Review by Frank Plowright

In a series not short of surprises, I Am A Hero Omnibus 7 is Kengo Hanazawa’s most audacious volume yet.

A question occasionally raised is the extent of the zombie outbreak. Initially cast members wondered if it had spread beyond Tokyo, and then beyond Japan. The opening chapters occur in Belgium, and could almost be a standalone story if not for the need to know why the zombies are leaving the protagonist alone. Regular readers are aware exactly why. He’s on his way to becoming one of the zombies and doesn’t yet realise it, and Hanazawa plays out a tragedy among some gloriously delivered locations.

After concentrating on Takashi Ezaki throughout Omnibus 6, Hanazawa moves the attention back to original hero Hideo, and in quick succession drops two major surprises, one of them in a magnificently understated way. He’s still accompanied by Hidomi and Oda, and through them we learn a little more about the connection felt by some people earlier in the story. There’s a state halfway between human and zombie, and it enables communication and understanding with the zombies that unaffected humans just don’t have.

Along with the surprises and information, there’s also the biggest danger from the zombies seen for some while, and a car and Hideo’s gun may not be protection enough in what’s prolonged excitement. Just at the point where it all looks to be over, Hanazawa pulls something magnificent out of the hat, something so weird and out of left field that it completely reconfigures I Am A Hero. It’s fantastic storytelling, and will leave you panting for Omnibus 8.