Pet Shop of Horrors, Vol. 6

Pet Shop of Horrors [ペットショップ オブ ホラーズ] #6

by Matsuri Akino, Jeremiah Bourque (Translator)

"Discovery" - When Count D and Detective Orcot are abducted by an infamous group of Peruvian terrorists, they find themselves bound, gagged and held at gunpoint deep in the jungles of South America. With one chance at survival, Leon will have to put his faith in Count D...and a mysterious jaguar named Lisa. "December" - 'Twas the night before Christmas, and under the house a creature was stirring, far worse than a mouse. Young Chris has the blues, he's full of despair, for his family is fighting, and the count doesn't care. So who should he meet on this Christmas so drear, but a three-headed dragon with a temper severe. And when this dragon gets angry on behalf of his friend, the entire city's at risk - will this be the end? "Distance" - The youngest daughter in a family of musicians, Catherine's all set to follow her mother's path and become a world-famous pianist. Not that Catherine has ever shown much interest in it. However, when a new pet seems to inspire Catherine and improve her skill at the ivories, her family takes notice. But will her music bring forth laughter...or tears? This volume also contains a "Flowers and the Detective" side story. "Flowers and the Detective, Part 3" - When Count D receives a parcel from his grandfather, the suspicious Detective Orcot is disappointed to discover that the most dangerous part of this package is a Japanese kimono decorated with cherry blossoms. However, this robe has a surprisingly violent story to tell. After all, cherry blossoms are the same color as blood...

Genres: Manga, Horror, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Supernatural, Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2008

About the author

Matsuri Akino (秋乃 茉莉 Akino Matsuri), is a Japanese manga artist from Mitaka, Tokyo, now a resident of Yokohama. Her work is a mix of the fantasy, mystery, and horror genres. Her self portrait is usually a kappa, sometimes with braids or an odango hairstyle.

Reviews

[☾❀Mirelle✩]

[Aleksandra]

Sometimes a family is a pet shop owner, police detective, his baby brother and lots of magical creatures.

[Phantomº]

Pet Shop of Horrors has possibly become one of my favourite mangas by now. It has been a long time since I was invested on a series.
The cover of this volume is sublime.

[Sherri]

This volume felt kind of all over the place. We start out with D and Leon getting abducted and taken to Peru to find El Dorado with the help of a jaguar, then switch back to the city for Christmas, where Chris' adoptive parents arrive to take him home much to Chris' dismay. The last story follows the youngest daughter of a family of musicians who has no talent for music. To top off the volume, we get another Flowers and the Detective side story which was probably the strongest of the stories in this volume, although the 'flower' in this side story is the sakura on a kimono sent to D by his grandfather from Japan. (Interestingly enough, the sequel to this series is set in Tokyo.)

[Andrea Aguas]

Every chapter just gets better

[K.S. Trenten]

Four stories about Count D and his pet shop in Chinatown come together in this volume, including another Flowers and the Detective story which truly felt like the Count took Leon out on a date and a classy date at that, one which mellowed Leon out a lot. I think he even enjoyed it, although he continues to be crude and abusive to D. He’s softening around his little brother, though, showing a patience and a willingness to listen that he hasn’t before. Count D is showing patience as well, softening himself around Chris, accepting Chris’s appeal to help a little girl and her dog. That particular story was one of the sweetest, most heartwarming tales we’ve had in this series, showing real character growth and development. Readers also got another hilariously domestic squabble between Leon and Count D, with Chris just taking it in stride. Chris was the catalyst who got Count D and his brother involved in more than one story in a hilarious sequel to the previous Christmas tale where readers discovered just what happened to the dragon. Each of these stories is unique and different. We begin with an adventure, a visit to El Dorado, which is still connected to the underlying theme of this series of a pet being more than they seem. We follow up with a story which is Chris’s as much as it is Count D’s or Leon’s and another where Chris narrates and guides readers, along with Count D himself, through the experiences of the pet and her particular owner. We end with the beautiful ‘date’ Count D arranges for Leon, which is one of the most gorgeous sequences we’ve had in the manga. For depicting all of this in beautiful artwork, staying true to the overall theme of mystery and magic while telling unique stories in which the characters grow and advance, I give this four stars.

[S46354595]

The scanlation translations are a little not great at times. And I think the backgrounds got an update in the collector's editions. I will still read those because they're great, but I must know the story before I forget everything. Also, what ever happened to that story about the emperor's wife? Will that ever become relevant?

Pet Shop of Horrors Review

5/5 stars

This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!

I'm so glad that the library I work at started ordering the new collector’s editions of this series. This is a new favorite manga for me. I had so much fun with it.

This is sort of a supernatural mystery series following two characters. The first is the detective Leon. He's from LA. He’s your typical American cop. And then there’s this gay Chinese pet shop owner who may or may not be involved with the mysteries.

The pet shop owner sells both regular pets as well as exotic pets, and sometimes the owners of the exotic pets don't follow their specific instructions and end up hurt by the pets. The exotic pets are all mythical beings from various parts of the world.

Leon thinks this guy might be involved or responsible for things that keep happening, so he follows this guy around and keeps hanging out at his pet shop.

The best way I can explain this series is that it's basically one of those series where it explores a different theme each chapter. These themes are sometimes a bit heavy, so watch out for some heavier themes at times. For example, there’s one chapter where a trans woman is killed and Leon has to figure out why, and surprisingly literally no one, it has something to do with her being trans. The blatant transphobia that led to the murder is handled with so much respect and love to her and her identity, which I really appreciated seeing, since so few stories take the time to do that.

And this is just one example of how a mystery might go. There are a lot of sensitive topics in this, none of which I felt were trivialized or glossed over. What I really liked about this series is the way it handled talking about all these nuanced themes, and how it balanced that against the character work the mangaka did with Leon and the pet shop owner. There is actually a reason I mentioned that he’s gay earlier besides just being a random fact about him. Leon has to unlearn a lot of unconscious bias in this series, and I really enjoyed seeing that journey. It's not explicitly stated to us what's happening with his character development, which I think is brilliant. It does a lot of showing vs telling, and wow was it done so well.

Partway through the series, Leon ends up having to raise his kid brother due to something that happens in his brother’s life that makes it hard for his parents to take care of him. The pet shop owner immediately steps up to help him raise his brother when he's busy with his work as a detective. I thought Leon and the pet shop owner just had a funny quirky dynamic together before this, but as soon as they were raising a kid together, I immediately knew I think we’re supposed to ship them. And ship them I did. I just wish Leon was less of an oblivious idiot lol

I can’t say anything else cause spoilers. But I want to. I wish I knew someone else who has read this. I have so much I need to word vomit about this series. I'm trying to get one of my friends into it. Help. I am obsessed with these two idiots.

So this series is actually a couple different series. The main series is just called Pet Shop of Horrors. Then there are two other series connected to it as well. I recommend reading the Tokyo series second, and then the Ark Adrift series last. That’s how they were written chronologically, and I think that works best. The Tokyo series is still following the same pet shop owner, after the events of the main series. And then Ark Adrift is about someone related to him, set before the main series. I'm unsure if Ark Adrift is still ongoing. The last volume I could find came out in June of 2025, so maybe there will be more? I hope so. It kind of ended weird after volume 3, so I hope there’s more on the way and that’s not the official end of the series.

Once again, I want to reiterate how much I have to say about this that I can't cause spoilers. I need someone else who has read this to word vomit at. I need someone to talk about this with. Someone, anyone, please.

If you haven't read this, do it. I need more people to talk to about this. I literally can't talk about it without spoiling whoever I'm talking to. People please go read this then talk to me. Help. I am obsessed.

I wish they would make a proper anime for this. There was a four episode OVA that got made, but honestly it sucks. The first episode opens with a scene not in the manga at all, in which this random guy we never meet again calls the pet shop owner to complain about something that never comes up again, and proceeds to call him the f slur for seemingly no reason. Why was that necessary to include? It’s rude, it’s not in the manga, and it’s literally a slur. Just no. I sat through the four episodes just to see what an anime might have looked like for this if they’d continued making it, and honestly, I wouldn’t want whoever made the OVA to make the anime. Absolutely the heck not. Slur aside, it kind of sucked.

If in 20 years there is no anime, I will get a bunch of my art friends together to make our own homemade show of it, because I will not stand 20 years of this series not being adapted. Also, I want Keston John to play the pet shop owner. His voice read every line in my head when I read the manga, because I think he would just be perfect to play him. YOU SEE NOW WHY I NEED SOMEONE TO WORD VOMIT ABOUT THIS SERIES AT? help me

Have a nice day/night everyone!

[Gabby]

Such a beautiful cover. Really enjoyed this volume - and have just realised this manga is Josei!
“Discovery” and “Distance” were probably my favourite stories, the latter making me tear up a little.
Another excellent volume - we’re over halfway into the series - and I can’t wait to continue on

Read for #mangathon Jan 2019

[B.D. Aguayo]

El volumen6 contiene "Discovery", "December", "Distance" y una mini historia más sobre el Detective y las flores: "Flowers and the Detective, Part 3".

Vamos en el volumen 6 y la calidad de las historias de Matsuri Akino no ha disminuido, aunque tal vez los clichés comienzan a cansar un poco.

[Mads]

If you read just a single story from Akino's "Pet Shop of Horrors" series, consider Volume 6, chapter 3. Without spoiling anything, just know that it perfectly exemplifies Akino's signature blend of horror, humor, and heart-warming emotion.

[Westley]

LOVE this series!

[Nancy Foster]

Wow! great read!

[Gala]

El perro mopa y el jaguar.

[momochiiii ☆]

(puntuación real: 3.5)

[shemah]

#2025

[Liekos]

Probably one of the tamest in the series. It was nice seeing more of Chris' background, but I most enjoyed the tie-ins and continuation of storylines from previous books.

Overall, quite cute.

[Mia Claire]

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

This manga somewhat disappointed me. The first volume was much better although it's kinda brutal and full of blood and gore and the like.

Discovery - So this episode is actually ok.I love the idea about the lost treasure of El Dorado and all those things about the empire of the Incas and all those historical facts inserted because I'm a big fan of history but honestly, the ending for me is just a piece of crap.

December - Didn't like this episode that much. The ending again wasn't able to impress me.

Distance - This is better than the former. The story is somewhat similar to the story in Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. It tells the story of Amy Chua, the author herself who wants her two children to be musical prodigies. The first child who plays the piano goes well but the second child who played the violin proved to be more difficult. The second child ends up as a tennis player. This does not necessarily mean the author based the story on the book. And besides, the book was just recently published this year and the manga was published in 1997. The only difference between the two is that in the manga the child plays the piano and the parents was kinda more open to what their child really wants. And also the child ends up being a badminton player, not a tennis player. The ending was better than the first two.

Flowers and the Detective, side story - Didn't liked this too maybe because I skipped all the other past volumes and directly read volume 6 after reading vol. 1., meaning I wasn't able to read the side story from the beginning. Maybe that's why I didn't appreciate it.

[Mandy Sickle]

Pet Shop of Horror revolves around a magical pet shop in Chinatown that just happens to sell pet’s that aren’t like your everyday pet. Each volume is divided into a chapters and each chapter tells a single story of an encounter with this pet shop. Some end up happy while others not so much.

In the 6th installment Count D and Leon are taken by a group of men who hope that Count D will be the key to finding what has eluded them for so long. Leon will have to trust Count D or he may never have the chance to bring him in. As if being kidnapped by terrorists wasn’t enough next Chris who is Leon’s younger brother has an encounter with a magical three headed dragon. Dangerous creatures are all around but even with the darkness there is till light like the girl who doesn’t want to play piano and saves a puppy.

I’m hooked on Pet Shop of Horrors it’s written as a series of short stories which have a larger story surrounding them. It’s this creepy concept of a pet shop that happens to not sell traditional pets. Each of the pets really fits into the owner life giving them exactly what they needed at that point in their life and some may not end happy ever after. I have to admit I enjoyed the concept it’s unique and fascinating I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know what would happen next. I’m anxious to read the next book so we can learn more about the pet shop but to see what comes out it’s door next. While it may not be a super popular one it’s worth checking out the chapters are perfect for a quick little way to break up the day or just binge reading.

[Alysse Peery]

Pet Shop of Horrors is a manga by Matsuri Akino. It is set in the heart of Chinatown. Enter Count D's pet shop, a place where you can find a multitude of pets. These pets can range from cats and dogs to the most exotic, but they often will take a form to match a person's deepest desires. The mysterious man running the shop will be willing to sell you these animals, but under contract. These contracts often have three terms, varying with each individual pet. If any of these circumstances are broken, the pet shop is in no way, shape, or form, responsible for the consequences that would result.

This series is certainly a unique read. Each chapter often focuses on a different customer, so the series has an episode like feel to it. In each of these chapters, however, there is a sub plot that always occurs. This subplot is actually part of the main story, so it's suggested that you pay attention to it. Most of these stories can turn out somewhat messy, but are they happy or sad endings? No one can even tell. This story is about human nature itself, with a good amount of environmentalism hidden in there too.

[Kati]

In this volume, you can find 4 stories:

"Discovery" - This one was slightly over the top, even for PSoH. I mean, looking for the El Dorado? But I did like that we learned a bit more about D's magical nature. That giant bird was cool.

"December" - A Christmas story. Too mushy for my taste. Though the tree-headed dragon was interesting. And I loved how grumpy Leon was while remembering what happened last year, during Christmas time, the thing with the dragon egg. That was funny.

"Distance" - A story about an albino puppy. Basically another "learn your lesson" thing.

"Flowers and the Detective, Part 3" - The best story in this volume. I loved the magical realism of it, the flowers on the kimono coming alive. Beautiful. Too bad that this series doesn't focus more on stuff like this...

[Kate]

It's frustrating how clear it is that the story was being changed once Beedle took over as the adaptor. "English adaptation" does not mean "rewrite whole chunks of dialog and meaning."

Tokyopop probably figured they could get away with it in the early 2000s, since the format was still relatively new. But when you've grown used enough to how manga panels and dialogue bubbles are arranged, the alterations are jarring.

I like this series, but I'm irritated that I paid full price for shoddy editing and re-written stories.

[Tina]

Soooo. Maybe they'll get to it in later volumes, I don't remember, but does the story ever finish the plot where Chris is the owner/master of the three-headed dragon? If not, it would mean that Chris is still the master/owner of Honlon when he finds new D as an adult. I must say I love the stories where the trio of Chris, Tetsu and Pon-chan are involved. They're such an adorable trio (even when Tetsu takes some bites out of Chris' bullies).

[Jennifer]

Just when I thought Matsuri Akino was going to get gory he gets sad. Just when I think the story will be sad it gets sentimental. Then out of nowhere gory! Awesome, a surprise even when I feel like I know what's coming. This graphic novel is rated OT for older teen, age 16+.

[Dexter]

It was slow getting into, if only because the first story of the volume wasn't that interesting. Once the Count and Leon were back in the pet shop, I was happy. The rest of the stories were very interesting. I don't get tired of the Count and Leon, and little Chris is always cute too.

[Ashley Ramos]

I wish DetectiveD would happen. So much UST it makes me want to cry.

[Munch]

I love this series so much, no matter how many times I reread it :)

[Rei Osorio]

dati ko p to npanuod,,bata p ko non,gusto ko lng mbasa ng m refresh nman icp ko