Manga Review: Dr. Stone, Volume 2, by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: Light.

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Volume: 1. 3.

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RightStuf Synopsis:

Senku, Taiju and Yuzuriha are well on their way to crafting gunpowder when they spot smoke far off in the distance. Convinced that it’s a sign of other humans, Senku takes a huge risk by sending up a smoke signal of their own. Meanwhile, Tsukasa is determined to stop their progress on gunpowder, and his arrival on the scene could spell the end for our heroes!

Review:

Given how much I didn't enjoy the first volume of this, I wasn't particularly looking forward to this volume. As it starts, it feels much the same.

We get some crazy save and negotiation tactics, a stand-off between the two sides. A surprise resolution, and then the two friends part ways temporarily. Although they agree that temporary might turn into quite a while, as they have to do things separately before they join up again.

It's only really at the end of the volume that my interest was piqued. Senku ends up discovering a girl in the forest, and might have discovered humans still alive. It's unsure what exactly that entails, but I think I might like this new girl. She seems fun, and that might counteract my disinterest in Senku's personality and way of talking.

The general tropes done in this series are bad. The characters are not great, and are extremely stereotypical so far. I wouldn't say I like it in any sense, really. But sometimes it can be fun to read a bad shonen series, maybe?

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!