The Entire Thing's a Ship

This is a liveblog of Petshop of Horrors by someone who has read Petshop of Horrors too many times but can't stop. You can call me Red. The fan translations I reference are made by Ruthless Night Scans.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

Y'know, for someone who's suspicious of D, he is really just basing 90% of his actions tonight on the benefit of the doubt of D's words alone. What a guy.

In Tokyopop he says "Fucking A! Goddamn holiday traffic. I hate Christmas, D. I really do. Shit!" Let Leon say Fuck, I guess. Also I think the casual way he addresses D as he complains in that version is cute. XD

He's such a golden retriever! "I MUST BE INVOLVED!"

He is concerned... :3c Also he could totally try arresting D again at this point but he has completely switched gears in thinking the populace is in immediate danger. A one-track mind kinda guy but also easily switches tracks, lol.

Beautiful baby. :) Big baby. o_o

Again, Tokyopop inserts more familiarity that is really cute to me.

And NOW he's in disbelief. XD He was totally in it and wanting to be involved up until he's accused of co-parenting, lmao. In Tokyopop he says, "You're the one wearing a dress!" which high school me thought was a hilarious thing for him to lever his argument with. I think more than anything it makes Leon look more misogynistic, lol. (Did I refer to D as the mother earlier? My bad, it's obviously Leon.) And that's how I met these two! Chapter 5 was chapter 1 for me when I first read this series, and I gotta say, it definitely hooked me. :')

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

Leon, how DID you survive being a cop this long?? He's so goddamn gullible. 😭 Tokyopop took an interesting liberty with the last line and they have D say, "I couldn't grow the beard." dhjdsg. Why? Idk, at this point I am convinced that the translators valued humor over accuracy. Not very professional or fair to English readers, but... it makes this liveblog experience kinda hilarious.

Here's another thing I wish was revisited. He should assault Leon with his claws more often. Also love how Leon suspects this man of drug trafficking and murder but completely underestimates D's ability to resist arrest.

The difference between Leon defending himself and threatening D is so much. XD Ah... many people say that the Tokyopop version makes Leon into much more of an asshole than the original translation and I'm really seeing it. But honestly, I grew up with bastard cop Leon and I love him dearly for it.

Even still, he cannot resist the bishi eyes of our mystical monster egg mother.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

This is one of my favorite pages of the entire series. "The human habit of trying to understand the world with a limited knowledge of it... Is beyond foolish."

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

'Scuse me, D? Why would you trust this man with your store?? Maybe it's more that he trusts his pets to keep Leon in check while D hunts down the egg... Also the translators note is so funny to me. What does it say? Is it the equivalent of Japanese keyboard-smashing? I could see Leon's headspace having a dragon sound like that. (Also how does Leon know the spoilers in this chapter? 3 heads? 👀)

TO SAY THE LEAST, D! The Tokyopop translation just has him trail off and lets the reader imagine the end of that sentence. Admittedly it packs a bit more of a punch if D isn't even willing to describe what would happen. "...that would be frightening." is a little underwhelming. XD

Remembering this was my introduction chapter to the manga when I read it out of order... Ah, I really hoped this would be a recurring character. 😔Akino, why did you never bring back the dentist dominatrix? And ah yes, threatening to arrest them (I thought you were off-duty?) for the crime of speaking a foreign language. Honestly, Akino must have had some experience with American cops cuz she's got the satire of their attitudes pinned.

I am disagreeing with TP's choice here. Much funnier when he refers to Leon as an actual animal.

Also big disagree here. COMPLETELY different line that makes no sense to put here. Keep making fun of Leon in Chinese, it's better.

I love this page. Why are you asking, Leon? Curious about the Count's relationship status? >v> In any case, D's reaction is interesting to me, too, especially after reading the whole manga. He seems kind of... regretful? Abashed? I wonder if it's part of his insecurity about (spoilers) not feeling like he understands what love is, or that he can't have an intimate relationship with humans because of (spoilers) the nature of his family's work.

FRESHMAN HIGH SCHOOL ME HAD NO IDEA about the implications of this page pffffftftftftf. I was so naive.

Leon thinks his prime serial murder suspect just hooked up with a couple of kinky lovers in the middle of tracking down a purchasing error.

Oh, lord. Tokyopop makes this funnier by implying that... What, Leon? Off-duty officers are exempt from the law? Buddy... XD

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

Now, in the Tokyopop version Leon says, “You hear that? Is that crying?” which is very interesting. Do baby turtles make sounds like that when they hatch?

And...

“What’s your fucking problem? What’s with the yelling?” is what he says in Tokyopop’s version here. I little bit more vulgar language. ;;>w>

I really like this page because it shows the cultural differences pretty damn well with how they both envision a dragon. Leon’s is obviously very European with a coat of arms and everything. I bet he’s never even read Anne McCaffrey. u_u Count’s dragon is much more Chinese: clutching the stone, more serpentine, none of those leathery wings, even some stylized clouds hanging about it. I feel like even the sound effects accompanying them express how the cultures view dragons differently. European myths often showed dragons as brutish beasts to be vanquished, but from what I know of Chinese mythology, they see dragons as spirits of the sky and storms.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON (After many months, I return! I had started this chapter and then life happened, so this was in my drafts. Posting it now cuz I wanna get back into, baby!)

Ah, yes... So, since I couldn’t find the first volume all those years ago, this was the first chapter of this manga I ever, ever read. I had a very interesting introduction to these two, now that I look back..

Oooooh, my god. Q-chan says, “Spot on!” I laughed so hard. xD In the Tokyopop version they just put a little, “Kyu!” like they usual do.

I feel like all the wording here provides a different vibe. Count D also asking about family is a little less of a jab, I think. xD Also, looking at his worried face I feel like he’s kind of annoyed that Leon keeps showing up, even on his day off, but plays it as concern for Leon’s social life, lol. (“Why do you still come here?”) Also I do think that Leon’s reply in Tokyopop’s translation is a little more American. >v> But!! Also!!! Why is he there?? He doesn’t ever answer that. I assume he tells himself he is collecting more intel on D, even while off-duty, but like... It seems he just wants to go there to relax? As evidenced by the next page.

Love how D just... immediately starts serving Leon with hospitality. Kind of overdoing it, actually. Pretty sure he knows that it gets on Leon’s nerves. Scaring him off by telling him to eat bird bones didn’t work, so let’s be overly inviting. xD Looking at the introduction panel, there must be something significant about learning Leon’s first name.. look at those flowers. I wonder if D is analyzing the significance of his name representing a lion. He seems like the type to do that.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2! On the left is the Japanese cover and on the right is the one printed in English. Hmm... I do wonder how they choose which illustration to use. They are both beautiful. The colors of the left one and that butterfly’s incredible hand ornaments are really striking me, though. owo

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors, volume 1 PET CATALOG.

There are a few discrepancies between this and Tokyopop’s version. Instead of “shady hero” (which I love), they just call him “main character”. And... I also love how Ruthless Nights Scans says, “he just turned out as a funny guy.” xD Tokyopop says, “he just got more and more weird.” Both are great conclusions. Also Tokyopop’s note on the side calls Q-chan a “horned Valvertinger rabbit”, which is something I’ve never heard of before. I don’t know what valvertinger means. I looked it up and I’m just getting links to fanfictions.

There isn’t a lot of discrepancy between the two translations in the rest of the catalog.

I like the gore and splatter, though. :> Akino... What a basilisk actually looks like... I’m pretty sure they, too, are fictional. xD I like that she described what cultures inspired the outfits she drew! Also proof that yeah, even for her, drawing those gorgeous ensembles was a lot, lol.

Daughter sure had a lot of parallels: to human Alice’s life, and to real life history. Ugh, humans are stupid. I have never actually met a grown Doberman without their ears cropped. ;_; I bet they are still very handsome, though. That was volume 1! A good introduction to the series, its main characters, and its episodic style. Now I have to get through volumes 2 and 3 before they are due back at the library.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN 

But here he is.. She sees him as everyone else does.

The ending seems a bit rushed, but perhaps this chapter was too long and Akino had to compromise on page restrictions. The conclusion, though...

(Ruthless Night Scans’ version:)

(Tokyopop’s version:)

I don’t know wtf Tokyopop was doing. RNS’s translation makes a bit more sense. Also Leon’s comment, lol. He was barely in this chapter, just a little part near the beginning I didn’t comment on where he was explaining what the police knew of Karen’s situation. Even so, this is one of my favorite chapters. When I first read this manga, I actually started at volume 2, because volume 1 wasn’t at my library. I had to request it. When I came back and read the beginning, I was sad I had missed this gem. (I tended to do that a lot for some reason. I read New Moon before I read Twilight. I guess at that age I was just devouring stories and not giving a fuck, lol.)

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN

I just want to show off all these pages because I love how Akino transitions to black to show how confused Karen is in her blindness. That middle panel with the sharp, entangled lines really bring the mood of chaos. And then...

The last and first thing she sees is Edward. Before, he was killing, and now he is killed.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN 

FISHINESS REVEALED. But probably all Edward hears is barking.

That’s because her dog told her.

This is fucking heart-wrenching. ;_; In Tokyopop’s version she says, “He was like a brother.” I’m not sure if they are trying to make it look like she wasn’t in love with him or.. they just translated it weird. Because it makes the earlier scene where she’s yearning for him seem even weirder.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN

Ah, here she has learned to trust him. She is such a sweet and sympathetic person... And she finally gets to find out what a handsome dog-man he is. :)

And...

These pages always get me. ;~; Akino does a wonderful job of developing the relationship in this scene. Dreizehn is meant to be there for her, but she is here for him, feeling his pain for him that he probably doesn’t even remember. I knew when reading this that Doberman dogs have their ears cropped, but this was a very creative and effective way of making it part of the story. I hate that there are dog breeds where it’s just commonplace to chop off parts of their bodies. 8(

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN

Oh ho, maybe there were other reasons she didn’t want Edward to leave? >v> He is way too old for you, though, Karen. Also his name is Edward. That in itself is a red flag.

Oh, I like his German! The Tokyopop version just has him saying “Good morning” in English. Boring.

More adorable little faces.

Also I must ask again why this American household is using Japanese honorifics for their pets. But..... it’s manga so I should just ignore it, lol. It’s a good nickname for him. :)

lmao, As soon as her friends approve of his looks, Karen is totally chill with this man-dog. I wonder if she was assuming he was stuffy and militant-looking... But dobermans are a very handsome breed. >v>

He definitely proves his worth with this. She was probably about to knee Dreizehn in the balls until she realized he was saving her life... Dreizehn is a good boy.

(I can’t decide if I love or hate his haircut, though.)

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN 

lol I wonder if Edward just heard a dog bark when Dreizehn spoke.

Pretty convenient(?) that he’s going on this trip now, especially since he was acting so protective of Karen, trying to make sure she was safe from any suspicious folks who could want to off her. And now she super doesn’t want to be alone. :’v She may have been convinced back in the shop that Dreizehn was a protector, but I understand being blind and not wanting to be left alone with a weird, tall, stranger.

ghjhgj his little face.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN 

Ooooh, it’s very rare for there to be a two-page spread in this manga. Also, some emphasis on the incense again...  I think the fact that Karen has been a customer of Count D’s before is one of the only reasons she’s not running. I can imagine how scary it would be to expect a dog’s paw and find a human hand when you can’t see what you’re looking at. It seems that, to her, it would be scarier to be found by her parents’ killer, though. I appreciate Ruthless Nights Scans for putting the translator’s note in there. Tokyopop doesn’t do that.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 4: DREIZEHN

First off, excuse me, but I just love this sensual title page.

Also we get right into the tragedy with this chapter, whoo!

Oof.

Look at this. You know that if Count D is giving a look like that, there is something fishy about.

In the official translation, instead of “That might be true.” D says, “I understand.” I like Ruthless Nights Scans’ version better. The wording here makes it feel a bit more that D knows more than he’s letting on.

Oh that last panel is brilliantly placed. We are waiting to meet the dog, and here is the thrilling reveal. Also just want to mention how good the shading is on that glossy glove. 🤌

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 1, Chapter 3: DAUGHTER

(Ruthless Night Scans’ translation:) 

(Tokyopop’s translation:) 

The wording here feels very different. I actually really like how Tokyopop interpreted this, for once. 

The poetic justice of this chapter is just... so good. 🤌 But I wonder if poison actually works that way. I suppose the fact that the babies ate their mothers, they would even further be ingesting any poison that was in their mothers’ bodies. Ah, also, Leon’s hair is getting a little poofier. I think all the wild shit he goes through around Count D is reflected in his hairstyle. >v> 

Lmao, the Count is saying fucked-up shit again, just a little more subtle this time. I wonder what he says to Leon to get him off his case about this one...?