Review by Ian Keogh

So far there’s been a successful formula applied to The Way of the Househusband. Tatsu may no longer be a gangster, but his method of dealing with domestic issues involves the same aggression and intensity he brought to his former career. Here, though, Kousuke Oono begins to vary the methods by introducing new characters and roughing up Tatsu’s dialogue.

The opening story is a comedy chase sequence, beautifully drawn, which is followed by a neighbour’s attempts to barbecue indoors. That chapter has an uncharacteristically feeble ending, but it’s followed by the heartwarming visit of Tatsu and partner Miku to a theme part, the fun moments exaggerated by Tatsu still wearing his trademark apron. The ending to that is also narratively unconventional, but definitely true to life.

A joy of the series is stories about commonplace issues treated by Tatsu as a covert operation, complete with appropriate language. His delve into the bubble tea business features on the sample art, and it’s hilarity from start to finish, Tatsu sourcing the location of ingredients from contacts, then tipping up at a grocery store and cooking up the product as if cooking meth. It’s followed by an equally funny tale touring the 100 yen store with cooking utensils referred to as if specialist weaponry.

The traditional Peach Boy story retold in terms of a gangster turf war complete with appropriate dialogue supplies a new sinister tone for a school class, followed by a variation of the old Charles Atlas ads during a spell at the beach. Tatsu’s skills extending to DIY follow, and the main selection closes with Tatsu at a coffee shop with local housewives contrasting their tales of domestic chores with his former criminal activities. It’s cleverly written so readers know what Tatsu’s referring to while his audience assumes he’s talking about housework.

Tatsu’s working partner Miku stars in the first and longest of the bonus stories, having a mad anime dream as Oono satirises other features. There’s then a wild ride for the Yakuza boss and Gin the cat’s survival techniques.

Oono admirably straddles a fine line ensuring his stories don’t tip over into slapstick and maintains extremely high standards for the art. Read too many at once and you can overdose, though, so a volume at a time is about right. Wait a little while before The Way of the Househusband 5.