Comics / Manga

Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs Volume 5

By Leroy Douresseaux
October 9, 2007 - 10:23

Thanks to barnesandnoble.com for the image.

She has an almost supernatural connection with dogs and catches their poop in her hands.  When she approaches dogs, their excitement and happiness causes them to urinate.  She is Suguri Miyauchi, the 18-year-old star of the manga, Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs by Yukiya Sakuragi.

In Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs, Vol. 5, Suguri and her beloved mutt, Lupin, help a young girl who is into cutting to escape her problems at home.  Then, Suguri takes on the cause of Henry, a German shepherd that blames himself for the injuries his owner sustained.  Henry competes in agility sports, and with a show coming up, Henry needs a new human handler (or event partner).  Although she is a novice, Suguri takes on the task of making Henry a champion and helping heal his wounded spirit.

THE LOWDOWN:  Inubaka is clever and engaging, and quite surprising in the way it can draw the reader into the world of people who are intensely devoted to or involved with dogs.  Still, when one considers that Japanese comics have produced a work like Yakitate!! Japan, which takes place in the world of competitive bread baking, the publication of manga that is essentially “crazy about dogs” should be no surprise.

The wonder of Inubaka is the art of manga-ka Yukiya Sakuragi.  This manga is essentially a portfolio of Yakiya’s immaculate illustrations of canines and flawless cartooning of the human figure.  The draftsmanship of the drawings and the amazing textured illustrations Yukiya uses to create sumptuous dog fur are just too good for words.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Inubaka is simply a good story with an unusually appealing hook and art to die for.

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Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12