PURGATORY FUNERAL CAKES: Dark Horse Licenses Bittersweet Manhwa

Losing a loved one is never easy, and those left behind often struggle with how to honor their memory. Sometimes, the best way to do that is with a slice of cake—a purgatory funeral cake, even.

Dark Horse Comics has announced the license acquisition of Purgatory Funeral Cakes, a poignant manhwa written and illustrated by Sanho. The story follows a baker and a ghost who craft beautifully customized cakes to bring comfort to those grieving their loved ones. Each cake is carefully folded, decorated, and baked to reflect the essence of the departed, offering a sweet yet heartfelt tribute.

The series is translated by Danny Lim, with lettering by Michael Heisler. Sanho, also known for Rain and Swimming and And the Witch Went into the Forest, has yet to see those works officially released in English. Originally published in Korea on December 13, 2021, Purgatory Funeral Cakes will make its English-language debut in two paperback volumes, marking Sanho’s first work to be introduced to Western audiences.

Dark Horse describes the manhwa as below:

Baker Mago and her ghostly assistant Miro make specialty cakes for the dearly departed. Each cake is made custom—tailored to the lost individual. Still-living loved ones share their memories of the deceased which serve as inspiration for the flavors and style, creating a truly one-of-a-kind cake. First, a mystery novelist spends her time volunteering at a hospital to read to patients and meets a blind young woman who grew up in the hospital. The two bond over mystery novels, inspiring the Mystery Novel Crepe cake, a cake made with crepe layers like the pages of a book. Then, the daughter of a vampire reminisces over her daytime life and the hours that separated her from her night-bound mother, and the moments they shared in an evening primrose field inspiring the Evening Primrose Cupcake. The love and care put into each cake will surely bring comfort to both living and dead in this heartwarming story of love and loss.

Priced at $19.99, the first volume spans 224 pages and will hit bookstores on November 18, with comic book shops receiving it a day later. Readers can preorder Purgatory Funeral Cakes from retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and their local bookstores.

Source: Dark Horse