“A single teenage girl, the last of her kind, continues her journeys through Japan with the adoring and bright Shiba Inu Haru—and they're not alone! From the aloof beauty Snow White to the friendly neighborhood aliens, they've got plenty of fellow wanderers to meet, swap stories, and get into misadventures with. Who knew the apocalypse could be such a party?” (Yen Press)
At two volumes in, the sentiment behind Yu Ishihara's “Doomsday With My Dog” is apparent, best summarized in the writer's own words in the afterword; “I think I love dog lovers as much as I love dogs”. Undeniably, the project radiates a sincere love for the relationship between humans and canines, but it also digs a bit deeper beyond just presenting adorable scenarios (though there is no shortage of just that). Posing questions about what makes the relationship powerful, as well as throwing in the odd philosophical inquiry, the series provides ample content hidden under its upbeat comedic veneer. As mentioned, the focus here is in capturing both sides of the pet and the owner, and to this degree, Yu Ishihara perfectly conveys the nuances of this relationship while still indulging in the silliness that also comes with it.
Following the same structure as the previous volume by presenting ‘mini comics' (1 to 2 per page, generally with 8 panels) and stories that fluctuate between the more thoughtful and the absurd. Moreover, the manga, once again, includes one longer form story that touches on a somber subject around pet ownership. In this regard, “Doomsday With My Dog” can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster as the comedy in both volumes abruptly ends with these emotionally driven segments that can take you out of the ‘cuteness' laid before it. Admittedly, this formula may not be to everyone's tastes, yet Yu Ishihara's understanding of these inescapable truths that come with pet ownership is essential to relating the broad spectrum of emotions one can feel through their pet's life.
Adding further value, the manga has an abundance of educational elements that touch on many nuances in Japanese society including wordplay and small differences in the culture which are seldom explored in manga, given they would be inconsequential in other series. Furthermore, the release is well annotated to ensure the reader gets notes on the multitude of unique references throughout. The educational elements combined with the various other strengths of “Doomsday With My Dog” makes it ideal for a wide age range as well as those looking to learn through the medium of manga.
The structure makes the physical release the ideal way to collect the series, given the accessibility as the title is, at its core, a collection of comic strips with recurring characters that can be revisited in small chunks. Furthermore, the colors really pop on the pages, and being a full-color manga will hold appeal for those who appreciate some variety in their collection. The stock is also of finer quality so the book does not take up much space on the shelf, which will help those with cumbersome collections.
It is obvious that Yu Ishihara understands all the nuances of the pet/owner relationship and is able to bring it together in a meaningful, comedic, and (sometimes) somber fashion that will hit those emotional notes for dog owners. That said, this is a celebration of dogs, and those that don't really put much merit into it will probably feel slightly at a loss with much of the content. Ultimately, “Doomsday With My Dog” understands its audience on a deep level that often transcends its comic strip format and should be a must-read for those who have a lot of love for their furry friends.
