Manga Review: No. 6, Volume 9, by Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: October 2014

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

THE SKY IS BURNING.

With Rat critically injured protecting him, Shion finally returns to NO. 6. But what he finds there is not the tranquil utopia he left behind, but a city in the grip of panic and chaos. As the “holy city” collapses in on itself, Shion and Rat put will the future of humanity — and their future together — on the line in the shocking final volume of NO. 6!

Review:

I don’t know how the anime ends, but apparently this ending is more satisfying? I’ve heard some things, so I’m definitely going to have to finish the anime for comparison. But given just this, I’m pretty satisfied.

It’s a bit odd, and apocalyptic for a bit there, otherworldly. But I’m okay with that, how the dystopian world and disease gets resolved.

I think that Shion is in a pretty good place at the end of the volume. The ending with him and Rat is sad, but I think that the very end has enough hope, that I can let myself believe there’s a happy ending there. And I like the similarities to the beginning of the series.

Overall, I’m pretty satisfied. It left me pretty satisfied, at least.

Manga Review: No. 6, Volume 8, by Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: August 2014

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

I LOVE YOU, SHION. MORE THAN ANYTHING.

Risking everything, Shion and Rat have finally made it to the top floor of the Correctional Facility, where Shion is finally reunited with Safu! But has Shion's rescue attempt come too late? Is the Safu he once knew gone forever? As Rat rushes to find a way out, Shion must make a heartbreaking decision: Leave, saving Rat and himself from capture, or stay, and find another solution? Either way, Shion may lose a friend, or his own life! The tale of No. 6 builds to a climax in its second-to-last volume!
Includes special bonus story!

Review:

First of all, the color pages in this volume are gorgeous. There are a few images I remember from previous volumes that I was happy to see in color, because they look so much prettier. Also, they’re near the end of the volume, not the beginning, which is useful to know, because it worried me when I first picked up the book.

Now—this was a pretty intense, sad volume.

There was the confrontation between Shion and Safu, which needed to happen and revealed some things, but was mostly just very sad. It was downright painful for Shion, and I feel so bad for him. And then Shion and Rat have to escape, which is bad and violent and scary. Shion is also trying to deal with what happened with Safu, the poor thing, because odd things are happening to him at the same time.

Meanwhile, Dogkeeper and Rikiga are waiting for Shion and Rat to arrive, including being attacked on their own. It’s kind of bad, and leads to the cliffhanger. 

There’s only one volume left! I have no idea how this series is going to end, nor how it’s going to wrap up in only one book. It seems like there’s too much to happen. Either way, I hope it’s good, and I’m excited to read it.

Manga Review: No. 6, Volume 7, by Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: June 2014

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

SHION! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?!
Safu is a prisoner on the top floor of the Correctional Facility. Shion and Nezumi manage to slip back in amid the chaos sown by Dogkeeper, but what they find is almost too terrifying to conceive… countless neatly organized rows of corpses, with their brains removed! Backed into a corner, Rat is ready for death, but Shion seizes a weapon, and insists on surviving at any cost—!

Includes special bonus story!

Review:

So Shion and Rat are finally in the facility, working their way to save Safu. It starts good, but quickly gets violent and bloody, and difficult for both Shion and Rat.

It’s hard on both Rat and Shion. It’s changing Shion, in a bad way, and it’s really giving a different look at him. Rat is also seeing the way that it’s changing Shion, and he isn’t liking it either, even if Shion isn’t really aware. Things are going bad for them quite rapidly, and it’s not good.

We got to see a little bit of what is going on inside No. 6, and it’s not good there either. We’re mostly seeing this from Shion’s mom’s point of view, and the scientist who’s doing it. The disease is quickly spreading in public, and it’s bad.

There were also a few scenes with Dogkeeper, and some of it was bad, mainly when she helped Shion and Rat. But we also saw her with the baby, and it’s just adorable. She tries not to be, but she’s good with him, and she likes him. Little Shion is obviously attached to her. It’s so cute. 

Then there was the cliffhanger, which is leading to some interesting discoveries with Safu. Something bad is happening to her. And it’s sure to be exciting.

Manga Review: No. 6, Volume 6, by Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: April 2014

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

TO OBLITERATE NO. 6… THAT'S WHY I'VE COME.

A series of strange incidents cast a pall over No. 6 as it prepares to celebrate its "Holy Day." Meanwhile, in the tunnels beneath the Correctional Facility, Shion and Rat meet with the mysterious "Elder," who reveals the perverse origins of No. 6, and their connection to Rat's past. How will Rat react when Shion begins to touch his most secret scars?

PRAISE FOR THE ANIME

“Sadly beautiful in places, hauntingly violent in others, No. 6 [is] worth your time.” – Anime News Network

“No. 6 is science fiction the way it’s meant to be – boundary pushing… and completely spellbinding.” —Inside AX

Review:

The pace in this series is excellent. Everything we see is important, and it’s all given enough time to develop, for us to understand (and grow attached or hate if it’s a character), without it being too much. I actually wouldn’t mind some meandering for character development, for relationship growth, which is why the extras are nice to have, but that’s still not a complaint.

So Shion, with Rat, is learning more about No. 6, including the people before it existed and the people living underground who Rat knows. Shion’s mother has some connection to it, and I’m intrigued to see where that goes. Rat also has a surprising part in it—or, a very bad part in it. The things we’re finding out are bad, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it’s all leading up to.

At the same time, something is going on with Shion. Something possibly bad, something that I’m looking forward to finding out about. Which leads to the cliffhanger, and that should be exciting, as their plan goes forward some more.

Meanwhile, Dogkeeper is pushed to help Shion and Rat. This could lead to some bad things, we’ll see. But also, I love seeing her with the kid that Shion has left her with. I like that she’s begrudging about it, but she does it anyway, and she even names the kid Shion. She doesn’t act like much of a mother, but she really could be, and it’s nice seeing this side of her.

This series is exciting, steadily moving forward, and I’m fully enjoying it.

Manga Review: No. 6, Volume 5, by Atsuko Asano and Hinoki Kino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: February 2014

Volumes: 9

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

“THE MANHUNT IS HERE!”

The rumors were true! Armored vehicles from No. 6 roar through the gate into West Block, massacring the helpless and arresting everyone else. Amid the chaos, Shion and Rat realize this could be their only chance to get into the Correctional Facility and save Safu. But when they do make it inside, what they find is worse than anyone could have imagined...

PRAISE FOR THE ANIME

“Sadly beautiful in places, hauntingly violent in others, No. 6 [is] worth your time.” – Anime News Network

“No. 6 is science fiction the way it’s meant to be – boundary pushing… and completely spellbinding.” —Inside AX

Review:

Things are getting more intense as the series goes on.

The manhunt, a horrible thing the government does to the people in the West Block, happens. And so Rat and Shion get transported somewhere new. Shion struggles with the horror of it and having to move forward, wanting to go back to how things were. But he wants to be there for Rat, and he wants to save Safu, and he promised Dogkeeper he’d be back.

Shion is a sweetheart, and it’s hard seeing him struggle like this. The cliffhanger makes me really scared, both for him and for what he’s doing.

I love Dogkeeper. She tries so hard to be tough, but the way she gives in for Shion’s sake is nice. I just want to know more about her. She’s separated from Rat and Shion at this point, but I hope we get to see more of her in the next volume.

A lot is happening, and the main plot is moving forward at a very steady pace. Shion is learning to deal with the horrors of what No. 6 is doing, and I like that he acknowledges that he doesn’t want to get used to it, or become cynical of it. I’m looking forward to reading more.