“I, Kimihiko Kimizuka, was an ordinary high school student. Sure, I had a penchant for getting dragged into all sorts of trouble, but was otherwise ordinary—until I met her. The detective, Siesta. Her angelically beautiful face and cool disposition in the face of plane hijackers swept me off my feet…and the next thing I knew, I'd spent the next three years off on a whirlwind adventure acting as her assistant. After all, I was the Watson to her Sherlock. But then…she died. It didn't end there, though. No, our story only really began a year later when I met a bratty, snotty high school girl who seemed oddly familiar…” (Yen Press)
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Adapted from the popular light novel, “The Detective is Already Dead” is bound to be on many fans radar thanks to the recent adaptation. The anime, having received mixed reviews, may give fans hesitation to check out the manga. However, the first volume from Yen Press exudes charm and moves the story along at a swift, entertaining pace. This is a welcome way to check out the series, as slow development marked the most common gripe for those who found the anime underwhelming.
The charms of Kimihiko Kimizuka, in particular, shine through in this adaptation. The cool calm demeanor of a veteran detective clash in hilarity with the various characters introduced in the inaugural volume. His first client introducing herself by jamming her fist down Kimizuka's mouth, marks one of many memorable intros in the series. Furthermore, the reader will get a glimpse into Kimizuka's past through flashbacks of his time working under Siesta (the titular dead detective), already beginning to establish an intriguing backstory. As far as being an introductory volume, the manga is an idyllic intro to the odd detective, Kimizuka.
Visually, the aesthetic is serviceable at best, with artist Mugiko capturing the facial expressions and cute mannerisms of the character's but falling short in other elements: the backgrounds are static and the action (what little there is) stiff. Unfortunately, the art never really pops off or impresses with definitive panels that will make the reader stick on a page for a long period in admiration of the artist's skill. Given the focus of the first volume on introducing characters and heavier focus on comedy, it is possible Mugiko will have a better chance to showcase their skill in subsequent releases.
Regardless of gripes with the presentation, the manga adaptation of “The Detective is Already Dead” is one of the best way to experience the series. The humorous elements land perfectly and the story moves at an enjoyable pace; make sure to check this on out of the original light novel, also available through Yen Press.
