There are tons of post-apocalyptic works in the market. But how about one where the last human on earth has conversations with her talking dog? That’s the premise of Doomsday With My Dog. Read on for the review of Volume 4 of the manga. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)
Back Cover Blurb
What They Say
A high school girl―the last human on Earth―and her loyal canine companion make their way through the prefectures of postapocalyptic Japan, taking in the spectacular sights and meeting the locals―from the furry to the intimidating to the outright bizarre! After all, when there’s no destination, the journey is all the fun!
The Review
This final installment of Doomsday with My Dog reminds me a lot of the middle volumes of ZOM 100 with our characters basically taking a post-apocalyptic tour through the different regions of Japan and detailing various cultural and geographic highlights as they go. The main difference is that ZOM 100’s ruined landscape is populated by zombies while Haru and his master encounter the unique fauna and mythical creatures of each region they visit. Part of the journey is just Haru and his master, but for the majority of this sightseeing installment, they are accompanied by the female Shibas (who are still fighting over Haru), the German Shepherd squad, and the fool of the pack Husky.
There is a chapter each for Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, and Niigata. Each chapter opens with an illustration of the characters at a prominent landmark of the prefecture and ends with Haru and his master cosplaying to represent the area. These arcs are packed with references to historical figures, monuments, and local jargon, so most Westerners will be making frequent use of the translation notes, which are pretty good at explaining the cultural references.
The manga concludes with the bonus story “Love Letter,” in which Haru seeks assistance from the Anubis-folk to write a love letter to his master. Previous bonus stories have been tearjerkers, and this one is no different. However, the creator weaves in comedy amid the schmaltz so our characters can end with smiles on their faces.
Extras include translation notes and afterword.
In Summary
It’s the final volume! Haru and his master wander across Japan, highlighting the unique characteristics of eight prefectures in a way that feels a whole lot like a tourism campaign. Then the series concludes with a heartfelt outpouring of devotion from the Shiba to his master that will make dog lovers laugh and cry.
First published at the Fandom Post.
Keeping It In Canon ...mostly 