Highschool of the Dead Full Color Omnibus (Volumes 1 & 2) Review

Zombie hordes, high school drama, and now everything in full color – Highschool of the Dead has never looked better. Yen Press’s Full Color Omnibus Editions of the cult-classic manga collect the entire series into two gorgeous hardcover volumes. In this long-form review, we’ll dive into what makes these omnibus editions special, from the vibrant artwork and deluxe format to the bonus content and overall reading experience. Is this deluxe edition worth the upgrade for fans and newcomers alike? Let’s find out!

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse – Story Overview

Highschool of the Dead (HOTD) is a wild blend of zombie apocalypse horror and high-octane action, sprinkled with a generous dose of ecchi (fanservice) humor. The story follows a group of high school students (and their school nurse) trying to survive when a sudden zombie outbreak overruns their city. Led by teenager Takashi Komuro, the ragtag team bands together to fight their way through flesh-hungry hordes and societal collapse.

This manga feels like a B-movie zombie thriller in the best way – it’s over-the-top, gory, and gloriously fun. Expect intense fights with the undead, improvised weapons, and adrenaline-fueled escapes at every turn. HOTD doesn’t shy away from showing the dark side of humanity during a crisis either, as our heroes encounter both allies and dangerous human threats. It’s definitely a mature readers title (rated 18+) with graphic violence and some racy fanservice moments. (In fact, the manga has “less” gratuitous fanservice than its anime adaptation, so if the anime was too much for you, the manga might be more your speed.) Overall, if you enjoy zombie survival stories with action and adult humor, HOTD delivers an entertaining ride – even if it never got a proper ending due to the series being left unfinished.

What Makes the Full Color Omnibus Edition Special?

The Highschool of the Dead Full Color Omnibus Editions aren’t your typical manga volumes. These books are premium collector’s items that compile the entire series in just two tomes, with a ton of upgrades. Here’s a quick rundown of the key features that set these editions apart:

• Complete Series in 2 Volumes: Omnibus Volume 1 collects original volumes 1–4 (about 704 pages) and Volume 2 collects volumes 5–7 (about 612 pages). Together, they contain all of HOTD’s published chapters, neatly split into two books.
• Fully Colored Pages: Every page is in full color. The original manga was mostly black-and-white (with only a few color inserts), but these editions have been painstakingly colorized cover-to-cover, bringing the chaos to life.
• Large Hardcover Format: These books are oversized (approximately 7.5 x 10.5 inches) hardcover editions. The larger pages mean more detail in every panel, and the sturdy hardback + dust jacket make for a durable, coffee-table–worthy presentation.
• High-Quality Glossy Paper: Printed on thick, semi-glossy paper stock (similar to a deluxe comic book), the printing quality is outstanding. Colors appear vivid and crisp, with deep blacks and eye-popping highlights. The gore, explosions, and yes, the fanservice, all look extra sharp in this format.
• Bonus Content & Extras: Each omnibus is packed with extras, including full-color illustrations, concept art and character sketches, creator interviews, and commentary scattered throughout. There’s even hidden artwork under the dust jacket and other fun bonuses for dedicated fans to discover.
• Collector’s Value: With a cover price around $45 USD each (and often on sale), each omnibus costs roughly the same as buying the equivalent individual volumes. You’re getting a deluxe edition for about the price of the paperbacks, making it a great value for what’s included.

Simply put, these Full Color Editions were designed to be the definitive way to experience Highschool of the Dead. But do they live up to the hype? Let’s break down the experience of reading these volumes.

Art & Colorization – Breathing New Life into HOTD

The most obvious difference in these editions is right there in the name: full color. And the colorization work here is top-notch. Rather than slapping simple hues over the original art, the team carefully re-mastered each panel from the ground up. The result is a manga that feels almost like a high-quality graphic novel or anime stills on paper, without losing the detail of Shouji Sato’s original line art.

How does the color change the reading experience?

For starters, the bloody scenes and chaotic zombie moments are even more immersive. The bright splashes of blood, the sickly green of decaying zombies, the fiery explosions – everything hits harder visually when it’s in color. Gory panels that might blur together in grayscale now command your attention (for better or worse!). Likewise, character designs get extra flair: the unique hair colors, outfits, and weapon effects stand out distinctly, helping each character pop off the page.

The artwork in Highschool of the Dead was already great in black and white, but seeing it in color adds a new dimension. The atmosphere and emotion of scenes come through more strongly – you can almost feel the panicked mood during sunset escape scenes with warm orange skies, or the eerie tension of night battles under pale moonlight. Subtle details, like the color of a character’s eyes or the blood on a baseball bat, make the scenes more cinematic. If you’re a fan of the original art, these editions let you appreciate Sato’s detailed line work in a new light (literally!), and if you’re a first-time reader, it’s a fantastic way to jump in.

Build Quality & Design

A huge part of what makes these omnibus editions shine is their physical presentation. Build quality is stellar. Each volume is a sturdy hardcover with a glossy dust jacket. The cover art on the dust jacket is vibrant and poster-worthy, and there are even some glossy embossed accents (like blood splatters and fingerprints) on the jacket design – a really cool touch for a horror series. Under the dust jacket, the hardcover itself is printed with full-color art as well, so it looks great even without the jacket.

At about 1.5–1.8 inches thick and weighing a few pounds each, these books are hefty. Fortunately, they’re well-bound with a sewn binding, meaning they have a nice “eye” in the spine that allows the pages to lie flat. You won’t have to struggle to keep the book open – it stays open on its own, which is a blessing for such large volumes. Reading through, I never felt like I was fighting the binding or losing artwork in the gutter. Despite the size, the reading experience is comfortable, whether you’re holding the book in your lap or laying it on a table.

The larger page format (around the size of a standard American graphic novel) really elevates the artwork. Fine details in the line art are easier to see, and action scenes feel more impactful at this scale. From an aesthetic perspective, the omnibus editions look beautiful on the shelf. The spines line up to form a cohesive design, and the overall look screams “collector’s edition.” If you love to display your manga, HOTD Full Color will definitely draw attention.

Extra Content & Bonus Features

Fans who crave bonus material won’t be disappointed. Both omnibus volumes come loaded with extras that go beyond the story chapters. Here are some highlights of the bonus content you’ll find inside:

• Creator Commentary & Interviews: Throughout the books, there are sections where writer Daisuke Sato and artist Shouji Sato share insights. You’ll get some behind-the-scenes commentary on certain scenes and an interview that delves into their creative process and thoughts on the series.
• Art Galleries: Each volume includes a gallery of full-color illustrations – everything from original cover art and promotional pieces to concept illustrations. These splash pages are printed on the same high-quality paper, making them perfect for appreciating the artwork in detail.
• Concept Sketches & Designs: You’ll find pages of character sketches, weapon designs, and notes that show how the visual style developed. It’s a treat for those of us who love seeing the artistry behind the scenes.
• Bonus Scenes & Fun Extras: Without spoiling anything, there are a few playful extra scenes and omake-style panels included. There’s even a surprise full-color poster image hidden on the inner side of the dust jacket – a neat Easter egg for owners of the physical book.

These extras make the omnibuses feel like a collector’s archive of all things Highschool of the Dead. It’s not just the manga in color; it’s the manga plus a mini artbook and author’s notes. For die-hard fans, this additional content is a huge draw, and even casual readers will appreciate the added context and fun it provides.

Pros and Cons of the Full Color Editions

By now it’s clear that I’m impressed with these editions. But let’s summarize the main pros and cons to give you a quick overview:

• Pros: Complete series in two books (saves space), stunning full-color artwork that enhances the story, larger pages and hardcover binding for a premium feel, lays flat for easy reading, loads of bonus content and art, and great value considering the quality and amount of material.
• Cons: The story is sadly incomplete (the manga ends abruptly since the author passed away), which can be frustrating. Also, each omnibus is quite large and heavy – not very portable for on-the-go reading. Lastly, the series’ mature content (gore and fanservice) isn’t for everyone, so if you prefer tame manga, this isn’t the title for you.

Honestly, there aren’t many negatives specific to these editions themselves – they’re about as good as it gets for a manga release. Any downsides are more about the series in general (its unfinished status and niche content). In terms of production quality, Yen Press knocked it out of the park with this release.

Final Thoughts – Is It Worth It?

So, are the Highschool of the Dead Full Color Omnibus editions worth picking up? In my opinion, absolutely yes – especially if you’re a fan of action-horror or you enjoyed HOTD in the past. These books deliver the definitive reading experience for the series. The story itself might not have closure, but the ride is a blast, and experiencing it with such gorgeous artwork and presentation makes it even better. I found myself fully immersed in the zombie mayhem, appreciating details I hadn’t noticed before, all thanks to the vivid colors and larger format.

For newcomers, this is hands-down the best way to read Highschool of the Dead. You’ll get the whole (albeit incomplete) story in two beautiful volumes that won’t fall apart on you. For existing fans who maybe already own the original black-and-white paperbacks, the Full Color Edition is a worthwhile upgrade if you love the series. It’s a joy to see the artwork in color, and the extras and improved build quality add a lot of value. Even if you typically don’t double-dip on manga, HOTD Full Color might convince you – it feels like a fresh experience.

In the end, Highschool of the Dead Full Color Omnibus 1 & 2 are a love letter to the series and its fans. They take an already entertaining zombie romp and amplify it with beautiful production. From the chaotic zombie battles to the quiet character moments, everything just shines in this edition. It’s a shame we may never get more of the story, but what’s here is presented in the best possible way. I highly recommend these omnibuses to anyone who enjoys horror-action manga or collector’s edition releases.

Have you checked out the HOTD Full Color Edition or are you thinking about it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! If you found this review helpful, feel free to share it with fellow manga fans who might appreciate a little undead chaos in living color. Thanks for reading, and happy zombie hunting!