Grand Guignol is the latest of her installments, and it does not disappoint. Smart, emotional, and elegant, this manga is definitely the best take on the new trend of zombie manga; and most certainly the most original. The plot is a bit fragmented and isn't clearly started, but eventually develops itself slowly around the characters that are introduced.
The zombies in Grand Guignol are interesting because they are also somewhat tied in with plot elements of "magic". Those afflicted by the virus can be temporarily cured through forbidden music and sounds. Different human villains find different ways of manipulating the Guignols (zombies) into performing tasks for them. Sometimes, human characters find themselves unable to let go of their afflicted and the focus turns into the madness that stems out of seeing your loved ones turn into monsters. the monster and zombie threat almost presents itself as a secondary to the threat of human error and human nature.
The characters are well developed and interesting to follow, though unfortunately the first volume focuses so much on only two of these characters that one might pick it up and find themselves unhappy with the presentation of the rest of the cast. This changes as the series picks up. In true Kaori Yuki fashion, a major character trait is androgyny and gender issues. Besides two of the five main characters appearing to be a gender they are not (and one that could very well be considered transgendered), some characters with vocal abilities also have the ability to throw their voice and bend it to sound like a man or a woman. Yuki approaches these gender issues in a very mature way and gracefully avoids turning it into a political or overdramatized plot device.
The art is drop dead gorgeous. I have to admit, I am absolutely giddy for Kaori Yuki's art style and it's never let me down. While her art for Grand Guignol is far more simplistic than some of her earlier works, it suits the story well and is incredibly appealing to the eye.
The one single drawback to the series is that it's a bit detailed for such a simplistic plot line, and can be a bit of a messy read at times. It is a great manga and this slight issue can easily be overlooked. It's a very refreshing read , especially for a shoujo manga, where school life romance cliches reign supreme.
