[Warning: Spoilers! Read and click at your own risk!]

There are very few anime that make me feel the way that Dorohedoro does. I've read plenty of anime and manga that feel similar to it, but that's about as close as they go. Chainsawman might be one good example. But you really have to dig deep to find that specific sort of anime or manga that's so shameless in its otherness, sincerity, celebration of life in spite of hard times, and... straight-up dark and apeshit sense of humor. And in doing so, all of this somehow doesn't feel out of place. Top that off with a rough and gritty, yet somehow light-hearted art style, memorable characters, and a storyline tying everything together, and what follows is an unforgettable read from start to finish.

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DOROHEDORO

Dorohedoro is a Seinen manga series created by Q Hayashida, which started all the way in 2000, and ending in 2018. It stars a man with an inexplicable reptilian head named Caiman, and his best friend Nikaido, traipsing the streets of the literal hellhole known as... the Hole. At the same time, there are Magic Users-- individuals with the ability to use different powers via the emission of black smoke-- snatching up innocents from the Hole for their own twisted reasons. One such Magic User, Caiman believes, was the one who transformed his head into how it is now along with a bad case of amnesia, and along with Nikaido, plans to find them and figure out his true identity in so doing.

THE WRITING

Dorohedoro is truly a class act when it comes to the writing, which I believe is a testament to how Hayashida frames her stories. In a world like the Hole, where life is hard, people lose their lives pretty frequently, fighting to survive is a necessity, etc., you would think-- you would believe, that this is is a pretty depressing series. That couldn't be further from the truth, though. If anti-nihilism could be defined using a manga, Dorohedoro could be a good candidate. The artstyle also has a similar feel-- rough and edgy with tons of gore and grit, but then you have panels of characters goofing off, smiling and laughing, and for a moment, it feels totally different and, eventually, right at home.

The characters' interactions feel real, like genuine friends, or people who can't stand each other's guts. You have that next-door neighbor you say hi to when taking a walk, or that one restaurant owner of whom you're a regular at. Of course, it's still very visceral and violent and disgusting, and there are sad and serious moments throughout, though they're effortlessly broken up by either off-the-wall insanity and weirdness, or a genuine, almost juvenile sense of fun at its core. Most of these characters have their own way of getting by, their own hopes and dreams, and even a source of happiness keeping them going even when living in such a bad spot, and it's weirdly compelling because you want to see where they end up by the time it's all over.

Caiman and Nikaido's relationship is legitimately one of my favorites in this medium; despite the two's clear differences in personality and upbringing, they genuinely care for one another, and it shows quite a bit in their dialogue and their actions.

Spoiler, click to view

One particular heart-to-heart with them stands out in my head, which takes place right before Caiman is put out of commission for a good chunk of the first half. That smile he gave Nikaido is one you go to war for. And after a lot of trial and tribulations, their eventual reunion near the finale is goddamn sweet.

A lot of other characters are like this as well-- En's an antagonist but is a great mushroom-obsessed boss to his workers; Noi is a perky tower of amazonian muscle, Ebisu... is Ebisu, and so on. Some characters you might not remember more than others, but their dynamics make sure they're most certainly not forgettable.

The manga is really good at immersing you in the world while somehow making you feel as if you know these characters personally, encouraging you to root for many of them despite their allegiance. The more you learn about Hole, the more you learn about the rest of the cast, and vice versa. As it goes on, it explores the status of many relationships, flipping them on their head or recontextualizing them the more the plot is revealed. By the very end, it'll feel like you had an entire tour of Hole in real time.

CONCLUSION

I'm still shocked this manga started 24 years ago, and I only learned about it 4 years back. Better late than never, though, because it's truly a diamond. Dorohedoro is one of those manga that sticks with you even after you finished it, for many reasons besides just the story and characters and worldbuilding. It touches upon bonds, the sense of self, morality, and so on, all while being a silly little manga about a knife-happy, gyoza-loving dude in a derelict society who sticks people's heads in his mouth and asks them what the man inside said to them. And I love it all the more for that. It's not flawless... but it most certainly stands out in spite of its flaws.