Pet Shop of Horrors, Vol. 8 [Paperback]

Matsuri Akino (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pet Shop of Horrors | Publication Date: September 7, 2004

The bestselling Pet Shop of Horrors returns--this time to Tokyo.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Creator MATSURI AKINO is a master of gothic shoujo, and is the manga-ka for such series as Yokahama Alien, Kamen Tantei (The Masked Detective), Genjyuu no Seiza (Constellation of the Imaginary Beast), and the Elixer series.

Pet Shop of Horrors is Akino's first manga translated into English.

Pet Shop of Horrors is also available in anime form by Madhouse (Vampire Hunter D, Metropolis). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

A good horror comic need several things. It needs total command of mood. It needs a sense of gruesome poetic justice. It needs a touch of dark humor, to keep the gore from getting too depressing. And a little sex appeal can't hurt, either. I love Pet Shop of Horrors because Matsuri Akino knows the formula so well, and executes it with such style...
-- Shaenon K. Garirity, ANIMERICA

Pet Shop of Horrors is suggested for teens, 13 and up. I fall into the 'up' category by almost four decades but, even so, I loved this book. The first volume gets the full five Tonys--and I'm eager to read the second one.
-- Tony Isabella, Comic Buyer's Guide --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591825059
• ISBN-13: 978-1591825050
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For You AND Your Evil Twin! (Full series review. No spoilers.), March 24, 2007

By 

Tsubaki-hime ((Queens, NY USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pet Shop of Horrors, Book 1 (Paperback)

Affectingly humanistic AND gleefully misanthropic all at once, PET SHOP OF HORRORS is a 10-volume series revolving around a Chinatown pet shop, the highly unusual animals it sells, and the (often unpleasant) fates which befall its patrons. Running the shop is "Count D", a young Chinese man with a charming smile. Trying to run him in is Leon Orcot, a grumpy police detective who is convinced D is behind all those nasty, animal-related incidents.

Each volume contains three or four clever, creepy, well-characterized stories focusing on an individual customer. Meanwhile, the series as a whole gradually unveils the story of Count D, and his quasi-adversarial relationship with the dogged-but-dense detective.

A lot of reviewers here explain the "rules" of the series to you. But I really enjoyed reading Book One "cold" and figuring it out for myself. The confusion is half the fun, and the real charm of the series is the way the stories subversively mess with our perceptions.

Some stories are better than others, of course. I was briefly alarmed at a dip in quality at Book 4, but Book 6 bounced the series back. Even so, Books 4 and 5 each contain one first-rate story, and overall work just fine as a brief change of pace. Book 10 concludes the series with four interconnected tales focused on the recurring characters. It is one of the best final books of a manga series that I have yet come across.

The "rating" jumps from T13 to T16 after Book 3. But I think that Book 1 gives you a good idea what you are in for content-wise. The detective does not watch his language, mermaids don't wear tops, many of the stories, uh, don't end well, and there is gore and extreme weirdness. But it is never gratuitous or stupid, and risque content is clever rather than crass. My local library has the full series, but it is STILL at the top of my To-Get List. It is that good.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's get this straight for people who don't have a clue..., August 9, 2003

By 

Del Keyes "Elaborate Chattering Nut" (In The Middle of the Sunshine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pet Shop of Horrors, Book 1 (Paperback)

this is NOT an alternate telling of that ridiculous musical movie starring Rick Moranis!

Now that we clear this up, I find 'Pet Shop of Horrors' to be enjoyable, though this is not what I expected. When I read through this, I expected this to be what everyone is saying is the 'Tales From The Crypt' of Japanese Manga, but in Tales From The Crypt, it deals with a creepy, skeletal storyteller telling scary stories. I think of PSOH as the 'Fantasy Island' of Japanese Manga. The way the episodes progresses, the store manager having an important role is some parts, the climaxes, IMO the whole concept of PSOH resembles that of Fantasy Island. Watch the T.V. series and you'll see what I mean.

Nonetheless, I find the stories in PSOH well written. Each story in this book are well balanced, so one doesn't feel shorter or longer than the others. The 'exotic' pets that were given to customers can actually change their lives to how they think of things whether those customers follow the rules given by the manager or not, and I think that kind of twisting concept is what makes this Manga shine. Because this is story-driven, however, there really minor horror in PSOH.

The art in PSOH is...well, Shoujo-ish. Don't get me wrong, I find the art design well rounded. The characters and environments look beautiful, the 'pets' look very imaginative, it's just...too...Shoujo-like.

Anyway, PSOH is a wonderful Manga that may be too dialogued for its own good. Anyone expecting a gorefest in this Manga might be disappointed, but for anyone else, don't hesitate to pick this up as well as its future volumes. I know I'm waiting for the next volume!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Obsessive!!!, September 1, 2003

By 

Michael P. Mcnally "mmcnally5642" (Kirkland, Wa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pet Shop of Horrors, Book 2 (Paperback)

The art in this Manga is beautiful...It's very detailed and helps deliver the moods of each character. Of course, a Manga isn't complete without humor, and Pet Shop of Horrors doesn't exclude and funny scenes! It's quite entertaining to see Count D and Leon Orcot bicker. :) But, this Manga is also very serious. The chapter "Delicious" was rather bloody. I recommend Pet Shop of Horrors to people who enjoy things out of the ordinary.