Bokurano: Ours, Vol. 5

ぼくらの [Bokurano] #5

by Mohiro Kitoh

Saving the world is no child’s play in this dark and chilling mecha manga series.

One summer, fifteen kids innocently wander into a nearby seaside cave. There they meet a strange man who invites them to play an exciting new video game. This game, he explains, pits one lone giant robot against a horde of alien invaders. To play the game, all they have to do is sign a simple contract. The game stops being fun when the kids find out the true purpose of their pact.

Zearth's surviving pilots make a promise to each they'll never break down, they'll never cry, and no one's to blame. Yet after Maki's battle breaks open the core of her opponent a frightening discovery may test their new resolve. Inside, the children come upon a terrible shock—the truth about who they're being driven to destroy.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Science Fiction, Seinen, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Coke Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los pelos de punta cuando se desvela la verdad.

[Daken Howlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bokurano è sempre stata una serie complessa da categorizzare,c'è sicuramente molto del modo di intendere il genere mecha pot evangelion in questa serie,dal design dei mech stessi passando per la galleria di protagonisti estremamente giovani ed estremamente complessi e disturbati dal punto di vista psicologico,passando per il mostrare una società futura non troppo lontana dalla nostra ma costantemente mostrata in una luce decadente,fredda e assolutamente negativa,fino a questo volume la serie non era troppo diversa da altre che cercavano di ricalcare l'enorme successo di EVA,come Aquarion e Raxhephon(per fare due esempi di alta qualità)solo con un'attenzione al dramma spinto maggiore e un body count assolutamente fuori scala...
Ma il quinto volume,esattamente a metà, cambia completamente il gioco inserendo elementi di sci-fi purissima e molto ben scritta e ribaltando completamente i ruoli,eliminando le concezioni di "bene" e "male",inserendo ogni personaggio in una sorta di zona grigia che rende impossibile distinguere i buoni dai cattivi...e il tutto,incredibilmente, si fa ancora più drammatico e sanguinoso.

[Ben Nealis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best volume so far. I actually really cared about one of the characters. I feel like the mangaka has finally hit there stride in this volume.

[rhsudwn_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

//crying (so sad but so good ~~~)

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's ok.

[ReadingFrog · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[quinnster · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yeah, I was completely wrong about the enemy robots. I think it was just wishful thinking on my part, but after Moji's battle and the choice he makes with his body I knew that was it. The kids are really dead after their battles. The one thing I don't get is why some of them live a bit after their victories and some drop dead right away.

Maki's story is just so sad. These kids are just in a shitty place all because of some wacko that we don't really know anything about. Why these kids? Just because they stumbled upon that cave? Or were they meant to find the cave?

And now that they know what's inside the core does that change anything for them? Either choice they make is hopeless for them. At the end of volume 5 there are still 7 kids remaining. It's getting pretty bleak.

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series. It is so well done but, jeez, is it depressing!

[Ravenhats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you thought Bokurano couldn't get more reflective and tragic it throws a crazy plot twist at you that changes everything. The art continues to get better and better as well.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moji and Maki's fights are in this issue and are particularly tragic. But the best part is that they finally reveal who is piloting the other robots.