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Battle Royale #ultimate 1; books 1-3
Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1
Battle Royale, a high-octane thriller about senseless youth violence in a dystopian world, it is one of Japan's best-selling - and most controversial - novels. As part of a ruthless program by the totalitarian government, ninth-grade students are taken to a small isolated island with a map, food, and various weapons. Forced to wear special collars that explode when they break a rule, they must fight each other for three days until only one "winner" remains. The elimination contest becomes the ultimate in must-see reality television. A Japanese pulp classic available in English for the first time, Battle Royale is a potent allegory of what it means to be young and survive in today's dog-eat-dog world. The first novel by small-town journalist Koushun Takami, it went on to become an even more notorious film by 70-year-old director Kinji Fukusaku.
632 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2007
4 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Koushun Takami
100 books1,574 followersKoushun Takami (高見 広春 Takami Kōshun) is the author of the novel Battle Royale, originally published in Japanese, and later translated into English by Yuji Oniki and published by Viz Media and, later, in an expanded edition by Haika Soru, a division of Viz Media.
Takami was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture near Osaka and grew up in the Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku. After graduating from Osaka University with a degree in literature, he dropped out of Nihon University's liberal arts correspondence course program. From 1991 to 1996, he worked for the news company Shikoku Shimbun, reporting on various fields including politics, police reports, and economics.
The novel Battle Royale was completed after Takami left the news company. It was rejected in the final round of the literary competition for which it was intended, owing to its controversial content. It went on to become a bestseller when finally released in 1999 and, a year later, was made into a manga and a feature film.
He is currently working on a second novel.
Takami was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture near Osaka and grew up in the Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku. After graduating from Osaka University with a degree in literature, he dropped out of Nihon University's liberal arts correspondence course program. From 1991 to 1996, he worked for the news company Shikoku Shimbun, reporting on various fields including politics, police reports, and economics.
The novel Battle Royale was completed after Takami left the news company. It was rejected in the final round of the literary competition for which it was intended, owing to its controversial content. It went on to become a bestseller when finally released in 1999 and, a year later, was made into a manga and a feature film.
He is currently working on a second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 31, 2024
I first encountered this franchise through the 2000 Japanese movie and its sequel. At the time, I didn't realize it was based on a romance or that it had a manga adaptation.
Since I started reading manga and discovered this series, it has been a top priority for me to read. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an edition in a language I could understand—until now.
Pipoca & Nanquim changed that.
This series exceeded all my expectations. The publishers knew exactly what they had and released a top-notch edition that I can't praise enough. It's one of the best manga editions I've ever seen.
There's a lot of violence, so it's not for everyone. But if you enjoy the theme, you're going to love the story.
10 out of 10. One of the best manga I've read this year.
Since I started reading manga and discovered this series, it has been a top priority for me to read. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an edition in a language I could understand—until now.
Pipoca & Nanquim changed that.
This series exceeded all my expectations. The publishers knew exactly what they had and released a top-notch edition that I can't praise enough. It's one of the best manga editions I've ever seen.
There's a lot of violence, so it's not for everyone. But if you enjoy the theme, you're going to love the story.
10 out of 10. One of the best manga I've read this year.
January 26, 2025
REREAD (2022):
TW: transphobic slur (on page 1, at least in the German translation), graphic depiction of two rape scenes, graphic depiction of "sex"/rape between minors and adults, pedophilia, sexist language, sexist portrayal of girls/women, graphic depiction of violence (gore), graphic sex scenes
Adding a bunch of trigger warnings because on my reread I noticed just how explicit this book is, and I honestly wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 18. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of how girls and women are portrayed in most manga, and Battle Royale is no exception. The graphic depictions of rape and/or "sex" that these teenage girls have with grown men were hard to stomach. They're just drawn through such a male gaze, that even the depiction of a rape focuses on how large the woman's breasts are. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, "sexy" about a rape... these panels were absolutely disgusting. I just hate that the sexualisation of girls and women is basically the status quo in manga. I had to take one full star from my rating for that.
Apart from the portrayal of some of the female characters, I still enjoyed this first volume. Battle Royale simply has a cool concept, and I think that Takami's version of these games are a lot more thrilling and realistic than Collin's. I love his idea of the necklaces that will explode if no one is killed within a 24-hour period, or if someone stays in a zone which is marked as no mans land. I also love that its one class that competes against each other, so all students know each other which leads to more exciting character dynamics.
These additions make Takami's "Program" a lot more fast-paced and high-stakes than Collin's "Hunger Games". I also prefer that we follow all the students ("tributes") around and get to know all of their backstory. Even though Battle Royale revolves around the character of Shuya, we still learn of the fate of all his class mates.
Apart from his sexist and, I'm sorry to say it, pedophile depictions of underage girls (focusing on their huge unrealistic breasts, their soaked panties etc.; can you hear me vomit in the distance?), Taguchi's art style fits the story quite nicely. It's detailed and realistic, his fight scenes are dynamic, the gore is a sight to behold!
Mimura reminds me of Nathan Scott (Season 1-4), and I know his is the type of character archetype that I shouldn't fall for but that I fall for every damn time. Also, Yukie not wanting to kill Kazuhiko and Sakura but them thinking she would (when they saw her approach with a weapon) and unintentionally being the cause of their suicide (they jumped off the cliff together) was the most tragic moment of this entire volume. I cannot even!
ORIGINAL REVIEW (2016):
Battle Royale is a Japanese seinen manga series written by Koushun Takami and illustrated by Masayuki Taguchi. It is based on Takami's novel of the same name, telling the story of a class of junior high school children who are forced to fight each other to the death. The manga follows the plot of the novel fairly closely, but expands on the backstory of each of the students. Much like the plots of the novel and film adaptation, the manga is noted for its intense and gory violence.
Battle Royale was serialized by Akita Shoten in Young Champion from 2000 to 2005, and later combined into 15 tankobon volumes, which were released in English by Tokyopop from 2003 to 2006. In October 2007, a special edition of the manga began being released, combining 3 volumes into one–this ended up being the version of the manga that I read.
Volume 1:
We are introduced to the main characters and how the class was kidnapped and sent to the island. Most of this volume in set in the classroom and Yonemi Kamon's instructions about the program. Mr. Hayashida, the class teacher, is killed before the Program begins for resisting. Kamon shoots and kills Yoshitoki Kuninobu for attacking him after he, Kamon, says that he raped Anna Ryoko, the caretaker of the orphaned Shuya and Yoshitoki. Kamon also kills Fumiyo Fujiyoshi by throwing a knife in her head while she whispers during class. After the event begins, Yoshio Akamatsu kills Mayumi Tendo who is discovered by Shuya. Shuya knocks out Yoshio when he threatens Noriko and runs off and settles in the woods for the night. Yoshio is killed off by Kazushi Niida and finally, Megumi Eto, hiding in the residential area, is killed by Mitsuko Souma by slicing her neck open.
When I started reading the series I was immediately reminded of Collin's The Hunger Games, and was amazed by how much better and more realistic Takami's story was told. The manga has a very addictive nature, and from the start I was invested in the characters—especially Shuya and Yoshi!
Volume 2:
In this volume we are introduced to Kazuo Kiriyama and his gang. It is revealed, that due to Kazuo's apparent sociopathy, he determines whether to play the game by the flick of a coin. This inevitably begins his killing spree, including his entire gang, Izumi Kanai, and Yukiko and Yumiko. Sakura Ogawa and Kazuhiko Yamamoto commit suicide. Tatsumichi Oki attacks Shuya but kills himself by accident; Kyoichi Motobuchi also attacks Shuya but is killed by Shogo. Shuya and Noriko meet Shogo Kawada and team up to find more friends.
In this volume, Kazuo was the first. He's simply a crazy motherfucker—and I kinda love him for it; he will give you major Scar Face vibes. The story of Sakura and Kazuhiko was beautifully tragic, and prepared me to not get too attached to any of the characters; because these bitches will be dying!
Volume 3:
This volume is mainly about Shinji Mimura, when he finds close friend Yutaka Sato and begins his plan to defeat the program via implanting a worm into The Program's main computers. We also meet Yoshimi Yahagi and Yoji Kuramoto, later it introduces Takako Chigusa and Kazushi Niida.
The third volume was my least favorite one, it features unnecessary sex scenes and the showing of breasts just for the male gaze (a general problem I have with a lot of manga). On top of that, I wasn't a fan of how the abusive relationship was portrayed.
TW: transphobic slur (on page 1, at least in the German translation), graphic depiction of two rape scenes, graphic depiction of "sex"/rape between minors and adults, pedophilia, sexist language, sexist portrayal of girls/women, graphic depiction of violence (gore), graphic sex scenes
Adding a bunch of trigger warnings because on my reread I noticed just how explicit this book is, and I honestly wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 18. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of how girls and women are portrayed in most manga, and Battle Royale is no exception. The graphic depictions of rape and/or "sex" that these teenage girls have with grown men were hard to stomach. They're just drawn through such a male gaze, that even the depiction of a rape focuses on how large the woman's breasts are. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, "sexy" about a rape... these panels were absolutely disgusting. I just hate that the sexualisation of girls and women is basically the status quo in manga. I had to take one full star from my rating for that.
Apart from the portrayal of some of the female characters, I still enjoyed this first volume. Battle Royale simply has a cool concept, and I think that Takami's version of these games are a lot more thrilling and realistic than Collin's. I love his idea of the necklaces that will explode if no one is killed within a 24-hour period, or if someone stays in a zone which is marked as no mans land. I also love that its one class that competes against each other, so all students know each other which leads to more exciting character dynamics.
These additions make Takami's "Program" a lot more fast-paced and high-stakes than Collin's "Hunger Games". I also prefer that we follow all the students ("tributes") around and get to know all of their backstory. Even though Battle Royale revolves around the character of Shuya, we still learn of the fate of all his class mates.
Apart from his sexist and, I'm sorry to say it, pedophile depictions of underage girls (focusing on their huge unrealistic breasts, their soaked panties etc.; can you hear me vomit in the distance?), Taguchi's art style fits the story quite nicely. It's detailed and realistic, his fight scenes are dynamic, the gore is a sight to behold!
Mimura reminds me of Nathan Scott (Season 1-4), and I know his is the type of character archetype that I shouldn't fall for but that I fall for every damn time. Also, Yukie not wanting to kill Kazuhiko and Sakura but them thinking she would (when they saw her approach with a weapon) and unintentionally being the cause of their suicide (they jumped off the cliff together) was the most tragic moment of this entire volume. I cannot even!
ORIGINAL REVIEW (2016):
Battle Royale is a Japanese seinen manga series written by Koushun Takami and illustrated by Masayuki Taguchi. It is based on Takami's novel of the same name, telling the story of a class of junior high school children who are forced to fight each other to the death. The manga follows the plot of the novel fairly closely, but expands on the backstory of each of the students. Much like the plots of the novel and film adaptation, the manga is noted for its intense and gory violence.
Battle Royale was serialized by Akita Shoten in Young Champion from 2000 to 2005, and later combined into 15 tankobon volumes, which were released in English by Tokyopop from 2003 to 2006. In October 2007, a special edition of the manga began being released, combining 3 volumes into one–this ended up being the version of the manga that I read.
Volume 1:
We are introduced to the main characters and how the class was kidnapped and sent to the island. Most of this volume in set in the classroom and Yonemi Kamon's instructions about the program. Mr. Hayashida, the class teacher, is killed before the Program begins for resisting. Kamon shoots and kills Yoshitoki Kuninobu for attacking him after he, Kamon, says that he raped Anna Ryoko, the caretaker of the orphaned Shuya and Yoshitoki. Kamon also kills Fumiyo Fujiyoshi by throwing a knife in her head while she whispers during class. After the event begins, Yoshio Akamatsu kills Mayumi Tendo who is discovered by Shuya. Shuya knocks out Yoshio when he threatens Noriko and runs off and settles in the woods for the night. Yoshio is killed off by Kazushi Niida and finally, Megumi Eto, hiding in the residential area, is killed by Mitsuko Souma by slicing her neck open.
When I started reading the series I was immediately reminded of Collin's The Hunger Games, and was amazed by how much better and more realistic Takami's story was told. The manga has a very addictive nature, and from the start I was invested in the characters—especially Shuya and Yoshi!
Volume 2:
In this volume we are introduced to Kazuo Kiriyama and his gang. It is revealed, that due to Kazuo's apparent sociopathy, he determines whether to play the game by the flick of a coin. This inevitably begins his killing spree, including his entire gang, Izumi Kanai, and Yukiko and Yumiko. Sakura Ogawa and Kazuhiko Yamamoto commit suicide. Tatsumichi Oki attacks Shuya but kills himself by accident; Kyoichi Motobuchi also attacks Shuya but is killed by Shogo. Shuya and Noriko meet Shogo Kawada and team up to find more friends.
In this volume, Kazuo was the first. He's simply a crazy motherfucker—and I kinda love him for it; he will give you major Scar Face vibes. The story of Sakura and Kazuhiko was beautifully tragic, and prepared me to not get too attached to any of the characters; because these bitches will be dying!
Volume 3:
This volume is mainly about Shinji Mimura, when he finds close friend Yutaka Sato and begins his plan to defeat the program via implanting a worm into The Program's main computers. We also meet Yoshimi Yahagi and Yoji Kuramoto, later it introduces Takako Chigusa and Kazushi Niida.
The third volume was my least favorite one, it features unnecessary sex scenes and the showing of breasts just for the male gaze (a general problem I have with a lot of manga). On top of that, I wasn't a fan of how the abusive relationship was portrayed.
June 15, 2025
estou lendo junto com o livro então acaba que as escolhas diferentes que fizeram no mangá ficam mais evidentes, e enquanto estou adorando essa história lendo, no mangá ficou bem mais sexualizado e muitas vezes parecendo que o foco é esse e o programa sendo só um pano de fundo, sei lá. mas em outros pontos, é bem fiel ao livro
May 19, 2008
Take Orwell’s Big Brother nightmare, combine it with Stephen King’s “The Running Man,” and you’ve got “Battle Royale,” a chilling, gruesome game where an eighth-grade class is randomly picked to compete against one another to the death.
There’s only one winner, which means it’s kill or be killed.
Of course, you’ve got the various personality types among the 42 students — the delinquents, idealists, Lolita cons, cowards, the valiant, the cold-blooded and the loners. The first three volumes in this Ultimate Edition begin to delve into the characters’ backstories while pushing the psychological tension full-steam ahead with violence, lust, desperation and deception.
The story starts off with Shuuya and Yoshitoki, who are orphans and childhood friends, as they go about their teenage life — crushes, music, school. Then, on a class trip, the students are drugged and taken to an isolated island for the government-sanctioned “game,” a widely popular hit on state-controlled television. Any objections by the students’ families are dealt with — permanently.
The hefty, hard-bound edition reads like it’s in high gear thanks to the twisting plot threads that fuel the crackling action. “Battle Royale” has it all, from gunplay to sexplay. It plumbs the depths of the human psyche and explores how far you can push someone before he or she breaks.
Some will hide, some will try to rally together and some will play the game. Consider this manga a mandatory read for action fans.
There’s only one winner, which means it’s kill or be killed.
Of course, you’ve got the various personality types among the 42 students — the delinquents, idealists, Lolita cons, cowards, the valiant, the cold-blooded and the loners. The first three volumes in this Ultimate Edition begin to delve into the characters’ backstories while pushing the psychological tension full-steam ahead with violence, lust, desperation and deception.
The story starts off with Shuuya and Yoshitoki, who are orphans and childhood friends, as they go about their teenage life — crushes, music, school. Then, on a class trip, the students are drugged and taken to an isolated island for the government-sanctioned “game,” a widely popular hit on state-controlled television. Any objections by the students’ families are dealt with — permanently.
The hefty, hard-bound edition reads like it’s in high gear thanks to the twisting plot threads that fuel the crackling action. “Battle Royale” has it all, from gunplay to sexplay. It plumbs the depths of the human psyche and explores how far you can push someone before he or she breaks.
Some will hide, some will try to rally together and some will play the game. Consider this manga a mandatory read for action fans.
October 21, 2011
I'm still not sure what I should rate this book. I didn't hate Battle Royale, it is tolerable in a very twisted and sick way. While it is incredibly violent and reminds me very much of the The Crimson Labyrinth which I had a hard time with I was not as opposed to this as I was the novel. I'm not sure why the novel version of a similar idea of "survival of the fittest" bothered me more than this manga/graphic novel did. I'd think that seeing the images drawn out for me would have been worse. Course I'm not saying the images are tame by ANY MEANS and that it didn't bother me cause it did. This is incredibly graphic and could turn the stomach of some sensitive readers. While it didn't bother my stomach, it does make my heart race and makes me very tense. I'm literally jumpy as I sit here and type this. Crazy? Maybe but that's the honest to goodness truth.
The first night I read a chunk of this, and it reads super quick given the format and the intensity of which is pulls you in. It keeps you reading to see what will happen next, who will be the next victim and I found that I HAD to read a different book, something much lighter AND watch a half hour comedy sitcom before I felt calm enough to turn the lights out and go to sleep. That said I am definitely giving myself a breather between the first book and the second book.
I'd recommend the book to anyone curious about the concept of "survival of the fittest", anyone not weak of heart or stomach. I think this is the kind of book that will stick with you. It will not be easily left behind. If you are not interested in feeling anything as you read, well by all means by pass this one.
Rating to come after I've digested the book, and calmed down once again.
The first night I read a chunk of this, and it reads super quick given the format and the intensity of which is pulls you in. It keeps you reading to see what will happen next, who will be the next victim and I found that I HAD to read a different book, something much lighter AND watch a half hour comedy sitcom before I felt calm enough to turn the lights out and go to sleep. That said I am definitely giving myself a breather between the first book and the second book.
I'd recommend the book to anyone curious about the concept of "survival of the fittest", anyone not weak of heart or stomach. I think this is the kind of book that will stick with you. It will not be easily left behind. If you are not interested in feeling anything as you read, well by all means by pass this one.
Rating to come after I've digested the book, and calmed down once again.
January 18, 2025
Vuonna 1999 ilmestynyt Koushin Takamin Battle Royale -romaani osoittautui sen verran suureksi hitiksi, että siitä tekaistiin nopealla syötöllä niin sarjakuva- kuin leffaversiotkin. Takamin itsensä käsikirjoittama sarjakuvaversio julkaistiin viitenätoista pokkarina, joista "Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Vol. 1" (Tokyopop, 2007) pistää pakettiin kolme ensimmäistä.
Sarjakuva sijoittuu vaihtoehtoiseen totalitaariseen maailmaan. Vuosittain yksi koululuokka arvotaan ottamaan osaa koko kansalle televisioitavaan peliin, jossa oppilaat pistetään teurastamaan toisiaan suljetulla pelikentällä, kuten tässä tapauksessa eristetyllä saarella. Vain yksi heistä voi voittaa pelin eli toisin sanoen selvitä koitoksesta hengissä.
Kuulostaako yhtään tutulta? No niin minä vähän arvelin. En ole ikinä tajunnut, miten tästä selvittiiin niin vähin plagiointisyytöksin.
Nuorisolaiset eivät voi kieltäytyä pelaamasta, sillä kaikkien kaulaan on asennettu panta, joka räjähtää mikäli tappaminen loppuu tai säännöistä yritetään muuten luistaa. Kaikille jaetaan mukaan pieni määrä varusteita ja summamutikassa arvottu ase, joka saattaa olla mitä tahansa bumerangin ja konepistoolin väliltä. Ja sitten vaan metsästämään luokkakaveria! Luonnollisesti pelin henkeen vaikuttaa se, että toiset ovat innokkaampia pelaamaan kuin toiset, eivätkä erilaiset ystävyys- ja ihastuskuviot tietenkään helpota tilannetta... Lähtökohtaisesti tarina tarjoaa puitteet siis monenlaiselle draamalle.
Sarjakuva elää ja kuolee kuitenkin henkilöittensä mukana. Välitänkö lukijana heistä riittävästi kiinnostuakseni heidän kohtaloistaan tai siitä kuka voittaa? Ensimmäisten osien perusteella keskeisimmät hahmot ovat riittävän kiinnostavia persoonallisuuksia, eivätkä sivuhahmotkaan jää aivan mitäänsanomattomaksi tykinruoaksi, vaan näiden välityksellä onnistutaan luomaan ihan liikuttavia kohtauksia. Suurin ongelma henkilökuvauksessa liittyy ns. pahishahmoihin, jotka ovat vaarassa jäädä liioitelluiksi karikatyyreiksi.
Kuten pelin henkeen tietysti kuuluu, viedään "Battle Royalessa" väkivalta toiseen potenssiin, ja myös seksuaalinen sisältö on hetkittäin aika häiritsevää. Sisältövaroitukset ovat siis paikallaan: ei missään tapauksessa herkille tai alaikäisille. Kaikesta tästä huolimatta kokonaisuus on varsin koukuttavaa luettavaa, etenkin kun taidekaan ei ole yhtään hassumpaa.
Lukiessani en voinut olla välttymättä ajatusleikiltä, jossa oma yläkoululuokkani olisi laitettu pelaamaan vastaavaa peliä. En usko, että olisin selvinnyt hengissä 150 sivua pidemmälle.
Sarjakuva sijoittuu vaihtoehtoiseen totalitaariseen maailmaan. Vuosittain yksi koululuokka arvotaan ottamaan osaa koko kansalle televisioitavaan peliin, jossa oppilaat pistetään teurastamaan toisiaan suljetulla pelikentällä, kuten tässä tapauksessa eristetyllä saarella. Vain yksi heistä voi voittaa pelin eli toisin sanoen selvitä koitoksesta hengissä.
Kuulostaako yhtään tutulta? No niin minä vähän arvelin. En ole ikinä tajunnut, miten tästä selvittiiin niin vähin plagiointisyytöksin.
Nuorisolaiset eivät voi kieltäytyä pelaamasta, sillä kaikkien kaulaan on asennettu panta, joka räjähtää mikäli tappaminen loppuu tai säännöistä yritetään muuten luistaa. Kaikille jaetaan mukaan pieni määrä varusteita ja summamutikassa arvottu ase, joka saattaa olla mitä tahansa bumerangin ja konepistoolin väliltä. Ja sitten vaan metsästämään luokkakaveria! Luonnollisesti pelin henkeen vaikuttaa se, että toiset ovat innokkaampia pelaamaan kuin toiset, eivätkä erilaiset ystävyys- ja ihastuskuviot tietenkään helpota tilannetta... Lähtökohtaisesti tarina tarjoaa puitteet siis monenlaiselle draamalle.
Sarjakuva elää ja kuolee kuitenkin henkilöittensä mukana. Välitänkö lukijana heistä riittävästi kiinnostuakseni heidän kohtaloistaan tai siitä kuka voittaa? Ensimmäisten osien perusteella keskeisimmät hahmot ovat riittävän kiinnostavia persoonallisuuksia, eivätkä sivuhahmotkaan jää aivan mitäänsanomattomaksi tykinruoaksi, vaan näiden välityksellä onnistutaan luomaan ihan liikuttavia kohtauksia. Suurin ongelma henkilökuvauksessa liittyy ns. pahishahmoihin, jotka ovat vaarassa jäädä liioitelluiksi karikatyyreiksi.
Kuten pelin henkeen tietysti kuuluu, viedään "Battle Royalessa" väkivalta toiseen potenssiin, ja myös seksuaalinen sisältö on hetkittäin aika häiritsevää. Sisältövaroitukset ovat siis paikallaan: ei missään tapauksessa herkille tai alaikäisille. Kaikesta tästä huolimatta kokonaisuus on varsin koukuttavaa luettavaa, etenkin kun taidekaan ei ole yhtään hassumpaa.
Lukiessani en voinut olla välttymättä ajatusleikiltä, jossa oma yläkoululuokkani olisi laitettu pelaamaan vastaavaa peliä. En usko, että olisin selvinnyt hengissä 150 sivua pidemmälle.
June 5, 2011
If you are fan of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, chances are you have already heard of Koushun Takami's Battle Royale, a dystopian-themed book that was originally published in 1999 and also deals with teenaged kids killing each other in a government-sponsored, gladiator-style competition. While a number of people have commented on the similarities between the two books, my review will focus solely on the manga adaption of Takami's book.
First of all, if you are even a bit squeamish about explicit violent acts and/or graphic depictions of sex, then this is not the manga for you. There is a reason why this series comes with a "parents advisory" warning label and let's just say, this story is not for the faint of heart. Within the first 100 pages in the first volume, there were already 3 deaths/murders along with a very unsettling panel depicting a rape scene. The story just comes at you like a sledgehammer with one violent encounter after another that you barely have time to process what is happening, let alone who to root for (note: there is at least 5-6 main characters in the story which gets kinda confusing sometimes because of the similarities in some of the kids' names).
Rather than be disgusted by what I was seeing and reading on the pages, I found myself drawn further into the story as the author and the illustrator carefully inserts mini-stories that examines some of these minor characters' lives before and during the competition. You cannot help but feel intrigued. One thing I noticed is that almost nobody in the story seems to have a happy life with loving parents or other family members. All the kids seem to be "running wild" and engaging in all sorts of criminal activities that was it any wonder that this class of students was picked to participate in Battle Royale?
This book is simply a gory and disturbing blood fest that is hard to put down. You simply want to read more just to learn what would turn your stomach and force you to put this book down. So far, I have finished volume 3 and it looks like I have a very strong stomach for these type of stories.
First of all, if you are even a bit squeamish about explicit violent acts and/or graphic depictions of sex, then this is not the manga for you. There is a reason why this series comes with a "parents advisory" warning label and let's just say, this story is not for the faint of heart. Within the first 100 pages in the first volume, there were already 3 deaths/murders along with a very unsettling panel depicting a rape scene. The story just comes at you like a sledgehammer with one violent encounter after another that you barely have time to process what is happening, let alone who to root for (note: there is at least 5-6 main characters in the story which gets kinda confusing sometimes because of the similarities in some of the kids' names).
Rather than be disgusted by what I was seeing and reading on the pages, I found myself drawn further into the story as the author and the illustrator carefully inserts mini-stories that examines some of these minor characters' lives before and during the competition. You cannot help but feel intrigued. One thing I noticed is that almost nobody in the story seems to have a happy life with loving parents or other family members. All the kids seem to be "running wild" and engaging in all sorts of criminal activities that was it any wonder that this class of students was picked to participate in Battle Royale?
This book is simply a gory and disturbing blood fest that is hard to put down. You simply want to read more just to learn what would turn your stomach and force you to put this book down. So far, I have finished volume 3 and it looks like I have a very strong stomach for these type of stories.
October 25, 2016
I've read
Battle Royale
before, so I already knew what to expect going in. And yet I was still a little surprised by the graphic content. I don't know, maybe I thought it would be more off-screen?
I really liked this adaptation, though. Reading the book got to be confusing, trying to keep track of all the characters by just their names, especially when some are pretty similar. I like having the visual representation, so I don't necessarily have to remember their name, just their face. I also like the side stories, so that you get a better feel for some of the secondary characters.
Really looking forward to reading Volume 2.
I really liked this adaptation, though. Reading the book got to be confusing, trying to keep track of all the characters by just their names, especially when some are pretty similar. I like having the visual representation, so I don't necessarily have to remember their name, just their face. I also like the side stories, so that you get a better feel for some of the secondary characters.
Really looking forward to reading Volume 2.
September 21, 2018
3.3/5
The original Battle Royale is one of my favourite novels of all time, so I knew that, eventually, I had to grab hold of the manga adaptation. Problem is, with Tokyopop going under, the manga is out of print, and really fucking expensive--especially the Ultimate Editions.
I lucked out one day when I found Rightstuf was selling the first three volumes of the Ultimate Editions for only $70 altogether. Good deal. So I at least own the first three Ultimate Editions, which makes for about the first nine volumes of the manga, plus some side stories, which I'm not sure were included in the original volumes or not, which leads to a few inconsistencies, but whatever; this translation isn't exactly first class.
Everyone knows the plot by now, considering how controversial the novel was back in its day, and the stellar film adaptation that came after (avoid BRII though--it's garbage). A busload of high school students is taken to a secluded island where they are briefed by a really ugly POS slimeball named Sakamochi on what they must do: kill each other until one remains, or die. With explosive collars fitted around their necks and a random weapon given to each student before they're forced to run out into the wilderness, the game begins. This translation goes on to mention that this is some kind of televised game show that rich folks bet on.
The side stories provide us with a bit more backstory for the more important characters, covering details and crucial events in their lives before the Program snatched them away that were only hinted at in the novel. They're smartly inserted into the story when the plot gets a little slow and the characters are resting.
My main criticisms for this adaptation are the artwork and the uncomfortable over-sexualization not present in the novel. First off: the artwork is gorgeous. It is amazingly detailed, the characters stay on model most of the time, and the action scenes are great. But at the same time, it's like the creators deliberately went out of their way to make almost everyone except for the main characters look as ugly as possible. Some of these poor side characters look like Hamuko from Apocalypse Zero. Our main characters, however, are in an entirely different league, because all six of them look like super models, with the female characters getting over-sexualized on top of that. I'm not a prude when it comes to sexualization, but this is distracting, Highschool of the Dead levels of ridiculous. Few panels exist of these characters where their breasts or panties aren't emphasized. Mitsuko's side story at the end of this Ultimate Edition volume pushed it even farther, putting her methods of seducing older rich men so that she can drug them and ruin them later on full pornographic display. It's a bit weird seeing seemingly endless graphic sex scenes and then a two-page spread of a spread-eagled naked Mitsuko gripping her censored-by-white-out crotch with the speech balloon beside her head reading "I'm only fifteen!"
It's a bit much, guys.
Anyway, despite my gripes with the translation and aspects of the presentation, the first Ultimate Edition collection of the Battle Royale manga is off to a fairly solid start here. It at least delves deeper into the story's mythos and explores the characters in ways that weren't put into better detail in the original novel or its film adaptation. Worth a read for Battle Royale fans, and action/horror fans in general, but if you're neither, well, look elsewhere.
The original Battle Royale is one of my favourite novels of all time, so I knew that, eventually, I had to grab hold of the manga adaptation. Problem is, with Tokyopop going under, the manga is out of print, and really fucking expensive--especially the Ultimate Editions.
I lucked out one day when I found Rightstuf was selling the first three volumes of the Ultimate Editions for only $70 altogether. Good deal. So I at least own the first three Ultimate Editions, which makes for about the first nine volumes of the manga, plus some side stories, which I'm not sure were included in the original volumes or not, which leads to a few inconsistencies, but whatever; this translation isn't exactly first class.
Everyone knows the plot by now, considering how controversial the novel was back in its day, and the stellar film adaptation that came after (avoid BRII though--it's garbage). A busload of high school students is taken to a secluded island where they are briefed by a really ugly POS slimeball named Sakamochi on what they must do: kill each other until one remains, or die. With explosive collars fitted around their necks and a random weapon given to each student before they're forced to run out into the wilderness, the game begins. This translation goes on to mention that this is some kind of televised game show that rich folks bet on.
The side stories provide us with a bit more backstory for the more important characters, covering details and crucial events in their lives before the Program snatched them away that were only hinted at in the novel. They're smartly inserted into the story when the plot gets a little slow and the characters are resting.
My main criticisms for this adaptation are the artwork and the uncomfortable over-sexualization not present in the novel. First off: the artwork is gorgeous. It is amazingly detailed, the characters stay on model most of the time, and the action scenes are great. But at the same time, it's like the creators deliberately went out of their way to make almost everyone except for the main characters look as ugly as possible. Some of these poor side characters look like Hamuko from Apocalypse Zero. Our main characters, however, are in an entirely different league, because all six of them look like super models, with the female characters getting over-sexualized on top of that. I'm not a prude when it comes to sexualization, but this is distracting, Highschool of the Dead levels of ridiculous. Few panels exist of these characters where their breasts or panties aren't emphasized. Mitsuko's side story at the end of this Ultimate Edition volume pushed it even farther, putting her methods of seducing older rich men so that she can drug them and ruin them later on full pornographic display. It's a bit weird seeing seemingly endless graphic sex scenes and then a two-page spread of a spread-eagled naked Mitsuko gripping her censored-by-white-out crotch with the speech balloon beside her head reading "I'm only fifteen!"
It's a bit much, guys.
Anyway, despite my gripes with the translation and aspects of the presentation, the first Ultimate Edition collection of the Battle Royale manga is off to a fairly solid start here. It at least delves deeper into the story's mythos and explores the characters in ways that weren't put into better detail in the original novel or its film adaptation. Worth a read for Battle Royale fans, and action/horror fans in general, but if you're neither, well, look elsewhere.
April 11, 2023
Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 by Koushun Takami is an absolute masterpiece of a novel. From the very first page, the reader is plunged headfirst into a world of intense violence, suspense, and heart-wrenching emotion that leaves you breathless and on the edge of your seat.
The story follows a group of high school students who are forced to participate in a government-sanctioned program called "The Program," where they must fight to the death until only one survivor remains. The characters are richly drawn and multi-dimensional, with each one struggling to survive in their own unique way. You can't help but become invested in their fates, cheering them on as they try to outsmart and outlast each other.
But what sets this novel apart is its commentary on the state of modern society. The book is a scathing critique of our obsession with violence, competition, and social hierarchies, showing us what can happen when these forces are taken to their logical extreme. It's a powerful message that is just as relevant today as it was when the book was first published.
The writing itself is masterful, with Takami's prose painting vivid images of the characters and the world they inhabit. The pacing is perfect, with moments of intense action and suspense perfectly balanced with moments of emotional depth and reflection.
Overall, Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 is an absolute must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, action, and social commentary. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, forcing you to question the world we live in and our place in it. I can't recommend this book enough - it's truly a work of art.
The story follows a group of high school students who are forced to participate in a government-sanctioned program called "The Program," where they must fight to the death until only one survivor remains. The characters are richly drawn and multi-dimensional, with each one struggling to survive in their own unique way. You can't help but become invested in their fates, cheering them on as they try to outsmart and outlast each other.
But what sets this novel apart is its commentary on the state of modern society. The book is a scathing critique of our obsession with violence, competition, and social hierarchies, showing us what can happen when these forces are taken to their logical extreme. It's a powerful message that is just as relevant today as it was when the book was first published.
The writing itself is masterful, with Takami's prose painting vivid images of the characters and the world they inhabit. The pacing is perfect, with moments of intense action and suspense perfectly balanced with moments of emotional depth and reflection.
Overall, Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 is an absolute must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, action, and social commentary. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, forcing you to question the world we live in and our place in it. I can't recommend this book enough - it's truly a work of art.
January 1, 2021
Good way to start the year!
First of all, what a wonderful edition!!!
I've watched the movie but didn't know anything about the existence of the book, let alone the manga.
So, I was impressed. Curious. Interested... Until I got my hands on this edition and saw the art. STUNNING! I had to read it!
It's chilling, gruesome, graphic and all those things that freak a "normal" person out, but at the same time it's so realistic, in terms of character development etc which makes it an amazing read!
I also loved all the extra stuff in this special edition.
MUST READ.
First of all, what a wonderful edition!!!
I've watched the movie but didn't know anything about the existence of the book, let alone the manga.
So, I was impressed. Curious. Interested... Until I got my hands on this edition and saw the art. STUNNING! I had to read it!
It's chilling, gruesome, graphic and all those things that freak a "normal" person out, but at the same time it's so realistic, in terms of character development etc which makes it an amazing read!
I also loved all the extra stuff in this special edition.
MUST READ.
July 24, 2021
Manga assez violent, dans le même esprit que le film.
Ici on prend peut-être plus le temps de s'intéresser au passé des personnages secondaires.
L'histoire est une chouette métaphore sur le poids qu'un pays peu faire porter sur sa jeunesse.
Vu l'époque qu'on vit actuellement, autant vous dire que l'histoire n'a absolument pas vieilli mais qu'elle est même peut-être encre plus criante de vérité.
Là où j'ai peut-être eu du mal c'est avec les dessins. Certains personnages ont plus l'air d'avoir 50 ans que d'être lycéens...
Ici on prend peut-être plus le temps de s'intéresser au passé des personnages secondaires.
L'histoire est une chouette métaphore sur le poids qu'un pays peu faire porter sur sa jeunesse.
Vu l'époque qu'on vit actuellement, autant vous dire que l'histoire n'a absolument pas vieilli mais qu'elle est même peut-être encre plus criante de vérité.
Là où j'ai peut-être eu du mal c'est avec les dessins. Certains personnages ont plus l'air d'avoir 50 ans que d'être lycéens...
August 7, 2023
The book that started it all (all the battles to the death games, that is). This series has everything, from drugs to alcohol, to swearing, to sex and, oh yeah, lots and lots of gruesome deaths. The story is compelling, dark, and a wild ride of a read. The only thing I have to nitpick is these ninth graders look like 45yo adults. But I guess they had to draw them that way so we weren't reading children getting r*aped and killing each other. Helps mess with the morals of our minds, I guess. But even though the kids look like full-grown adults, the art is still outstanding. Love this series.
August 14, 2023
I really didn't like this.
My first impression is that I didn't love the art style, but I quickly became disgusted on the sexual portrayal of female minors. Also graphic rape scene that was completely unnecessary.
Then we go on to start the actual "game" and it's just a formula of presenting each character, a flashback for backstory on their personnality and then they die. So completely uninteresting and just violence for violence sake.
And why are all the girls in love with the same dude ? And why do they all look 30 ?
My first impression is that I didn't love the art style, but I quickly became disgusted on the sexual portrayal of female minors. Also graphic rape scene that was completely unnecessary.
Then we go on to start the actual "game" and it's just a formula of presenting each character, a flashback for backstory on their personnality and then they die. So completely uninteresting and just violence for violence sake.
And why are all the girls in love with the same dude ? And why do they all look 30 ?
July 20, 2025
After squid game, Alice in borderland + rewatching the hunger games prequel I was in the mood for more deadly games and this delivers quite well even if it's way more gory + very graphic and honestly not as interesting as Alice in borderlands world and symbolism however the character development of every students is so well done and so interesting + it keeps you wanting to know what's going to happen
November 16, 2019
On to vol.2 IMMEDIATELY
May 9, 2021
Having seen the film I was very intrigued to see how the story would be told in manga format. I wasn't disappointed!
This manga is very graphic with a lot of violent scenes.
There are a lot of characters introduced very quickly, so it can be hard to keep track of them at first. It helps that they are all very stereotypical though, so even if you can't remember their names you know that's the martial artist, that's the gang member, etc.
I really enjoyed this manga and raced through it. I would love to read the next one to find out what happens next!
This manga is very graphic with a lot of violent scenes.
There are a lot of characters introduced very quickly, so it can be hard to keep track of them at first. It helps that they are all very stereotypical though, so even if you can't remember their names you know that's the martial artist, that's the gang member, etc.
I really enjoyed this manga and raced through it. I would love to read the next one to find out what happens next!
July 13, 2024
N’ayant pas encore lu le roman à l’origine du manga (je sais j’ai une PAL trop énorme pour une seule vie 🤣), je ne connais que le film et ce manga qui est une relecture. Alors attention car je n’avais jamais lu la fin du manga.
Dans ce premier volume, une classe de 3e se retrouve sur une île déserte et l’objectif est de tuer ses autres camarades de classe pour qu’à la fin il n’en reste qu’un.
Les meurtres vont commencer, une alliance va se forger mais plus le jeu avance, plus les zones interdites se resserrent pour obliger à la confrontation.
Le personnage principal Shûya Nanahara est très intéressant car au delà de son côté optimiste, c’est un personnage sensible et qui veut à tout prix sauver tout le monde. Mais belle utopie dans ce monde où seule la violence règne.
Les méchants de l’histoire sont de vrais méchants et ne font pas les choses à moitié. Le manga est très gore. Cela est accentué par un dessin aux traits fins, où l’action est lisible et bien sûr les moments sanglants font mouche. Il faut avoir le cœur accroché des fois.
J’adore vraiment ce manga. Et c’est avec plaisir que je vais lire la suite de cette version « ultimate » en 8 volumes.
Dans ce premier volume, une classe de 3e se retrouve sur une île déserte et l’objectif est de tuer ses autres camarades de classe pour qu’à la fin il n’en reste qu’un.
Les meurtres vont commencer, une alliance va se forger mais plus le jeu avance, plus les zones interdites se resserrent pour obliger à la confrontation.
Le personnage principal Shûya Nanahara est très intéressant car au delà de son côté optimiste, c’est un personnage sensible et qui veut à tout prix sauver tout le monde. Mais belle utopie dans ce monde où seule la violence règne.
Les méchants de l’histoire sont de vrais méchants et ne font pas les choses à moitié. Le manga est très gore. Cela est accentué par un dessin aux traits fins, où l’action est lisible et bien sûr les moments sanglants font mouche. Il faut avoir le cœur accroché des fois.
J’adore vraiment ce manga. Et c’est avec plaisir que je vais lire la suite de cette version « ultimate » en 8 volumes.
January 10, 2009
This is an excellent example of a dystopia for one. But it is also a great story. Take the best of Lord of the Flies, 1984, The Running Man (King's story, not necessarily the film), and add some more violence, sex, and suspense, and you get this story. It grips you from the beginning, and it does not let you go until the last page. I will definitely continue reading this series. This collector's edition offers some extras in terms of an interview with the author, a short essay by a psychologist, and extra sketches. This is definitely not for little kids, but for adults who like a good adventure with suspense and shootings and so on, this is highly recommended. 42 ninth graders go in, and only one will survive.
I used to joke around that the show "Survivor" was not violent enough. I always joked that the show should be give the participants weapons, let them kill each other, and one walks out. This series is kind of how I envisioned that dumb reality show should have been, only on steroids, so to speak. Great series, and one I will gladly follow.
I used to joke around that the show "Survivor" was not violent enough. I always joked that the show should be give the participants weapons, let them kill each other, and one walks out. This series is kind of how I envisioned that dumb reality show should have been, only on steroids, so to speak. Great series, and one I will gladly follow.
April 13, 2010
A great manga for fans of the novel. If I had just picked it up out of the blue I probably wouldn't have liked it as much. The artwork is a little old school and goofy but I think the artist did it on purpose so that the differences between the numerous characters really stood out. There was also a lot more development in every character. They gave a lot of them much more in depth stories than the novel did, but still seemed to remain true to the personalities. There is also an interview with the original writer in which he praises this adaptation. To me, that adds a lot of credibility to the manga too. It says that it fits the authors view of the story.
March 2, 2011
The story starts off with Shuuya and Yoshitoki, who are orphans and childhood friends, as they go about their teenage life — crushes, music, school. Then, on a class trip, the students are drugged and taken to an isolated island for the government-sanctioned “game,” a widely popular hit on state-controlled television. Any objections by the students’ families are dealt with — permanently.
The hefty, hard-bound edition reads like it’s in high gear thanks to the twisting plot threads that fuel the crackling action. “Battle Royale” has it all, from gunplay to sexplay. It plumbs the depths of the human psyche and explores how far you can push someone before he or she breaks.
The hefty, hard-bound edition reads like it’s in high gear thanks to the twisting plot threads that fuel the crackling action. “Battle Royale” has it all, from gunplay to sexplay. It plumbs the depths of the human psyche and explores how far you can push someone before he or she breaks.
September 24, 2016
so many sex scenes. kind of disgusting. but those were the only parts i didn't like.
the violence was so great (i'm a fan of the walking dead comics, so maybe that's why it didn't bother me) and i kind of love the spontaneous backstory-and-kill method that the writer used a lot. it made me continuously drawn to the story.
though now, i have to pause for a couple months because i don't want my book log to be filled with so much battle royale. i don't want my teacher to look up the title. that would be suicide to my grades. haha.
either way, this was such a great manga! the only reason it's not 5 stars is because of the unnecessary sex. more like a 4.85/5 rating :)
the violence was so great (i'm a fan of the walking dead comics, so maybe that's why it didn't bother me) and i kind of love the spontaneous backstory-and-kill method that the writer used a lot. it made me continuously drawn to the story.
though now, i have to pause for a couple months because i don't want my book log to be filled with so much battle royale. i don't want my teacher to look up the title. that would be suicide to my grades. haha.
either way, this was such a great manga! the only reason it's not 5 stars is because of the unnecessary sex. more like a 4.85/5 rating :)
August 27, 2010
this amazing series comes in five "ultimate edition" volumes and if you can make it through the first one--manga reads backwards as well as differently--you will enthusiastically plow through the rest. publishers weekly wrote "combine[s:] the horror and extreme violence of a clockwork orange with lord of the flies...[not:] for the faint of heart." totally accurate, yet strangely visually appealing, cinematic, and incredibly honest in its approach.
speaking of cinematic, there are a couple movie versions...i highly recommend skipping them and just reading these volumes--more than once even.
speaking of cinematic, there are a couple movie versions...i highly recommend skipping them and just reading these volumes--more than once even.
March 13, 2009
Similar to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games, this is the story of a 9th grade class forced to participate in a death duel. The last survivor wins. I was a little put off by the graphic violence, which seemed to favor faces sliced open. I also don't have much taste for Japanese manga or anime, not liking the quality of the drawings. In general, lacked finesse.
March 25, 2008
Bom, tudo começou com o filme, depois foi pro mangá e ainda estou querendo chegar no livro. A verdade é que de qualquer forma é bom pra cacete, muito sangue e ironia, é disso que eu preciso. *risada maléfica*
July 26, 2009
The whole series is pretty good and ultra gruesome. It got a little too self-involved (i.e., main characters crying constantly, long expository crap) near the end, but it shaped up right before it ended.
December 19, 2010
Wow, the plot is pretty similar to the Hunger Games, but it's far more brutal. Still, I couldn't put it down, though some of the imagery was downright grotesque. Sure does pack a visceral punch though and I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series to see where it goes. Fascinating.
September 13, 2012
This was really good- violent, rapey, and awful, but really good. The only part that made me really uncomfortable was the story tagged on at the end about Mitsuko and "I'm only fifteen." Shudder. Really creepy to me.
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