Petshop of Horrors - Review
Title: Petshop of Horrors
Medium: Manga
Author/Creator: Matsuri Akino
Age Rating: 13+
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Warnings: Mild Gore
Grade: A
Status: 10 volumes—complete
Related Works: Petshop of Horrors: Tokyo, Petshop of Horrors (anime)
Petshop of Horrors is a horror manga by Akino Matsuri that revolves around a peculiar pet shop and its not-quite owner, Count D.
In San Francisco’s Chinatown, this pet shop is one that sells ‘love and dreams’. What it sells however, could be seen as nature teaching humanity a lesson. The story is made up of several individual stories with the pet shop and D as the connection between each one.
The pets that D sells are often replacements for a missing element in someone’s life. They’re something quite rare that are meant to suit their owner’s needs. But it’s human greed that leads to the person destroying themselves and often the pet they bought. It’s an interesting and quite effective way to show the faults of humanity, which is I think what Akino Matsuri is trying to do with Petshops of Horror.
But, despite the often disturbing tones of the these stories, you get some that are quite sweet and warming, not to mention throughout it all, you are really being told the story of the ever mysterious Count D and what amounts to Detective Orcot’s constant attempts at finding evidence to put Count D away.
With every time that D sells a pet, the police is almost always called in to deal with the consequences of a customer not following the rules of the contract set by D after he sells a pet. This is what leads to Orcot’s obsession with D and his shop.
One of the most interesting elements of Petshop, is the dynamics of the relationship between D and Orcot. When they meet, Orcot holds a severe dislike for D, who in turn dislikes all things human. Gradually they begin to form a peculiar friendship that grows stronger as the story develops. Their friendship is what leads to important changes in their perception of the world around them. Other than D and Orcot, the appearance of Orcot’s younger brother Chris adds another element to the story as Chris—unlike his brother is able to see a whole different world when it comes to the pet shop. His relationship with D and D’s pets is also something that becomes quite sweet as the story goes on.
The characterization in this is lovely. D and Orcot develop with each story and as a reader you’re clearly shown the way their perceptions begin to reshape themselves. Then, there is also Chris whose development is important to Orcot’s own growth while also pulling an uncharacteristic fondness from D. Their change is believable and unrushed and it leaves you satisfied with the characters. There is also a dash of humour with D’s ‘pets’ and the way they get along with Orcot.
The art is what I’d call classic. It’s catered towards the beauty in all things unnatural and holds a gracefulness that is present in every pane—even the ones that are mean to be seen as grotesque. My favourite character design is, unsurprisingly D’s. Akino Matsuri packs everything that D is throughout the story, into his character design. Elegant, effeminate and unnatural—he is drawn to match his character and the end effect is wonderful. It’s the same for Orcot, his features match his personality perfectly, rough, mistrusting but dependable.
Petshop of Horrors makes for an intriguing, it makes you think even as you enjoy the bittersweet stories so beautifully wrapped in their art. It’s a series worth collecting for anyone who likes mystery and supernatural themes to go with their manga although I do think it may appeal a slight bit more to the female readership.
Medium: Manga
Author/Creator: Matsuri Akino
Age Rating: 13+
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Warnings: Mild Gore
Grade: A
Status: 10 volumes—complete
Related Works: Petshop of Horrors: Tokyo, Petshop of Horrors (anime)
Petshop of Horrors is a horror manga by Akino Matsuri that revolves around a peculiar pet shop and its not-quite owner, Count D.
In San Francisco’s Chinatown, this pet shop is one that sells ‘love and dreams’. What it sells however, could be seen as nature teaching humanity a lesson. The story is made up of several individual stories with the pet shop and D as the connection between each one.
The pets that D sells are often replacements for a missing element in someone’s life. They’re something quite rare that are meant to suit their owner’s needs. But it’s human greed that leads to the person destroying themselves and often the pet they bought. It’s an interesting and quite effective way to show the faults of humanity, which is I think what Akino Matsuri is trying to do with Petshops of Horror.
But, despite the often disturbing tones of the these stories, you get some that are quite sweet and warming, not to mention throughout it all, you are really being told the story of the ever mysterious Count D and what amounts to Detective Orcot’s constant attempts at finding evidence to put Count D away.
With every time that D sells a pet, the police is almost always called in to deal with the consequences of a customer not following the rules of the contract set by D after he sells a pet. This is what leads to Orcot’s obsession with D and his shop.
One of the most interesting elements of Petshop, is the dynamics of the relationship between D and Orcot. When they meet, Orcot holds a severe dislike for D, who in turn dislikes all things human. Gradually they begin to form a peculiar friendship that grows stronger as the story develops. Their friendship is what leads to important changes in their perception of the world around them. Other than D and Orcot, the appearance of Orcot’s younger brother Chris adds another element to the story as Chris—unlike his brother is able to see a whole different world when it comes to the pet shop. His relationship with D and D’s pets is also something that becomes quite sweet as the story goes on.
The characterization in this is lovely. D and Orcot develop with each story and as a reader you’re clearly shown the way their perceptions begin to reshape themselves. Then, there is also Chris whose development is important to Orcot’s own growth while also pulling an uncharacteristic fondness from D. Their change is believable and unrushed and it leaves you satisfied with the characters. There is also a dash of humour with D’s ‘pets’ and the way they get along with Orcot.
The art is what I’d call classic. It’s catered towards the beauty in all things unnatural and holds a gracefulness that is present in every pane—even the ones that are mean to be seen as grotesque. My favourite character design is, unsurprisingly D’s. Akino Matsuri packs everything that D is throughout the story, into his character design. Elegant, effeminate and unnatural—he is drawn to match his character and the end effect is wonderful. It’s the same for Orcot, his features match his personality perfectly, rough, mistrusting but dependable.
Petshop of Horrors makes for an intriguing, it makes you think even as you enjoy the bittersweet stories so beautifully wrapped in their art. It’s a series worth collecting for anyone who likes mystery and supernatural themes to go with their manga although I do think it may appeal a slight bit more to the female readership.
