Comics / Manga

Inubaka: Volume 7

By Leroy Douresseaux
February 14, 2008 - 09:19

Thanks to barnesandnoble.com for the image.

Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs is mostly set in a pet shop, a branch of the “Woofles” chain.  There, the customers will find Suguri Miyauchi, an 18-year-old who has an almost supernatural connection with dogs and even catches their poop in her hands.  All alone except for her loyal mutt, Lupin, Suguri lands her first job at “Woofles,” where she meets and helps an assortment of quirky dogs and even quirkier owners.

In Inubaka, Vol. 7, Suguri meets a young girl who misses her deceased younger brother.  When Suguri spots the girl staring at a particularly quirky dachshund puppy, Suguri lets the child hold the puppy, but as soon as Suguri turns her back the little girl spirits the dog away.  Now, the search is on to find the little thief and retrieve a dog that hasn’t had all its shots.

Also, Teppei Iida, branch manager at the “Woofles” where Suguri is employed, hires a new groomer.  Momoko Takeuchi is the clipper extraordinaire – able to give just about any customer’s dog the perfect haircut for that particular pooch.  What the staff doesn’t know about their new co-worker is that Momoko is having deep troubles in her personal life, but it’s Suguri to the rescue, hoping to work the same kind of miracles for Momoko that she can for dogs.

THE LOWDOWN:  I could tell you that manga-ka Yukiya Sakuragi cartoons the human figure in a style close to Shane Glines (“Batman: The Animated Series), creating pages full of beautifully drawn humans characters.  I could also rave about Sakuragi’s stunning photo-realistic drawings of Inubaka’s hugely diverse cast of dog breeds.

What I will emphasize is that Inubaka features superb storytelling, full of rich character drama and engaging heart-rending melodrama.  Inubaka tugs at the heart with chapter upon chapter of emotionally charged storytelling that could melt the most frozen heart.  It has the power to make a dog lover of anyone.  Inubaka could be the feel good manga of the year.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Anyone who loves dogs will love this; even dog owners who don’t read comics would be taken by this series.

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Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12