Manga Review: World Trigger, Volume 15, by Daisuke Ashihara

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2017

Volumes: 19+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 14. 16.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When alien Neighbors invade, sci-fi action is right next door.

Destroy thy Neighbor! Gates to another dimension burst open, and invincible monsters called Neighbors invade Earth. Osamu Mikumo may not be the best among the elite warriors who co-opt other-dimensional technology to fight back, but along with his Neighbor friend Yuma, he’ll do whatever it takes to defend life on Earth as we know it.

Another invasion is underway, and alien country Galopoula plans to infiltrate Border HQ. The A-Rank and B-Rank agents have their hands full on the ground, but the commotion outside is only a distraction! A handful of humanoid Neighbors manage to sneak their way into Border’s away ship hangar, and it’s up to the top four Attackers to stop them!

Review:

There's a lot of fighting in this volume. Fighting out in the streets, fighting in battle rooms; fighting creatures, fighting other people. I would say it's violent and bloody, but about half-way through this volume, I realized I really have no idea how the fighting works in this series. They're like cutting each other up, and yet they're still fine? But then maybe they're not fine? I don't really get it?

I was having a hard time following what was happening, and who was on which side, and how exactly the fight was going...

Anyway, near the end of the volume, it looked like the main plot was finally moving forward, so we'll see in the next volume.

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

Manga Review: World Trigger, Volume 14, by Daisuke Ashihara

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2017

Volumes: 19+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 9. 15.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sci-fi action series where Osamu and his alien friend team up with their pals to fight off invading aliens.

Destroy thy Neighbor! A gate to another dimension has burst open, and invincible monsters called Neighbors invade Earth. Osamu Mikumo may not be the best among the elite warriors who co-opt other-dimensional technology to fight back, but along with his Neighbor friend Yuma, he’ll do whatever it takes to defend life on Earth as we know it.

After being crushed in their last Rank Wars match and Jin refusing Osamu's request to join their squad, Tamakoma-2 is at a loss. Osamu is determined to learn how to fight with his team using his limited Trion and gets help from an unexpected source. But with a prediction of another invasion looming overhead, training may have to wait.

Review:

The main three is dealing with the defeat of the last volume. They have big goals of going on an away mission, and Osamu thinks they need a fourth member on their team. He believes they need to get better quick, because Kuga only has so much time. While he attempts to recruit, the others continue their training.

At the same time, Jin and another group are preparing for the impending invasion. They're not sure when or what will happen, but they know that something is coming. Jin is their best weapon here, because he can see it coming beforehand.

Honestly, I'm not sure why the main three are so determined to go on an away mission, when it seems like the aliens are coming to them, and that seems like an easier way to get where they need to go.

I don't mind reading this series, but it's not something I would read on my own. It very much feels like a more complicated Cartoon Network cartoon, with similar artwork and humor. I don't mind it, but meh.

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

Manga Review: World Trigger, Volume 9, by Daisuke Ashihara

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5-3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2016

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Volume: 1. 3. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 Destroy thy Neighbor! A gate to another dimension has burst open, and invincible monsters called Neighbors invade Earth. Osamu Mikumo may not be the best among the elite warriors who co-opt other-dimensional technology to fight back, but along with his Neighbor friend Yuma, he’ll do whatever it takes to defend life on Earth as we know it.

Osamu has less than sixteen minutes to safely deliver Chika, who’s been cubified, to HQ. Will Osamu make it in time or will the crossroads Jin has foreseen lead to the worst possible outcome for everyone?

Review:

I've missed several volumes, and it's obvious. Now the gang is in the middle of some huge fight, and people have been turned into cubes (what?), and there are two or three sides that are competing to reach an area or prevent the other from reaching it.

I'm mostly confused by what's happening.

I vaguely remember the three main characters, but one of them is now a cube and the others are trying to save her. There are several actions scenes throughout this volume, and I didn't particularly care about that. I don't know who the enemies are, or why they're fighting each other.

This might be more enjoyable if I had been following, but I mostly don't think this is my kind of series.

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

Manga Review: World Trigger, Volume 3, by Daisuke Ashihara

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2014

Volumes: 11+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Destroy thy Neighbor! A gate to another dimension has burst open, and invincible monsters called Neighbors invade Earth. Osamu Mikumo may not be the best among the elite warriors who co-opt other-dimensional technology to fight back, but along with his Neighbor friend Yuma, he’ll do whatever it takes to defend life on Earth as we know it.

Border headquarters wants Yuma’s powerful Black Trigger—and they want it desperately enough to send their top three squads to steal it. The Tamakoma branch is one step ahead, having already safeguarded Yuma, Osamu and Chika by recruiting them to their group of eccentric and talented agents. And Jin’s precognition powers put him two steps ahead: he ambushes the thieves en route!

Review:

This is definitely a series that should be read in order.  I have not read the previous two volumes, so I jumped in with little knowledge.  I think if I’d read the previous ones, I would have more of an idea of how the world works and what the characters’ part in it is.

Saying that, this wasn’t too bad.  It had me intrigued.

We get some back story on Kuga, our main character, an alien come to Japan who’s rather secretive about his past.  I liked his group of friends, and how they’ve decided to study in order to work into the system, get stronger.  They meet a group of high ranking agents who agree to teach them.  They’re all rather unique, and I enjoyed the banter and dynamics between them.

Overall, an interesting story and world, and I liked the characters that I met.  I would probably have to read the previous books before going forward, though.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!