Nach ihrer Niederlage in einem Spiel gegen ein Mitglied des Schülerrats hat Yumeko Schulden von 310 Millionen Yen und wird zu einem »Haustier« ohne jegliche Würde. Doch sie weiß ganz genau, wie sie ihr Leben wieder in die richtige Bahn lenken kann, und stürzt sich ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste an den nächsten Spieltisch.
I love the gambling in this volume. It was the game I remembered most from the anime because it has intense twists and a strong sense of justice. Getting Tsubomi’s backstory during the game was also really memorable. It was heartbreaking, but it made the ending of the game that much more satisfying.
When I watched the anime, I didn’t really ship Yumeko and Mary, but I’m sort of really starting to support the ship after this volume. The chemistry is there and I think they both would work well at keeping each other in check.
There is still the issue of the sexualization of minors, which I will call out in every one of my reviews for this series. My personal philosophy is you can enjoy problematic media if you call out the problematic elements. Midari is introduced in this volume and I can’t stand her because of the way that she is sexualized in a sick, perverse way.
This series is seriously bananas, but if you can get over the ridiculous premise, it's actually kinda fun? I was honestly surprised at the outcome of this volume's game and actually felt tense while reading it. Yumeko is kind of a flat character (her only quality is that she's batshit crazy and will do anything for a game to be "interesting", even if it's not in her best interest) but I genuinely enjoyed the development between her and Mary's twisted friendship.
It's early days, but I'll be continuing with the series.
This series really wants to have it both ways. On the surface it's another high school manga with hardly any homework and tons of fan service including up-skirts and groping. But it is also a bizarre and dark take on Hunger Games or Lord of the Flies with the teens carrying out various cruel acts to ensure they are top winners in the school's wild games of chance and thus members of the school's top caste. The losers end up deep in debt, the targets of sanctioned abuse and bullying by their classmates and tokens in a darker game the school hierarchy is playing. The games are presented as if this were all just a battle manga, but between the gaming action serious triggering events like sexual assault and suicide attempts are tossed in in an over-the-top or satirical fashion.
The lead character, Yumeko Jabami, is simultaneously objectified by the art while seemingly using her physical attributes to manipulate those around her. She appears ditzy, but she strategizes brilliantly, seeing the cheats around her and cheating herself when necessary. She seems motivated only by compulsive gambling, but her actions work to expose and weaken the school's student council. She's a loner who is constantly labelled "crazy" but she keeps pulling more and more of her classmates into her orbit. Is she hero, antihero, or fanboy dreamgirl?
Anyhow, it's not for everyone, but if you can handle the wholly inappropriate moments, it's a pretty wild ride.
La pazza Yumeko ha un debito di 300 milioni e per questo viene maltrattata da tutta la scuola. Il consiglio studentesco però ha in serbo per lei e tutti gli altri debitori un raduno per risanare i loro debiti, tramite il gioco d’azzardo ovviamente. Yumeko partecipa insieme a Mary alla sfida di poker indiano e vedremo se le due riusciranno almeno a diminuire il loro debito e scopriremo cosa sta tramando il pericoloso consiglio. Un volume davvero intrigante e ammetto che ho fatto meno fatica rispetto volume precedente nel seguire l’andamento del gioco e ne ho capito il funzionamento (Yeah! So proud of myself!). Mi piace lo stile di questa serie, mi piacciono i temi affrontati e la sua pazza protagonista è davvero unica e meglio non sfidarla... Mi incuriosiscono molto anche i membri del consiglio studentesco, anche loro mica tanto normali da quel poco che abbiamo visto; sono il nemico ideale, che studia nell'ombra Yumeko e non solo, ma spero che entrino in nazione ben presto e che possiamo conoscerli di più.
blind man’s poker is my favorite arc so i had a good time.... it also read quickly because i’ve seen the episodes so many times lol. maryumeko still don’t compare to marytsuzura 😞
A year and three months after I read the first volume, I come back to Kakegurui having watched the first season of the anime and currently halfway through the second after much delay. It's fun looking at this arc after seeing it in Episodes 4 and 5 not just because of the subtle changes in scenes, but also with how Naomura draws the intense facial expressions compared to how they're drawn in the anime. Both look stellar, but they each offer something different.
I also read this volume in an entire day compared to the week it took me to finish Volume 1. We love finals week at the time of this review.
Yumeko and Mary's partnership played in their favor as they went up against an arrogant student who tried to harass Yumeko and a woman from his class that he and his buddies like to torment. Kawamoto introduces Hyakkaou's life plan given out to house pets and Midari Ikishima, puts a fun spin on two-card Indian poker, and lets Mary get her fire back. Tsubomi also comes to terms with where she is now and takes an opportunity to change things. Ryota doesn't play as big of a role here (which, after watching the anime, is understandable), and I can see the pace of the manga getting slower than it already is if it focuses on only one game during a volume (then again, each game is an arc), but regardless, I'm excited to see how the rest of the first season plays out in the next three volumes, which I'll read over winter break.
P.S.: I was able to read some of the hiragana and katakana characters used for the sound effects. Japanese class has definitely helped in that regard.
One of the more lower entertainment value volumes as I felt like I was reading Two-Card Indian Poker statistics almost always. Though it was really nice to see someone whom I hated with a burning passion get their ass handed to them. Hell yes for Yumeko and Mary putting aside their differences, and working together to take down a shitty abusive man and putting him in his rightful place. Can't wait to hopefully see what comes of him now in volume 3. As usual, art is top tier and the facial expressions are my favourite part of this manga.
This houses the first game that takes place over multiple chapters and the story gains from this. Personally, I can’t take the setting too serious, nor do I like the fact that the story can’t figure out who the main character is. But you have to give the series credit for putting things directly into your face, but only reveals it later, so when you go back, you get that ‘aha’ moment. Or if you start noticing it, the series rewards the reader for paying attention.
Von der Art her, so gut wie der 1. Band! Der einzige Unterschied ist, dass nur um ein Spiel ging. Beim 1. Band wurden mehrere Spiele gezeigt, aber es war wieder sehr unterhaltsam. Deswegen verzeihe ich die Kleinigkeit und runde es auf 5 Sterne auf.
mary and yumeko work together at the student council's big debt settlement meeting to swindle jun kiwatari - infamous school bully - into becoming a housepet and releasing mary of her debt completely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This manga is much better without the man around 𓆩♡𓆪 But no seriously- I like Yumeko's dynamic with Mary so much better when the stale piece of white bread of a protagonist isn't around. In general, this volume showcases a lot more of Mary and how interesting of a character she is- she's not particularly likable- and yet you still find yourself routing for her. I liked learning more about how severe the class system in this school really is too- and seeing a character overcome her feelings of helplessness. Even though I'm re-reading this series (to catch-up where I last left off) I'm enjoying it a lot ^^
OKAY THIS WAS SICK. probably one of my favourite gambles in the series?? idk there’s just something about that blind poker game 😋 AND MARYUMEKO SERVING I LOVE THEM SM. gay little liars lol
I am so happy that I got both of these in one go, because I would have been sad otherwise. This series is just way too much fun and way too over the top, but in a good way!
In this book we learn some new horrifying truths about the school, about the pochi/mike system that is in place and how horrifically that is for those who have that lanyard around their necks, we meet the student council even better and get to learn some new types that are in there. And I agree with those boys that we overheard talking, everyone in the council is just bonkers. And they are. We got a girl who looks like a loli but is way sharper than most, there is a girl who wears an eyepatch and carries a gun with her and who likes to gamble with that (more broken than crazy I think this girl just needs help), and then there are others. It was quite interesting to learn more about the school and what makes it tick. Though, well, frankly, I wouldn’t want to go to that school. No thank you. Given everything? Nope. I mean, if you are in debt? You can become a pet, or be a pet for life. Yep, if your debt is more than one could potentially pay back? They will set up a lovely little life plan for you. Do you have a choice in the matter? HAHA, fuck no. Good luck.
Most of the book focusses on something new that the council has set up, a system that allows people to get rid of their debts… The whole system is a bit over the top and at times I had to really check if I was reading it right. Yes, my German is pretty decent, but at times it just gets a bit much, especially when it goes technical/detailed. But I managed to figure most of it out and then the fun starts. Because Yumeko is going to play a game, and not just Yumeko, but also Mary, bully Jun, and a poor girl who has been so abused named Nanami. And the game is going to get heated, crazy, out of hand, and oh so awesome. I was just loving this game, because Jun? That dick deserved a lot of karma. The way he treated peeps who are pets is beyond what most people do, he really abuses them and uses them as slaves. So this game of Double Indian Poker? BRING IT! And the game really got intense and at points I was wondering who would win. Of course, not Jun, haha, but would Yumeko win? Or Mary or Nanami?
And I just love that I am learning so much about all sorts of games. You know, in a normal setting without the potential debt and oh you are fucked, I would love to give a lot of these a shot!
I will stick to my point, most of these are rich peeps and yet gamble all they can. Most will probably do well, but I still wonder what kind of parent would just give their kids that much money. XD
And the art was chef kiss again!
All in all, I definitely will need to read the rest, probably by the time this review appears (writing this in March) I will have books 3 and 4 in my possession, well I hope. Haha. I would highly recommend this series to all. Craziness all around!
I'm totally loving this series, it's brilliantly done and it really hooks you in! This volume kicks off with a nice, concise recap to remind us what happened and that Jabami is you know...completely crazy! She now has a huge debt and his a house-pet, she and Mary are sent sinister and quite frankly creepy, life plans that they have to follow if they don't pay off their debt. So you could say that things reaaallly took a turn for the sinister, more so than before.
Suzui bless him, is trying to help her but he's not in this volume as much as the first. The main focus is very much on Jabami and her other unlikely friendship...or in this case comrade. Mary and Jabami team up for the tournament, their one chance to get rid of some of their debt and it is glorious. It's like the best team up ever and I was going "yaaaass" way too much as I was reading!
Mary and Jabami make such an epic team, and I loved their interactions with each other and how they kicked Kiwatari's ass. They're both evil little geniuses. I'm hoping to see more of their new friendship in the coming volumes, and I'm envisioning a Three Musketeers type thing with the two of them and Suzui!
I have to say, the thought that goes in to this manga is insane. Not only are the rules for each game explained clearly and concisely so you understand, but the characters play the game and often cheat and their methods of cheating or winning the game are explained too, so you know...I'm learning a lot about gambling and the ways that you can play each game....watch out Casino's, I'm coming for you! I'm joking. I'm totally joking. There's no way I'd be able to play the games like these girls do. I wouldn't last five minutes in that school! But my point is, the author has had to create all of the characters methods, and actions and planned it all out and written it so certain characters can win..and I'm in awe of the work that's gone in to this series so far!
I genuinely get so sucked in to this manga, I'm on the edge of my seat to see who wins! Especially as last volume proved that our MC's aren't always going to come out on top, so I can't relax, safe in the knowledge they're going to win and save the day. It really could go any way.
Compulsive Gambler is such a genius manga, and it's also very well drawn. I love how the characters are drawn all cute and normal and everything, but as soon as the gambling gets serious, the art morphs and the characters faces become more realistic and kinda, a little bit ugly. I'm having so much fun reading this series, it's such an interesting and sinister setting, and it's just a very smart series, as well as fun to read!
The execution of the games so far have been really well done. I’m still getting ‘Liar Game’ vibes from this but without the overly complicated rules and twenty page long explanations on how someone was cheating. The best part of this had to be the dynamic between Yumeko and Mary during the indian poker game. I’m super here for whatever becomes of their friendship.
This was one of my favorite arcs in the anime, and I think I enjoyed it even more in the manga because it was a little clearer what was going on. Even knowing how it would turn out, I couldn't put it down. I love a good revenge-type plot, and Yumeko/Mary are my OTP.