This is the fourth volume of the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service series, which I'm really enjoying! This volume includes a crossover with Mail.

Given that the cover-art depicts a liquefying corpse, it was a bit of a surprise to have the first story open with our heroes busily constructing... crop circles! (The corpse business has been slow, so their sometime cohort Sasayama has hired them to fake alien visitations to help improve tourism at a remote village.) But corpses always seem to find our gang - and this one clearly isn't human... [Since Yata supposedly channels aliens via his hand-puppet, he's especially excited about the possibilities here.] The story has a nice blend of heart-wrenching and humor, and makes several twists that surprised me.

The second story opens with a horror-story/urban-legend about travelers being set upon, which bemuses our gang on their way to a visit to a display of plastinated corpses. (Makino, the embalming expert, is especially interested in this.) Once the guys realize that the bodies are real ones, they can't resist attempting to have a chat, and then things get... er, well, complicated, with connections to historical atrocities, and some very present-day danger to our heroes. [Guiding/guarding spirit Yaichi makes a timely appearance here; I'm always glad to see him!]

He turns up in the third story, too, this time behind dowser Numata, apparently to lead the gang on a more indirect corpse-hunt than usual. This tale introduces Reiji Akiba, a character from Mail, who's something of an exorcist; here, his interests and those of the gang combine. [Reiji is able to see Yaichi - and even photograph him; it doesn't seem to surprise Karatsu too much to learn that he's being haunted (an "old friend", he says), but it is the first time he's seen him...]

The last story features an over-the-top American insect-specialist - and, naturally, some very bug-ridden corpses. (Poor Karatsu doesn't want to touch the juicier ones, but does learn something odd - unlike most bodies, who just want to go home or to have the truth of their deaths known, this one says "I want to become a bird"...)

There are some exceptionally squicky bits in this story, even for a series that specializes in squick; it's even got one of those "I wish I hadn't turned that page just now" panels {wry grin}.

As always, the end-notes are fascinating and sometimes hilarious - and occasionally chilling, as in the notes about the real-life Unit 731...

[There's a TV Tropes page on the series, with some entertaining tidbits.]

This book's going into AlterEgoZoe's Manga/Manhwa bookbox, which will be on its way to BCer azuki in Florida today. Hope someone enjoys the book!

Thanks for another volume of this series!
Looks like we get an alien ghost, and an episode about those human body exhibition (which I have never been too, and not due to lack of chance)?

Really enjoy this volume with four stories. My favorite is the last one about the birds, as I totally did not guess the reason for the deaths. This is the first time I heard of the parasite Leucochloridium, and when I read about it, I have to admire the author for creating such interesting story based on such unusual animal. (You have to google it and see how beautiful the poor infected snail becomes...) Numata's comment on the last page makes it sounds almost romantic.

There are a few interesting characters that debuted in this volume, all looking like we will see them again. Including a girl from Ohio who loves bugs-- including munching on them. Can't wait to get my hands on more volumes!!

This is now heading to VeganMedusa. Not exactly a wishlist RABCK as she doesn't have this on her wishlist yet, just vol 1. But I am hoping that she will be hooked and eventually would want to read this too. Actually I think she can skip vol 1 and just jump in and enjoy. : )

Thank you, azuki!

I agree the parasitic snails were great fun. And I liked the monkey/alien story - mysterious but with a rational explanation in the end.
Endnotes for the second story were very educational for me.

Now travelling to shnedwards.

Aaaand, here's the last one. Thanks for sending these on to me, VM. Now I just need to find a lockable cabinet to keep them in while they're waiting to be read. DD has recently started really getting into comics, and these aren't the Beano, that's for sure.

I liked the first story best, it made me laugh.

Putting Vol. 5 on my wishlist riiiight... NOW!

Leaving on the NSS table for pippis

Thank you shnedwards! I'm not a big fan of manga, but Kurosagi series' grisly, dark, but humorous stories tickle my reading buds the right way. Maybe it's also the less girly style that makes me like them better than other manga series. It was great meeting you in Göteborg!

Oh wow, what a mixture of reality and fantasy this was! All the elements of Kurosagi gang were there and I didn't even mind the more natural outcomes at all. I do wish Ao's clothing were a bit more realistic though, I really don't understand the style (err..or whatever) she's been given.
The monkey story was absolutely fascinating and got the imagination running wild on all things that could have happened during the space race. The baby story was slighly creepy but not so credible since I haven't met a public storage locker without a timer door for ages. The insect story then...I'm sorry but why did there have to be that weird bimbo character with bimbo clothing? All the time I was expecting her to make a trip to a panty vending machine... The parasite was simply disgusting and I couldn't believe that such creature actually exists! Once again I'm very grateful for living in a country with no poisonous spiders/snakes etc or any other creepy creatures. But still I guess I won't be looking at regular garden snails the same way ever again...

Btw, did you know you can read the series online? http://kissmanga.com/Manga/Kurosagi-Shitai-Takuhaibin That's not the only site you can find on, so just google the name of the series if the site doesn't work for you.

I'm sending the book to hippolein with a courier. There just might be a reader in his household for this manga!

The book's in safe hands and will be delivered to hippolein in Helsinki.

Book arrived safely in Vuosaari now, my daughter will have a look -- I think we have some other part of this series at home too. Bit of search action...