Manga Review: King of Eden, Volume 1, by Takashi Nagasaki and Ignito

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: September 2020

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Entire villages are going up in flames across the globe, with the same man left standing at the scene every time. Meanwhile, rumors abound of a highly contagious virus where those infected fly into a blind rage, killing anything and everything that crosses their path. As the death toll rises, agencies from nations around the world get together, looking for answers-How are these incidents connected? Who is that man? And most importantly...can the massacres be stopped before humanity is doomed? 

 

Review:

 

A mysterious man keeps showing up right before these small towns come down with this terrible killing virus and then burn to the ground. The government and scientists aren't sure who's behind it all, or what this virus really is, but they're pulling in some scientists and archaeologists to go after the answers.

There are a lot of different people moving around in this series, what with the different government officials and the different black market sellers of the virus, plus the different villages being experimented on and then set on fire. But we do get two main characters, Rua and Teze, who coincidentally were classmates a long time ago. Rua is a very smart historian and archaeologist, and she's pulled in because she's familiar with the history of where this virus potentially originated. Then there's Teze, who appears to know a lot more about this virus than anyone else, from personal experience.

The virus is definitely a horrifying thing, with how quickly it transforms people and what wolf-like monsters they become, plus the potential of it being a weapon. But it also has a really deep history that I'm intrigued by. There's a lot of real history being woven into it, some theories that are thrown out there and some that are clearly going to turn out to be true. It's a historical sci-fi that I'm more intrigued by than I expected, since I don't usually get into the deeper historical ideals.

The artwork was really good in this, and that along with the writing set up a really good thrilling and ominous feel to the story. There are a lot of characters already, but we are getting to know the main ones slowly, but enough to help the story along.

While this might not usually be my type of story, I could get into it. It was really well written and kept me interested, and reminded me of some similar thriller/horror movies.

 

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

Manga Review: Tokyo Ghoul, Volume 8, by Sui Ishida

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2016

Volumes: 14.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way-except their craving for human flesh. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary college student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human half-ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers.

The newly awakened Kaneki unleashes his monstrous strength to protect his friend Touka and finds himself irrevocably changed. Kaneki sets out on his own, determined to find out the truth behind what's happening to him--and what the Aogiri Tree organization actually is.

Review:

Touka and Ayato's childhood is shown for the first time. We see what happened to their mother and father, how they ended up on their own, what kind of parenting they experienced. How they kind of stuck together when they could, and yet how they separated on such bad terms. Throughout this, we see Ayato beating Touka horribly in the present.

Ugh, it's awful to watch.

We actually see less of Kaneki for most of this volume, until he steps in and fights Ayato. And Kaneki is badass now. That torture has changed him completely, and it's rather fascinating. He separates from everyone at the end of the volume, and I'm interested to see where he's planning to go next. It's a sad parting with Touka, though.

This series is really hard to take at times, it is so violent; and yet I just can't stop.

Manga Review: Tokyo Ghoul, Volume 5, by Sui Ishida

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 16, 2016

Volumes: 14.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way—except their craving for human flesh. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary college student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human half-ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers.

Kaneki, Nishio, and Touka struggle to work together to rescue their human friend Kimi while Ghoul Investigator deaths skyrocket in Wards 9 through 12. When reinforcements are called in on both sides, the stakes are suddenly higher than ever.

Review:

The gourmet ghoul kidnaps someone, setting off a big, deserving fight scene. It’s extremely bloody and gruesome and gross. But it needs to happen, and Ken and Touka work together with Nishio to rescue the girl Nishio loves. I like how the fight ends, actually. I like the moment that Touka has.

Then we’re give insight into Rize, the girl who turned Ken. We know from the first volume, that she’s an evil thing, and here we get to see what she was doing before she attacked Ken. It’s been hinted there’s more to her death than Ken initially thought, and I’m intrigued to see what we find out next. Lastly, we’re introduced to a new ghoul hunter, who is possibly more psychotic than the last one, and practically a ghoul himself maybe.

This is a grossly violent series, but I’m still intrigued. I like where the story is going, and enjoy finding out more details to the big plot. I will be reading more.

Manga Review: Tokyo Ghoul, Volume 2, by Sui Ishida

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2015

Volumes: 14.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way—except their craving for human flesh. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary college student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human half-ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers.

Unable to discard his humanity but equally unable to suppress his Ghoul hunger, Ken finds salvation in the kindness of friendly Ghouls who teach him how to pass as human and eat flesh humanely. But recent upheavals in Ghoul society attract the police like wolves to prey, and they don’t discriminate between conscientious and monstrous Ghouls.

Review:

I can see why people like this series, but it is definitely getting bloody.

Ken is trying to get used to living as a ghoul. Drinking a lot of coffee, as he attempts to keep from eating humans and get used to eating human food like he used to when he finds it repulsive now. He has to get a mask to hide his identity. He’s finding it hard to get used to all the death and the rules, and trying to live his human life as well as his ghoul life now.

Then he really finds out what humans think of ghouls while living as a ghoul when a fellow ghoul’s mother is attacked. The humans are brutal and ruthless, and he has to watch without doing anything.

The mask idea is interesting, and a little horrifying. The human brutality is terrible to see, even if not surprising. This series is dark and violent and terrible, and I’m intrigued, if a little queasy.

Manga Review: Sankarea: Undying Love, Volume 11, by Mitsuru Hattori

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: March 2015

Volumes: 11

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

“I ONLY LIKE ZOMBIE GIRLS.”

Since he was little, Chihiro has felt an unusual emotional connection to zombie movies. It’s not that he feels bad for the survivors – instead he fantasizes about comforting the poor undead girls they slaughter! When his beloved pet passes away, he decides to brew up a resurrection potion in secret. But he’s discovered by popular girl and local heiress Sanka Rea, whose life isn’t as perfect as it seems… and Furuya suggests that she could serve as a test subject!

Review:

I think I expected a different ending. Maybe even wanted a different one. Was prepared for something else.

Rea was going downhill fast in her zombie state. Even her father got dragged in to try to save her. Chihiro tried all he could to get some sense into her, since it had worked for him before. She was a mess.

I don’t want to spoil what happens, but I’m not sure I liked it. What we were originally led to believe, that something happened to him, I could accept. I’m not sure if I liked it, per se, but I thought it worked. And then they changed that. And I suppose it makes for a happier ending, and I can be okay with that—it’s not like I wanted them all to die—but I didn’t expect it to be that easy or simple. I guess I was too prepared for something else, not such a happy resolution. I can accept it, but I don’t know if I agree with it completely.

Overall, this was a pretty good series. I really enjoyed Rea and Mero the most, and I was impressed with the world and the development of Rea being a zombie. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it.

Manga Review: Tokyo Ghoul, Volume 1, by Sui Ishida

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Volumes: 14.

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shy Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with the beautiful Rize. But it turns out that she’s only interested in his body—eating it, that is. When a morally questionable rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid, Ken is drawn into the dark and violent world of Ghouls, which exists alongside our own.

Review:

Ken lives in a world with ghouls, things like zombies that eat humans, only the people aren't fully sure what they look like. Research for them is taking off, but Ken and his friends aren’t really nervous about it.

And then Ken goes on a date and is attacked by one.

I was surprised by his transformation, and his finding out what he is now. He’s human, until he’s not really either, but also both. Because ghoul’s aren’t made, they’re born. And his transformation is slow, as he heals from the attack and then starts craving human flesh instead of normal food.

His struggle with this is real, and perfectly understandable. And violent. That would be a hard thing to have to learn, along with the powers he’s developing. But while finding out about the ghoul world, he’s also trying very hard to stay in the human one, with his friends.

I was impressed with this volume. The way he’s changing surprised me, and I really liked it. The characters have me really intrigued—not only Ken, but also Touka, the girl he meets, and his best friend, Hide, who I believe knows more than he lets on or at least will soon.

I was impressed with this volume, and it has me interested to read the next one.

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