Highschool of the Dead

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Highschool of the Dead
学園黙示録 (Highschool of the Dead)
Genre	Action Adventure Horror Dystopia Drama
Manga: Highschool of the Dead
Authored by	Original Story: Daisuke Sato Art: Shouji Sato
Publisher	Kadokawa Shoten
Serialized in	Dragon Age
Original run	September 2006 – Ongoing
No. of volumes	2 volume

Highschool of the Dead (学園黙示録 Gakuen Mokushiroku) is a monthly manga serialized in the Gekkan Dragon Age magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten. The authors are Daisuke Satō (佐藤大輔 Satō Daisuke'') for the original story and Shouji Satō (佐藤ショウジ Satō Shouji) for the art. As of April 2007, the manga has 8 chapters and 2 tankōbon volume.

[edit] Synopsis

A mysterious, lethal disease is on the loose worldwide, resulting in a catastrophic death rate of humanity, and the increasing rise of attacks, caused by the living dead.

In Japan, several high school students and a school nurse have banded together to escape Fujimi High School shortly after it was attacked by zombies. The group now attempts to figure who or what was responsible for this plague, and in the meantime, attempt to survive the present apocalypse.

[edit] Plot

[edit] The Beginning Of The End

The story is narrated through the eyes of Takashi Kumoro.

Takashi Kumoro and Rei Miyamoto are students at Fujimi High School in Tokyo. As the story begins, it is pulled right into the outbreak, where Rei is almost bitten by the zombies of her former classmates, but is saved by Takashi and Hisashi, her boyfriend. They make it to the rooftop of their high school and witness the overwhelming chaos the living dead brings: students attempt to escape but are consumed alive by zombies, a teacher commits suicide, and smoke fills the skies as fires erupt all around the city. Hisashi and Takashi both state the situation as if it were a movie (George Romero's Dead series) or like a game (Capcom's Resident Evil franchise), but made into a reality. While the trio helplessly watch their world crumble, Takashi recalls the last 2 hours before, in his point of view, the end of everything...

It began when Takashi was skipping class after informing one of his classmate friends. He goes to the school's roof and laments the loss of his childhood love interest, Rei, in his life, after he finds out she is dating Hisashi. While he enjoys the sakura blossoms fall, he witnesses a strange incident: an unknown man appeared at the school gates and started causing a ruckus. A few of the teachers and the principal arrive to quell the stranger's misbehavior, but with no success. As one of the teachers begins to physically threaten the man, the stranger manically bites him, tearing a large chunk of flesh from his arm. The teacher begins convulsing and dies within seconds, but not before awaking again, hungry for human flesh, and attacks the nearby teachers and principal. Without wasting time, Takashi runs to class while the teachers are being eaten alive and demands Rei and Hisashi come with him. Rei believes he's overreacting and persists on the matter, until the school announcer, while broadcasting a message not to panic on a "disturbance" on school grounds, is heard eating alive through the intercom system.

Scared for their own lives, students begin panicing and exiting the school, even beating their fellow classmates up to hasten their escape and increase their chances of encountering the living dead. Through the panic and confusion, many end up eaten alive, while few hole themselves up, hoping they will be safe. Meanwhile, convinced of the current situation, Rei and Hisashi follow Takashi. They manage to find weapons in the form of a baseball bat, a pole from a mop and Hisashi's skills with karate. En route to the roof, they are assaulted by a zombie, who bites Hisashi's arm. Through the struggle, he eventually finds its weakness: a strong blow to the skull, and immediately dispatches the zombie. But their discovery is short-lived as more of the living dead moves towards them, as the trio heads to the roof.

Once there, the three barricade themselves, thinking of a plan to stay put and supplying themselves with enough water and food for a few days. But Hisashi begins coughing up blood, now knowing that a single bite from the living dead is extremely fatal and contagious. He requests Takashi toss him over the roof once he turns into a zombie, but Takashi hesistates on killing a human being, while Rei insists that Hisaishi will live. After death, Hisaishi's body is reanimated, hungry for human flesh. Instantly, Takashi delivers the deadly blow to its head, with Rei berating him for killing Hisashi, believing that she could have saved the latter. Feeling abandoned by her and burdened with guilt, Takashi begins losing confidence, and selfishly attempts to jump through the barricade to kill as many of the living dead by himself. However, Rei begs him not to leave her, apologizing for her remarks. As Takashi embraces Rei for saying she needs him, just as much as he needs her, he wonders what their next course of action should be...

[edit] Escaping The School Grounds

With his self-esteem put back into place, Takashi and Rei plan to finish the horde off by spraying high-pressurized water through a fire hose, escaping the roof, and returning back to the school hallways. Along the way, they encounter Kohta Hirano and Saya Tagaki, who were holing up one of the chemical labs. Kohta begins displaying his marksmanship skills in the form of a nail gun, dealing multiple headshots to the living dead as they advance on their position. Meanwhile, in the nurse's room, an unnamed male student fails to protect the school nurse, Shizuka Marikawa, from a group of zombies, only to get bitten badly and critically wounded. Saeko Busujima, president of the school kendo club, dispatches the horde with a bokken and offers euthanasia to the bitten student as a sign of pride and honor. He gladly accepts and is killed by her shortly.

Through fate, the scattered group ends up together in the hallways, saving each each other from the menacing swarm. They regroup in the school's faculty room and barricading the entrance before watching the news unfold on television for information. Apparently, Japan isn't the only country infected with the living dead. The United States of America, Europe, and the Middle East are experiencing the same thing, with some countries being able to quell the chaos, while others report having difficulty in wiping out the hordes. The local news reports the attacks as riots, until corpses placed into body bags begin to reanimate, attacking nearby paramedics and news reporters. Shizuka theorize the epidemic virus is even more critical than today's modern diseases, and that a cure is near impossible. However, she states that as time goes continues, like modern diseases, the human body may find an immunity to this virus. After careful planning and a full grasp of the situation, Takashi and Rei decide to group up with Kohta, Saya, Saeko and Shizuka to get out of the school alive through the field trip buses. On their way out, they cross paths with a few more living students, saving them from a terrible fate. Here, the group learns from Saya the zombies are attracted to sound and heat, and cannot sense through sight. Using this to their advantage, they attempt to sneak quietly out through the front doors without being notice, until one fo the students hit the entrance lockers with his defensive stick, attracting the horde. With no choice, they burst out into the open, where more of the living dead await them.

En route towards the parked buses, Takashi notices Shidō, a teacher and a group of students escaping the dorms at the same time. While he tells to leave with them, one escaping student sprains his ankle, asking Shidō for help. Sadistically, the teacher abandons the student, leaving him for dead to the zombies and climbs aboard the bus. Rei says to Takashi that taking Shidō with them wasn't a right decision, as she and Saeko knew Shidō was a cunning and villainous man. Sure enough, a conflict of leadership betwen Takashi and another student erupts, giving Shidō the opportunity to act as leader for the survivors, catching everyone's attention except Takashi's group. Out of anger and frustration, Rei decides to leave the bus and Takashi follows her, when out of the blue, a local bus filled with the living dead eating the still living passengers, crashes to the side of the road, igniting a burning blockade between Takashi and Rei and the rest of the group...

[edit] The City Of The Dead

Having been separated, Takashi instructs Saeko and the others to make for the local police station across the bridge, on the east side of town. Using a motorcycle as their means of getting through the city quickly, Takashi and Rei stop to salvage a revolver and a set of bullets from a police car. When the motorcycle ran out of fuel, they decide to fill it up, but a shortage of cash on hand to operate the pump makes Takashi enter the gas station store to take the bills needed to pay by breaking open the cash register. At the same time, Takashi begins to think he appreciates what the crisis has to offer, doing something he never thought he would do -- robbing a store. As he returns to Rei, a male teenager, apparently having gone insane over the outbreak, holds Rei hostage with a switchblade and demands Takashi refuel the motorcycle. Though he complies, Takashi throws down his bat; the sound attracts many of the living dead to the station. Having the motorcycle refueled, Takashi asks for him to release Rei, but the crazed teen won't show any leniency. Without hesitating, Takashi shoots and wounds the teen with the revolver they took. The two climb aboard the motorcycle and flee, just as the undead begin feasting on the helpless teen. Takashi comments the idea of leaving someone to die like this would become one of their habits from now on.

Meanwhile, at the airport, Rika Minami was dispatched by her superiors from the police to the airport and clears the pathway by sniping the wandering undead on the runway for a passenger plane to take off to a zombie-free zone, as part of the local police operation to rid the area of the living dead. While Rika notes the situation in other regions of Japan have decreased temporarily, they seem to be failing in securing tighter areas around the city. She ends by saying she has a friend she needs to save in the city and asks if her partner, Nara, would like to join her in the rescue. In the city, authorities attempt to stabilize the panic through a mannerly order, but to no avail. Many fear-filled citizens try to rush through the blockade, but are hosed off the bridge and into the river, and many more are killed one by one by the advancing horde.

The rest of Takashi's group is stuck in the middle of traffic, dead center in a zombie- quarantine zone. The atmosphere of the bus becomes mortifying, as Shidō begins manipulatively rallying the students to him, while Saya talks to Kohta about facing the reality of encountering more of the living dead, since she theorizes the Japanese Self-Defense Force and American forces stationed in the country may not be able to hold out the zombies for long. As such, Kohta, Saeko, Saya and Shizuka abandon the bus and make it for the police station as planned. As Takashi and Rei arrive at the bridge, they witness the chaos between the police and the citizens, and decide to take another route to cross the river. As luck would have it, they end up meeting Kohta, Saeko, Saya and Shizuka. Upon deciding where to spend the night, Shizuka suggests they go to one of her friend's apartments, as it is usually unoccupied and she has access to the residence. Having arrived there, they notice a Hummer parked outside, wondering what kind of friend Shizuka has. Before entering, the undead crawl out from the apartment, and while dealing with them, Takashi narrates that despite the fact that he and the others could've died today, they finally accepted that the living dead has invaded civilization, culminating in the apocalypse, as they know it...

[edit] The First Night

In the apartment, while the girls freshen up, Takashi and Kohta stand watch on the residence. The boys inspect one of the lockers and discover a large number of supposedly illegal weapons and ammunition. The news on the television apparently claims that the situation is rising again, as protesters are rioting near the bridge. Police officers scower to bring the situation under control, after successfully barricading the city from the protesters. Night has fallen, and Takashi and Kohta observe as the city glows with lights. Back at the bridge, the protesters plan to bring the people who were segregated by the police on their side. Seeing how they have lost contact with the headquarters and have virtually no choice, the remaining police begin neutralize the pedestrians and rioters with force. At the same, Takashi displays an insecure side of himself, as Rei berates him again, while she is drunk. Takashi releases his anger and declares they will survive no matter what. In a moment of silence, Rei lets out a silent weep and embraces him, rekindling their long relationship since childhood, even sharing a kiss. Back otuside, the increasing number of the living dead begins marching towards the group's neighborhood. Kohta calls Takashi to gear up and prepare for another struggle...

[edit] Escape To The Second Dawn

While survivors from the bridge attempt to make for the houses in the neighborhood, Takashi, Kohta and Saeko helplessly watch as most of them are eaten alive. Saeko explains that even though they are now well-armed and out of harm's reach, they should not draw attention to themselves by fighting the undead, because that would only attract more of both the living and the non-living. On the same street, an unknown man and his daughter attempt to enter a house with survivors inside, while evading the horde. The man attempts to break in, but the survivors stab him with a homemade weapon, after he thought they would open the door for him. Mortally wounded, he tells his daughter to leave him and search for a safe place, but she is too frightened and stays with her dying father. Having seen enough, Takashi and Kouta decide to save the child, despite the fact they will put themselves in danger.

Kohta takes the lead and begins to use a modified Armalite AR-10 rifle from the locker, sniping the undead near the girl, while Takashi leaves on the motorcycle to save her. He makes it just in time, and puts down several zombies going for the girl, but while arriving, he destroys the bike in a failed stunt attempt. He still manages to close and lock the gate, but is trapped, with dozens upon dozens of the undead waiting outside the gates. In a brief scene, he offers a funeral for the girl's deceased father and starts climbing up the wall with the girl and a small, stray dog that tried to protect the girl. He carries her and the animal over the slender wall, walking on the narrow edge, with the masses of the undead crawling on the street. Knowing the apartment is not a safe hideout anymore, the rest of the group plan to make for the other side of the river with the Hummer. Shizuka volunteers to drive, after helping Kohta, Rei, Saeko, and Saya pack all the equipment needed. With the undead too focused on Takashi's position, there is more than enough time for the group to leave. Within seconds, the Hummer roars down the street to Takashi and the girl, and they escape, heading for the other side of town across the bridge. The first night of this outbreak was over.

Elsewhere, the United States is in a similar state of chaos. The President has been bitten, and the First Lady has become a zombie, along with other passengers aboard the Air Force One. While the Secret Service try to prevent the situation from increasing, one of the President's advisors suggests he makes the "666 Day Announcement", before he too becomes one of the undead. Back in Japan, dawn has approached and the Hummer is seen crossing the river. While Takashi, Rei and Saeko are sleeping inside the Hummer, Kohta, Saya, and the girl, named Alice Maresato, are on lookout, on top of the vehicle. Once back on dry land, Takashi suggests they begin looking for their families, and the closest one to their position is Saya's residence. As they drive by the empty streets, Rei mentions they haven't come across any of the living dead since daybreak, leaving Takashi to wonder where the undead would go. At the same time, he notices no helicopters and planes in the skies since the outbreak happened...

[edit] Highschool of the Dead Main Characters

Main article: List of characters in Highschool of the Dead

[edit] Other Characters

Shidō: Shidō (紫藤) is Class 3A's teacher. Rei is afraid and is disgusted by him and Saeko says his name with a scowl, showing that he apparently is a sadistic and villainous character. Both girls have good reasons to do so as we see him leaving behind a student who has sprained his ankle and even kicking him back towards a group of zombies chasing them. He then makes a speech about how weaklings shouldn't be in the new world with an evil glare on his face. His actions before the outbreak to have left an impression on Rei and Saeko are unknown. It is implied by Hirano that Shidō allowed bullies to beat him up as he watched with glee ^[1]. It is assumed that the latter's story is true because he pointed the nail gun at Shidō without blinking or hesitating to punch a nail wound to his face.

He has a desire to be a leader and some of the characters have theorized that he is trying to build a new religion with him on top as leader. Shido is an apparent coward in the face of extreme danger, as seen when being threatened by a head shot with a nail gun on Hirano's part ^[2]. But nonetheless, proves to be a manipulative, villainous and sadistic character.

He was last seen being abandoned on the bus with other students who willingly followed him. It is unknown if he survived the attack on the bridge shortly before Hirano, Saeko, Saya and Shizuka-sensei abandoned him and the other students on the school bus. But it is likely he will return to antagonize the characters as he wasn't seen with the other students during the tragic night riot.

Rika Minami: Rika is the chief of first squadron in the prefecture police (Possibly SAT) and an expert sniper sent to clear the nearby airport of any zombie stragglers. As of right now, she is quite mysterious and only makes a brief appearance in the beginning of chapter 5. She is close friends with Marikawa Shizuka and has the desire to go and save her from the outbreak of zombies. Unknown to her, they had stayed at her residence and are currently fleeing in her Humvee.

Nara: Minami Rika's lieutenant in clearing the airport for the planes to fly and her observer. He states that seaports are finally accepting passengers, but needs to strengthen their defenses to prevent zombies from entering the airports. He will probably follow Rika to her house as he has nowhere to go.

Hisashi Igō (井豪永 Igō Hisashi): Rei's boyfriend and sophomore classmate of Rei, Takashi, Kouta and Saya from Section B who stayed and fought the zombies with Takashi and Rei before he became one of the zombies. He begged Takashi to kill him after he got bitten by the zombies. Rei has resented Takashi for killing Hisashi, which molds Takashi into an insecure and uneasy character whenever Hisashi's death is brought up by Rei ^[3]. It is shown on the first releases' character pinups that he was supposed to be the main character along with Rei and Takashi. He is however seen in his undead state in the Volume 1's release, thus, signifying his impending death in the story to the readers.

[edit] Chapters List

[edit] Volume 1

Release Date: March 1, 2007 (Japan)

1. Act.1 Spring of the Dead

2. Act.2 Escape from the Dead

3. Act.3 Democracy Under the Dead

[edit] Volume 2

Release Date: April 1, 2007 (Japan)

4. Act.4 Running in the Dead

5. Act.5 Streets of the Dead

6. Act.6 In the Dead of the Night

7. Act.7 Dead Night and the Dead Ruck

[edit] Chapters

8. Act.8 Alice in Dead land

9. Act.9 Big Dead Mama (not yet released)

[edit] Various references or Similarities to other works and literature

Various works of fiction, such novels, films, videogames and other manga may have inspired Highschool of the Dead or may have similarities to plots or character development. These works may include but not limited to:

• The novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.

• The novel The Stand by Stephen King, where Shido, a faculty teacher, tries to exert his influence on the surviving students and school employees as a dependable leader.

• The novel / manga Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. The characters Shuya Nanahara and Noriko Nakagawa experienced a similar psychological development just like Takashi and Rei. The weapons are mockingly shown on tankōbon versions. Signifying what the characters will or have used like in Battle Royale.

• The movie 28 Days Later, for the time it takes for the undead to show signs of flesh rotting, as theorized by Shizuka.

• The video game Resident Evil 2 from Capcom. Takashi and Saeko's idea on meeting at the police station ^[4] on the east side of the city is similar to what Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy planned.

• The movie Dawn of the Dead. The virus is fast-acting and lethal, and a bite from one of the undead ensures eventually death.

• The manga Akira, for Takashi's failed attempt on using his motorcycle while rescuing Alice.

• Highschool of the Dead borrows heavily in its character designs from the manga series Buso Renkin. One example of this is Saeko, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ouka Hayasaka and her twin brother, Shusui.

[edit] Reviews

Japanator's review of Highschool of the Dead praises it for having combined survival horror and harem themes and also praises the various zombie media references in the manga, including Resident Evil 2 and Shaun of the Dead. ^[5] Anime on My Mind, though praising the manga for its fanservice extras, despite having a survival horror theme, has some reservation on whether the plot will change from a basic end of the world disaster to a simply staying alive mentality as it noted that the plotline can't stay the same forever. ^[6]

[edit] Trivia

• The character, Kohta Hirano, is either a parody or a homage to the actual Kouta Hirano, the mangaka of the Hellsing series and various hentai materials. The character's personality reflects his person^{[citation needed]}, such as being overweight, wearing eyeglasses and perverted. Some scenes that depict the character Kohta with an evil personality matches the demonic forms of Alucard, when covered in the shadows. However, in the 8th chapter's release, his name is spelled as the mangaka's alternate name, not his given name.
• Shaun, the main character in Shaun of the Dead, appears in the gasoline station store, while the main characters pass by with the bus in chapter 3. The kanji on his nametag is read as "Sai-mon", a nod to his real name, Simon Pegg.
• The fictional Fujimi High School could be a reference to the manga's publisher, Fujimishobo, owner of the Gekkan Dragon Age Magazine.
• This is the only zombie fiction where characters deny to call the undead "zombies". Preferring to call the undead "Them" or "They" .

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Publisher Site

• Fujimishobo (富士見書房)

[edit] Unofficial Sites

• MangaUpdates Information Page
• Discussion at NarutoMania Forums