REVIEW: ‘ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead,’ Volume 5

ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a stellar series that brings action, relatable hopelessness, and even more relatable hope. In it, after spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company Akira’s life has lost its luster. But when a zombie apocalypse breaks out he embraces his chance to finally live and complete his bucket list which has things as big as becoming a superhero and as small as playing a video game on a big screen. Zom 100 Volume 5 is written by Haro Aso and features art from Kotaro Takata. The series is published and localized in English by VIZ Media through its Signature imprint. The volume features a translation by Nova Skipper and features touch-up art and lettering by Vanessa Satone.

Last volume, Akira reunited with his family and returned to his hometown which has faired pretty well thanks to heavy machinery put in front of the tunnel. In addition to the heartwarming reunion, our trio added a new character to their group: a German national who loves everything about samurai and has the skills to back it up. Now in ZOM 100 Volume 4, Akira is looking to cross another item off his bucket list: show his parents the appreciation they deserve (oh, and apparently get dreadlocks along the way which is probably the only thing wrong with this series).

There, he reunites with former college classmate-turned-dropout Kanta Higurashi, whose bucket list of his own is less living and more about burning society even more to the ground than it already is. Higurashi is all about getting revenge on the world that failed him which puts Akira and the people he loves in immediate danger. With a crew that works as bizarro-world versions of Mizazuki, Ryuzaki, and Beatrix.

Unlike the other volumes in the series, ZOM 100 Volume 5 is four chapters in the same area titled “Hometown of the Dead.” Additionally, this volume does a lot of work to build up happiness before ripping it all away. In that way, the tension and action that Aso executes help push the series into new territory. The introduction of darker versions of characters we already know helps to showcase how awful the world can be and has always been. Up until now, Aso has shown us the wholesome, now he shows us the chaotically evil, even ending on a cliffhanger.

Unfortunately, ZOM 100 Volume 5 has a number of missteps. First, the dreadlock. I don’t have much else to say other than ask “Why?” Outside of that though, having the sexual assault and domestic abuse as the main motivators for two of the evil characters is so heavy-handedly done. Sure, they’re evil, but their dialogue is beyond cringe—not because they were made to be this evil, but how it was written. Now, this can easily be a translation issue, but it does affect the way the characters land. However, all isn’t lost as they do get a great comeuppance.

ZOM 100 Volume 5 is an interesting volume for the series. It has a lot of moments that are extremely well done, namely the shift in tone. That said, it also has pitfalls. As a whole though, ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead continues to be a series worth checking out even with its mistakes.

ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead Volume 5 is available February 15, 2022 wherever books are sold.