“A single teenage girl journeys through the crumbling ruins of civilization—the last human on Earth, exploring the concrete jungle that has outlived mankind. Keeping her company is woman's best friend—the ever-adorable and quick-witted Shiba Inu Haru, who is ready to stick with her through thick and thin! With such a pleasant conversation partner to keep the postapocalyptic doldrums at bay, the end of the world might not be so bad after all!” (Yen Press)
As a pet-owner who has always felt that one of the greatest joys experienced in life is the profound connection between a dog and its owner, Yu Ishihara's “Doomsday With My Dog” is a title I approached with optimistic caution. This relationship, though universally felt, is not always expressed in a similar way and the promise of dog-centric antics that push beyond just being ‘cute' is more difficult to find than one may think. Furthermore, the book takes the segmented comic strip approach that, while having recurring characters and themes, act as separate stories unto themselves, telling the story in a non-traditional narraitve.
However, all this info becomes largely irrelevant in Yu Ishihara's sincere exploration of the relationship between dog and owner, realizing both the charming and stubborn elements of canines and what makes them so deeply endearing to many. Notably, the single strips act as short affirmations on aspects like loyalty, motivation and compassion that can all come from the welcomed dependency each can have over the other. “Doomsday With my Dog” transcends the surface level observations and cuteness and taps into a profound exploration of human/animal friendship including a closing story that tackles the harsh reality of time with pets and its limitation in earnest.
However, that it is not to say that the book also does not indulge in ‘cute' observations and there is a definite emphasis on comedy as a delivery to its sentimental messaging. This is the ideal approach for a comic strip structure, as there is a consistent set-up build-up to a punchline that ends on either a joke backed by light-hearted adorableness, laugh-out-loud silliness, or an introspective chuckle. In taking away anything from the series, readers will leave with confidence in Yu Ishihara's flawless navigation of comedy from set up to execution. This strong delivery, consequently, welcomes multiple revisits with quick and accessible humor, making it ideal for a quick pick-me-up or casual flip-through.
Visually, the art of Yu Ishihara is mostly serviceable, with notable skill in making playful interactions between the two characters, which work well both in timing and expressions. However, where the book primarily excels is in its presentation, with the full-color pages giving it additional character and a pronounced visual aesthetic. The release from Yen Press is competently put together, with glossaries in-between chapters to allow the strips to stand on their own and a slightly larger print size that allows the finer details to shine given the smaller paneled format.
Ultimately, those who have formed strong bonds with ‘wo/mans best friend' will find “Doomsday With my Dog” a cathartic and entertaining journey through both the lighter and challenging moments that come with pet ownership. While the book is, undeniably, niche and structured in a way that makes it unlikely to land on any ‘best of' lists when looking forward to 2023, the series already has proved itself to be worthy of collecting into the new year. This sentiment should ring true for plenty who admire their furry friends and celebrate seeing those relationships celebrated in a meaningful way.
