Reviews

Crueler Than Dead, Vol.1 by Tsukasa Saimura

torgiepie's review

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dark medium-paced

3.0

The art is STUNNING in this. The story is just fine. It's your typical zombie plotline. 

dame_samara's review

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5.0

This is the Zombie story that feels like something that hasn't been seen. We always know the survival side of Zombie media, but never something that encompasses a resolution to the problem.

The only piece of media that I can honestly say compares is Warm Bloods, and not because it's a romance. It's the only other piece of media where the Zombies are actively part of the media and are allowed "salvation."

This book is super interesting because we get the standard fanfare of a Zombie story through the eyes of a revived zombie trying to get the Vaccine from Point A to Point B. While not shying away from the fact that our protagonists spent the last year as zombies, and they remember it.

This manga captivated me from beginning to end and given that it is part 1 of 2. I will be hunting down the second volume so I can see the ending.

harrietj's review

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4.0

Really enjoyable zombie manga with an enticing enough twist that didn't deviate too much from traditional zombie stories. The art was good with great gore, but I didn't really understand why out main character had to be so jarringly naked at the beginning.

I'll definitely be tracking down more of this series.

molly_dettmann's review against another edition

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3.0

Love me some good zombie horror manga, with a twist! What if are MC used to be a flesh eating zombie but was cured? But still had to face the hellish zombie world and all it’s gory destruction? That’s this. Enjoyed it. Will probably try to finish the series.

zkoch's review

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

3.25

g0ingh0st's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

5.0

acrisalves's review

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4.0

Publicado com imagens em Os Rascunhos

A Gradiva é outra das editoras que mais recentemente se lançou na publicação de Manga em Portugal, através da marca Manga Internacional Corporation. Entre outros volumes, encontramos este primeiro de uma série de horror, onde nos deparamos aparentemente com zombies.

A história

Uma jovem acorda sem perceber onde está ou como lá foi parar. Percebe rapidamente, com a ajuda de um soldado ferido, que terá sido curada da doença zombie. Ainda que tenha uma aparência humana, mantém uma força extraordinária, que irá usar para enfrentar zombies ao longo do seu caminho.

Crítica

Crueler than Dead leva-nos para mais um apocalipse zombie, introduzindo o elemento da cura ao enredo tradicional. Neste caso, a cura não repõe totalmente a normalidade, mantendo a força como característica distintiva dos curados. Mas esta cura ainda não estará disponível a toda a humanidade, pelo que deve ser transportada a um local onde possa ser mais útil. Esta é a missão da rapariga que se vai fazer acompanhar por um rapaz, também ele curado.

Apesar do elemento inovador, a narrativa de Crueler than Dead segue o tradicional encontro com zombies e humanos pouco civilizados, demonstrando que, sem a civilização, os monstros mais surpreendentes podem ser os humanos. A narrativa consegue, ainda assim, apresentar alguma redenção.

A premissa permite, conforme esperado, apresentar vários momentos de acção e de terror, mostrando criaturas horrendas e as batalhas para as eliminar. Nesse sentido, Crueler than dead não surpreende e enquadra-se dentro do que é esperado para este género de leitura – o que não é mau, mas também não se destaca de entre outras leituras semelhantes.

Acompanhando os desenhos, encontramos um texto conciso, limitado ao essencial, o que permite uma progressão rápida entre páginas, apropriada para uma leitura carregada de episódios de acção. O desenho é, também ele, relativamente simples, muito focado em expressões faciais, sejam de humanos chocados, sejam de zombies mal encarados.

Conclusão

Não achei que este primeiro volume de Crueler than Dead fosse uma leitura formidável. Trata-se de uma história que apresenta um apocalipse zombie, introduzindo o tal elemento inovador, o que proporciona uma missão e direcção às personagens principais. Para além deste elemento direccionador, a narrativa não apresenta grande novidade em relação a outras leituras do género. Veremos se a impressão se mantém para o segundo volume.

gabbyreadswithtea's review

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3.0

Crueler Than Dead is a classic zombie story that was refreshing to read in manga style.
While I initially didn’t realise this was manga, once I got the hang of the unique reading style, I started to enjoy the story.
It has all zombie lovers favourite elements; survival, a vaccine, gory zombie content, a safe haven and an impossible mission. Easy to read in one sitting and I would definitely like to pick up volume 2.
I wouldn’t say this brought anything new to the table, but if you’re looking for a classic zombie story, Crueler Than Dead will certainly scratch that itch.

Thank you to Diamond Book Distributor for providing me an e-copy of this manga to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

lyzz's review

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3.0

Crueler than Dead focuses on Maki Akagi who wakes up in a lab full of corpses. Turns out that she has been a zombie for the past year and was cured with a last ditch cure. A dying soldier hands her some additional doses of the medication and urges her to get to the Tokyo Dome - where the last of humanity are.

Three words to describe this book: Zombies. Gore. Action-packed

Cover: The cover of this manga clearly communicates that this is going to be a zombie story filled with gore!

Story: The premise for this story is amazing. I have yet to have a zombie book have someone come back from being a zombie. Over the course of the novel, Maki began to remember some of the awful things she did as a zombie and had to process that grief and trauma. While the premise was amazing, the rest of the book was quite action based - but I wanted more about Maki’s life as a zombie and what it meant to be thrust into this do or die situation.

Illustrations: Amazing. The illustrations feel visceral and spare no details. Mangas are typically black and white but I hardly noticed the lack of color in visually this stark post-apocalyptic world.

Verdict: I enjoyed this manga. I would recommend it to folks who enjoy striking graphic illustrations and love zombie action sequences. I may pick up volume 2 to see if I get more of the part I loved.

ARC provided to me by Diamond Books Press, in exchange for an honest review.

nerdontheloose's review against another edition

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3.0

I have a never-ending love for all things zombies, and what better than a graphic novel to help me fill my hunger (pun intended!) This was a fun story and the adventure started from page one. It got a bit confusing somewhere in the middle but other than that it was an interesting read. The best part, as is in most graphic novels, for me at least, was the graphics. The attention to detail is super. Deliciously gory! (pun intended again!). I would have loved it more if the graphics were colored though, I think that would have added so much life to the story (I am very punny!). would love to see where the story goes from here.

Thanks to Netgalley, and publishers for the eARC :)