now eleven written, and it is still her most popular.

The original PET SHOP is my favorite manga series, and I strongly recommend reading it before this sequel. However, the new series seems designed so that a new reader can follow quite well, with the relevant back-story being revealed gradually in the manner of clues to a mystery. One can even read the three Tokyo stories ("Domestic", "Double-Booking", and "Dust") without entirely spoiling the first series, if one then wants to try it. Warning: This does not apply to the side story set in Berlin ("Door"), a previously unpublished story written shortly after the conclusion of the original PET SHOP and never published. It assumes knowledge of the first series and is spoilery.

So what is it actually about? Our protagonist "Count D" once ran a pet shop in LA Chinatown which claimed to sell "love and dreams". Of course, the first series was not called PET SHOP OF LOVE AND DREAMS for good reason, and the Pet Shop soon drew the attention of a suspicious LAPD detective, and eventually the FBI. To make a long story short, D eventually departed LA abruptly and under dramatic circumstances.

Now -- several years later -- this same Count D has just opened a new pet shop in "Neo-Chinatown", a Chinese-themed mall in the Tokyo red light district of Shinjuku. As in the first series, each individual story tells us of one of D's customers and his/her new pet. Meanwhile, D acquires a new ongoing nemesis/foil in building manager Woo-Fei Rau, the son and heir of the owner, a Shanghai business tycoon. The elegant Woo-Fei is the polar opposite of the Count's last antagonist, and in fact seems to have a lot in common with Count D himself . . . such as being wicked. Not that this helps them get along.

Compared to the first series, there are many differences, including more polished artwork. The look is less Gothic and more urban. The tales seem (so far) less gory and more sad. The most striking difference is that in the early volumes of the first series, the individual stories were the stars, the ongoing story developed gradually, and Akino didn't even make up her mind what city it was set in till late in the series. Here in PSOH:TOKYO the Shinjuku setting is being carefully established from the start, and while the individual stories are okay, the real fun is in the ongoing story arc, which starts being developed from the first page.

Absolutely Beautiful
I have already seen the manga in Japanese. A friend of mine had it. It is on the Shonen-Ai side. But the story is different from any other you have seen and it is beautifully drawn. I hope amazon could sell the art book of these series. A have seen de DVD also it have the 4 stories of the manga that are more on the horror side, but the manga have many more stories, some are romantic ,some are funny some are sweet , some are sad, you won't get bored. Now I'm buying it in English because I want to read the stories.

First: I wanted to love this. I really did. PSOH is my favorite manga series, and I didn't want to be that person who never believes the sequel can be as good as the original, because anybody who's watched "The Godfather Part II" knows that doesn't always hold true. I was incredibly excited when this hit the shelves.

Now? Not so much. The stories don't pull me in, nor do the new characters: one in particular is a tired retread of a fan favorite from the previous series (no spoilers, so I won't say who or how, but if you read, you'll figure it out pretty quickly). And the art isn't anywhere near Akino's usual standards: it looks more like she's phoning it in while working on other projects at the same time. Put a page from this series next to a page from the original, and you'll see there is no comparison.

The first run of the series left a lot of room at the end of volume 10 for a great continuation. This is not that continuation. I'm disappointed; I'll just have to go back and re-read the original PSOH, and remember why I fell in love with it in the first place.

Two stars just because it's great to see Count D in print again, but I wish I could have given it more.

When I learned a new PSOH series was being made, I was a little bit weary. The first series was excellent, and I was worried the new one would taint my love for the old. But still, I gave it a chance, and I'm very glad I did. The new series possesses the same dark fairytale charm of the old, only with improved art! There is one issue I had, and that is with the second story, where some guy is running D's shop while D's away in America. It never explains who this guy is, or why he doesn't question the fact that this woman is trying to "return" a child; it merely says he the "caretaker". Perhaps it'll explain in a later book.
In addition, I really enjoyed the side-story at the end where it takes a peek in on our dear friend Leon as he continues to hunt D.
All in all, this is an excellent series to pick up if you enjoyed the original. If you're new to the series, I'd recommend reading the original before moving to this one, as PSOH: Tokyo doesn't give much introduction to the characters, and it gives almost no backstory.

Even though I not finish the 1st series, but when I see this book published, I go and buy it right away. For a person has very limited to gender of book, this is the 1st manga that I enjoy to read and re-read after that without any bored. Each story teaches a different lesson of life and mixes with humor and action. This manga has contained everything that a person like me need. Like other says, try this manga and you will love it at the first sign, and never feel bored to re-read it again and again.

I was more than thrilled when I saw this jem sitting on my local bookstore shelf. The Petshop of Horrors series is one of the best manga series out there...and the sequel Petshop of Horrors-Tokyo doesn't disapoint. If you liked the first series this is a no-brainer. BUY IT. If you have no idea what this is, BUY IT. BUY THIS MANGA.

That said, I will talk about the actual book. Unfortunately...Leon and D aren't in this one. :( Ok well D is but it's not the same D it's...well if you read the first series you know what I'm talking about. I don't wanna spoil it for anyone else.

Chapter 1. Domestic- Dark story about a pet who lives off of nightmares.
Chapter 2. Double Booking- Wallflowers are transformed after buying hideous pets from D.
Chapter 3. Dust-We start to see a Leon/D type relationship here developing with D and the shop landlord. ^_^ The story is really about how dogs choose their true owners.
Chapter 4. Door-Door to the past! ^-^

For those in doubt about buying this, Matsuri Akino's artwork is gorgeous has always and the stories are darkly delicious. Buy this manga.

~Lena

A friend informed me that there was a new series for Pet Shop out and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I loved the first series and anyone who buys the second series will love it too. If you haven't read the first series it's one you should buy.There are four stories Domestic,Double Booking,Dust and the side story Door. I was wondering if the Detective would catch up with Count D and it looks like he will/did. I say this because he's the caretaker in the story Double Booking! I wonder if the story of that encounter will make it into one of the upcoming books. Now if they'd only make another dvd series, I've always though that the stories on the dvd where only just a small glimpse into the world of Count D!

I truely am estatic that Matsuri-sama is continuing the Petshop of Horrors series, though I wish that he would stop having D running away from Leon.

I was elated to find this new series at Borders. After watching the OVA for Pet Shop of Horrors, I became a huge fan of the manga, and I wish they'd made more anime episodes than just four. If you liked and enjoyed the first series, the ten volumes of Pet Shop of Horrors, then you will really enjoy this series as well. This second series of Pet Shop of Horrors brings back the enigmatic Count D and his strange pets. The format is just like the first series, with four stories per volume, the pet catalog at the end, the plot twists, the wisdom and detachment of Count D, and of course, the bishonen (as this is a josei manga) This second series is just as good as the first one, and I like it even better because it takes place in Tokyo. Once again, the artwork is beautiful, the characters are interesting, and the stories are well-written. And Count D is just as wonderful and mysterious as ever. This time his foil is Woo-Fei Rau, the manager of the building, instead of the detective Leon Orcot. I don't know why some people were disappointed, mainly because Leon isn't in this one, but Woo-Fei, while he is perhaps more annoying than Leon, is still a good character, acting as a foil for Count D. I'm glad that Matsuri-san has written this wonderful second series, as Pet Shop of Horrors is my favorite manga, and I didn't want it to end! I'm looking forward to more volumes of this second series being released. I definitely recommend Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo for all fans of the first series. It is a must-have for true fans of this great manga.