Versailles of the Dead starts simple. The main character, Albert, is accompanying his sister Marie Antoinette as she makes her trip to meet her future husband when they get attacked by zombies. Unfortunately, she dies, so as her twin, he decides to take her place to ensure the alliance between France and Austria. And I know what you’re thinking, this is just going to be a gender-bent historical story where Albert is trying to hide his identity. And that is where you’re wrong. Not only is he found out pretty much the next chapter, shifting the story to trying to find the missing pieces of the DiamonNecklace instead (which is a scandal that historically happened way after she got into power), but don’t confuse this with, say, Le Chevalier D’Eon or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, where it’s mostly a historical setting with the occasional supernatural element. This manga is quite the opposite, focusing instead on the supernatural while taking quite a few liberties with its historical materials.

This coupled with an uninteresting cast, “Marie Antoinette” being evil for evil’s sake, and the uneven pacing should give you a good idea of what’s it like?

Is Versailles of the Dead good? No.

So, why am I still recommending it? Because it’s fun.

First of all, the art is gorgeous. Not only on the main characters themselves or the costumes, which are pretty good, but on the monster designs as well. In fact, it could easily be argued that they are the best when it comes to art style.

The plot itself, while uneven, has a strong start that becomes zanier and zanier the more it goes along, and while the cast itself sucks for the most part, I do have to admit that it has what I consider the best representation of Louis XVI that I’ve seen.

There is a fair amount of action as well, and relatively low amount of gore, which should make this an easy to read and accessible manga as well.

All in all, it is dumb fun, with a huge emphasis on the dumb, but fun nonetheless, so if you can just relax and turn your brain off for a few hours, you’ll have a great time.