Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 (v. 1) [Hardcover]

Product Details

• Hardcover: 632 pages
• Publisher: Tokyopop; Ultimate ed edition (October 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427807531
• ISBN-13: 978-1427807533
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
  

 

Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 (v. 1) [Hardcover]

 

Consumer Evaluations

Forty-two youngsters killing each other in the name of survival. That's the fundamental premise of Koushun Takami's cult-novel Battle Royale that has been adapted into the hit manga series by Masayuki Taguchi. The plot sounds beyond insane, the mere mention of the idea nearly offensive, so how on Earth could reading a comic about school children murdering every other be intriguing let alone entertaining? But it is interesting, and additionally, Battle Royale has a way of engrossing the reader into its bloody storyline to a point where it becomes a simple selection to invest in the rest of the series. Ultimately, Battle Royale is a manga series that works on quite a few distinct levels. It is a gripping story, full of romance, lots and lots of brutal action, some extremely detailed artwork, and also disturbing portrayal of human nature.
In an option universe where Japan has turn into apart of the Higher East Asia Republic with an oppressive Big-Brother government, a ninth grade high school class is randomly selected to participate in The Program, a nationally televised reality game show where students are released on an uninhabited island, offered a random weapon and rations, and then let loose with one particular objective: to be the only a single alive. Each student is equipped with an explosive collar which will detonate if no 1 dies inside twenty-four hours, forcing them to fight if they wish to survive. A young boy, Nanahara Shuya, the class' resident rebel-rocker, finds himself in the middle of it, refusing to kill but also bearing the responsibility of protecting Nakagawa Noriko, a female classmate. His vow not to play the game, on the other hand, becomes tested when it becomes apparent that lots of of his classmates are a lot more than willing to kill in order to win. Amongst them are the emotionless Kiriyama and the scarred Mitsuko, each natural born killers who will go to any extent to win, along with a host of other students who give in to their unbridled savage nature when forced to.
The characters of Battle Royale are one particular of the series' strongest points. Great pains are taken to flesh each and every a single out, so that when every a single dies, you really feel some sort of emotion. It could be satisfaction or glee when a rapist meets his gruesome finish or sadness when a single of your favorite characters finally meets their match. No character is genuinely invincible, and as a result the story normally remains intense. From the charismatic hacker Mimura Shinji to the Kung-Fu master Sugimara to the terrified Noriko, Battle Royale presents a assortment of characters that do a great job of reflecting the distinct personalities found in an typical high school. It lends a specific quantity of realism is an otherwise borderline ridiculous setting. At instances, it is virtually painful to watch the story progress as you develop into attached to a great deal more than 1 character, for the reason that in spite of all the nurtured hopes that the students share of escaping, the rules of the System are that only one student lives.
The characters are really what bring out the theme of human nature as well. Some go insane at the prospect of a premature death and willingly turn on each other. Some succumb to their inevitable death and commit suicide, selecting to meet death on their personal terms instead of those of the government. Other people resist the System, teaming up or plotting an insurrection to break cost-free from the government's iron grip. It is through the characters that we see the true nature of ones' personality when faced in the worst of circumstances. It is a disturbing spectacle to behold, and forces the reader to ponder at one particular point or a further "If you had been faced with these circumstances, what would you do?"
But Battle Royale is about even more than just the characters. There are quite a few fierce gun battles such as an extraordinary car chase, explosions, and even a few Dragon Ball styled martial arts fights. In contrast to the movie and novel, the manga version of Battle Royale's action does not necessarily ground itself in reality. The martial art sequences between Sugimara and Kiriyama are a testament to that, with both leaping by way of the air and exchanging blows in a dazzling display that would feels reminiscent of Hong Kong kung-fu films.
The artwork in Battle Royale is rather challenging to specify. It closely emulates the realistic art style of titles like Fists of the North Star for some characters, though for others a more comical strategy is taken. Either way, the character styles are elaborate and anything in the world of Battle Royale is detailed. And when I say everything, I mean quite literally everything. The violence is incredibly graphic and extreme. Brains are blown out, eye balls ripped out, throats slashed open, limbs amputated -it's just about disgusting to watch and can be a nasty shock to those who are not ready for it. Also, the sex is additional or much less pornographic. Pretty small is censored to say the least and these scenes are not isolated incidents. One particular character's weapon is her physique and sexual encounters followed by gruesome deaths happen many instances throughout the series. For those expecting a typical Bleach or Naruto reading, Battle Royale will come as a particularly unpleasant surprise.
The translation is fairly sound for the most element. Done by Keith Giffen, the story flows particularly smoothly and the dialogue fits every single character nicely. The only flaw in it is his occasional insertion of pop-culturist phrases which allude to either movies or musicians. Some fit such as characterizing Shuya as "Elvis", the original rebel rocker, but in other situations it feels awkward. In 1 case, Shuya claims that a different character has a "Bon Jovi" hair cut. In a different, in the course of a gunfight in a vehicle, 1 character tells Shuya not to go "Marvin from Pulp Fiction" when handing him a loaded gun. It makes sense if you are familiar with films and such, but it nonetheless sounds strange.
It is necessary to reemphasize the very important fact that Battle Royale, even though centered on the lives of teens, is not appropriate for young audiences. The parental discretion sticker on the front of the cover is well deserved. The fights are readily as bloody and graphic as any movie (which includes Asian cinema) and far surpasses pretty considerably something in the American manga industry. There is lots of foul language and there is tons of nudity, incredibly explicit sex, allusions to rape, and kid molestation just to name a few of the far more potentially offensive elements of the series. If you walk into reading the manga expecting just a comic form of the movie (which is also highly suggested) you're in for a shock. The film, whilst still incredibly violent, can not even begin to evaluate with the quantity of graphic material in the series. This series is not meant for young audiences (18+ I would recommend) or anybody who may be offended by the list above.
So, if the series is so shockingly violent, how can it be fantastic? I admit some of the violence and sex could be gratuitous, but the shocking nature of the artwork is an integral component of the manga series. It aids in reinforcing the disturbing themes that the comic depicts. With an unbelievable storyline, memorable characters, great action, and exceptionally detailed artwork, if you can stomach its explicit artwork, Battle Royale is an insane ride that you will not want to miss.

If you know anything about this series, you know it's not for the faint of heart. The story takes place in the not-as well-distant future, in Tokyo, Japan. For causes unexpalined in this volume, a "game show" has been introduced into society as a sick sort of entertainment. 42 teens, 21 girls and 21 boys, are pitted against one yet another, and the sole survivor (the 1 who is not killed by his peers) is the winner.
In a planet that is now besieged with numerous reality shows, this extreme game doesn't really feel as far off as it ought to. The graphic content material doesn not horrify me as significantly as the probability of this apocalyptic future.
The artwork is graphic and disturbing, but the characters are still attractive. The most important character's, Shuuya's, childhood flashbacks add to the depressing overtones of the "plan." We see Shuuya laughing and playing as a youngster, and we wonder if the next page will spell doom for that stated buddy.
The story is compelling and you read on as if you happen to be passing by a highway accident you just have to look. This volume is pretty gory and deptressing (but thought provoking.) Is it one thing we have to dread in our future?!?
As for the prior evaluations, this is undoubtedly NOT Appropriate FOR Young children. But then again, it really is written for adults. It comes shrinkwrapped for a cause.
Oh, and typing in all caps does not validate your opinion. But then again, I'd like to say: THANKS TOKYOPOP!

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