Review by Frank Plowright

We saw that Hideo and Hiromi survived, but did Kengo Hanazawa have a Thelma and Louise pastiche in mind when he finished the final scenes of Omnibus 9? There are distinct similarities.

He doesn’t begin there, though, but with a visit to Barcelona where someone is categorising the forms of zombies. As seen on the sample art, strange new forms have manifested in addition to the giant creations seen in earlier volumes, and Hanazawa (or his assistants) deliver some stunning views of the landmarks.

Perhaps due to their new intimacy Hideo and Hiromi are shown having a more honest conversation about what they’ve been experiencing generally, and while Tokyo has always been their destination, Hiromi at least comes to a decision about what she wants to do. During that conversation, though, there’s a revelation about Hiromi that could change your view of her, and as I Am A Hero is sorely lacking sympathetic characters it’s a slight problem in what’s thereafter all action all the way. While that’s going on Hanazawa turns the attention back to groups we’ve already seen around Tokyo, and their members are starting to interact. It’s been a fair while since Kurusu was last seen on the rampage, and while seeing him in full savage flow is artistic dynamism, Hanazawa introduces another shock. That’s fundamental to everything that’s been going on, and as we’re on the penultimate volume of I Am A Hero, the explanations are beginning to drip out. The why isn’t disclosed here, but the how certainly is.

While appreciating the stunning city vistas throughout and the flat out weirdness it should also be mentioned how natural Hanazawa makes it look for the streets to be flooded with zombies. He draws them as dislocated and at odd angles with limbs hanging and pieces dropping off, but this is stunning draughtsmanship for such a grim scenario.

Anyone whose read this far is going to have some expectations as to where things are heading, and, as has been the case throughout, those expectations are going to be confounded. However, what Hanazawa’s come up with is intriguing and it all comes to a head in Omnibus 11.