nadians's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
“damn i’m a cool mofo” has to be a line of all time. like kurono, you didn’t do shit
also, she’s 15, i don’t wanna be looking at a 15 y/o naked body. i just don’t see why kids always are the protagonists or sexualized
also, she’s 15, i don’t wanna be looking at a 15 y/o naked body. i just don’t see why kids always are the protagonists or sexualized
grandmoffgavin's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sullyisreading's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book left a very mixed reaction in my mind. I'll point out what I liked and disliked to try and make sense of it. I think I would read further, but I don't know if I will want to pay standard price to go on.
What I liked most about the story was the mystery. This is clearly the largest selling point of Gantz at this stage; what's going on? Is everyone truly dead or clones? Why has only one person survived a year participating in this alien-assassination squad?
The two characters I consider the protagonists, Kei and Kato, have interesting personal lives that are engaging. Especially Kato, although parts of Kei's personal story told in the book are enjoyable too. As a whole on the front of characters, there's a good mix in terms of character types, and a kind of big brother-esque 'how will this person react to this kind of person' enjoyment to be had.
For me, the negative points were the oversexualisation of Kishimoto Kei - it began feeling like somewhat realistic and nuanced - a yakuza guy tries to rape her after being placed in a room with her, but is stopped. Then Kato throws a jacket on her, saying along the lines of 'Put something on before I attack you myself'. This felt entirely out of left field, and seeing his character as a whole, it felt odd that he would say something like this. From there, the countless title pages and panels within the book featuring female Kei nude or posing feels incredibly weird. I could understand to a degree that sexualising women in comics and manga is standard, as men are too in other ways, however I felt this book really took it too far. There's a line where you're trying to appeal a book to a horny, just-18 or around that age audience, and then there's sexualising the primary female character in the story throughout a whole omnibus of manga, with little character behind her other than 'she's happy to be free of her controlling mum, now she's living with Kei as a pet'... The way that female Kei is treated like a sex doll throughout the story is sexist, as it stands. I don't know if it changes later, but as it stands, her character could be put in a hentai comic and probably fit in better. She has no agency.
I wanted to like this story more, and I'm hoping that if I read more, I will see female Kei's character receive respect. The story juggles a lot of ideas really well, but no part that has featured female Kei has been enjoyable - it's simply felt like fanservice.
What I liked most about the story was the mystery. This is clearly the largest selling point of Gantz at this stage; what's going on? Is everyone truly dead or clones? Why has only one person survived a year participating in this alien-assassination squad?
The two characters I consider the protagonists, Kei and Kato, have interesting personal lives that are engaging. Especially Kato, although parts of Kei's personal story told in the book are enjoyable too. As a whole on the front of characters, there's a good mix in terms of character types, and a kind of big brother-esque 'how will this person react to this kind of person' enjoyment to be had.
For me, the negative points were the oversexualisation of Kishimoto Kei - it began feeling like somewhat realistic and nuanced - a yakuza guy tries to rape her after being placed in a room with her, but is stopped. Then Kato throws a jacket on her, saying along the lines of 'Put something on before I attack you myself'. This felt entirely out of left field, and seeing his character as a whole, it felt odd that he would say something like this. From there, the countless title pages and panels within the book featuring female Kei nude or posing feels incredibly weird. I could understand to a degree that sexualising women in comics and manga is standard, as men are too in other ways, however I felt this book really took it too far. There's a line where you're trying to appeal a book to a horny, just-18 or around that age audience, and then there's sexualising the primary female character in the story throughout a whole omnibus of manga, with little character behind her other than 'she's happy to be free of her controlling mum, now she's living with Kei as a pet'... The way that female Kei is treated like a sex doll throughout the story is sexist, as it stands. I don't know if it changes later, but as it stands, her character could be put in a hentai comic and probably fit in better. She has no agency.
I wanted to like this story more, and I'm hoping that if I read more, I will see female Kei's character receive respect. The story juggles a lot of ideas really well, but no part that has featured female Kei has been enjoyable - it's simply felt like fanservice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Rape
Minor: Self harm, Terminal illness, Suicide, and Vomit
gr_ace_'s review
It got more and more meh as it went along. Tried getting to the end as I was close (further than chapter 300) but in the end decided it wasn't worth it. Art's awesome though!
aimlesscolleen's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
frasersimons's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Made it about halfway in and then started rapidly skimming. Just massively not my thing. Narration from horny incel boys are just my kryptonite, and that precludes me from enjoying a lot of manga, let’s be real.
adrianesreads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
irayred's review against another edition
3.0
Trigger warning: violencia explícita, desnudos, lenguaje altisonante. No se recomienda para un público menor de 18 años por contenido gráfico.
Kuroko y Kato, dos chicos de preparatoria, fueron arrollados por un tren al intentar salvar a un indigente tras haber caído a las vías, pero en lugar de morir, fueron transportados a un lugar donde un puñado de gente se encontraba encerrada.
Al parecer todos (incluidos hombres, mujeres y hasta un perro) deberán de participar en un siniestro juego: la misión es aniquilar a unas criaturas extrañas llamadas “cebollines”. Pero en realidad, ¿de qué se trata este juego?
En el primer volumen no tenemos mucha información y me parece que sólo fue la introducción a los personajes así que de momento no hay mucho qué decir. Eso sí, me agrada que sea un seinen que no se censura en absoluto. Son algo más de 30 volumenes para todo Gantz, así que hay un largo camino por recorrer.
Este volumen contiene los capítulos 1 al 10.
Kuroko y Kato, dos chicos de preparatoria, fueron arrollados por un tren al intentar salvar a un indigente tras haber caído a las vías, pero en lugar de morir, fueron transportados a un lugar donde un puñado de gente se encontraba encerrada.
Al parecer todos (incluidos hombres, mujeres y hasta un perro) deberán de participar en un siniestro juego: la misión es aniquilar a unas criaturas extrañas llamadas “cebollines”. Pero en realidad, ¿de qué se trata este juego?
En el primer volumen no tenemos mucha información y me parece que sólo fue la introducción a los personajes así que de momento no hay mucho qué decir. Eso sí, me agrada que sea un seinen que no se censura en absoluto. Son algo más de 30 volumenes para todo Gantz, así que hay un largo camino por recorrer.
Este volumen contiene los capítulos 1 al 10.
makabra's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Rape, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Misogyny, Gun violence, Gore, Cursing, Abandonment, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content