Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 3

ゾン100～ゾンビになるまでにしたい100のこと～ [Zom 100 ~Zombie ni Naru Made ni Shitai 100 no Koto~] #3

by Haro Aso, Kōtarō Takata (Illustrator)

After spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company, Akira’s life has lost its luster. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira’s on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he...well, kicks the bucket.

One by one, Akira has been checking little items like cleaning his room and snagging a new TV off his bucket list. Now, having grown weary of the hotbed of infection that is Tokyo, Akira makes the decision to head to his parents’ home in Gunma. But to get there, he’ll need to get past his former boss!

Genres: Manga, Horror, Zombies, Comics, Action, Graphic Novels, Comedy

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2019

About the author

AKA 麻生羽呂

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what?! I was actually surprised by this volume. If I'm being honest, I prefer Aso's work in Alice in Boderland; however, this volume worked for me for a number of reasons. Zom 100 doesn't really take itself seriously and feeds into some stereotypical tropes. There is a niche audience for this and I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy it. My read of this has been pretty mediocre so far; however, this volume made me feel a little different. For all of the jokes that are had across the pages of this series, volume 3 tackle some tough themes including abuse from parental figures and career supervisors. Part of me appreciated that Aso looked at the complexity of this abusive control and wove it into the narrative of this zombie apacolypse. I wasn't expecting that. This series still isn't for everyone and there are definitely some comments and jokes that will rub some readers the wrong way, but I must admit that it did a good enough job to check out the next volume. I'm still enjoying the artwork. It gets a little weird once the zombies come on page, but overall I like the technical work that Aso does with the characters especially when it comes to them expressing emotions. Overall, I think people's mileage is going to vary with this series.

[Oneirosophos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply phenomenal.

A parody of Negan's arc.

[Geoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like a filler volume, with the cast finally gelling together and the main character exorcising one of the demons of their past. It just wasn't as inventive as the previous two volumes and the main character is not as interesting when he is not living life to the fullest. Hoping the next volume is as cheeky and interesting as the first two.

**Thanks to the artist publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Akira Tendo has been living his best life since the onset of the zombie apocalypse, but a figure from his past threatens to hurt him more than any zombie could. And we get part of the secret origin of Shizuka Mikazuki.

With all the serious stuff -- even the fan service is put on hold! -- is this title in danger of becoming just another ordinary zombie adventure? Well, there's a homage to Negan of The Walking Dead at least.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Akira and Kencho decide to get the heck out of Dodge (or Tokyo, what is geography in an apocalypse anyway?). Along the way they pick up Shizuka and we learn a lot more about her backstory, even as Akira has to deal with a past that has become a lot more present than he ever would have wanted…

Well, content warnings for abuse and implied animal cruelty, just to get things off on a downer note. Zom 100 is typically a fun little book, but it definitely goes to some darker places this time. And cliched. Did you know that during a zombie apocalypse it is often man who is the greatest monster? Yes, I bet you did.

First we get a very amusing chapter of the boys going shopping for watches, of all things, followed by an extensive section of RV shopping that’s pretty fun because of how giddy the boys are and how they completely turn Shizuka’s survival-first logic back on her to get her to come with them.

Once on the road, disaster strikes and the rest of these chapters tackle life at a makeshift community being run by Akira’s old boss at his job from hell. It’s a real mixed bag of a detour that gets there in the end but isn’t a lot of enjoyment on the way there.

By necessity, Akira ends up under his boss’ thumb again and utterly regresses to his pre-apocalypse self. The speed at which this occurs is a little crazy, although the outcome, at least, is very believable due to the textbook abusive relationship the two have.

It just ends up being a LOT of abuse and probably more than is needed to get the point across. Also, if I have to endure one more tortured metaphor about how corporate work makes you a zombie I will cry.

What ends up saving this section is Shizuka, who had barely risen beyond ‘cool beauty to be rescued sometimes’. She was in dire need of these flashbacks, which show that she and Akira aren’t so different (important for their inevitable pairing).

Akira has had his desires crushed out of him by authority such that he loses free will, apparently, but Shizuka just simmered with the resentment and let it build her into a pragmatist with no sense of joy. Still, both know the brutality of the same sort of abuse.

Therefore it makes perfect sense (and a very welcome change) when Shizuka turns out to be the one saving the day, using what she has learned of Akira in a damn clever way to bring him back to his senses. It’s more than I was ever expecting for her character so this really won me over.

Afterwards we get a little action set piece where Akira thinks quickly to save the day (although you can see this crisis coming a mile off) and things might end a little too pat, but the poor guy deserves a break, so we’ll let that slide this time.

3 stars - I think this series is at its best when it’s being goofy with a side order of serious. This goes hard in on the latter and, while I do think it was narratively important, that doesn’t mean I have to like it as much as the previous volumes.

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a delightful and inspiring read for capitalism’s workers. But can we really tell off our own bosses, though? Maybe so, at the end of the world! Loved this short volume to bits—had me laughing at the comical faces of the characters and loving how they’re gradually showing bits and bits of complexity in every turn.

Also, so Akira’s neighbors are alive, huh! Can’t wait for them to join the gang! They seem so sweet!!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking a camper, fighting an evil boss, a bucketlist to be filled, and oh yes, zombies, so many zombies!


I decided to continue this series! I already was thinking of doing so, but I just recently found out that this one is coming out in German, which makes it cheaper for me to get the series! So now I can continue reading, ah, being able to read German is a blessing. I just love this series and I will be buying books 4/5/6 soon!

In this one our guys are up to their antics again! Crossing off things from the bucket list and the first item had me laughing! The guys were acting like kings in a jewellery store! Next up they decide that Tokyo isn’t the best place to stay (gee you wouldn’t say looks at the horde of zombies that are just spilling out of everything) and what is the best way to travel to Akira’s parents? By camper/mobile homes! I had such a laugh at these guys and their enthusiasm. Especially when they got to the store! I was laughing because they were being so loud and I was just like, shhhh guys, I know that you are excited but hello zombies??? Did you forget about it? XD I loved seeing all the camper/mobile homes though, this place had a BIG variety~

After that things turn a bit grimmer and we meet someone from Akira’s past! Yep, it is time for the vile humans of the apocalypse to show their face! This is so typical in zombie stuff. All the things are already horrific and our MCs are just trying to make it through things and then they bump into villains, humans like them, but who took the whole zombie stuff as a way to have power. To make humans suffer. I wanted to punch the guy so much, and also shake Akira a bit. I know he didn’t have a choice given what was coming, but he should have known about the dirty tricks his boss would use. 😐 For most of the volume we see that Akira is working hard, along with other humans (I felt for that older guy and the pregnant lady). We see how the boss is managing this whole operation and what he uses to get his goals (again, typical zombie/apocalypse stuff, I wasn’t shocked at all).

I found it very well done how Shizuka and Akira’s experiences with evil guys paralleled. While Akira is being bullied by his (ex-)boss we see that Shizuka had a father who was bossy, horrible, terrible, who made her feel small, and who killed a pet she was caring for in secret . It really was well done and I loved how we switched from Akira to Shizuka. And Shizuka has shown that you can beat evil guys, you just have to make yourself big, open your mouth, say NO. I loved that she knew that Akira would cave and that he would make that decision and that she had a plan just in case. When in doubt, use the bucket list. I was so proud of my boy Akira! And I loved that Shizuka was there for him. She is often quite stand-offish but you can see she truly cares about Akira and his friend.

The ending got even scarier when ZOMBIES come! I guess they have grown a tad smarter? Which makes things scarier. I am always terrified of the zombie stories in which zombies seem to gain more conscience, more knowledge, become smarter. Just give me the zombies with no brains! Haha. I prefer those. Still scary as crap, but at least you don’t have to worry they find out how to use things, like door, or how to hide somewhere. I loved this part though, and especially Akira’s decision. The thing he said was just a memorable quote. I won’t tell you what it is, but I loved it and I agree with him.

I cannot wait to see what is next for our trio. Will they meet new people? Will they find Akira’s parents (please no zombies, please no zombies)? What is next on the bucket list! I am excited!

I would highly recommend this series to all!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Ashe Catlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last bit of the live action movie they adapted, it was interesting seeing the old office bully take Akira under his wing again, the whole moral speech was very well done. I just feel like this should have happened earlier in the story instead of what happened in the second volume, like switch the volumes and it'll be perfect.

Solid volume and now I'm interesting in the story going forward, it's taken a little while to get into but now I'm locked in.

[Sha Mohamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mengembara dengan RV bersama kawan baru namun masa lalu kembali muncul dan menganggu jiwa Akira..

[Shubhankar Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

And then there were 3.
A new member has joined the party and Akira's old boss is now back to terrorize him.
The mere presence of him rendered Akira catatonic. It was great to see the MC finally standing up to his old, toxic boss but at the same time, not being a jerk about it.

Classy move!

[Ronald · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, they don't leave town after that big splash page from last volume. The boys just bleeping around until their water supply gave out. Then as they go shopping again I have to ask, has no one learned to close the door when going in or out of a building? Ugh

But anyway on the road finally. Only to get the most boring filler repeat of office life from volume one. But this time with more zombies. So bad. Not even the art can safe this one. I mean we know they live past this part because this is volume 3 of many.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, from a manga book that looked like just a shallow entry, clinged to by adolescent boys really took a turn into some deep philosophical territory that made me question my own life and worth. Manga is the best

[Joshua Jonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

We see a good chunk of character development for both Akira and Shizuka, which was very needed to make them capable of carrying the story. Over all, I’m liking the pacing if the story and the tropes used, and I’m excited to continue reading.

[Ady Weasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akira y Kencho se vuelven a encontré Shizuka y aunque ella está en contra de unirse a ellos no le queda de otra.

Las cosas se complican un poco cuando Akira se encuentra a su antiguo jefe y cae en sus antiguos hábitos de empleado explotado

[ShoMe UrKittys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good series so far 👏

[Zehra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I feel bad I come back to these mangas. They are my definition of guilty-pleasure.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: Blood, Violence, Mentions of Animal Death, Abuse from Boss and Parental figure

This is the best volume yet! We get some conclusion to the tension between Akira and his abusive boss in this volume. I'm completely invested in this series now and can't wait to read the next one!

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot - 5 ⭐
Character - 5 ⭐
Writing Style - 5 ⭐
World Building - 5 ⭐
Art - 5 ⭐
Cover - 5 ⭐

Overall - 5 ⭐

[Sarul Sakulthong · Rating 5 out of 5]

เรื่องนี้เสียดสีชีวิตวัยทำงานได้อย่างแสบสัน ชีวิตที่ทุกคนต้องวิ่งเป็นหนูถีบจักรวันแล้ววันเล่าไม่ต่างจากซอมบี้

[vinny .⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

gwaow

[The Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akira and Kencho are force to make a decision: stay in Tokyo where the infrastructure has finally given out or take their bucket list journey on the road. Yeah, it's easy to guess which one they pick. So after shopping for a new ride and picking up a new friend, they head toward Gunma to hopefully find Akira's parents. But this is the zombie apocalypse, nothing is that easy.

Also, this one give a powerful message about verbal and emotional abuse and how it can negatively affect people to the point they get Stockholm syndrome. It's not pretty, but as someone who has experienced it, it's a real issue.

37 / 100 listed. 14 / 37 completed.

[Bee C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akira’s adventures just get that much more exciting with every volume! He decides to leave Tokyo for his hometown in an rv with Kenichiro and Shizuka until trouble happens. They run over traps that damage the rv and the motorcycle and Kencho gets hurt. Turns out a former abusive boss of Akira’s was behind it and although it’s a coincidence meeting the damage was in purpose. This bucket of trash just tries to leech off the week to make himself seem superior and it causes Akira to go back into a shell of a human state. In the end Shizuka brings him to his senses and he saves the encampment from a zombie attack and everyone leaves the bucket of trash on his own. We also get a bit of Shizuka’s background which adds to why she needed to wake Akira up to what he believes is important.

[Serina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highlight: Shizuka is the best advice giver of all time. Let’s all listen to her.

I feel like at this point, I want to be like Akira, I feel like I’m being able to live all my unsaid dreams through him. Like HELL YA, if money wasn’t a problem, I would wanna get an expensive watch and RV too, I would live for that. Like damn, you go my guy. I sincerely want Shizuka to stop being so practical and live life out (as we see towards the end, she kind of does) and start thinking like Akira too, but tbh, in that situation, most people would be thinking like her. Especially when she mentions the details about a possible vaccine and all, it reminded me of covid lockdown times. This is slowly starting to make me feel like that this book is based off of that, and the minority that actually enjoyed it and found freedom through it, is represented through Akira and Kendo. That minority definitely includes me and I got to explore so much more, I definitely miss lockdown and I still wish I had more of that time - the time where the whole world stopped, the sky became more clear, no pressure, full time to explore, empty roads, etc. There are just so many parallels! It was a surreal time of our lives; this is giving me so much nostalgia.

So much happens so fast in this series, which I love of course. We also got Akira falling into the hands of his old boss again; that story fully focuses on trauma, PTSD and how it can trigger people and resurface/recur with a certain trigger; and how important it is to keep going towards the life you dreamed and not letting it stop you. It takes continued practice to snap out of it.

Akira lugging the crates of beer alongside the zombies; that was definitely a scene that hit. That’s exactly what we are to employers and replaceable, as his boss made apparent as well. Dead or alive, it didn’t matter, employees are just as good dead to them if they could work, and emphasizes how the corporate world constantly DEHUMANISES US, the employees and customers alike.

As Shizuka said perfectly, usually these people are insecure and derive any meaning and satisfaction from their lives by feeling the so-called “power” they have and by putting others down, as the “boss” of you.

She also understands and hits the nail on the head about how trauma is held in the body and can take over your mind; how it doesn’t forget all the anxious protocols etched into it and why people can’t break away from their abuser and get stuck in their cycle again; even if the victim knows what will happen and what they should do. It’s so hard but they have to push forth and others sometimes have to help them so they don’t let the abuser steal away the life that they want from them again.

[Philip McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best volume yet for me. I loved the character beats in this one amid the usual goofy and creative story goings on. The core idea of wants vs. needs, and control that were the driving force here were powerfully done in the way Akira easily fell into the same worked to the bone mentality when his abuser was back on the scene. This led to Shizuka reflecting on her childhood and how she was never allowed to be who she wanted to be because her father believed she needed to be like he wanted her to be, and during her youth she wanted to speak up against him, but couldn't because she needed to be able to live in the house. As a kid she wanted to be a doctor, and now in the zombie world she wonders if it could become an actuality. She ultimately inspires Akira to stand up to his boss, which leads to all the other people following him to depart for what they want. It was just an overall well carried out arc of emotion that I hadn't expected to see in this series.

The start of this volume is a fun little jaunt as Shizuka, Kencho, and Akira join forces and grab an RV to ride in. All goes well until their tires are ruined by Akira's former manager who is running a scam of a place in which he offers help to people but makes them repay him in work which he just keeps making them do, like a repeat of the time in the office. This set up and seeing his manager leave Akira speechless as his trauma surfaces and he can't do anything except accept what he is told to do. This eventually leads Shizuka to stepping up and snapping him out of it. They all then make some crazy moves and destroy some zombies that had gotten into the enclosure. There was a great scene here where Akira is carrying boxes and falls in rank with actual zombies that have been chained to a truck to move it. Cheesey, over the top, and not subtle at all, but that's what I'm here for. A romping over the top time without any subtlety, the bigger the better in my books.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's less comedy in this one, but it does have a 'kind of' life lesson - rather than toil away at a job you hate, you should try to do what you like and it might turn into a job. It it was only that easy in real life.

Tokyo is full of zombies, so Akira and Kencho decide to leave. They intend to grab an RV for Gunma where Akira's parents live. His past comes to haunt him. Will he be able to resist returning to the life of a mindless worker or will he live his own life? Hmm, that sounds a bit more ominous than I intended it to be... The story is still as light-hearted as ever, but it's an obstacle for the main character that makes this volume slightly better than the last one.

At an RV show they meet Shizuka. Their spend too much time choosing the perfect ride and get swarmed by zombies. They grab the first one they see and cheese it out of there. On the highway they get stopped by Gonzo Kosugi, Akira's abusive former boss and current leader of the camp. In exchange for his protection he demands that Akira help around his camp for two days. His boss's abuse from his work days returns in full swing, but Akira is still too weak to fight it. Shizuka is reminded of her childhood days when her father guided her life in a strict manner, shaping her into the pragmatic, but joyless person she is today.

Akira doesn't have the strength of character to oppose his boss when the latter tells him to stay indefinitely. Thankfully, Shizuka helps him see the light, just like she did with her own father. They head back to the road, but then zombies infiltrate the base. Akira edoesn't hesitate to save his boss from the attackers. The other camp members also decide to leave, so Gonzo is left alone.

[Solara300 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein Neustart steht an …

Nachdem Tokyo immer mehr von der Infektion betroffen ist und die Ressourcen knapp werden, entschliessen sich Akira Tendo und sein Freund Kenichiro Ryuzaki nach Gunma zu fahren wo Akiras Eltern wohnen.
Fernab auf dem Land, hoffen sie, ist die Infektion vielleicht noch nicht so weit fortgeschritten.
Bei ihren Überlegungen allerdings muss ein geeignetes Fahrzeug her also ziehen sie los.
Wen sie allerdings dabei treffen, damit hätten sie nicht gerechnet.
Dabei werden sie mit ihrer eigenen Vergangenheit konfrontiert.


Meine Meinung

Ich liebe die Reihe und war sofort Feuer und Flamme beim dritten Band.
Ich finde Akira und Kenichiro interessante Protagonisten die wirklich einen an der Klatsche haben.
Vor allem, wenn es darum geht die Zombie-Apokalypse zu überstehen.
Die zwei leben ihr Leben und Akiro will 100 Dinge seiner Bucket Liste erledigen bevor er zum Zombie wird.

Ich würde sagen die Wunschliste ist ja gut, aber der Punkt mit dem Zombie werden, könnte man weglassen.
Aber Akira gefällt mir da sehr gut.
Er hatte vorher, also vor der Seuche in einem schrecklichen Ausbeuterbetrieb gearbeitet und sein Boss war ein Psycho. Warum ich das erwähne?
Genau auf diesen Psycho Boss trifft Akira und das ihr lieben … ist sowas von krass .. Ich liebe die Fortsetzung und will euch nicht spoilern.
Also bleibt mir nur eines …

Ran an die Zombie Reihe und lesen.

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's good about being a city slicker if the cities are slick with blood and gore? On a mission to get out of the city while they still can, Akira and Kencho hit up the local RV show in hopes of finding a getaway vehicle. When they run into a familiar face, the duo becomes a trio as they head for Akira's hometown. Unfortunately for the gang, a small "accident" puts their road trip on hold as the wait on repairs - and as Akira begins to succumb to a different kind of zombie curse! Will Akira be able to grow a backbone before his newfound dreams go up in flames?

Ah, the road trip episode, and it's immediately derailed with a blast (lol) from the past and some time for introspection (which is a good thing)! With the addition of little miss Risk Analysis to the party, things should continue to get interesting as Akira heads off to complete his bucket list. We get a little more backstory from out newest bucket lister, and some reheated trauma for Akira - and honestly for anyone who has ever felt trapped in a job you hate for reasons you can't quite articulate. I was really impressed with the attention to complex adult emotions and trauma in this volume and loved the character development between the zany zombie moments. I am dreading Akira actually returning home, but excited for the next volume!

[Terrence]

Read this recently. I can't imagine it being good passed volume 3, but it had some moments.

I'm not a huge fan of big long list setups, like this or like Komi Can't Communicate, where the progress that you're making on said list is so small and incremental that you know if you invest in the series, you're gonna be buying a lot of volumes to see it filled out.

I feel like volume 3 ended at a good spot that I could put this series down. We've established 3 of the leads, and based on the cover, there's only one more regular lead later. So the relationships are pretty well set. The messaging is good (don't waste your life just getting by while being treated like garbage and settling for what will make you money; try new things and live for today, not just tomorrow). That said, book is kind of vicious to side characters, though it is good to see it's not just a "fun" romp, there's some emotion in it. Overall, I would recommend these three volumes, and I haven't read beyond that, but I can't imagine it keeps up the goodness when the characters are all well established and mentally positive at this point (I feel like it's gonna head more towards zany fun or action than any emotional depth now).

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3/5
If you like RVs, Overworking yourself, and Spike Traps you may like Zom 100 Vol 3

QUICK REVIEW
There are some good points to this volume particularly the RV choosing, Shizuka's backstory, and Akira's character development. But the plot itself and the villain was bit of a filler and very forgettable. This is still a must read for me and the humour is still present so for fans you may still enjoy it.

REVIEW
I have been a fan of this series since vol 1 and for the most part it has been a consistent high score for me. This volume however was a bit of a letdown. The humor is still there and the perfect example of this is the RV choosing in the beginning which I loved. However, this volume in particularly felt like a filler story and could have been reduced to a single chapter rather than an entire volume. We get a nice call back to a previous character from Akira's old worklife and falls into the same habit as before. I did particularly like a peak into Shizuka's childhood and do like that Akira does overcome his fear. But other than that the plot was more a filler.

[marissa b · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand this series leans heavily into camp, but I'm still on the fence as to whether that excuses its unsettlingly objectifying portrayal of women.

An example: [Minor Vol.1 spoiler] At one point shortly after the zombie uprising, our MC pays his work crush a visit-- only to find that she has already turned, and is completely topless. In response to discovering the death of a longtime and beloved coworker, MC says something to the effect of, "Well, at least I got to see her tits!"

I could probably overlook this had it been the only scene of this type. Similar instances occur throughout the second and third volumes. Twice already, the MC and his BFF have mingled and/or slept with women in some capacity, only for the women to then be immediately killed off and portrayed as drooling, bare-chested zombies....

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be continuing the series.

However, if you're able to look past all that-- and you're in the market for a zombie manga with amazing, detailed, and gory art-- you may want to give this series a try. It just really wasn't for me.