What do you think?
Rate this book
Pumpkin Scissors #1
Pumpkin Scissors 1
The bitter war between the Empire and the Republic of Frost has ended, but three years after the cease-fire, the Empire is still ravaged by starvation and disease, and bandits terrorize the populace. Can the Imperial Army State Section III, aka Pumpkin Scissors, stop a renegade force with chemical weapons? And who is the mysterious stranger helping Pumpkin Scissors?
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2004
25 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
June 23, 2018
4 stars
I read this 11 years ago, when Del Rey was releasing the series. I remember liking it, so I read it again using my Comixology Unlimited subscription. The series is half-off through 6/25, and I wanted to make sure I still liked it before I picked up a few more volumes. I can only find 2 of the volumes in paperback that I bought, so I just went ahead and purchased thru V10.
Here is my review from 12/2007. I joined GR in 2009, so I never posted it here -
Three years after the cease-fire between the Empire and the Republic of Frost, the Empire is still plagued by starvation and disease. Bandits and renegades prey on the populace, and life for commoners is pretty bleak. Enter Imperial Army State Section III, also know as Pumpkin Scissors. Their platoon is dedicated to war relief and reconstruction, but their job is not going to be easy. As the strong and greedy continue to overpower the downtrodden masses, they are viewed with distrust by the very people they are trying to help.
I enjoyed Pumpkin Scissors much more than I thought I would. It’s a solid action title with fairly one dimensional characters, but it has a certain charm that I found difficult to resist. Perhaps it’s the silly name that won me over. Just what are Pumpkin scissors? Scissors designed to artfully shred a pumpkin? A pumpkin armed with scissors? I don’t know, but if it’s the latter, I hope someone has cautioned it against running with cutting implements.
The story starts out with gung-ho Alice L Malvin, the commanding officer of the Imperial State Army Section III, and her troops deployed to clean out a nest of thugs that have taken control of a dam. The bad guys also have a tank, which makes the villagers kowtow to their every demand. When drifter Randel Oland gets caught up in the fray, the ex-soldier is inspired by Section III’s mission and decides to join up with them.
We don’t know much about Oland, but he’s a huge, hulking man, and when he’s not in the heat of battle, he’s shy and like a lumbering ox. Once in the thick of a fight, however, he’s a changed man, tough, calculating, and programmed to risk life and limb for victory. During the war he was a “Death March Trooper,” an anti-tank trooper. I find the transformation from quiet, almost timid Oland to cool, fearless warrior fascinating, and enjoyed this aspect of the book best. Yea, yea, it’s been done before, hundreds of times, but there’s just something about a guy who’s willing to put everything on the line to do what needs to be done that really captures my imagination.
The setting is also interesting, as the majority of the population struggles to provide even the most basic of necessities for their families, while the wealthy nobles watch from afar, safely barricaded in their estates, indifferent to the plight of their people. Alice is an aristocrat who has dedicated herself to helping better the lives of the poverty-stricken masses. She is a bit of a contradiction. While she sympathizes with the commoners, she still basks in the luxuries of her position. When her father, who disapproves of her position in the military, points out her hypocrisy, she’s assailed by a newly realized sense of guilt. How can she ever hope to understand the people she’s trying to help, when she’s cocooned in such privileged surroundings?
The art is nothing fancy, but it works effectively to relate the adventures of the army unit. The battle scenes convey a sense of action and danger. The page layouts are a little boring, as there’s not a lot of variety to them. The pictures that tell this story are arranged in no-nonsense patterns, which, while easy to follow, don’t offer that eye-catching bling that pulls the reader into the story.
Pumpkin Scissors is a solid entry in the action field, which offers a satisfying read. With its likeable characters and fast pace, there’s plenty of adventure to get caught up in.
I read this 11 years ago, when Del Rey was releasing the series. I remember liking it, so I read it again using my Comixology Unlimited subscription. The series is half-off through 6/25, and I wanted to make sure I still liked it before I picked up a few more volumes. I can only find 2 of the volumes in paperback that I bought, so I just went ahead and purchased thru V10.
Here is my review from 12/2007. I joined GR in 2009, so I never posted it here -
Three years after the cease-fire between the Empire and the Republic of Frost, the Empire is still plagued by starvation and disease. Bandits and renegades prey on the populace, and life for commoners is pretty bleak. Enter Imperial Army State Section III, also know as Pumpkin Scissors. Their platoon is dedicated to war relief and reconstruction, but their job is not going to be easy. As the strong and greedy continue to overpower the downtrodden masses, they are viewed with distrust by the very people they are trying to help.
I enjoyed Pumpkin Scissors much more than I thought I would. It’s a solid action title with fairly one dimensional characters, but it has a certain charm that I found difficult to resist. Perhaps it’s the silly name that won me over. Just what are Pumpkin scissors? Scissors designed to artfully shred a pumpkin? A pumpkin armed with scissors? I don’t know, but if it’s the latter, I hope someone has cautioned it against running with cutting implements.
The story starts out with gung-ho Alice L Malvin, the commanding officer of the Imperial State Army Section III, and her troops deployed to clean out a nest of thugs that have taken control of a dam. The bad guys also have a tank, which makes the villagers kowtow to their every demand. When drifter Randel Oland gets caught up in the fray, the ex-soldier is inspired by Section III’s mission and decides to join up with them.
We don’t know much about Oland, but he’s a huge, hulking man, and when he’s not in the heat of battle, he’s shy and like a lumbering ox. Once in the thick of a fight, however, he’s a changed man, tough, calculating, and programmed to risk life and limb for victory. During the war he was a “Death March Trooper,” an anti-tank trooper. I find the transformation from quiet, almost timid Oland to cool, fearless warrior fascinating, and enjoyed this aspect of the book best. Yea, yea, it’s been done before, hundreds of times, but there’s just something about a guy who’s willing to put everything on the line to do what needs to be done that really captures my imagination.
The setting is also interesting, as the majority of the population struggles to provide even the most basic of necessities for their families, while the wealthy nobles watch from afar, safely barricaded in their estates, indifferent to the plight of their people. Alice is an aristocrat who has dedicated herself to helping better the lives of the poverty-stricken masses. She is a bit of a contradiction. While she sympathizes with the commoners, she still basks in the luxuries of her position. When her father, who disapproves of her position in the military, points out her hypocrisy, she’s assailed by a newly realized sense of guilt. How can she ever hope to understand the people she’s trying to help, when she’s cocooned in such privileged surroundings?
The art is nothing fancy, but it works effectively to relate the adventures of the army unit. The battle scenes convey a sense of action and danger. The page layouts are a little boring, as there’s not a lot of variety to them. The pictures that tell this story are arranged in no-nonsense patterns, which, while easy to follow, don’t offer that eye-catching bling that pulls the reader into the story.
Pumpkin Scissors is a solid entry in the action field, which offers a satisfying read. With its likeable characters and fast pace, there’s plenty of adventure to get caught up in.
May 15, 2019
I haven't read manga in a long time, so I grabbed a few series to dive into. I really liked this one and it was really fun to start something that I had no previously built ideas about. I've never seen the anime and I didn't really know anything about the story beforehand. I found it compelling and interesting. As this is the first of the series, there's a lot of set up and world building, which is done pretty well. I found a few points confusing, but I'm sure that future volumes will answer more questions. I like the characters and I'm intrigued to see where this goes. I did have some trouble with some of the nuances of the text/illustrations, but I think that this will work itself out over time as I read more manga.
For: fans of action, military, or sci-fi narratives; readers looking for a story with a strong female lead and world building.
Possible red flags: violence, language, and blood/gore; disease and starvation; depictions of a broken world after war time; discussions of class issues.
For: fans of action, military, or sci-fi narratives; readers looking for a story with a strong female lead and world building.
Possible red flags: violence, language, and blood/gore; disease and starvation; depictions of a broken world after war time; discussions of class issues.
January 7, 2011
Edit:
It's been a while since I've touched this series; I read as many volumes as I could get my hands on in print and then watched the anime. At this point, I can pretty much say that if you can get past its occasional really, really bizarre bits (or the outright cringe-worthy, like "Lieutenant, I need your breasts!") and down into the heart of the story, it's excellent. Frankly, even the bizarre bits rang true; life, after all, is all too often bizarre, right? And even though they were fictionalized, the conflicts created by the end of a war- and the aftermath of domestic problems caused by said war- were depicted with heart; and setting aside the ridiculously spacious sewers, seemed plausible.
I wish there was more of this series available. I wish the anime was longer. AND DAMMIT. I WISH ALICE AND OLAND WOULD KISS. EVERYONE KNOWS THEY'RE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
Original:
Yesterday, I went on a comic binge.
Well, actually it was yesterday and the wee hours of this morning; it was that kind of comic binge. And the fact that it didn't start until after 10 PM didn't really help.
Anyhow... among the volume of comics I checked out from the library yesterday and devoured last night was this.
I can't remember how it happened, but I ran across a description of this that compared it to FMA some time before I found it at the library. Now, FMA got me through hours and hours of AP Chemistry homework, and I adored every page, so I was a little bit skeptical about picking up something that was similar. And from the description online, it sounded a lot similar.
The actual book wasn't. Well, at least that much. I mean, I see where you can draw connections- vaguely European (and in this case definitely remeniscent of Germany) setting, post-war time period, a group of odd soldiers and at least one character with a mysterious background and powerful abilities. Heck, the uniforms even look alike. But beyond that, there's not much, and the feel is completely different.
I suppose you could call Pumpkin Scissors an examination of the aftermath of war. It's not a quest story like FMA, or rather not as concrete; the Pumpkin Scissors unit is forging its way towards reconstruction, not a specific item. In this way Lieutenent Marvin is in many ways the reader's eyes: we see her idealistic vision of the unit and then are met with explanations of the reality- their usual job, how they're percieved.
The characters, obviously, haven't been introduced much, but they've show enough of themselves to interest me. Naturally, this is particularly true for Lieutenant Alice Marvin, the justice-minded aristocrat, and the (literally) towering mystery that is Corporal Randel Oland. I will definitely be reading more.
It's been a while since I've touched this series; I read as many volumes as I could get my hands on in print and then watched the anime. At this point, I can pretty much say that if you can get past its occasional really, really bizarre bits (or the outright cringe-worthy, like "Lieutenant, I need your breasts!") and down into the heart of the story, it's excellent. Frankly, even the bizarre bits rang true; life, after all, is all too often bizarre, right? And even though they were fictionalized, the conflicts created by the end of a war- and the aftermath of domestic problems caused by said war- were depicted with heart; and setting aside the ridiculously spacious sewers, seemed plausible.
I wish there was more of this series available. I wish the anime was longer. AND DAMMIT. I WISH ALICE AND OLAND WOULD KISS. EVERYONE KNOWS THEY'RE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
Original:
Yesterday, I went on a comic binge.
Well, actually it was yesterday and the wee hours of this morning; it was that kind of comic binge. And the fact that it didn't start until after 10 PM didn't really help.
Anyhow... among the volume of comics I checked out from the library yesterday and devoured last night was this.
I can't remember how it happened, but I ran across a description of this that compared it to FMA some time before I found it at the library. Now, FMA got me through hours and hours of AP Chemistry homework, and I adored every page, so I was a little bit skeptical about picking up something that was similar. And from the description online, it sounded a lot similar.
The actual book wasn't. Well, at least that much. I mean, I see where you can draw connections- vaguely European (and in this case definitely remeniscent of Germany) setting, post-war time period, a group of odd soldiers and at least one character with a mysterious background and powerful abilities. Heck, the uniforms even look alike. But beyond that, there's not much, and the feel is completely different.
I suppose you could call Pumpkin Scissors an examination of the aftermath of war. It's not a quest story like FMA, or rather not as concrete; the Pumpkin Scissors unit is forging its way towards reconstruction, not a specific item. In this way Lieutenent Marvin is in many ways the reader's eyes: we see her idealistic vision of the unit and then are met with explanations of the reality- their usual job, how they're percieved.
The characters, obviously, haven't been introduced much, but they've show enough of themselves to interest me. Naturally, this is particularly true for Lieutenant Alice Marvin, the justice-minded aristocrat, and the (literally) towering mystery that is Corporal Randel Oland. I will definitely be reading more.
June 6, 2024
Still good after all these years. Pumpkin Scissors focuses on war relief and reconstruction and the reveal that the government had secret teams to carry out war crimes on their behalf while pretending they didn’t exist.
I’m not very good at summarizing books, I just like this one. Alice is very headstrong but naive in her ways and I like her being the driving force behind their efforts. My favorite character is the resident big guy Randel, every time that lantern comes out I get chills, even if it’s just black and white on paper.
Hopefully I’ll be able to read the rest of this series, though I doubt I’ll be able to get my hands on physical copies these days.
I’m not very good at summarizing books, I just like this one. Alice is very headstrong but naive in her ways and I like her being the driving force behind their efforts. My favorite character is the resident big guy Randel, every time that lantern comes out I get chills, even if it’s just black and white on paper.
Hopefully I’ll be able to read the rest of this series, though I doubt I’ll be able to get my hands on physical copies these days.
June 15, 2024
世界とコンセプトが好きだけどキャラクターが弱い。そして話がいつも早すぎるので色んなシーンがエモーション感じられない。残念ね、アートがかなり好きだった
I enjoyed the concept and world, but the characters are pretty thin. Each scene plays out too quickly to really develop, and each is often therefore robbed of its power. It’s a shame, because the art is actually pretty clean. I wanted to like this more
I enjoyed the concept and world, but the characters are pretty thin. Each scene plays out too quickly to really develop, and each is often therefore robbed of its power. It’s a shame, because the art is actually pretty clean. I wanted to like this more
January 1, 2020
SFのことが好きだからこの漫画が好きだった。だけどPumpkin Scissorsの名前は好きじゃない。変だと思う。
I liked the Scifi aspect of this manga so I ended up enjoying it (which I was kind of surprised). Though I don't like the name of it because even after the explanation, it's still weird.
I liked the Scifi aspect of this manga so I ended up enjoying it (which I was kind of surprised). Though I don't like the name of it because even after the explanation, it's still weird.
June 24, 2017
Enjoyed this first volume. So far the story seems similar to the TV series...looking forward to continuing the story past where the show left off! Very nice art too.
December 4, 2017
Not one of my go-to genres, but a good read nonetheless.
September 5, 2018
Komik referesing ini.
Karakternya tidak aneh-aneh.
Plot lumayan bagus.
Hero dan Heroinenya kuat.
Karakternya tidak aneh-aneh.
Plot lumayan bagus.
Hero dan Heroinenya kuat.
February 18, 2019
War relief and reconstruction: Yay
“I need breasts”: Nay
“I need breasts”: Nay
October 30, 2019
It has potential but there's nothing particularly pulling me in at the moment.
January 11, 2020
its ok but I think I liked reading it better when I was younger the art is bugging me and while the story is interesting I am not relay into war story's .
March 13, 2017
What I love about Pumpkin Scissors is that it doesn't focus on the war itself, but rather the aftermath of war. Which is a little unusual, since most consider the war itself to be more interesting.
May 13, 2008
Overall Rating: B
Synopsis: Pumpkin Scissors is a military drama manga with a healthy dose of comedy created by Ryoutarou Iwanaga. The series is set in a fictional world, similar to Western Europe that does not have wireless communication or automatic weapons. The manga is set five years after the end of the war between the Royal Empire and the Republic of the Frost. Starvation, pestilence, and soldiers who have turned into bandits plague the countryside, and in response the military has created "Imperial Army State Section III" also known as "Pumpkin Scissors" to aid in the war relief effort.
Led by a member of one of the noble families, 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin, the group is a rag tag team with little funding and even less respect. Some consider the group a waste of resources, and others consider them a propaganda tool for the military, but the team itself seems to take the matter seriously (at least sometimes). Things start to change when they meet Corporal Randel Oland, a veteran of the mysterious 901 ATT. The infamous Gespenst Jäger (Ghost Hunter) squad who single-handedly take down tanks. These dudes are crazy. In the first volume, we meet everyone and see some examples of what the Pumpkin Scissors are working to fix.
I won't lie, I read Pumpkin Scissors because of the name. It sounded weird and interesting so I checked it out. What I got was a world that intrigued me, but not quite enough to really draw me in yet. I'm definitely interested in finding out more about the Invisible 9 (secret platoons of which the Gespenst Jäger is one), and I like Alice a lot, but there isn't a concrete plot yet, and the other characters don't do much for me. Hopefully, Volume 2 will build on this and I'll get drawn in.
For more manga and anime reviews, please check out Hobotaku.
Synopsis: Pumpkin Scissors is a military drama manga with a healthy dose of comedy created by Ryoutarou Iwanaga. The series is set in a fictional world, similar to Western Europe that does not have wireless communication or automatic weapons. The manga is set five years after the end of the war between the Royal Empire and the Republic of the Frost. Starvation, pestilence, and soldiers who have turned into bandits plague the countryside, and in response the military has created "Imperial Army State Section III" also known as "Pumpkin Scissors" to aid in the war relief effort.
Led by a member of one of the noble families, 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin, the group is a rag tag team with little funding and even less respect. Some consider the group a waste of resources, and others consider them a propaganda tool for the military, but the team itself seems to take the matter seriously (at least sometimes). Things start to change when they meet Corporal Randel Oland, a veteran of the mysterious 901 ATT. The infamous Gespenst Jäger (Ghost Hunter) squad who single-handedly take down tanks. These dudes are crazy. In the first volume, we meet everyone and see some examples of what the Pumpkin Scissors are working to fix.
I won't lie, I read Pumpkin Scissors because of the name. It sounded weird and interesting so I checked it out. What I got was a world that intrigued me, but not quite enough to really draw me in yet. I'm definitely interested in finding out more about the Invisible 9 (secret platoons of which the Gespenst Jäger is one), and I like Alice a lot, but there isn't a concrete plot yet, and the other characters don't do much for me. Hopefully, Volume 2 will build on this and I'll get drawn in.
For more manga and anime reviews, please check out Hobotaku.
November 18, 2015
Pumpkin Scissors: Volume 1 is military manga book that I had a blast reading. It is both serious, but can be funny too. Sure, there is a lot of killing, but that is okay because the bad guys get killed. I am definitely intrigued about this concept and want to know more about the Invisible 9. How does Randel how so much power? What happens to him when he turns on his blue light that hangs from his belt?
These stories by Ryotaro Iwanaga moves along at a perfect pace and are well-written. The artwork is not bad and works well with the military feel of the storyline. It isn't as detailed as it could have been, but it isn't necessary. After all, I think it is supposed to feel a little gritty.
The translation and adaptation is pretty good. There were a few words that were a little awkward, but it really didn't affect the stories at all.
I really enjoyed all of the main characters and the interactions that they have. I think that this first volume of the series was an excellent way to start this off.
Overall, Pumpkin Scissors: Volume 1 is a great book that I highly recommend. I look forward to more stories about reconstruction in Pumpkin Scissors: Volume 2. I am sure more bad guys will come crawling out of the muck to cause trouble for our heroes. Let's hope so . . .
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
These stories by Ryotaro Iwanaga moves along at a perfect pace and are well-written. The artwork is not bad and works well with the military feel of the storyline. It isn't as detailed as it could have been, but it isn't necessary. After all, I think it is supposed to feel a little gritty.
The translation and adaptation is pretty good. There were a few words that were a little awkward, but it really didn't affect the stories at all.
I really enjoyed all of the main characters and the interactions that they have. I think that this first volume of the series was an excellent way to start this off.
Overall, Pumpkin Scissors: Volume 1 is a great book that I highly recommend. I look forward to more stories about reconstruction in Pumpkin Scissors: Volume 2. I am sure more bad guys will come crawling out of the muck to cause trouble for our heroes. Let's hope so . . .
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
December 18, 2016
What grabbed my interest the most about this first volume is the restorative nature of the Pumpkin Scissors unit. There are essentially two short stories in this first volume of encounters the unit engages in to illustrate who they are and what they're about. The series certainly has some promise, enough that I checked the next 4 volumes out as well.
March 25, 2010
In the aftermath of a war between the (so far unnamed) empire and the Republic of Frost, the empire is busy trying to deal with starvation, disease, and former soldiers turned bandit. The unit known as Pumpkin Scissors was created for the sole task of reconstruction as a propaganda device, but its lieutenant, a young and idealistic noblewoman, is determined to make this a reality. Add to that a mysterious veteran from one of the Invisible Nine, illegal units created during the war, who is gentle, affable, and yet seems to be able to survive a direct hit from tank fire.
The first chapter of this is very rushed and tries to cram in too many characters--too much in media res--but the pacing evens out as the volume goes on, and in any case it's common for manga to take several volumes to find its feet. There are promising hints that the manga will deal with war atrocities, social justice, class divides, and the hard work of reconstruction. I'm hoping the later volumes improve, but it's readable as it is.
The first chapter of this is very rushed and tries to cram in too many characters--too much in media res--but the pacing evens out as the volume goes on, and in any case it's common for manga to take several volumes to find its feet. There are promising hints that the manga will deal with war atrocities, social justice, class divides, and the hard work of reconstruction. I'm hoping the later volumes improve, but it's readable as it is.
March 27, 2016
This review was originally posted on my book review blog, The Overstuffed Bookcase.
I didn't have many notes for this first volume, so I decided to just write a mini review, where I share what I liked and what I didn't like.
What I Liked:
-Lt. Alice L. Malvin. She's awesome.
-Yay for page numbers!
-One of the male characters says he's a feminist! Yay!
-Pretty cool twisty back stories for the two main characters.
What I Didn't Like So Much:
-Two female characters are called "Pip-Squeak", one right after the other. That's kind of a nickname for a kid, not an adult, right?
-Some kind of weird sub-plots at times.
-A couple of the male characters told Lt. Alice Malvin to calm down. NOT COOL.
My rating for Pumpkin Scissors 1 by Ryotaro Iwanaga: 3.5 stars. I'm not champing at the bit to read the rest of these, but I might pick up the next one one day.
Disclaimer: I borrowed a copy of this book from my library. I was in no way compensated for this review.
I didn't have many notes for this first volume, so I decided to just write a mini review, where I share what I liked and what I didn't like.
What I Liked:
-Lt. Alice L. Malvin. She's awesome.
-Yay for page numbers!
-One of the male characters says he's a feminist! Yay!
-Pretty cool twisty back stories for the two main characters.
What I Didn't Like So Much:
-Two female characters are called "Pip-Squeak", one right after the other. That's kind of a nickname for a kid, not an adult, right?
-Some kind of weird sub-plots at times.
-A couple of the male characters told Lt. Alice Malvin to calm down. NOT COOL.
My rating for Pumpkin Scissors 1 by Ryotaro Iwanaga: 3.5 stars. I'm not champing at the bit to read the rest of these, but I might pick up the next one one day.
Disclaimer: I borrowed a copy of this book from my library. I was in no way compensated for this review.
June 5, 2023
24 Aug 2016: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Feels very average, even though I really like the setting and main characters.
5 June 2023: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big agree with my previous review.
I really like Alice and I think the big guy's personality is kinda adorable. I appreciate the idea of this war relief group as shonen manga protagonists; it'll be cool to travel with them to villages who need help rebuilding, and fighting war criminals.
But the execution is just kinda... mid. It's hard to put a finger on why exactly. Maybe the pacing? Maybe the paneling? Maybe it's just that the theme reminds me of the much better Fullmetal Alchemist.
I once used to own this manga, sold it, then later bought it again at Animecon where I found a bundle with volumes 1-4 for cheap. I'mma do a cheeky re-read of these volumes and then sell them again, methinks.
Feels very average, even though I really like the setting and main characters.
5 June 2023: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big agree with my previous review.
I really like Alice and I think the big guy's personality is kinda adorable. I appreciate the idea of this war relief group as shonen manga protagonists; it'll be cool to travel with them to villages who need help rebuilding, and fighting war criminals.
But the execution is just kinda... mid. It's hard to put a finger on why exactly. Maybe the pacing? Maybe the paneling? Maybe it's just that the theme reminds me of the much better Fullmetal Alchemist.
I once used to own this manga, sold it, then later bought it again at Animecon where I found a bundle with volumes 1-4 for cheap. I'mma do a cheeky re-read of these volumes and then sell them again, methinks.
December 18, 2007
Despite the fairly ridiculous title (and the proud proclamation of the unit name, Pumpkin Scissors, meant to instill fear and awe, always makes me laugh...then again, that may be intentional, given how much of a joke this war reparations unit it supposed to be.) I really liked this manga far more than I thought it would. It's wacky, but it's an interesting look at a post-war society, and one where various unethical folks have profited and don't want to give up their success. My teens (when we watched the anime) dubbed it as the one about "the fat guy", which I thought was a bit unfair, but then again they're 8th grade girls, and they liked it even if they made fun.
May 7, 2008
This is the perfect series for fans of Fullmetal Alchemist to jump on. A civil war has left a country splintered and destitute. Rogue militias and heartless nobles keep the common people in a constant state of fear and hunger. Enter Section III: a branch of the military dedicated to war relief. Section III has just gained a new member, a mysterious gargantuan soldier who goes into battle with a lantern that gives off a strange glow, instilling fear into enemies who recall a battlefield fairy tale from the civil war: there are those who walk with the will o the wisps who sacrifice everything to achieve a point blank shot. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here!
November 6, 2013
The cover and summery and age rating really threw me off. I thought, comparing the rating of 16year olds and up, that it would have some nudity and slight gore. But it didn't. There was violence, yes, but thankfully it focused more on plot than sexy characters. And it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I'd compare it to Full metal Alchemist (though FMA is by far better).
The book really expresses a sense of aiming for peace and helping everyone, and I liked that about it. I still don't know how the blue lantern works though so I'm also so confused!
But overall I liked it.
The book really expresses a sense of aiming for peace and helping everyone, and I liked that about it. I still don't know how the blue lantern works though so I'm also so confused!
But overall I liked it.
December 28, 2007
Pumpkin Scissors is the name of a war relief unit that attempts to redress the ravages of marauding gangs of ex-soldiers or aristocrats gone mad with power. I found the translation notes a bit more interesting than the story.
The one hint of a reason to read further has to do with a soldier who has a blue lantern (referred to as a will o' the wisp) and the odd strength it gives him. O mysterious men with shady backgrounds! (the mainstay of ever-so-many plots)
The one hint of a reason to read further has to do with a soldier who has a blue lantern (referred to as a will o' the wisp) and the odd strength it gives him. O mysterious men with shady backgrounds! (the mainstay of ever-so-many plots)
November 23, 2008
This was a little gorier than I had expected.
Read
June 7, 2010F IWA ps v.1
September 20, 2010
An interesting new series.
February 10, 2011
Sort of reminds me of Hellsing minus vampires and with a very over zealous girl
August 27, 2015
boring. and stupid. boring and stupid. that is all.
May 10, 2012
This book sucked!!!! Bottom line.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews