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guavasoup's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Car accident
sullyisreading's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Gore and Rape
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit
makabra's review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
lilsuccubus's review against another edition
0.25
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
anime917's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Sexual harassment
wyattshield's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Incredibly over the top in just about every way it can be.