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ドロヘドロ [Dorohedoro] #22
Dorohedoro, Vol. 22
A twisted tale of sadistic Sorcerers and the monsters they create.
In a city so dismal it's known only as "the Hole," a clan of Sorcerers has been plucking people off the streets to use as guinea pigs for atrocious "experiments" in the black arts. In a dark alley, Nikaido found Caiman, a man with a reptile head and a bad case of amnesia. To undo the spell, they're hunting and killing the Sorcerers in the Hole, hoping that eventually they'll kill the right one. But when En, the head Sorcerer, gets word of a lizard-man slaughtering his people, he sends a crew of "cleaners" into the Hole, igniting a war between two worlds.
On their journey through a hellish landscape, Caiman and Nikaido finally get intimate…sort of! Assisted (?) by Chidaruma, the Professor, Asu and more, the pair continue their quest to unravel the mystery that is Caiman, and what it will reveal for the future of the Sorcererss world and the poor souls of the Hole.
In a city so dismal it's known only as "the Hole," a clan of Sorcerers has been plucking people off the streets to use as guinea pigs for atrocious "experiments" in the black arts. In a dark alley, Nikaido found Caiman, a man with a reptile head and a bad case of amnesia. To undo the spell, they're hunting and killing the Sorcerers in the Hole, hoping that eventually they'll kill the right one. But when En, the head Sorcerer, gets word of a lizard-man slaughtering his people, he sends a crew of "cleaners" into the Hole, igniting a war between two worlds.
On their journey through a hellish landscape, Caiman and Nikaido finally get intimate…sort of! Assisted (?) by Chidaruma, the Professor, Asu and more, the pair continue their quest to unravel the mystery that is Caiman, and what it will reveal for the future of the Sorcererss world and the poor souls of the Hole.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2017
About the author
Q. Hayashida
104 books644 followersQ Hayashida (林田球, Hayashida Kyu) is a manga author from Tokyo.
Hayashida studied oil painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. She has discussed her childhood and artistic inspirations in interviews but maintains a high level of privacy about her personal life, to the point that her true name and face are unknown.
Hayashida's first major manga was Maken X Another (1999-2001), a comic book adaptation of a video game.
Her most famous work is the 23-volumes long Dorohedoro (2000-2018). It was originally serialised in the alternative manga magazine 'Monthly Ikki', but it was later moved to 'Hibana' when Ikki ceased publication, and finally transferred to 'Monthly Shōnen Sunday'. Dorohedoro has been partially adapted into an anime on Netflix in 2018.
Hayashida's most recent manga series Dai Dark began serialisation in 2019 in the pages of Monthly Shōnen Sunday.
Hayashida studied oil painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. She has discussed her childhood and artistic inspirations in interviews but maintains a high level of privacy about her personal life, to the point that her true name and face are unknown.
Hayashida's first major manga was Maken X Another (1999-2001), a comic book adaptation of a video game.
Her most famous work is the 23-volumes long Dorohedoro (2000-2018). It was originally serialised in the alternative manga magazine 'Monthly Ikki', but it was later moved to 'Hibana' when Ikki ceased publication, and finally transferred to 'Monthly Shōnen Sunday'. Dorohedoro has been partially adapted into an anime on Netflix in 2018.
Hayashida's most recent manga series Dai Dark began serialisation in 2019 in the pages of Monthly Shōnen Sunday.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 21, 2021
This was an absolutely killer volume. Everything about it was just so wonderfully done; so well drawn and not at all rushed out. I know this is my first seinen, but it would be hard for anyone to beat this
November 24, 2019
one more to go. i don't think i'm ready to say goodbye yet :(
July 24, 2022
No, you're crying. I'm so afraid of how this gory wonderful craziness will end.
August 20, 2019
The twisted humor and graphic horror continues, and now we've got Nikaido fully transformed into a demon, and her time magic being used far more than in previous volumes making things more complicated and difficult to follow. Holey steals the show in this volume with its checklist of reasons to hate sorcerers, and its pockets of many surprises including a giant knife and fork. The artwork is like that in the other volumes, with a distinctive scratchy style, and massive amounts of gore, severed limbs, and effluvia. Does the story itself make any sense? I'm not entirely sure, but it is a fun ride. And as usual, there is at least one mention of gyoza.
December 24, 2020
I'm almost scared to read the end of this great series but this epic journey is still awesome even at the 22nd volume.
August 27, 2021
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
February 24, 2025
4.5/4
This second to last volume of the series features all the best of Dorohedoro: violence, humour, and loveable characters. I don’t pretend to understand how the time travel rules work, and I have no idea why Nikaido lost her devil powers. Holey’s rampage with Chidaruma’s commentary was exquisite. I love the skinless sorcerers scheming to get their devil powers back, and I love Store that chopped them up. Feeling very sad that the series is ending, but I’m excited to see what Hayashida has in store for the climax.
This second to last volume of the series features all the best of Dorohedoro: violence, humour, and loveable characters. I don’t pretend to understand how the time travel rules work, and I have no idea why Nikaido lost her devil powers. Holey’s rampage with Chidaruma’s commentary was exquisite. I love the skinless sorcerers scheming to get their devil powers back, and I love Store that chopped them up. Feeling very sad that the series is ending, but I’m excited to see what Hayashida has in store for the climax.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2026
All has finally been revealed, and Kaiman has accepted who he is and has been, and is willing to do whatever it takes to destroy Hole and save the world. At the same time En is using all his magic to keep everyone protected within a mushroom, and Noi too is reaching her limit on healing him...
I am really enjoying this final fight, when something goes wrong another twist supports the fight and keeps it going. I've had so much fun with Dorohedoro, and am more than ready to finally read how it all plays out. I just hope we get a decent epilogue!
I am really enjoying this final fight, when something goes wrong another twist supports the fight and keeps it going. I've had so much fun with Dorohedoro, and am more than ready to finally read how it all plays out. I just hope we get a decent epilogue!
December 26, 2023
Tan solo queda un tomo más para acabar Dorohedoro y no sé si estoy preparada. Muy, muy buen tomo; menuda recta final está teniendo esta obra.
September 8, 2024
Brick by Brick!! Mindblow end soon :(
June 15, 2025
I read this one so fast! Great penultimate volume!
June 29, 2025
I don't want it to be over...
December 31, 2025
9/10
Killing a character multiple times in one volume is crazy. Genuinely just in shock at all times and so scared and excited to see how things end!!!
Killing a character multiple times in one volume is crazy. Genuinely just in shock at all times and so scared and excited to see how things end!!!
March 2, 2022
Things have finally come to a head, and the ongoing final battle is absolutely incredible! Hole in its final form is an utterly terrifying antagonist that looks like something Junji Ito would have nightmares about. I could talk about the time travel, the desperate gambits, the characters who die, come back, and die again(?), and the emotional rollercoaster this volume has in store...but what it all boils down to is, this is a fantastic volume that paves the way for a fantastic ending to a fantastic series.
There's just one book left, and I really don't want this story to end, even though I know it'll all be worth it.
There's just one book left, and I really don't want this story to end, even though I know it'll all be worth it.
October 6, 2021
TW: Strong language, blood & gore, graphic violence, murder, body horror, decapitated heads, substance, transfiguration & nudity
Rating: 5 stars
JUST...ONE...VOLUME...LEFT.
No extensive summary for vol 22 & 23
I thought that volume 21 was the saddest but I CRIED READING THIS.
What a gruesome start. The birth of Hole Kun is here. Chidaruma dotted on his new 'friend'.
Hole Kun's goal is to kill all sorcerers and he(?) is actually quite funny? I laughed when he listed down the things that he hated about sorcerers. The man's hatred is real.
Also, my eyes are blessed thanks to the many big panels! They're gritty and raw but so bloody beautiful. I couldn't stop staring.
AND OH! So many Nikaiman scenes. I am grateful for that too. This friendship will wreck me.
I was filled with so many emotions reading this one. I was laughing (Kawajiri's payback dance is adorable lol), crying, anxious and more. I read somewhere that this series was supposed to end at Vol 22 but I'm glad that it didn't. I still need answers. ESPECIALLY IF CAIMAN WOULD END UP HELPING NIKAIDO AT THE RESTAURANT? PLEASE CONFIRM IT, Q SENSEI!
It's sad knowing that he may not get his face back but it's a small price to pay to help his friends.
The list of the devil's sorcerer names & their magic was fun to read! What will become of them, I wonder? It would be cool if they stayed as sorcerers but hopefully, they will be turned into devils again. Chidaruma is playing dirty. He hasn't exactly won the bet.
Important stuff that happened
1) Nikaido became a full devil (but turned back to normal after her magic is finished)
2) Kawajiri used his magic to escape with Nikaido & Caiman (he teleported to the devil's black house)
3) Other devils were demoted brutally to sorcerers. Prof Kasukabe is still a zombie. He bit Caiman but Caiman seems to be immune to him/it
4) It was Nikaido (CALLED IT! check my review) who advised them to get the store knife. She went back in time for a good reason
5) What's up with that huge door at the sorcerers' realm? Is there a way to stop the rain? Kirion is still investigating
6) With the grace of the devils-turned-sorcerers, Caiman became a sorcerer (something he hated). It's the only way to take Hole-Kun down (Hole's power is still part of Ai. Hole took advantage of Ai but his mind is still his. Caiman is a part of Ai and he is the only 'vessel' left )
I can't wait to see his magic! It's a combination of the devils-turned-sorcerers powers!
Why I cried
1) En promises to keep his family safe after being resurrected (and he kept his promise (for now). He is clearly trying his best by spewing magic non-stop so they won't get hurt by the acid inside of Hole. Also, kudos to my girl, Noi! )
2) When devil Nikaido was defeated, as Caiman runs to help her, he started getting flashbacks of Nikaido, which is just so HEARTBREAKING *ugh I can't wait for these scenes to be animated. I'm gonna cry even harder, I'm sure* imagine the addition of muffled background noises & all that chaos, UGH WHEN IS SEASON 2 COMING??? I CAN ALREADY ENVISION IT ALL
I am not ready to end this manga series. It has been a delightful and weird experience. I don't want to say goodbye mainly because I've grown attached to the characters. Despite being bloody and gory, this is my comfort manga. I'm glad that I decided to re-read vol 1-21 before starting 22. It's like the universe deliberately delayed the arrival of my volume 22 so I can connect even more to the plot and a great group of characters. Also, devour Q sensei's art in all its glory.
Rating: 5 stars
JUST...ONE...VOLUME...LEFT.
No extensive summary for vol 22 & 23
I thought that volume 21 was the saddest but I CRIED READING THIS.
What a gruesome start. The birth of Hole Kun is here. Chidaruma dotted on his new 'friend'.
Hole Kun's goal is to kill all sorcerers and he(?) is actually quite funny? I laughed when he listed down the things that he hated about sorcerers. The man's hatred is real.
Also, my eyes are blessed thanks to the many big panels! They're gritty and raw but so bloody beautiful. I couldn't stop staring.
AND OH! So many Nikaiman scenes. I am grateful for that too. This friendship will wreck me.
I was filled with so many emotions reading this one. I was laughing (Kawajiri's payback dance is adorable lol), crying, anxious and more. I read somewhere that this series was supposed to end at Vol 22 but I'm glad that it didn't. I still need answers. ESPECIALLY IF CAIMAN WOULD END UP HELPING NIKAIDO AT THE RESTAURANT? PLEASE CONFIRM IT, Q SENSEI!
It's sad knowing that he may not get his face back but it's a small price to pay to help his friends.
The list of the devil's sorcerer names & their magic was fun to read! What will become of them, I wonder? It would be cool if they stayed as sorcerers but hopefully, they will be turned into devils again. Chidaruma is playing dirty. He hasn't exactly won the bet.
Important stuff that happened
1) Nikaido became a full devil (but turned back to normal after her magic is finished)
2) Kawajiri used his magic to escape with Nikaido & Caiman (he teleported to the devil's black house)
3) Other devils were demoted brutally to sorcerers. Prof Kasukabe is still a zombie. He bit Caiman but Caiman seems to be immune to him/it
4) It was Nikaido (CALLED IT! check my review) who advised them to get the store knife. She went back in time for a good reason
5) What's up with that huge door at the sorcerers' realm? Is there a way to stop the rain? Kirion is still investigating
6) With the grace of the devils-turned-sorcerers, Caiman became a sorcerer (something he hated). It's the only way to take Hole-Kun down (Hole's power is still part of Ai. Hole took advantage of Ai but his mind is still his. Caiman is a part of Ai and he is the only 'vessel' left )
I can't wait to see his magic! It's a combination of the devils-turned-sorcerers powers!
Why I cried
1) En promises to keep his family safe after being resurrected (and he kept his promise (for now). He is clearly trying his best by spewing magic non-stop so they won't get hurt by the acid inside of Hole. Also, kudos to my girl, Noi! )
2) When devil Nikaido was defeated, as Caiman runs to help her, he started getting flashbacks of Nikaido, which is just so HEARTBREAKING *ugh I can't wait for these scenes to be animated. I'm gonna cry even harder, I'm sure* imagine the addition of muffled background noises & all that chaos, UGH WHEN IS SEASON 2 COMING??? I CAN ALREADY ENVISION IT ALL
I am not ready to end this manga series. It has been a delightful and weird experience. I don't want to say goodbye mainly because I've grown attached to the characters. Despite being bloody and gory, this is my comfort manga. I'm glad that I decided to re-read vol 1-21 before starting 22. It's like the universe deliberately delayed the arrival of my volume 22 so I can connect even more to the plot and a great group of characters. Also, devour Q sensei's art in all its glory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2022
The last few volumes of Dorohedoro have been consistently great and vol. 22 is no exception. We pick up with The Hole personified emerging from the drained dumping lake and meeting Chidaruma. It then sets about exterminating all the sorcerers who have escaped the rain in the sorcerers' world to the city known as The Hole.
Much of the volume follows this action, while Caiman, Nikaido, Asu (Kawajiri), the professor and what remains of the devils are holed up with Store in the Black House, trying to figure out who (or what) Caiman is exactly. Minor plot movement- which are really just reminders that these characters exist- happens elsewhere: En's family is stuck in the Hole, personified; while Kirion is trying to figure out what is going on with the rain.
Volume 22 has an excellent blend of absurdity, ridiculous violence and story reveals that fans will love. However, the time travel aspects of the plot are quite difficult to follow and confusing. It's not clear how Nikaido's magic box ends up in the hands of the various characters in which it does and the way the characters declaim apparent explanations is neither clear nor particularly slick writing. Hayashida continues to use double-page spreads well, albeit more sparingly than in the previous volume.
Things certainly feel like they're coming to a head in the Hole and The Hole.
Much of the volume follows this action, while Caiman, Nikaido, Asu (Kawajiri), the professor and what remains of the devils are holed up with Store in the Black House, trying to figure out who (or what) Caiman is exactly. Minor plot movement- which are really just reminders that these characters exist- happens elsewhere: En's family is stuck in the Hole, personified; while Kirion is trying to figure out what is going on with the rain.
Volume 22 has an excellent blend of absurdity, ridiculous violence and story reveals that fans will love. However, the time travel aspects of the plot are quite difficult to follow and confusing. It's not clear how Nikaido's magic box ends up in the hands of the various characters in which it does and the way the characters declaim apparent explanations is neither clear nor particularly slick writing. Hayashida continues to use double-page spreads well, albeit more sparingly than in the previous volume.
Things certainly feel like they're coming to a head in the Hole and The Hole.
December 11, 2022
Me parece ridículo tanto la explicación del tiempo, como la Nikaido del pasado fusionándose con la del presente, como también perdiendo una bala en volver 10 minutos al pasado por parte de Hole. Siento que la autora sabía que quería contar, pero las explicaciones son tan simples que me dejan con un sabor amargo. Por otra parte, lo de Kaiman, tanto misterio, frases como: “Esa fue la última vez que vi a Kaiman”, en tercera persona, para finalmente valiendo poco y nada, porque después nos muestran que igualmente Kaiman tiene a todas sus personalidades dentro suyo. Aun así, pienso que es un final ordenado, y pienso que es mejor que muchos volúmenes, más que nada por el dinamismo. El tema es una maldita apuesta, así que entiendo la dinámica de un demonio que no quiera participar en la pelea, está aburrido y solo quiere ver el mundo arder. Todo eso es lógico para mí, por supuesto dentro de las dinámicas de la historia. La autora no quiso utilizar la bala en el tiempo, porque se dio cuenta que no podía mantener tanta consistencia con esa historia, por lo que derrocha literalmente ese recurso. Me parece bien, y me alegro haberme equivocado con esa teoría que tenía. Solo un volumen y termino esta travesía de magos, humanos y demonios.
October 10, 2022
Not Chidaruma saying "love the new "accessories," Holey" and them being literal decapitated heads! Lol that devil unfortunately never fails to make me laugh. Anyways, this felt like a whole fever dream. I swear I went through all five stages of grief while reading this one. Holey had me on my tippy toes! I felt like I was trying to run from him myself. We got to see Nikaido's fully transformed devil form and even got some nice moments with her and Caiman! This may sound cheesy, but I don't care I hope that somehow Caiman and Nikaido become friends with En's family and everything just works out for the best because I love these characters so much and I don't want anything else to happen to them but Hayashida is very unpredictable so I don't know what the hell I'm gonna get myself into. With this being my favorite manga I'm not yet ready to say goodbye but still very eager to see how things will end. I'm definitely gonna need more Noi x Shin, Nikaido x Caiman, En x Kikurage, and Ebisu in the final volume!
April 12, 2020
I don't know what it is about the last three-four volumes but they are not hitting me as much as the previous ones.
Yes, many cool things have happened in vol. 22, I loved Nikaido + Asu + Kaiman scenes. I liked the Chidaruma and Hole duo. However, the story did not hit me.
The time travel thing went waaaay over my head, like Kaiman himself, I gave up on getting it.
Speaking about Kaiman, I liked the last chapter "I am Kaiman".
Yes, many cool things have happened in vol. 22, I loved Nikaido + Asu + Kaiman scenes. I liked the Chidaruma and Hole duo. However, the story did not hit me.
The time travel thing went waaaay over my head, like Kaiman himself, I gave up on getting it.
Speaking about Kaiman, I liked the last chapter "I am Kaiman".
March 17, 2022
Was so confused at the start when nikaido was explaining her magic but apart from that this was a monster volume!
The art incredible!
My emotions wavered a good deal throughout the volume because NIKAIDOOOOO 😭😭😭
And the final fight that is still ongoing is fantatstic! Its some feat to get to the second last volume and still enjoy every page of it.
Im excited to but also not ready to read the final volume 😭
The art incredible!
My emotions wavered a good deal throughout the volume because NIKAIDOOOOO 😭😭😭
And the final fight that is still ongoing is fantatstic! Its some feat to get to the second last volume and still enjoy every page of it.
Im excited to but also not ready to read the final volume 😭
October 3, 2023
Ótimo volume!!! Fico um pouco triste por ter demorado TANTO pra conseguir esse volume (que aparentemente a editora cretina decidiu imprimir pouquíssimas unidades), e consequentemente, acabei começando a leitura um pouco perdido. Mas o volume faz um ótimo trabalho de relembrar os pontos importantes, explicar BASTANTE coisa e deixar o campo pronto pra uma ótima batalha final.
Muito ansioso pra ver como tudo acaba no próximo!
Muito ansioso pra ver como tudo acaba no próximo!
September 21, 2021
Penúltimo tomo. Hemos llegado al final y me da pena. Ciertamente, la serie no es lo que era e. Sus diez primeros números, pero todos los posos de aquella bolsa de té llena de barro, malas intenciones y al mismo tiempo tantas, tantas cosas bonitas siguen en el fondo de esta grotesca taza de porcelana.
¿Qué cosas aprenderemos en el siguiente tomo?
Eso cosas están, todavía, en medio del caos.
¿Qué cosas aprenderemos en el siguiente tomo?
Eso cosas están, todavía, en medio del caos.
December 30, 2022
en is such an mvp protecting everyone like that, tbh idk where this one ends bc i went straight into 23 so im gonna hold off on including too much detail, this finale is truly truly feeling epic, devil nikaido was obviously awesome, holes rampage and listing the reasons he doesnt like magic users was hilarious, i cant wait to see how it ends
March 7, 2024
Uh, ovo trenutno hita ka jednom lošem završetku. I dalje ne mogu da verujem da je Q. Hayashida od glavnog negativca, koga gradi od samog početka, napravila Groota!!! Da se razumemo, volim ja Groota, ali sam očekivala ipak nešto ozbiljnije kako je priča odmicala, a nasilje i mrak se pojačavali. 😱 🤯 😤 🤬
May 15, 2024
the story has really kicked into high gear and more than makes up for the drudgery of the middle section. having so much fun talking about this w/ my wife and discussing different plot points. its amazing just how much everything has ramped up (gore! body horror! emotional character beats!) when it felt like dorohedoro had been running full tilt from the very start.
January 21, 2023
Time travel is confusing but I really like how this volume threw it back to what I originally loved about this series: a dude with a lizard head and a couple knives just fucking shit up. One volume to go.
September 26, 2020
Killin it🔪🩸⚰️
March 6, 2021
["Let me tell you why I don't like sorcerers." In the background] 🤣
April 11, 2021
These last few volumes have flown by. I'm not fully prepared for things to end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews