Haru, his master, and a pack of random dogs spend the night at a haunted mansion!
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Yu Ishihara
Translation/Adaptation: Athena and Alethea Nibley
What They Say
When a lone high school girl decided to hole up in her room with her trusty canine companion, she never could’ve dreamed they would become a pair of adventurers exploring everything post-apocalyptic Japan has to offer! Whether they’re enjoying a barbecue with Anubis or trying to survive a night in a haunted mansion, life after doomsday is one heck of a roller coaster―and this duo is strapped in for the ride!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Volume 3 of Doomsday With My Dog is very dog-focused. The aliens and tanuki make brief appearances, and we have the introduction of a red-haired angel and a philandering penguin. However, for the most part, these vignettes are all about dogs. Interestingly, the BL Collie doesn’t show up, but Husky is there once more to play the fool. Chapter 32 in particular introduces a bunch of dogs, all different breeds, and uses their varied personalities to turn a haunted mansion into a comedy. Of course, the breed whose quirks are the most studied/mocked is the Shiba Inu, with Haru and his two female admirers demonstrating the idiosyncrasies of the Shiba. The Anubis return, this time with the Bastet cat-people, and their joint barbecue turns into a humorous comparison between canine and feline types. There’s also a tribute to Laika, the dog sent into space by the Soviets in 1957. While the creator still uses a four-panel format, the amount of content presented in a slightly longer format seems to have increased.
Like Volumes 1 and 2, Volume 3 also has a bonus story at the end. But unlike the previous bonus stories, this one is less about Haru’s relationship with his master and more of a commentary about dogs and humans in general. While there are funny bits with Haru’s jealousy getting the better of him, the story is “heavy” by the creator’s own admission, so have the tissues ready when you read it.
Extras include translation notes and afterword.
In Summary:
This volume is less about the post-apocalyptic landscape and more of a sitcom about different dog breeds and personalities. If you like dogs, especially Shiba Inu, you’ll enjoy this exploration of their idiosyncrasies. But be warned… the bonus story is a real tear-jerker for dog lovers.
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
MSRP: $15.00
