Viz Media's Viz Originals One-Shots program, a platform for emerging English-language manga artists, has delivered a gem in hakei's DeadAss. Available for free on Viz.com and the Viz app, this one-shot defies expectations, proving to be a surprisingly emotional and well-crafted story.
The premise alone is enough to pique interest: James, a man suffering from chronic hemorrhoids caused by a haunting. But DeadAss quickly moves beyond the initial absurdity. Hakei, known for Your Wings and Mine on Webtoon and Achilles and the Boy Next Door on Tapas, delivers a brisk 50-page read that explores a range of emotions.
To say more about the plot would spoil the experience. Suffice it to say, the story takes unexpected turns after James learns his "butthole is literally haunted," venturing into surprisingly poignant territory.
As former Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi Sasaki notes, hakei possesses the rare ability to blend humor and heart, the very essence of compelling manga. DeadAss is a testament to that. It's silly, it's gross, it's dramatic, and, above all, it's sincere.
Hakei's skill in crafting a short story shines through, skillfully foreshadowing future revelations while allowing emotional moments the space to resonate, despite the limited page count. DeadAss is a surprising exploration of guilt disguised as a comedy about a ghost causing a man to expel blood from his rectum with alarming force. Go read it – it's free and worth every minute.