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kafie's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cmll's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kristenbooks's review
2.0
It's been a while since I read the novel, so I might've forgotten a few things along the way, but I feel the same way about this one that I felt about Volume 3. Yes, Battle Royale is an explicit book. Violence, language, sexual content, etc. However, I think the manga, in adapting that story, has taken advantage of Mitsuko as a character and used her to make the manga more graphic and exploitative than the novel was. I was tempted to give this volume ONE star, but the actual program-related and non-sexual moments were what made me give it a 2 star. I appreciate Mitsuko's backstory. She's a broken person because of things in her past. But the way the manga is written, this volume feels like it's just there as fanservice. Yes, it tells her backstory, but the way it's presented, it feels like it's done mostly just to give the reader excessive nudity, rather than to actually tell the story. The things that were added (or... I think were added-- I might've forgotten some things, but I don't think I would've forgotten... THAT) all seem to be for that reason rather than to actually tell the story. And that, to me, feels gross.
IDK, I feel like I'm walking a fine line here. I understand Mitsuko's character and why she's so messed up and manipulative and I appreciate that aspect, but I feel like there's a lot of stuff added in solely for the reader to drool over rather than to progress the plot and that's the aspect that feels gross. It's just excessive.
volume summary for me to remember how the story is split up between volumes:
Noriko is worried about Shuuya & Kawada reassures her that he's ok. Sugimura runs into Mitsuko & is going to murder her for killing his friend, but she distracts him and escapes. She then runs into (Tada)Katsu & Yuichiro and is caught trying to kill Katsu, but she manipulates them into letting her join them on the condition that she's tied up. She talks to Yuichiro as Katsu sleeps & we get some backstory on how she was abused as a child, leading to how she acts now. Katsu wakes up & Yuichiro sleeps. Mitsuko comes on to Katsu and tries to kill him and Yuichiro wakes up. She claims Katsu was trying to kill her and Katsu tries to shoot her but Yuichiro jumps in front of the bullet. As Katsu is crying over him, Mitsuko kills Katsu. We get some more Mitsuko backstory. She then quite literally BANGS Yuichiro to death and then re-dresses and heads off. Literally this whole volume was just nude or semi-nude Mitsuko. pls stop thx.
IDK, I feel like I'm walking a fine line here. I understand Mitsuko's character and why she's so messed up and manipulative and I appreciate that aspect, but I feel like there's a lot of stuff added in solely for the reader to drool over rather than to progress the plot and that's the aspect that feels gross. It's just excessive.
volume summary for me to remember how the story is split up between volumes:
Noriko is worried about Shuuya & Kawada reassures her that he's ok. Sugimura runs into Mitsuko & is going to murder her for killing his friend, but she distracts him and escapes. She then runs into (Tada)Katsu & Yuichiro and is caught trying to kill Katsu, but she manipulates them into letting her join them on the condition that she's tied up. She talks to Yuichiro as Katsu sleeps & we get some backstory on how she was abused as a child, leading to how she acts now. Katsu wakes up & Yuichiro sleeps. Mitsuko comes on to Katsu and tries to kill him and Yuichiro wakes up. She claims Katsu was trying to kill her and Katsu tries to shoot her but Yuichiro jumps in front of the bullet. As Katsu is crying over him, Mitsuko kills Katsu. We get some more Mitsuko backstory. She then quite literally BANGS Yuichiro to death and then re-dresses and heads off. Literally this whole volume was just nude or semi-nude Mitsuko. pls stop thx.
ahmedhossam's review
1.0
Giving your villain a tragic backstory does not make him/her any more interesting.
Making everyone around the villain gullible does not automatically make him/her any more cunning
Having every single character rave about how awesome and likeable your protagonist is (when he is, in fact, less active and way less charming than a sack of potatoes) does not earn him any points.
The ghastly symbolsim too.. my god.. talk about subtlety.
Making everyone around the villain gullible does not automatically make him/her any more cunning
Having every single character rave about how awesome and likeable your protagonist is (when he is, in fact, less active and way less charming than a sack of potatoes) does not earn him any points.
The ghastly symbolsim too.. my god.. talk about subtlety.
amandapearl2's review
4.0
I really like Mitsuko. In the manga she's a little TOO crazy for my taste, but I liked some of the symbolism used for her childhood. Vol. 8 is definitely one of the more graphic volumes, not for children!