MANGA REVIEW | "The Way of the Househusband" - Volume Thirteen
Our star may be called Tatsu the Immortal Dragon, but The Way of the Househusband hasn’t been immune to poor storytelling. For a while now, the series has had its ups and downs regarding its entertainment value. In fact, I had feared that author Kensuke Oono might have taken his former yakuza characters as far as he could, resulting in now-stale writing from here on out. But surprisingly, Volume Thirteen of The Way of the Househusband proves that there’s still plenty of gas left in its tank.
How does this volume of The Way of the Househusband start off? Well, why not pigs?! Watching as a wild boar terrorizes Tatsu and the gang never gets tiresome, as it rams into the tough guys like a bowling ball making a perfect strike. But the real punchline is who puts a stop to the boar, and it’s the least-likely person you could imagine. It makes for a strong opening chapter, as it showcases how good this manga is with physical comedy.
A late-night fried chicken dilemma also shows Oono’s way of having fun with his characters, especially when Tatsu gets involved in Miku’s midnight munching. But it’s Tatsu that becomes the butt of the joke in a figure skating incident, as the tough guy has the grace of a newborn giraffe. Thankfully, he, Miku, and one other surprising fellow come in with the last laugh. A returns to play shogi, and her reaction to each loss she conjures up will have any reader bursting with laughter.
Hay fever is no joke, but that doesn’t stop Tatsu from bringing some good laughs to those who suffer from it. One certain tough guy goes to great lengths to battle those seasonal allergies, only for him to look more ridiculous than intimidating in the long run. An old man lost in the woods would’ve been another great chance to see Tatsu play hero in a wild way. However, he’s overshadowed by two dogs, one of whom goes full kooky when he gets him nom-noms!
Tatsu’s househusband strengths are put to the test when a rival gang member returns from prison. What could’ve been an excuse for a bloodbath instead transforms into a silly woodworking competition. The skills both tough men have would put a tear in Nick Offerman’s eye, although I reckon even he would mistaken the former prisoner for a certain friend-shaped killer. (To be fair, he looks like he really loves salmon.)
Miku’s father takes the wheel when he and Tatsu go car camping. It’s a sweet chapter that shows how much father-in-law and son-in-law have grown closer. A little cooking, stargazing, and even a late-night movie watch demonstrate the bond they’ve forged together. Even when a certain stranger comes around to explain certain etiquettes, it does nothing to ruin the quality family time the car camping creates.
There’s a lot of big laughs and warmth in the thirteenth volume of The Way of the Househusband. It goes to show that despite past poor volumes, Oono’s still working hard to bring some solid humor to his series. Perhaps it’s good that many other characters are joining the fold, as it adds freshness to this series. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of these new and recurring characters in the future, as it seems to be the thing The Way of the Househusband needs to keep the laughter going.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
