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Battle Royale #15
Battle Royale, Vol. 15
Brace yourself for the climactic conclusion to Battle Royale!
Mere days ago, forty-two students were marooned on an island, given random weapons and ordered to kill or be killed. Now only four remain alive... but that's still three too many. As our heores are confronted with a grisly end, one wil be forced to betray the others in the ultimate sacrifice. Will anyone make it out of The Program alive?
Mere days ago, forty-two students were marooned on an island, given random weapons and ordered to kill or be killed. Now only four remain alive... but that's still three too many. As our heores are confronted with a grisly end, one wil be forced to betray the others in the ultimate sacrifice. Will anyone make it out of The Program alive?
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Koushun Takami
100 books1,578 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 91 reviews
February 7, 2017
Tiene un buen final y en general es una buena serie que se lee rápido, como si fuera una película de acción. Algunos elementos fantásticos puede que estén demás y eso de exagerar los momentos, algo común en el genero, por momentos llegó a incomodarme un poco, más por la avidez de saber que pasa que por estirar porque sí una escena.
January 28, 2020
What do you say about this series? I'm sure everything's been said and then some in twenty years. But I can't just rate this last book on its own merit: I have to rate it in relation to everything that came before it. And that dramatically reduces the impact of this for me. The final chapters are a message of hope, in their own way. Hope for change, hope for a better world, hope for a government that won't abuse its power. And that's the kind of final message we could use more of, in 2020. But...
This series is so fraught with things that, whether because of the age of the material or the cultural divide, I can't endorse. It's not just the violence between kids at the urging of a fascist government, because the Hunger Games gave us plenty of that and I wholeheartedly like that series. It's the choices of backstory and the way the characters are portrayed on the page.
Take Mitsuko. (Content note: child sexual abuse) It's just... None of this is necessary. It's not played sensitively, it's played to shock and titillate, to stimulate a sexual response alongside the horror-induced aversion, and to make you uncomfortable. But there are so many ways to make you uncomfortable without sexually exploiting a 15 year old, even when you draw her to look 20. And that's just one character, one backstory, one set of choices.
And it's not like that takes place in this one volume, but I chose not to write individual reviews for most of the story, to save it up for this one. Because the whole of the story comes to this point, leads up to this ending. And I can't enjoy it as much as I want to because of all the choices made before it.
I can't help but compare this manga series to the film, because the film suffers from not giving us reasons to care about the kids who are dying, but by skipping so many of the backstories, it also doesn't subject us to... this. (It's also less glorified in its gore. This manga has so many shots of brains leaking out of heads that I lost count.)
I knew not to expect great things from this series when I started rereading it. It was more of an impulse than anything. I don't regret having read it, but I also don't know if I even want to display it on my shelves anymore, because I don't feel like enjoying Battle Royale is something to be proud of.
This series is so fraught with things that, whether because of the age of the material or the cultural divide, I can't endorse. It's not just the violence between kids at the urging of a fascist government, because the Hunger Games gave us plenty of that and I wholeheartedly like that series. It's the choices of backstory and the way the characters are portrayed on the page.
Take Mitsuko. (Content note: child sexual abuse) It's just... None of this is necessary. It's not played sensitively, it's played to shock and titillate, to stimulate a sexual response alongside the horror-induced aversion, and to make you uncomfortable. But there are so many ways to make you uncomfortable without sexually exploiting a 15 year old, even when you draw her to look 20. And that's just one character, one backstory, one set of choices.
And it's not like that takes place in this one volume, but I chose not to write individual reviews for most of the story, to save it up for this one. Because the whole of the story comes to this point, leads up to this ending. And I can't enjoy it as much as I want to because of all the choices made before it.
I can't help but compare this manga series to the film, because the film suffers from not giving us reasons to care about the kids who are dying, but by skipping so many of the backstories, it also doesn't subject us to... this. (It's also less glorified in its gore. This manga has so many shots of brains leaking out of heads that I lost count.)
I knew not to expect great things from this series when I started rereading it. It was more of an impulse than anything. I don't regret having read it, but I also don't know if I even want to display it on my shelves anymore, because I don't feel like enjoying Battle Royale is something to be proud of.
April 20, 2020
I thought I would leave a review on the last book, instead of each one. There was one of the mangas that stood out to be....saying that I can't remember if it was number 5 or 6. There was a part that I just didn't see coming, and it tricked me which really shocked me.
I did like this series. The series, book and film all differ from one another, and are all worth the time. I didn't really like Shuya in this manga, I think he comes across as really whiney and annoying, but then is portrayed as the most fancied boy in the class and liked by everyone, which to me didn't make sense. I much prefer him in the book, you then understand why he is liked so much.
There are some really good fight scenes between characters. I don't want to say who as I don't want to give too much away. The scenes give you the right amount of what you want, I felt very fulfilled after some of those scenes.
The teacher who looks after them before they go in, is an absolute pig. Vile. The characters are well developed throughout this series as well. Really enjoyed this.
I did like this series. The series, book and film all differ from one another, and are all worth the time. I didn't really like Shuya in this manga, I think he comes across as really whiney and annoying, but then is portrayed as the most fancied boy in the class and liked by everyone, which to me didn't make sense. I much prefer him in the book, you then understand why he is liked so much.
There are some really good fight scenes between characters. I don't want to say who as I don't want to give too much away. The scenes give you the right amount of what you want, I felt very fulfilled after some of those scenes.
The teacher who looks after them before they go in, is an absolute pig. Vile. The characters are well developed throughout this series as well. Really enjoyed this.
December 2, 2015
Amazing series! I have no words. This was so intense. I've read it in two days, I wasn't able to put it down. The story was so fascinating and I really like the art.
I was initially interested in reading the book, but then I read a nice and detailed review suggesting to give the manga a chance (main reason: it's easier to distinguish the characters when you can see faces, while in the book you just have names, very similar-sounding Japanese names). I'm so glad I did this: I loved it!
Still don't know if I'm going to read the book (the storyline is very engaging, but I know the novel is very gruesome and detailed).
I was initially interested in reading the book, but then I read a nice and detailed review suggesting to give the manga a chance (main reason: it's easier to distinguish the characters when you can see faces, while in the book you just have names, very similar-sounding Japanese names). I'm so glad I did this: I loved it!
Still don't know if I'm going to read the book (the storyline is very engaging, but I know the novel is very gruesome and detailed).
March 17, 2017
Battle Royale is one of those stories that, surprisingly, hit me right on my feels and made me cry many times. Even though there are so many characters, I learnt to love many of them, and hate a couple too. But paraphrasing Shuuya, even the worst of them deserved better.
In all honesty, I'd love to read more about the characters, especially after the ending of The Program.
PS:
In all honesty, I'd love to read more about the characters, especially after the ending of The Program.
PS:
November 6, 2017
I’m actually super upset that Kawada died and someone as annoying as Shuuya made it out alive. Kawada probably could have won the whole competition on his own if he hadn’t been dragged down by the others. Noriko was whatever. I didn’t have a problem with her, but I’ve hated Shuuya as a character from the very beginning. It was pretty obvious that most everyone in the story was going to die, so, it wasn’t like I was surprised. That said, it just sucked that the people I rooted for died for a main character that irritated me. It got to the point where the numbers had dwindled enough that I was hoping even Mitsuko might prevail and win.
Also, this is more of a criticism towards the entire series than the final volume, but I feel like Kiriyama ruined anything I loved about this manga. I honestly don’t remember him being that irritating in the film version. I can understand escaping near death experiences. However, this guy was the most over the top powerful person that I’ve ever seen. It was seriously so ridiculous. Each time you were like, ‘he had to have died that time’, he never did. After the twentieth time he survived, I was just so over it.
Overall, I was so in love with the premise, but there were a couple of horribly frustrating characters that took away from how amazing the story was. I almost would have preferred to read a book centered on Kawada’s first competition and how that all played out. From the flashbacks, I would’ve been much more interested in those characters and their situations.
Also, this is more of a criticism towards the entire series than the final volume, but I feel like Kiriyama ruined anything I loved about this manga. I honestly don’t remember him being that irritating in the film version. I can understand escaping near death experiences. However, this guy was the most over the top powerful person that I’ve ever seen. It was seriously so ridiculous. Each time you were like, ‘he had to have died that time’, he never did. After the twentieth time he survived, I was just so over it.
Overall, I was so in love with the premise, but there were a couple of horribly frustrating characters that took away from how amazing the story was. I almost would have preferred to read a book centered on Kawada’s first competition and how that all played out. From the flashbacks, I would’ve been much more interested in those characters and their situations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2012
I'm not as much of a fan of the manga as of the novel, but I picked the final volume up hearing it had a happier ending, and I was curious.
Firstly, the localisation is horrible in general. The worst part is that it desperately tries to make up for the fact that the resolution requires the students to think they are unobserved clashing with the localisation making it a fully filmed TV show, so we are told that the end game happens in the dark surrounded by trees where the camera can't make them out - when they are repeatedly pictured standing in full sunshine on a beach. Awful.
The manga adaptation itself, though, is incredibly long-winded.
I'm not a fan of the art, either. Some of the characters just look gratuitously ugly, while Noriko is all shoujo-sparkly and seems to be from a different manga altogether. It's dark and cluttered and the action is quite confusing, while the violence is wearisomely graphic.
All in all, not a good adaptation of a book that deserved better. Still, at least it has kind of a happy ending. And it's better than the movie.
Firstly, the localisation is horrible in general. The worst part is that it desperately tries to make up for the fact that the resolution requires the students to think they are unobserved clashing with the localisation making it a fully filmed TV show, so we are told that the end game happens in the dark surrounded by trees where the camera can't make them out - when they are repeatedly pictured standing in full sunshine on a beach. Awful.
The manga adaptation itself, though, is incredibly long-winded.
I'm not a fan of the art, either. Some of the characters just look gratuitously ugly, while Noriko is all shoujo-sparkly and seems to be from a different manga altogether. It's dark and cluttered and the action is quite confusing, while the violence is wearisomely graphic.
All in all, not a good adaptation of a book that deserved better. Still, at least it has kind of a happy ending. And it's better than the movie.
August 9, 2019
finalmente finito, non mi è piaciuto per niente, forse avevo aspettative troppo alte quando l'ho iniziato, ma sentendo tutti parlarne bene non potevo aspettarmi questa delusione. protagonista insopportabile, talmente buono da risultare nauseante.
May 7, 2020
UGH these last 2 volumes just showcase how absolutely FANTASTIC this series can be when not bogged down by panels and scenes that were put there only so dudes could ogle at a minor's body. Because these last two volumes were so good that I might possibly give them 5 stars each. They were so good, and probably would've been even better if I hadn't already read the novel.
August 12, 2012
I spent $150 in total buying this manga series and I still own it. It's the only manga I ever finished after seeing the movie in high school, and comparatively, this manga had a lot in a in it. And this review isn't so much for the volume, but for the eries as a whole. I'm not going to review each one individually, that'd be crazy!
I love this series. The writing was complex, but still easy enough to follow, that you could keep up with the plot without having to backtrack to previous installments. The art in itself was in a lot of ways very good, though having in it a lot of moments that seemed confusing and just a little disorienting. The amount of unbridled violence was gruesome and disturbing, but added some realism, all the while balancing surrealism as well. What really got me about the art and the writing was that it showed the characters as very human.
The characters, even the antagonists, were multi-layered and complex and so well-written, I found myself loving and hating them equally. Even the minor characters, who were killed off early or didn't get as much development, I found to be likeable in some aspect.
Some people here have complained some scenes took too long, or had too much focus where it wasn't needed. I agree to the extent that there were scenes like that, it wasn't as frequent as everyone says. The length of the scene was necessary for development, and that fine line between development and padding was tread more often, while at the same time, wasn't as awful and boring like in Bleach (that I think is really the problem Bleach suffers, because it should have ended, what, 1500 chapters ago? And they're still trying to conclude the fucking story? Drop a plague of bears on them already!) which just doesn't know how to end.
I really enjoyed the series as a whole, and I know some others probably won't from the excess of violence and sex (oh yeah, there's sex!) but if you want some surreal horror, this is definitely worth the read.
I love this series. The writing was complex, but still easy enough to follow, that you could keep up with the plot without having to backtrack to previous installments. The art in itself was in a lot of ways very good, though having in it a lot of moments that seemed confusing and just a little disorienting. The amount of unbridled violence was gruesome and disturbing, but added some realism, all the while balancing surrealism as well. What really got me about the art and the writing was that it showed the characters as very human.
The characters, even the antagonists, were multi-layered and complex and so well-written, I found myself loving and hating them equally. Even the minor characters, who were killed off early or didn't get as much development, I found to be likeable in some aspect.
Some people here have complained some scenes took too long, or had too much focus where it wasn't needed. I agree to the extent that there were scenes like that, it wasn't as frequent as everyone says. The length of the scene was necessary for development, and that fine line between development and padding was tread more often, while at the same time, wasn't as awful and boring like in Bleach (that I think is really the problem Bleach suffers, because it should have ended, what, 1500 chapters ago? And they're still trying to conclude the fucking story? Drop a plague of bears on them already!) which just doesn't know how to end.
I really enjoyed the series as a whole, and I know some others probably won't from the excess of violence and sex (oh yeah, there's sex!) but if you want some surreal horror, this is definitely worth the read.
May 27, 2020
Obviando algunas partes en la recta final de la serie muy pasadas de vueltas y que tiran por los suelos el tono serio del manga y la primera mitad de este tomo que se alarga hasta el infinito para retrasar lo que todo el mundo sabía que iba a pasar (en serio un tercio de tomo para pensar si dispara o no?). La verdad es que este manga está muy bien, tiene momentos notables y un buen ritmo la mayor parte del tiempo (algunas de las explicaciones y flashbacks se hacen pesadas, eso si).
La violencia gráfica y los temas turbios pueden superar la tolerancia de algunos (de hecho algunas cosas a mi me costó digerirlas) así que ojo con eso. El final está bien y tiene un giro que pone algunas cosas dudosas en su sitio de forma bastante satisfactoria. En conclusión un buen manga en conjunto, con un dibujo muy bueno y una buena colección de imágenes que se quedarán en la retina (para bien y para mal) durante bastante tiempo.
La violencia gráfica y los temas turbios pueden superar la tolerancia de algunos (de hecho algunas cosas a mi me costó digerirlas) así que ojo con eso. El final está bien y tiene un giro que pone algunas cosas dudosas en su sitio de forma bastante satisfactoria. En conclusión un buen manga en conjunto, con un dibujo muy bueno y una buena colección de imágenes que se quedarán en la retina (para bien y para mal) durante bastante tiempo.
March 30, 2019
I was expecting more to the ending. I was so disappointed on what happened. I don’t care on Shuuya’s and Noriko’s character and I thought Kiriyama and Mitsuko deserve their place. I thought the ending was weak. It would be better if there is no romance involve. Battle Royale is the 1st manga I’ve finished. It had a good start, but it went downhill to the end.
Again, I was really disappointed. I will be glad if Kawada just killed them both (Noriko and Shuuya).
Again, I was really disappointed. I will be glad if Kawada just killed them both (Noriko and Shuuya).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2013
A very hit and miss series. There is some truly cringe worthy dialogue, beyond creepy sex scenes and the decision in the English translation to make it a reality TV show makes no sense at all. It's not all bad. Some of the characters come across quite well and there are some impressive set pieces but overall you'd be better off with the original novel or the film.
October 15, 2022
Such a good manga series. A great adaption with wonderful art work.
August 3, 2015
I can't even think straight. I have a lot of emotions right now, and I have no idea how to deal with them! I think that may have been THE best mnaga series I have ever read!
January 19, 2020
Phew what a series! I read the novel years ago, and it has been one of my favorite books of all time. I’ve seen the movie but thought it failed to live up to the novel. I finally got my hands on the manga series (which I failed to know existed until now!) and I have to say, as a whole, I loved it. I read the entire series within a week because I couldn’t put it down. This 5-star rating is for the whole series. I was a little hesitant with reading right to left in the traditional Japanese style of books but once I got started I was hooked and it wasn’t an issue. It’s pretty well written, and the characters are very well drawn. The scene with Mimura and Yutaka, and the accidental shooting of Keita, is a great example of the writing and drawings capturing the characters perfectly. You mourn with Mim on this accident. You get angry that they failed to bomb the school and escape. You get sad when Kawada doesn’t make it, after all he went through. Even the minor characters really stay with you. The backstories and drawings make it easy for all the characters to stick in your mind, and to root and be sad when some don’t make it.
I actually appreciated some of the changes between the manga and novel. For instance, in the novel, Sugimura finds Kotohiki, only to have her shoot him in fear. I liked the change in the manga where they spent time together. Maybe it’s the hopeless romantic in me but it just made for a very nice read. I knew where it’d end but I still found myself rooting for them to link back up to Shuuya and make it. I also like that Shu found Mim, and was able to mourn him. That didn’t happen in the book. It was touching, and I appreciated that Shu got to grieve his friend in person. I wish they could’ve met up and I wish Mim could’ve lived but that’s the sadness and horror of The Program for you.
I prefer how Mitsuko died in the novel - fighting back instead of the gratuitous nudity and groveling - but you can’t have everything, and the backstory in the manga, with the transition scenes of her as her doll, made her figure more haunting for me.
I agree with others that Kiryama was a little unrealistic. Even in the novel, it just seemed like he would never die. The manga exaggerated even more so on that. I think a car accident being the reason for his sociopathy is a little bit of a let down.
I also wish the manga ending was clearer. I know the novel was ambiguous in its ending but since the manga made changes to the story, I think it could’ve extended the story on what happened once Shuuya and Noriko got to the US for the readers. Are Shu and Noriko still together? He never says he loves her, he says things were good for a while longer than they should have ... I feel like they’d honor Kawada and be together, but it just sounds ominous and it’s bugging me to not know. Perhaps they left it up to the reader but I would’ve preferred clarity here. The manga just ended too discouraging to decipher where the main characters ended vs the novel allowing the reader to fill in the story from its final sentence.
Overall, I think the manga series did a great job of honoring the Battle Royale novel. I think the tweaks and changes made sense and worked well for the overall story. The series will stay with me for a while, as the book did. I wish some of the others (especially Mim and Sugi) had a chance to make it off the island. I encourage readers to read the novel, as it’s a well written book. But the manga definitely pairs well with it, and is worth a read.
I actually appreciated some of the changes between the manga and novel. For instance, in the novel, Sugimura finds Kotohiki, only to have her shoot him in fear. I liked the change in the manga where they spent time together. Maybe it’s the hopeless romantic in me but it just made for a very nice read. I knew where it’d end but I still found myself rooting for them to link back up to Shuuya and make it. I also like that Shu found Mim, and was able to mourn him. That didn’t happen in the book. It was touching, and I appreciated that Shu got to grieve his friend in person. I wish they could’ve met up and I wish Mim could’ve lived but that’s the sadness and horror of The Program for you.
I prefer how Mitsuko died in the novel - fighting back instead of the gratuitous nudity and groveling - but you can’t have everything, and the backstory in the manga, with the transition scenes of her as her doll, made her figure more haunting for me.
I agree with others that Kiryama was a little unrealistic. Even in the novel, it just seemed like he would never die. The manga exaggerated even more so on that. I think a car accident being the reason for his sociopathy is a little bit of a let down.
I also wish the manga ending was clearer. I know the novel was ambiguous in its ending but since the manga made changes to the story, I think it could’ve extended the story on what happened once Shuuya and Noriko got to the US for the readers. Are Shu and Noriko still together? He never says he loves her, he says things were good for a while longer than they should have ... I feel like they’d honor Kawada and be together, but it just sounds ominous and it’s bugging me to not know. Perhaps they left it up to the reader but I would’ve preferred clarity here. The manga just ended too discouraging to decipher where the main characters ended vs the novel allowing the reader to fill in the story from its final sentence.
Overall, I think the manga series did a great job of honoring the Battle Royale novel. I think the tweaks and changes made sense and worked well for the overall story. The series will stay with me for a while, as the book did. I wish some of the others (especially Mim and Sugi) had a chance to make it off the island. I encourage readers to read the novel, as it’s a well written book. But the manga definitely pairs well with it, and is worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 21, 2024reading the manga version of these really made me realize some of the reasons why I like the novel version so much. first, the cut-and-dry writing of the novel is so much more fitting to the themes of brutality than the manga's almost theatrical writing. this touches upon an overall issue that I have with the manga: there is so much disconnect between the proposed critique of exploitative systems that take advantage of people for entertainment regardless of brutality and the way that characters' trauma and turmoil are depicted by the authors as a dramatized moment for shock value or sorrow (almost similar to how the program might depict these moments if they were to air on TV). but all of that to say is that the really drawn-out emotional scenes don't contribute well to the overall themes. in the book, it's so compelling to see characters that you become attached to die instantly and without ceremony. also shuya is such a fucking loser in these volumes. dude, please do something, anything to make your hero status make sense. like in the manga he's presented as this saintly figure with only a couple of examples to support this depiction. in the books, he's not made out to be more than he is. he's just a nice guy with good morals that people like and trust. but he's not ignorant of the reality of their situation, especially not by the end, because he's not stupid.
Finally, here's a fun list of phrases/themes/events in these volumes that come up so fucking much that it's ridiculous (there's more but these are the ones off the top of my head).
1. "he's just a kid" or generally characters wanting to know kiriyama's backstory
2. "I'm going to protect noriko"
3. "not like takako"
4. "make the shot"
5. other characters raving about what a good guy shuya is
6. "why does love always have to hurt?"
7. "I take before they can."
8. last but certainly not least the amount of times kiriyama should absolutely die but doesn't
Finally, here's a fun list of phrases/themes/events in these volumes that come up so fucking much that it's ridiculous (there's more but these are the ones off the top of my head).
1. "he's just a kid" or generally characters wanting to know kiriyama's backstory
2. "I'm going to protect noriko"
3. "not like takako"
4. "make the shot"
5. other characters raving about what a good guy shuya is
6. "why does love always have to hurt?"
7. "I take before they can."
8. last but certainly not least the amount of times kiriyama should absolutely die but doesn't
January 27, 2021
Why I read the whole thing: I don't know.
I read all 15 volumes in one sitting (about 6-7 hours). I didn't eat or drink.
I guess I need time to digest it.
but what I can say now is:
- most of the "kids" looked in their twenties - You don't have tits like the ones miss damaged had when your 15.
- when I was in 9th grade I was far more aggressive than that. I believe more people would've gone on a rampage.
- "not my class, thou" - author got me about that one - everybody likes to believe they actually knew something about their classmates. I know it's bull**** but still...
- most 9thgraders don't know what they are living for - my little bro and his classmates - they'll be ready in a day. I don't know if my class would have lasted 4 hours.
- a lot of the characters just snapped at a certain point and were totally psycho. Real psycho is far worse than that no-one-home-act that's drawn out in the manga. Not that I've seen ppl who've developed psychological problems because of such brutal circumstances...but your everyday psycho we're studying at med school scares me more than what I saw in the manga (scares the crap of me some times)
still: very, very well drawn. Such detail, such accuracy in creating real-like lines and structures.
and it makes you think. Hell me and my girlfriend are from the same class.
What do I do? Do we commit suicide together? Do we team up against the others? Do I do it like Kawada initially wanted to do it- kill everybody and then myself, so that she could live?
what is worse - kill people or let yourself be killed...or kill yourself to prevent others from killing and to prevent yourself from accidentally killing someone else while in shock?
and lets be real: what kind of country would tolerate such a thing (broadcasting it, I mean...)
I read all 15 volumes in one sitting (about 6-7 hours). I didn't eat or drink.
I guess I need time to digest it.
but what I can say now is:
- most of the "kids" looked in their twenties - You don't have tits like the ones miss damaged had when your 15.
- when I was in 9th grade I was far more aggressive than that. I believe more people would've gone on a rampage.
- "not my class, thou" - author got me about that one - everybody likes to believe they actually knew something about their classmates. I know it's bull**** but still...
- most 9thgraders don't know what they are living for - my little bro and his classmates - they'll be ready in a day. I don't know if my class would have lasted 4 hours.
- a lot of the characters just snapped at a certain point and were totally psycho. Real psycho is far worse than that no-one-home-act that's drawn out in the manga. Not that I've seen ppl who've developed psychological problems because of such brutal circumstances...but your everyday psycho we're studying at med school scares me more than what I saw in the manga (scares the crap of me some times)
still: very, very well drawn. Such detail, such accuracy in creating real-like lines and structures.
and it makes you think. Hell me and my girlfriend are from the same class.
What do I do? Do we commit suicide together? Do we team up against the others? Do I do it like Kawada initially wanted to do it- kill everybody and then myself, so that she could live?
what is worse - kill people or let yourself be killed...or kill yourself to prevent others from killing and to prevent yourself from accidentally killing someone else while in shock?
and lets be real: what kind of country would tolerate such a thing (broadcasting it, I mean...)
September 23, 2021
Why I read the whole thing: I don't know.
I read all 15 volumes in one sitting (about 6-7 hours). I didn't eat or drink.
I guess I need time to digest it.
but what I can say now is:
- most of the "kids" looked in their twenties - You don't have tits like the ones miss damaged had when your 15.
- when I was in 9th grade I was far more aggressive than that. I believe more people would've gone on a rampage.
- "not my class, thou" - author got me about that one - everybody likes to believe they actually knew something about their classmates. I know it's bull**** but still...
- most 9thgraders don't know what they are living for - my little bro and his classmates - they'll be ready in a day. I don't know if my class would have lasted 4 hours.
- a lot of the characters just snapped at a certain point and were totally psycho. Real psycho is far worse than that no-one-home-act that's drawn out in the manga. Not that I've seen ppl who've developed psychological problems because of such brutal circumstances...but your everyday psycho we're studying at med school scares me more than what I saw in the manga (scares the crap of me some times)
still: very, very well drawn. Such detail, such accuracy in creating real-like lines and structures.
and it makes you think. Hell me and my girlfriend are from the same class.
What do I do? Do we commit suicide together? Do we team up against the others? Do I do it like Kawada initially wanted to do it- kill everybody and then myself, so that she could live?
what is worse - kill people or let yourself be killed...or kill yourself to prevent others from killing and to prevent yourself from accidentally killing someone else while in shock?
and lets be real: what kind of country would tolerate such a thing (broadcasting it, I mean...)
I read all 15 volumes in one sitting (about 6-7 hours). I didn't eat or drink.
I guess I need time to digest it.
but what I can say now is:
- most of the "kids" looked in their twenties - You don't have tits like the ones miss damaged had when your 15.
- when I was in 9th grade I was far more aggressive than that. I believe more people would've gone on a rampage.
- "not my class, thou" - author got me about that one - everybody likes to believe they actually knew something about their classmates. I know it's bull**** but still...
- most 9thgraders don't know what they are living for - my little bro and his classmates - they'll be ready in a day. I don't know if my class would have lasted 4 hours.
- a lot of the characters just snapped at a certain point and were totally psycho. Real psycho is far worse than that no-one-home-act that's drawn out in the manga. Not that I've seen ppl who've developed psychological problems because of such brutal circumstances...but your everyday psycho we're studying at med school scares me more than what I saw in the manga (scares the crap of me some times)
still: very, very well drawn. Such detail, such accuracy in creating real-like lines and structures.
and it makes you think. Hell me and my girlfriend are from the same class.
What do I do? Do we commit suicide together? Do we team up against the others? Do I do it like Kawada initially wanted to do it- kill everybody and then myself, so that she could live?
what is worse - kill people or let yourself be killed...or kill yourself to prevent others from killing and to prevent yourself from accidentally killing someone else while in shock?
and lets be real: what kind of country would tolerate such a thing (broadcasting it, I mean...)
August 20, 2021
𝑷𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒓:🌈
🔹El visual de cada página es increíble.
🔹Las ilustraciones son top 1.
🔹Buen desarrollo de trama.
🔹Capítulos que al terminar te dejan con querer saber más.
🔹Adictivo e interesante.
🔹Buenos diálogos
𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐫🎭:
🔸Villano exageradamente fuerte.
🔸El protagonista pensaba mucho en los demás, hubiera sido ideal que pensara un poco más en el.
🔸Algunos personajes inútiles que sólo ayudaron a la muerte innecesaria de otros personajes.
🔸Muertes Innecesarias.
🔸Muy Absurdo.
𝑶��𝒊𝒏𝒊ó𝒏:(sin spoilers)
Es un buen manga, con buen desarrollo de trama. Te mantiene atento sin parar de leer. Tiene puntos negativos pero creo poder entenderlos por lo antiguo del manga. Esta muy presente el compañerismo. Un villano invencible que enserio aveces decía si en verdad era libro de fantasía jaja, ya que no moriaaaa. El protagonista lo encontré demasiado llorón y no está mal llorar pero llega un momento donde dices "chico para de llorar no ayudas y aburre". Hay un personaje en especial que odie ya que literal no ayudaba en nada, era un rotundo inútil y personaje de relleno que sólo hizo matar a mi personaje favorito 😠. A pesar de eso es un manga muy divertido, adictivo y ligero, se lee en menos de 24h. Eso sí el manga es +18 trae escenas explícitas de muertes etc. Pero si quieres leer algo fuerte, terror (los juegos del hambre pero sin romance) y adictivo este es el indicado, te va a mantener varias horas leyendo.
🔹El visual de cada página es increíble.
🔹Las ilustraciones son top 1.
🔹Buen desarrollo de trama.
🔹Capítulos que al terminar te dejan con querer saber más.
🔹Adictivo e interesante.
🔹Buenos diálogos
𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐫🎭:
🔸Villano exageradamente fuerte.
🔸El protagonista pensaba mucho en los demás, hubiera sido ideal que pensara un poco más en el.
🔸Algunos personajes inútiles que sólo ayudaron a la muerte innecesaria de otros personajes.
🔸Muertes Innecesarias.
🔸Muy Absurdo.
𝑶��𝒊𝒏𝒊ó𝒏:(sin spoilers)
Es un buen manga, con buen desarrollo de trama. Te mantiene atento sin parar de leer. Tiene puntos negativos pero creo poder entenderlos por lo antiguo del manga. Esta muy presente el compañerismo. Un villano invencible que enserio aveces decía si en verdad era libro de fantasía jaja, ya que no moriaaaa. El protagonista lo encontré demasiado llorón y no está mal llorar pero llega un momento donde dices "chico para de llorar no ayudas y aburre". Hay un personaje en especial que odie ya que literal no ayudaba en nada, era un rotundo inútil y personaje de relleno que sólo hizo matar a mi personaje favorito 😠. A pesar de eso es un manga muy divertido, adictivo y ligero, se lee en menos de 24h. Eso sí el manga es +18 trae escenas explícitas de muertes etc. Pero si quieres leer algo fuerte, terror (los juegos del hambre pero sin romance) y adictivo este es el indicado, te va a mantener varias horas leyendo.
October 21, 2021
❝El juego es muy simple. De los 42 alumnos que hay aquí, sólo saldrá un único 'ganador': el que mate a todos los demás❞.
Un grupo de 42 estudiantes viajaba en dirección a una excursión escolar que prometía ser toda una aventura, pero ninguno de ellos imaginó jamás hacia dónde se dirigían en realidad. Ignoraban que su curso había sido elegido para participar en "El programa", un juego del gobierno del cual es imposible escapar ya que los alumnos son obligados a participar. Las reglas del ya mencionado juego son simples: deben matarse entre ellos hasta que quede con vida sólo uno.
No me extenderé demasiado porque ya había hecho una reseña de la novela cuando la leí en su momento, así que me centraré en el arte en el manga de la historia, que comprende 15 tomos.
En lo personal me ha gustado mucho el dibujo. A diferencia de la novela, que nos habla más sobre las emociones y pensamientos que pasan por la mente de los estudiantes, además de que se profundiza más en sus historias personales, el manga nos ofrece la parte gráfica, mostrándonos las muertes de manera explícita, sin tapujo alguno. Para quienes gustan del contenido sangriento, "Battle Royale", desde mi perspectiva, es una buena elección.
Para finalizar, hago una mención especial a "la escena de la persecución de autos", que de todas es mi escena favorita y por consiguiente la que considero que está mejor dibujada.
Puntaje general al manga: 4,5/5
Un grupo de 42 estudiantes viajaba en dirección a una excursión escolar que prometía ser toda una aventura, pero ninguno de ellos imaginó jamás hacia dónde se dirigían en realidad. Ignoraban que su curso había sido elegido para participar en "El programa", un juego del gobierno del cual es imposible escapar ya que los alumnos son obligados a participar. Las reglas del ya mencionado juego son simples: deben matarse entre ellos hasta que quede con vida sólo uno.
No me extenderé demasiado porque ya había hecho una reseña de la novela cuando la leí en su momento, así que me centraré en el arte en el manga de la historia, que comprende 15 tomos.
En lo personal me ha gustado mucho el dibujo. A diferencia de la novela, que nos habla más sobre las emociones y pensamientos que pasan por la mente de los estudiantes, además de que se profundiza más en sus historias personales, el manga nos ofrece la parte gráfica, mostrándonos las muertes de manera explícita, sin tapujo alguno. Para quienes gustan del contenido sangriento, "Battle Royale", desde mi perspectiva, es una buena elección.
Para finalizar, hago una mención especial a "la escena de la persecución de autos", que de todas es mi escena favorita y por consiguiente la que considero que está mejor dibujada.
Puntaje general al manga: 4,5/5
October 5, 2018
Incredible series. I honestly started reading the series because I was in the mood for some intense and mindless violence, but I was really shocked to discover that this series is so much more than that. The themes of humanity, trust, understanding and compassion in the middle of such disgustingly horrific and cruel circumstances had me close to bawling my eyes out more times than I care to recount.
There was one scene involving Mimura that actually did make me shed a tear and two other scenes that genuinely made my chest hurt from the raw emotion. There was one female character named Mitsuko with a backstory so perverted and gross that I almost felt like I was living out her traumatic experiences myself. Gives me shudders just thinking about it. And I certainly can’t forget about a certain scene involving a lighthouse, but I won’t spoil that for anyone that hasn’t finished yet.
There were some rough moments in the series that made me really angry and almost made me quit. The worst thing about the series in my opinion was Kiriyama. That guy almost ruined what was otherwise a nearly flawless experience. I’m glad I chose to stick with it though. It was a brutal, emotional rollercoaster that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Despite some rough areas it ended on a very high note for me.
There was one scene involving Mimura that actually did make me shed a tear and two other scenes that genuinely made my chest hurt from the raw emotion. There was one female character named Mitsuko with a backstory so perverted and gross that I almost felt like I was living out her traumatic experiences myself. Gives me shudders just thinking about it. And I certainly can’t forget about a certain scene involving a lighthouse, but I won’t spoil that for anyone that hasn’t finished yet.
There were some rough moments in the series that made me really angry and almost made me quit. The worst thing about the series in my opinion was Kiriyama. That guy almost ruined what was otherwise a nearly flawless experience. I’m glad I chose to stick with it though. It was a brutal, emotional rollercoaster that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Despite some rough areas it ended on a very high note for me.
August 15, 2023
Final bastante tibio e idílico.
Creo que a la historia en su totalidad le doy 3,5⭐. Empieza súper bien y en el medio decae y vuelve a subir a cada rato.
La historia en sí me encanta, es bruta, gráfica y no sé anda con chiquilinadas, pero tiene al protagonista más idiota que leí en el último tiempo. Sinceramente es lo peor de la historia. No hace nada, repite los mismos diálogos y pensamientos todo el tiempo. No se muere porque tiene a Kawada y porque los que lo intentan matar son más tarados que él.
Kawada y Mimura son los mejores personajes. Punto especial para Souma que el background es interesante, aunque no creo que el personaje esté logrado. Se centraron en la hipersexualizacion sin sentido en vez de aprovechar su historia.
Noriko es el personaje más "x" de la historia. Está ahí para ser la damisela en apuros de Shuuya.
El final...me hubiera gustado que exista esa traición final y a partir de ahí ver cómo se seguía. De la manera en que finalizó fue súper idílico y le sacó la fuerza y brutalidad que se venía manejando.
Sigo pensando que Suzanne Collins se copió vilmente de esta historia, literalmente agarró todo y cambió detalles. En vez de ser Harry Potter es Larry Popotter. Pero algo que Collins logró resolver mucho mejor fue el final el cual sigue la misma intensidad de la historia y no pinta un futuro bueno, sino un presente pasable y en vías de reconstrucción.
Creo que a la historia en su totalidad le doy 3,5⭐. Empieza súper bien y en el medio decae y vuelve a subir a cada rato.
La historia en sí me encanta, es bruta, gráfica y no sé anda con chiquilinadas, pero tiene al protagonista más idiota que leí en el último tiempo. Sinceramente es lo peor de la historia. No hace nada, repite los mismos diálogos y pensamientos todo el tiempo. No se muere porque tiene a Kawada y porque los que lo intentan matar son más tarados que él.
Kawada y Mimura son los mejores personajes. Punto especial para Souma que el background es interesante, aunque no creo que el personaje esté logrado. Se centraron en la hipersexualizacion sin sentido en vez de aprovechar su historia.
Noriko es el personaje más "x" de la historia. Está ahí para ser la damisela en apuros de Shuuya.
El final...me hubiera gustado que exista esa traición final y a partir de ahí ver cómo se seguía. De la manera en que finalizó fue súper idílico y le sacó la fuerza y brutalidad que se venía manejando.
Sigo pensando que Suzanne Collins se copió vilmente de esta historia, literalmente agarró todo y cambió detalles. En vez de ser Harry Potter es Larry Popotter. Pero algo que Collins logró resolver mucho mejor fue el final el cual sigue la misma intensidad de la historia y no pinta un futuro bueno, sino un presente pasable y en vías de reconstrucción.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2025
It's a wrap.
I am of the nine controversial opinion that the novel is better than the manga adaptation. I read it a few years back and still think about often. I would say it's probably in my top 20 beat books list.
The adaptation comes with it's own rewrites, some make story richer - where we get a new extra content especially backstories for almost every single character, and some completely ruined multiple aspect of the story - like the excessive fan service, distasteful sexual depictions of women while they are going through the most mentally taxing event of their lives and the added invincibility of Kiriyama.
The bad parts do a lot of heavy overshadowing for me of the true essence of the story, and is the reason why I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending or endorsing this story for others. I would recommend the novel instead.
But it is a still a strong story if you manage to have oversight with the outdated, cultural differences that leaves a bad taste.
I do actually enjoy the ending of the story, I don't mind it being on a more positive note and as I already knew where we were heading I was not shocked in any way. But I am happy that I finally got around to reading it, and I think the manga adaptation will stand out on it's own in my mind for a long while to come too.
I am of the nine controversial opinion that the novel is better than the manga adaptation. I read it a few years back and still think about often. I would say it's probably in my top 20 beat books list.
The adaptation comes with it's own rewrites, some make story richer - where we get a new extra content especially backstories for almost every single character, and some completely ruined multiple aspect of the story - like the excessive fan service, distasteful sexual depictions of women while they are going through the most mentally taxing event of their lives and the added invincibility of Kiriyama.
The bad parts do a lot of heavy overshadowing for me of the true essence of the story, and is the reason why I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending or endorsing this story for others. I would recommend the novel instead.
But it is a still a strong story if you manage to have oversight with the outdated, cultural differences that leaves a bad taste.
I do actually enjoy the ending of the story, I don't mind it being on a more positive note and as I already knew where we were heading I was not shocked in any way. But I am happy that I finally got around to reading it, and I think the manga adaptation will stand out on it's own in my mind for a long while to come too.
August 29, 2022
Me ha encantado el desenlace, aunque no hayan podido destruir al Programa desde la raíz, han conseguido pausarlo por un periodo de tiempo indeterminado. Y la supuesta traición de Kawada me la creí completamente hasta que el jefe empezó con la charla de los collares.
Al principio el manga se me hacía bastante repetitivo y predecible, además que no me trago la relación que tienen Shuuya y Norikko. Por parte de ella sí porque ya le gustaba él de antes, pero Shuuya ni siquiera se fijó en ella antes del Programa, por no hablar de que decidió protegerla porque era el crush de su amigo, y veo ilógico que se enamorara estando en la isla ¿quién se va a poner a ligar cuando en cualquier momento te pueden matar? Han puesto un interés amoroso al protagonista sin venir a cuento.
Por lo demás sí me ha gustado, las escenas han sido explícitas e impactantes, además del mensaje que da, que el programa se hace porque la gente lo ve y le da morbo, lo cual hace que muchas personas se beneficien apostando a costa de sus vidas y el "espectáculo".
Al principio el manga se me hacía bastante repetitivo y predecible, además que no me trago la relación que tienen Shuuya y Norikko. Por parte de ella sí porque ya le gustaba él de antes, pero Shuuya ni siquiera se fijó en ella antes del Programa, por no hablar de que decidió protegerla porque era el crush de su amigo, y veo ilógico que se enamorara estando en la isla ¿quién se va a poner a ligar cuando en cualquier momento te pueden matar? Han puesto un interés amoroso al protagonista sin venir a cuento.
Por lo demás sí me ha gustado, las escenas han sido explícitas e impactantes, además del mensaje que da, que el programa se hace porque la gente lo ve y le da morbo, lo cual hace que muchas personas se beneficien apostando a costa de sus vidas y el "espectáculo".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2023
Bueno, pues se terminó lo que se daba.
Finalmente se terminó Battle Royale. Creo que el desenlace es el que debía ser sin importar si esto me gusta o no. Simplemente debía terminar de esta forma por el bien de la historia en sí. Me hubiera gustado que la traición de Kawada se concretara o que todo terminara con que Shuuya estaba verdaderamente loco. Es decir, clínicamente loco y hubiera matado a Noriko para convertirse en el verdadero ganador del programa o algo así.
Pero bueno, nada. El final es el que es. La historia no es mala, pero creo que exageraron demasiado a Kiriyama, así como también mataron demasiado rápido a algunos personajes que pudieron haber sido más que interesantes.
Es una lastima que no continuara con una verdadera revolución al estilo Hunger Games. En líneas generales disfruté el manga. Tiene escenas que están dibujadas de forma impecable. Verdaderamente el trabajo de Masayuki Taguchi es soberbio. Simplemente excelente. Es una lastima que el guion no haya acompañado tanto como debería.
Finalmente se terminó Battle Royale. Creo que el desenlace es el que debía ser sin importar si esto me gusta o no. Simplemente debía terminar de esta forma por el bien de la historia en sí. Me hubiera gustado que la traición de Kawada se concretara o que todo terminara con que Shuuya estaba verdaderamente loco. Es decir, clínicamente loco y hubiera matado a Noriko para convertirse en el verdadero ganador del programa o algo así.
Pero bueno, nada. El final es el que es. La historia no es mala, pero creo que exageraron demasiado a Kiriyama, así como también mataron demasiado rápido a algunos personajes que pudieron haber sido más que interesantes.
Es una lastima que no continuara con una verdadera revolución al estilo Hunger Games. En líneas generales disfruté el manga. Tiene escenas que están dibujadas de forma impecable. Verdaderamente el trabajo de Masayuki Taguchi es soberbio. Simplemente excelente. Es una lastima que el guion no haya acompañado tanto como debería.
November 18, 2022
aunque después de la tercera vez el factor sorpresa se desgasta, los verdaderos ejes de la historia se potencian. Battle Royale es el contexto de cada personaje enfrentando, a manera acelerada, sus impulso y emociones contra la corriente de la lógica. El equipo Takami y Taguchi aprovechan el espacio adicional que da el manga y, refuerzan la novela ahondado en cada participante. Sintentizando es una historia que muestra el proceso de humanidad a través de un sistema macabro de opresión sin ningún sentido práctico. Pero también es un recordatorio y mensaje sobre la apreciación de la vida y la imposición de lo que nos diferencia de otras existencias. La confianza, empatía y esperanza pueden persevar pero su defensa depende de cada lector.
P.S: puede que el plot armor y superpoder del guión sea excesivo (y hasta un poco molesto) en este Kiriyama , pero como con todo personaje, la fusión de ambas versiones novela y manga redondean bien el resultado.
P.S: puede que el plot armor y superpoder del guión sea excesivo (y hasta un poco molesto) en este Kiriyama , pero como con todo personaje, la fusión de ambas versiones novela y manga redondean bien el resultado.
May 14, 2019
Amé tanto este manga. La historia es muy buena, acabo de ver la película y la verdad no le hace justicia. Me encantaría que hicieran un anime. Recomiendo mucho este manga, no podía dejar de leerlo, pero a la vez necesitaba un tiempo para digerir lo que estaba pasando. Sin duda cada tomo te deja reflexionando sobre cada situación, y no te deja descansar; puedes ir en el camión y de pronto te viene esta obra a la mente y te pones a pensar en cómo actuarías en esa cierta situación como en el tomo que estás leyendo.
El final es del tipo final feliz (a medias), pero siento que si hubiera terminado en una mala situación también hubiera estado bien aunque estoy agradecida con el actual. Amo a Kawada y lo voy a extrañar taaanto.
No sé, no puedo pensar más ahora. Pero lo recomiendo muchísimo.
5 de 5 estrellas.
El final es del tipo final feliz (a medias), pero siento que si hubiera terminado en una mala situación también hubiera estado bien aunque estoy agradecida con el actual. Amo a Kawada y lo voy a extrañar taaanto.
No sé, no puedo pensar más ahora. Pero lo recomiendo muchísimo.
5 de 5 estrellas.
February 13, 2025
Me encanta el concepto del libro, fue adictivo de inicio a fin. Tuve mis problemas con la historia y algunos dibujos innecesariamente explícitos (trataron de manera muy pobre el abuso sexual y sexualizaron hasta el cansancio personajes menores de edad) a lo largo del manga, y también existe el hecho de que me gustaron muchos personajes más que el protagonista.
Shuuya es un muchacho idealista y honrado, pero al final siento que llegó a dónde llegó por pura suerte. Fue un tipo que estuvo con las personas correctas en los momentos correctos, pero carecía de instinto de supervivencia y muchas veces también de sentido común.
Hablando personalmente, me hubiera gustado que otro personaje fuese el principal, o que algunos otros llegaran más lejos. Pero quitando eso, me gustó; no puedo comparar este manga muy bien con el libro ya que no lo recuerdo mucho.
Shuuya es un muchacho idealista y honrado, pero al final siento que llegó a dónde llegó por pura suerte. Fue un tipo que estuvo con las personas correctas en los momentos correctos, pero carecía de instinto de supervivencia y muchas veces también de sentido común.
Hablando personalmente, me hubiera gustado que otro personaje fuese el principal, o que algunos otros llegaran más lejos. Pero quitando eso, me gustó; no puedo comparar este manga muy bien con el libro ya que no lo recuerdo mucho.
October 24, 2025
A pioneer of the Japanese survival genre, even after more than 20 years, it still deserves its legendary status.
All three versions - the novel, manga, and film adaptation - hold up well, each with slight variations in the ending.
For the manga, I think the ending is fair and square. The only thing that bothered me was how Shu was portrayed as a whining, weak boy but somehow caught attention of everyone. I honestly got tired of him at some points and kind of wished Mimura had been the main character instead. But that’s just a personal bias. At least Kawada was depicted as the true hero he was meant to be.
All three versions - the novel, manga, and film adaptation - hold up well, each with slight variations in the ending.
For the manga, I think the ending is fair and square. The only thing that bothered me was how Shu was portrayed as a whining, weak boy but somehow caught attention of everyone. I honestly got tired of him at some points and kind of wished Mimura had been the main character instead. But that’s just a personal bias. At least Kawada was depicted as the true hero he was meant to be.
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