Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 4

地獄楽 [Jigokuraku] #4

by Yūji Kaku

The beings collectively known as Lord Tensen are beyond comprehension. These rulers of the mysterious island are deathless, ferocious and nearly invincible. Can Gabimaru the Hollow and his Yamada Asaemon executioner Sagiri survive long enough to reach their goal, despite being forced to contend with immortal monsters?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Horror, Action, Comics, Historical Fiction, Adventure

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2018

About the author

Yūji Kaku ( 賀来ゆうじ, Kaku Yūji) is a Japanese mangaka.

Reviews

[MajesticalLion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was most certainly my favorite volume so far. There was a sequence in which the author was explaining Tao, and he did so by having three different people explain it to 3 different audiences, but each person explaining it had a different perception of how Tao worked and what it was, so you as the reader get the full picture by piecing together the incomplete knowledge of these three characters, and I thought it was a really cool use of exposition. Gabimaru also has a lot of moments in this volume, and it feels like we're slowly learning more about the nature of the island.

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may have been wrong when I thought this series had nothing original. There are fantastic monster designs, the antagonists are 7 Gender-fluid plant gods who control the very nature of the island. The executioner/parole-officers must partner up with the criminals they’re tasked to condemn, or risk being turned into plant-nurturing corpses. (Rather surreal when teamed with shounen manga and the characters yell cheesy attack names in battle.)

Lots of exposition about the magic system in this world (Tao) by having three different people explain it to 3 different audiences, but each person explaining a separate piece of the puzzle the reader has to put together, bringing me to the main strength of this series: the ability to balance characters in different places with good pacing while building up the world.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably one the weaker volumes for me.

This is a lot of exposition on what these monsters are and how some of them feel like they're near immortal the way they take hits and just regenerate. But soon into two battles we get to see they aren't as invincible as they all claim. With this mostly focuses on our main ninja warrior and the two brothers.

This is another brutal volume with plenty of badass fights and deaths. I loved learning the history of the girl newcomer and why she's so important. But the exposition dump was a little too much and the pacing felt disjointed in this volume a few times.

Still solid but not great. A 3 out of 5.

[Martin Iguaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

En este volumen seguimos a los grupos dispersos de personajes mientras luchan por sobrevivir en la isla. Aprendemos un poco más sobre los poderes que tienen los villanos, y empezamos a tener una idea, aunque todavía muy vaga, sobre la realidad que se esconde detrás de la fachada de la isla. Además, la trama se complica con la aparición de unos antiguos conocidos de Gabimaru, quien continúa cambiando para mejor. Es difícil reseñar esta serie sin incurrir forzosamente en spoilers, de modo que solo diré que sigo interesado y con ganas de leer el próximo volumen.

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

برادرای آزا خیلی زیبان حقیقتا. متاسفانه حضور کمی دارن به نسبت بقیه.
این جلد کمی بیشتر در مورد لرد تنسن توضیح داد و چیزهای بیشتری از قدرتشون رو توضیح داد. بر حسب اتفاق این سری از کسایی که از جزیره سر در اوردن تهدیدهای جدی‌ای برای لرد تنسنن و همشون به شکلی تائو رو درک میکنن یا باهاش ارتباط دارن.
امیدوارم زودتر همشون با هم همراه شن خیلی علاقه‌ای به دیدن درگیری بین خودشون ندارم.
مطمئن شدیم راه خروج هم وجود داره و شخصیت‌های جدیدی دارن وارد میشن که قراره بیشتر از قبل گیجم کنه.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"La fuerza es el fruto de la debilidad y la debilidad es la semilla de la fuerza"

Esta historia se supera en cada tomo. Me encanta. Las revelaciones, los nuevos misterios y personajes no hacen más que mejorar.

Shugen: nuevo husbando.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep making the mistake of thinking there’s no way I could like this series more than I do. But damn, I do! The full page spreads are so good. The art is interesting and each character has such a different feel! Not to mention, so stacked. I like all the characters. They’re all so lively. This volume was awesome, I hear the next is even better, gotta get it…

[Amethyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mei: “Strong. Fruit of weak. Weak is seed of strong”

[Jessica ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume was just extremely informative. We learned a lot about the island and the power it possesses.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues to be a weird yet entertaining manga series, even with the few cliches that pop up.

I'm still really loving the bizarre way this story is unfolding. We get a look at several different plot lines here which highlight some of the other prisoners and guards besides Gabimaru and Sagiri, which has been fantastic considering how quickly some of them were dispatched in earlier volumes. The islands mysteries are getting a little less shadowy but there is still a lot to uncover.

[Made by Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[library ghost (farheen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

why tf is it so addictive 😭

[Ian Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buena trama.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
The story is really picking up and we get a lot more detail about the background of this mysterious island and how it came to be with all its inhabitants. Gabimaru is by far my favourite but to be honest, all the characters are so well thought out and all have their own understandable reasons for their actions. I am almost convinced that this will be my new favourite series but again, I will have to see how the story progresses from now on.
4,5/5 stars for me!!

[dzeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

aza brothers, they could never make me hate you

[Minnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit dieser Manga ist dark. Ich liebe jeden Band. 4,25 Sterne

[Caylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sure wish we had a teacher who was good-looking and good at explaining stuff."

*cut to the hottest motherfucker in the show/anime*

I feel seen. I thought Chobe was going to be my favorite since seeing him in episode two, but Shion has come RIGHT IN to take the win.

(I still adore Chobe, though. Second-best for sure)

[Umairah (Sereadipity)]

This volume was so interesting! The concept of Tao is so cool. It's about mastering your strength and weakness, the space between rage and serenity, a path that goes through the middle of opposites. It turns out Sagiri had the right idea earlier by embracing 'the space between' I think she already has a good understanding of Tao without realising it.

I really liked the way Gabimaru described Sagiri when he started to get the hang of Tao, "I begin to understand her strength. By moving ever forward, even while doubting herself, she is strong." That's such a nice description of strength... continuing forwards even when you have to battle against yourself.

I also liked it when he said, "When you start accepting your own weakness, is that when you can start sensing weakness in others?" I really do love the idea that mastery over Tao doesn't just involve brute strength but understanding your own weaknesses. Finding the strengths that lie in your weaknesses and the weaknesses that lie in your strengths.

Gabimaru was raised and trained to be a shinobi and there are so many rules and ideas firmly engraved into him. I like that we can start to see him stop following those rules so rigidly. We start to see him making up his own mind about how he should act and what is right and wrong. It feels like he's discovering who he truly is because I don't think the hollow, emotionless assassin he was forced to be is his true nature and by breaking away from the role he was forced into he can find out what he truly stands for.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

چپتر ۲۷-۳۶
جنگ اون داداشا تو مانگا جذاب تر بود.
جدای از اون یه چپتر اینجا بود که فکر کنم انیمیت نشده بود ؛ یا یادم رفته.
راجع به اسطوره هه یکم اینجا هم بنویسم:

تو اسطوره های ژاپنی، یه خدا هست، خدا که نمی‌شه گفت ولی همون خدا در نظر بگیرید، به اسم تاجی‌ماموری
این رو به اسم خدای شیرینیجات میشناسند
کی بوده؟
یه امپراطور/شاهی تو یه برهه تاریخی میاد به این شخص میگه برو دنبال میوه«توکی‌جیکو نو کاگو نو کونومی» (بله پدرم در اومد تا اسمشو یاد بگیرم، تو مانگای جیگوکوراکو ، گابیمارو به میوهه همین اسم رو میگه.)
این میوهه تو سرزمین عجیبی به اسم «تویو نو کونی» بوده.
بعد طرف ده سال تو این سرزمینه دنبال این میوهه میگرده و بالاخره پیدا میکنتش.
برمیداره با شاخ و برگ و اینا میوه رو میاره
ولی پادشاهی که دستور داده بوده این بره سراغ میوه، قبل اینکه این برگرده ، مرده بوده.
بعد این شخص نمیاد حالا که شاه مرده این میوه رو خودش بخوره، که به نظر کار منطقی ای بوده، میاد نصف می‌کنه نصفشو میده زن پادشاه نصفشو می‌ذاره سر قبر شاهه.
خودش هم بعدش می‌میره.
این میوهه میگن شبیه یه پرتقال/ نارنگیه. پرتقال تاچیبانو که انگار جاهای خاصی از کوه های ژاپن رشد می‌کنه.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume gave a lot more insight to the background of other (side) characters, the storyline, powers, reasoning, etc. Do I still understand? Absolutely not. If anything I have more questions lol. I'm just along for the ride. Still very enjoyable. Excited to see where this goes.

Doing my best to not get attached to anyone (and failing). Wish me luck!

[Matty Dub · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series that had gotten better with each new volume regresses considerably in this cheesy exposition filled affair.

[Leah 🧚🏼‍♀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

get out my face that was so good

[crybby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m already getting into my feelings about this series?? damn I’m in trouble lol

[Monse. · Rating 4 out of 5]

rubio, musculoso, con muchas cicatrices y un ojo blanco... a mí me gustan mucho de esos.

[Ambia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabimaru said stfu and respect women. He’s really become a protagonist who I can get behind. He’s finally getting his big hitter lines that are meant to be remembered by fans He’s got his emotional dilemmas and his unshakeable principles. He looks like Zenzou from Gintama and Juzou from Tokyo Ghoul, but he has definitely differentiated himself from the other Shonen protagonists and I think once this gets animated, he’s gonna be loved by many.

Thank god for Sir Senta and Shion. When you need a hot teacher, the author provides. They’re here to translate the whole mythic and spiritual/power system of the story for the dumb criminals and readers who I assume are not versed in Eastern religion. The Tao is the life force in everything that is the great source of power in this story. The Tensen wield it as a weapon and it makes their bodies inhuman. They also, interestingly, use sex as a means of spiritually strengthening their bodies, bringing Yin and Yang physically together. So there is a plot reason why they’re constantly having sex. This is what they wanted Mei for and one of the reasons why Tinymaru and Gantetsusai killed some bugs.

I’m very interested in learning about the whole Tao system and the mishmash of Eastern religion/mythology that makes up this Island the Tensen have created because Senta has figured out very quickly, it’s all fake. It’s driven me to do my own research as I’m curious so this is a success- it’s encouraging further learning. My issue now is that the characters picked up Tao too quickly. I understand for some why they have an affinity: Shion lost his sight that strengthened his Tao, Gabimaru’s people are unknowingly using Tao and maybe so too are the others, but it was too quick and they used it very, very well. Especially Chobe who seems to be turning into a semi-Tensen like creature, like Mei. Side note, Toma looks so much like Sagiri.

We are getting a load of new and intriguing characters to fall for before they are killed soon after. Still not over Tenza. Gentetsusai and Fuchi are a duo with a smart little scientist and a big man, big sword, big heart. Asaemon Jikka and Shugen who are going to the Island with two mysterious ninja.

The story’s getting bigger and so is the cast. I’m ready to watch people die 20 pages after deciding I like them. I’m also putting the whole picture together and I do like what I’m seeing. Let’s hope it doesn’t derail and lose more of its credibility to the exceedingly fast pace.

[Of Butterflies & Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art in this series continues to really drive the story along as well as the excellent way the mangka shows the ability to balance so many characters in different places but not feeling like the pacing is all over the place while building up the world of this island and what threats these characters continue to face.

[Ran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't like some of the things that happened. (just a personal preference)
Still a solid volume.

[gabriella s · Rating 5 out of 5]

hot

[LilBat · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the what

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite volume so far; new characters got introduced, the power system also started being explained, and my favorite characters are still alive. The power system was very interesting and surprisingly philosophical, it was good food for thoughts. To even be able to sense it you need to achieve balance and accept the nuances of life, I thought it was pretty cool, especially due to the fact that most of the characters are rediscovering themselves and accepting part of them they never let out, or adapting to this new environment. So far the story is doing it’s thing! Puurrr