Hatsukoi Zombie

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I actually stumbled upon this manga by accident, I saw that the main character look like the one from my hero academia, so I was like, "ehh why not." This manga is something else you fall in love with the characters, throughout the story and the story flows like water. I honestly recommend this if you're looking for a different kind of story. Yes, it's cutesy wootsey but it gets out weighed by the great story telling and relatableness (I know its not a word) to the characters. If it weren't ecchi it would be great for all ages. Even though the ecchi art can ... sometimes be over the top it will not hinder the story and you'll still be interested in it. Please give this manga a shot it deserves an anime adaptation.

TL;DR: Hatsukoi Zombie is without a doubt worth the read if you're willing to invest into it. It seemed to me like a generic high school ecchi romcom at a glance, but I was completely wrong - It instead functions as a near perfect genre deconstruction, and has far exceeded any expectations I had going in. I highly recommend it as one of the best romance stories I've read in recent years.

From this point on this review will contain spoilers to the premise, mood, themes, and (to a minor extent) the plot of Hatsukoi Zombie. If you wish to find out for yourself what lurks ... beneath the surface of this manga, I would recommend stopping here, but be prepared to commit: it takes some time before it starts to show through, but when it does... it's worth it.

I don't think I can do the premise justice without spoiling anything major, so please bear with me as I sell it in a manner no less deceptive than Hatsukoi Zombie appears:

Hatsukoi Zombie follows the story of a high schooler by the name of Tarou who encounters a being personifying his first love, Eve, in a manner also representing his ideal figure. The catch is that no one else is able to see her or hear her: a delusion of Tarou's own creation. Unable to realize his own first love, Tarou and Eve work together fulfilling the first loves of others and removing the burdens from within their hearts. During this time, Tarou and Eve both realize that they too must one day confront their own love: a can of worms that neither of them wish to open. But as the saying goes: all that glitters is not gold.

Hatsukoi Zombie's premise is pretty unique, even though it may not seem like it based on my description of it. It pulls a few twists and turns in the beginning that amount to nothing other than serving to hook you in long enough for it to set up what it needs to pull off what it does later on when you reach the climax of the story. It sticks quite heavily to the tropes and cliches of its genre and does a pretty good job of it as well. However, this changes quite abruptly once the characters and setting are all introduced and given some time to marinate.

The trick to Hatsukoi Zombie's story, and the reason why I will give it so much praise, is that it addresses the problem that you should begin to ask yourself after only a few chapters:

How can this illusory, contrived love between Tarou and the delusion of Eve ever work?

Simply put - it just can't. Rather than pandering to fanservice and pretending that it can, the author chooses to tackle this problem head on in a perfect deconstruction of the tropes and genre it had played up until this point. It completely changes the tone of the story from a lighthearted romance story to a bittersweet Romeo and Juliet style tragedy. The author pulls this off effectively by spending an incredibly large portion of time just building the characters through exploring trivial events in their day-to-day lives in the standard romcom style fashion.

The characters themselves start as blank slates: Their personalities are made visible through their actions and words rather than being explicitly stated, and rarely do they adhere to any specific tropes. They all act in a believable manner and rarely in a way that is excessive without some kind of rationality behind it, even if that rationale seems silly from an outside perspective. The personality of Eve is probably one of the most complex I've come across recently to the point where she feels about as real as it gets despite being a delusion of Tarou's creation - a kind of cruel, twisted irony in a way.

The art of Hatsukoi Zombie is also incredibly solid. While it isn't anything special, being neither extremely detailed or experimental in style, it does the one thing it has to do to make the story work - it flawlessly shows emotion through the facial expressions and body language of the characters. The expressions of the characters give away more than their words as to their inner thoughts and emotion. It hurts when you see a character talking in a relatively positive, upbeat manner only to see a major disconnect in their facial expression and body language at the same time that shows that they don't actually feel that way: that they're putting on a front for others.

All of this combines together into what I would consider a near-perfectly executed genre deconstruction and tragedy. Why? Because it doesn't simply throw it on you like some series do. Instead it waits until after you've gotten invested in the characters and only hints at it until the author knows that the investment is there to make it work and feel organic. If you are willing to take the time to get attached to the characters through a relatively slow-paced buildup, it is well worth it.

As of the point I've read up to as of the time writing this review, It's probably fair to say that I love Hatsukoi Zombie - I love the story, I love the art, and I love the characters. It's fulfilling and fun, albeit slow to develop (which I personally prefer). Every chapter left me desiring more and every chapter only served to enhance my passion for the story and characters. Sandwiched within the farce of a cheery, lighthearted romance manga came a remarkably well-written story of love and heartbreak that has stood out as one of the best I've ever come across and probably ever will. I'm glad I gave Hatsukoi Zombie a chance and chose to read it on a whim over the rest of my backlog - it is a true hidden gem among hidden gems. I highly recommend Hatsukoi Zombie to anyone who is willing to give it a chance.

DISCLAIMER/AFTERWORD: I'm neither an expert in writing reviews nor deep analysis of literature and art - someone more skilled than me can probably easily point out flaws with Hatsukoi Zombie that I might've glossed over. Regardless, I hope I have provided a good idea of an "average reader" sort of analysis.

So, I think this is my first real review on MAL. I won't lie, it's been like a year since I binge-read the series in one night, and even still, the art captivates me. You've already read the synopsis, so honestly, it's a banger: the character design and motivations are well done, Eve is obviously best girl for most of the series, although the twist towards the end is somewhat predictable. If this were to be adapted into an anime, it has to have the color vibrancy and gradients like Nisekoi, NonNon Biyori, or Mushoku Tensei.

Its good, trust me bro

This manga is something that I’m really passionate about, I remember seeing the description and thinking hey this sounds like The world god only knows. I was hooked from that point, the premise is super strong though sometimes I wish they would have leaned on it a bit more, though that's just because the side stories we're really well written. Where I may have previously been only interested in the premise I soon became obsessed with seeing how the characters would progress, it’s strange how sometimes just one page of this manga can make me jump from my chair and just start dancing from excitement ... of what's to come (not even a joke I really did dance from happiness) though there are also moments where I just feel broken from what they may be hinting at.

The story takes some wild turns at times throwing the reader into will they won't they moments and making us sit on the edge of our seat as we watch for the solutions. The characters really come to life over the time we spend with them and you become attached to them in a way that hurts to say goodbye. The art shows that the artist really put their effort and love into the manga and it pays off brilliantly. I'm so happy I found this manga and that it became an obsession that I will keep with me from now on.

It’s amazing how far a story develops within us, whether we read or watch something over years or days it still feels like we've been invested for ages because you become apart of the story, observing the character's personality and following their flow of time. Thinking from where it all started knowing that one baseball would change not only the characters lives but mine, this manga is incredibly special and deserves your attention. I rarely see anything produce a response in me that this manga has, I’m incredibly taken by every word and picture. Please give it your attention.

I'm really looking forward to Minenami, Ryou next works and seeing what they have previously done.

tl;dr: A manga that starts off amusing and lighthearted with great comedy and art while not really dealing much with its overarching plot, but does a good job of dealing with it in it's second half, though it's overtly drawn out and overtly serious to the point it's somewhat of a drag.

This is a manga that starts off incredibly amusing. It establishes its setup of what First Love Zombies  are and introduces and characters and the connections between the main trio Kurume, Ibisuki, and Eve really quickly and then moves on to what are essentially episodes of the trio playing matchmaker for the various people ... in their class in order to stop their love zombies from being major distractions. These stories are pretty solid in and of themselves and produce pretty solid couples, which is in and of itself pretty satisfying. There isn't a lot of drama, at least not serious drama, but what there is is good. What there is more of is a lot of comedy, which is excellent in and of itself and decently varied.

These stories also do a good job of fleshing out the characters more too. Kurume has a really strong personality that's quite a bit different from most protagonists in that he really isn't bothered by a lot of things, wherein throughout the story there are various false traits that other characters assign to him that most protagonists would likely object to and fight against, but he either ignores them completely or he leans into them because they actually help him out. Ibusuki also has really complicated circumstances that involves keeping a lot of secrets, so the resulting strong internal reactions to things that can't show to others at all was amusing and resulted in a pretty likable character. Eve didn't have that strong of a personality, but she's adorable enough to be really likable as well. The pacing also felt pretty fast at first in that there's always something happening that feels like it matters, even if it does just deal with side characters because it feels like there's progress in terms of character development in the main characters as a result. Just all around, it's a pretty light hearted and casual romp that's just kind of fun all around.

Still, from the beginning the premise and mechanics that the author sets up are ones that are kind of screwed up in a sense, and it's clear from the start that unless the author does something like not giving a proper ending or pulling out a deus ex machina that changes things tremendously, that at best the only reasonable ending the manga could have despite it being one that feels so lighthearted at first is one that is at best bittersweet. The author pulls neither of those tricks, and thus eventually the manga begins going down the path of actually tackling its core issues, though once it starts down that path it takes quite a bit longer than I expected to get there. It feels like it's starting to get more serious about half way through, but truly gets completely serious during the last third.

At this point the comedy dries up pretty much completely, instead focusing solely on the drama which gets quite intense. The general tone which was so happy go lucky becomes incredibly dreary. Things certainly progress and things are brought to an ending that seems reasonable, although incredibly predictable. However, it felt like it took too long to get there and the drama was heavily drawn out, though in part that may be because to a degree it felt so out of place considering how different it is from how the manga started. And while the ending is reasonable and did manage to have a good amount of impact emotionally, I can't say I'm completely satisfied with it, only so-so satisfied, though to a degree I expected that I would feel that way about the ending from the beginning.

The art is high quality from the beginning, wherein the premise and tone allow the author a lot of opportunity to really use it well and they certainly do, making the artistic quality for the first half or so downright excellent. However, it felt like that too took a turn for the worse as it got more serious because going completely crazy with the art wouldn't really fit the tone, and thus is becomes much more subdued and in general not as pleasing to look at in and of itself.

I truly love this manga to bits. It's a story that leaves you depressed when it's over and you have to say goodbye to beloved characters at the end of their saga, comforting yourself with the few bonus drawings you got as an epilogue. I made this account just to write this rave review of a lovely and IMO somewhat unfairly maligned series.

The story starts off light-hearted and funny as any romcom does, as the MCs grow closer, solve problems together, go on outings, and engage in the requisite hijinks and misunderstandings and accidentally-intimate-situations of the genre. Their dynamic is a tried and tested one, ... that of "two huge dorks with infinite chemistry and who love each other to an outrageous degree and should just get married already if only they could just admit it to themselves and each other". The romcom aspect is a completely adequate comedy, and if it isn't anything groundbreaking, it's still solid and it uses the title conceit (the First Love Zombies) aptly to create interesting predicaments and subplots. The obstacles in the way of the MCs grow unexpectedly large and daunting, and a very large last part of the manga has a surprisingly heavy tone as all of the characters wrestle with a severe dilemma. It's still "just a romcom", but it does have a dark undercurrent and some tricky themes, which is unsurprising from the mangaka behind the much less cheerful and more psychological Himegoto: Juukyuusai no Seifuku and Shounen no Abyss.

The art by Ryou Minenami is wonderful. The characters' faces are expressive and cute and funny, and I still never get tired of looking at them. The characters are lovable and adorable, in particular one MC who is utterly incapable of controlling or hiding her emotions, and who is near-constantly in a state of flustered embarrassment. Watching her try and fail to hide her blushes is sublime, and her face is without a doubt one of the highlights of the manga. This is an ecchi series, so you have the expected boobs and panties and costumes for fanservice, which isn't too major an aspect or the biggest draw, I hope.

I'll address some common criticisms of the manga in this review, from the admittedly biased perspective of an extremely rabid fan. First, your enjoyment of the manga may hinge heavily on how much you really like the main characters. The most common complaint in discussion circles is that the third-party "best girl" loses, and is generally not a focus of the story. If you are drawn to that character (who is plenty appealing and sympathetic and likable) and decide to follow her and root for her side in the love triangle, you will probably be disappointed as most chapters continue to focus on developing the other characters and it becomes obvious from very early on that she will not "win". You may find the MC to be "too tsundere", gratingly mean and rude, and prone to cause problems unnecessarily. All of this is fair, and liking a character is very subjective, and some people are well past tired of the tsundere trope. But if you do read this story, I encourage you to try and look at the MC sympathetically. If nothing else, her reasons for being angry are shown to be very justified.

Another common criticism is that the plot drags on, no tangible progress is made for dozens of chapters, and the plot could be resolved by a simple conversation and the revelation of a single fact. I truly think these are unfair, mostly colored by being disinterested in the MCs and their internal conflicts, and wanting someone else to be the focus. In each arc, the main characters learn about each other, grow closer, and grapple with their changing feelings. They build a rapport and memories and moments that become critical during the conclusion when their relationship is tested. If you like the MCs, the chapters aren't a slog at all, and I would have happily taken even more slice of life chapters where the characters just get time to be with each other.

Finally, regarding the simple conversation/single fact that could solve their problems: after a certain point, it's not fully explicit, but there's a very clear reason both characters are avoiding the conversation. They aren't stupid or capricious, they're scared of the result and heavily in denial. The key conflict of the final third of the story is exactly what prevents them from moving forward.

That's it for my long-winded review. I need more Hatsukoi Zombie. It's cute, it's wonderful, it's funny, and it's heartwarming. It deserves a spinoff, an anime adaptation, loads more fanart. If you're interested in forming a fan club, please send me a letter.

Hatsukoi Zombie
I stumbled upon this while I was searching for some gore manga. First love zombie, at first I thought that someone fell in love with a dead person but man I was wrong. As the genre suggests, it's supernatural. The MC is able to see the first love of every person floating above their head if the first love of that person is not fulfilled.
The story is a school, romantic comedy. But the romance is a slow paced one. I am not a fan of school romantic genre, but since it is supernatural, I thought I should give it a read. At first, I ... thought it was a typical school romance anime but it turned out to be even more.
The storytelling, the art, the comedy, and a little bit of romance was enough to bind me to my PC screen until I finished it all. The manga is currently ongoing and I am really looking forward to every release.
I really loved the art. There are a few ecchi scenes but its not that revealing. The artist Minenami, Ryou was able to draw the expressions really good and it really conveyed the feelings. I hope that it gets an anime adaptation soon.
My review might not be that detailed but one thing I can tell you that I am really enjoying reading this series.

One thing that I find hard to read is how I hate the central heroine and love her appearance at the same time.

Story (9): At first the concept of first love zombie feels like another weird romcom thing but changed my thoughts that it slowly turned into a good drama material. Some reader might find this hard to enjoy in early chapters because it will focused more into protagonist helping side character's love, but then it changed into protagonist's personal matter. And that's the best part where the reader should not skipped. It's not a story with tense or suspenseful atmosphere. Yes it sometimes hurt ... my feeling as typical love triangle story, but it has a good pace. Just, I wish the author could create the ending into two different chapters because I personally as the reader need the longer good feeling. More importantly, just believe me you'll hate the ending arc but will forget about that in the last page. It's just how clever the author played reader's feeling.

Characters (9): I hate the central heroine, because despite all of the things, she played victim over the protagonist even Eve herself (it's not a spoiler since you'll know it around the beginning). I hate her more than Runa in the common route of Hatsukoi 1/1. But even so, it is kinda amazing but sucks at the same time. Tarou at the latter chapters will sometimes change his hairstyle and he looks super cool that way. Every character has their own thing that you'll love, even Tarou's father that will only appear near end of the manga. Some minors don't felt like left out from the story, even were involved. I don't usually care with side character but Kyouko and Tarou's great grandfather whoever his name is, I love them so much even how short their appearance is.

Side story (8): Aside from main story of drama around Tarou & Ririsu & Eve, there's not much side stories that I remember because it all somehow connected to each other. But if you ask, the dragon princess festival, where the very minor character like Kyouko and Tarou's great grandfather appeared, is the best part of all. It's a tearjerker like every romcom must have but feels more than just that. It's also a kind of turning point important for the main story. It's all not just a side but also part of the main one.

Art (9): To be completely honest, I didn't get any interest when looking at the cover, first chapter's character designs. But it changed over time. It's just that good. Male & female characters are all great in terms of art design. Their cinematic illustrations are amazing. Even more with the colored page/illustration where you can see in color, it all so pleasing.

Enjoyment (10): All that lacking feels like nothing. It just that good.

I found this manga while browsing through romance manga online and I gotta say, this was an amazing read. I love how the story went, there was never a dull moment! That doesnʻt mean that it was perfect, there were moments where I got extremely annoyed by Tarou (the MC) because of his obliviousness. Even when he saw the obvious, he would still make excuses during moments where it was extremely obvious that Ririto (the heroine/other MC) was a female and not a male. Honestly, the moments where the two MCs were in a romantic situation were far and few, and I mean FEW. Still, ... it was an amazing story and I dont regret reading it! Itʻs not as cliche as the most recent romance manga which is a big plus too!