Is This a Zombie? Review: A Boy Resurrected as a Zombie Becomes a Magical Garment Girl
by Shinichi Kimura / Sacchi
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Quick Take
- The premise — a zombie boy becomes a magical girl substitute — works as absurdist parody comedy that doesn't take itself seriously
- The supernatural battle elements are genuine and the cast generates real comedic energy
- 11 volumes complete; committed absurdist action comedy with self-aware humor
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want absurdist action comedy with magical girl parody
- Anyone interested in zombie protagonist as a genuinely unusual starting point
- Fans of harem supernatural comedy with genuine action sequences
- Readers looking for complete shorter-form comedic action
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T+ (Older Teen) Content Warnings: Violence against supernatural enemies; moderate fan service including crossdressing elements; harem comedy; zombie content
T+ rating — older teen content; the fan service is present but not dominant.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★☆☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Ayumu Aikawa is dead. He was murdered by a serial killer and resurrected by Eucliwood Hellscythe, a necromancer who does not speak because her words have supernatural power. He is now a zombie — which means he heals from damage and cannot die again, but also means sunlight is problematic.
When he encounters Haruna, a magical garment girl (masou shoujo) fighting a supernatural enemy, he accidentally absorbs her powers. Now he fights in her place — in her transformation outfit, which fits him differently than intended — using abilities that were designed for someone else.
The series assembles a supernatural household — Eucliwood the silent necromancer, Haruna who wants her powers back, a vampire ninja named Seraphim — around Ayumu's zombie existence and the battles that follow.
Characters
Ayumu Aikawa — A protagonist whose zombie status is the series' most consistent joke and whose genuine concern for the people around him provides the emotional grounding.
Eucliwood Hellscythe — The silent necromancer whose inability to speak creates a specific comedic dynamic; her imagined dialogue is one of the series' recurring bits.
Haruna — The original magical garment girl whose practical personality contrasts with the supernatural circumstances.
Art Style
Sacchi's art handles the action sequences with clear choreography and the comedic situations (particularly Ayumu in magical girl outfit) with appropriate visual commitment to the absurdity. The character designs are distinctive.
Cultural Context
Is This a Zombie? is adapted from a light novel series. It ran as manga in Dragon Age from 2011 to 2015. The masou shoujo (magical garment girl) concept is a direct parody of the magical girl genre applied to a male protagonist in circumstances that lampoon the genre's conventions.
What I Love About It
Ayumu's commitment. He is in the outfit, he is doing the poses, he is saying the transformation lines. The series never winks at the absurdity from the outside — Ayumu is in it completely, which is funnier than embarrassed self-awareness would be.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Is This a Zombie? as a solid absurdist action comedy that rewards readers who enjoy committed absurdity — specifically noted for the zombie premise being used more consistently than expected, for Eucliwood's silent characterization being a genuinely effective comedic device, and for the magical girl parody not wearing thin. Recommended alongside other parody-action titles.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Any transformation sequence — the full commitment to the magical garment girl visual conventions applied to Ayumu — is the series' most specific comedic content and works best experienced rather than described.
Similar Manga
- Magical Girl Site — Magical girl concepts in different register
- Gushing Over Magical Girls — Magical girl parody in explicit register
- Ouran Host Club — Genre parody comedy with similar self-awareness
- Full Metal Panic! — Action comedy with fish-out-of-water protagonist
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Ayumu's zombie situation, Haruna's introduction, and the power transfer establish the premise.
Official English Translation Status
Yen Press published the complete English series. All 11 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Absurdist premise executed with commitment
- Eucliwood is an effectively comedic character
- Action and comedy balance is maintained
- Complete in 11 volumes
Cons
- Premise gimmick drives most of the comedy
- Character development is limited
- T+ content may not suit all readers
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Yen Press; complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Is This a Zombie? Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.