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King of Thorn #4
いばらの王(4) 【初回限定版・カスミヴィネット付】
The horror deepens as the diminishing band of survivors struggles to keep sane--and alive. When a secret video reveals the truth behind the Medusa virus to Kasumi and the other survivors, will the revelation give them hope…or more despair? Also, why does Marco seem to know so much more about the situation than the others? The answers could rest in the very reason he was chosen to infiltrate "Level 4."
Comic
First published September 25, 2004
4 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Yuji Iwahara
57 books52 followersIWAHARA Yuji
Japanese Name (岩原裕二)
Associated Names:
ИВАХАРА Юдзи
IWAHARA Yuuji
Blood Type: B
Japanese Name (岩原裕二)
Associated Names:
ИВАХАРА Юдзи
IWAHARA Yuuji
Blood Type: B
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews
September 24, 2025
3.25/5
We finally started getting some answers, and I was left feeling disappointed.
We finally started getting some answers, and I was left feeling disappointed.
August 20, 2023
2,5/5
Creo que la trama se complica innecesariamente. Con 3 tomos hubiera quedado mejor.
Creo que la trama se complica innecesariamente. Con 3 tomos hubiera quedado mejor.
July 5, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.
Synopsis: Kasumi and her sister, Shizuku, are infected with the Medusa virus, which slowly eats away at the body. There is no cure, but of the two only Kasumi is selected to be cryogenically frozen with 159 others until a cure is found. At some point in the future, Kasumi awakens to find herself in an unfamiliar world with violent monsters. How long were they asleep and why is the world worse off now than it was before?
Review: Wow! For such a short series this was an absolute mindfuck. It starts off as a survival-horror thriller with tons of monsters and gore which was genuinely frightening, then it transitions into a psychological fairy tale with science fiction twists. Marco is a badass character, the mystery between the twin sisters was much more imaginative and insane than I expected, the other supporting characters also had some heart to them. The directing style and the pseudo fairy tale theme really reminded me of a Guillermo Del Toro film. It has the same theme of finding fragments of hope in the face of absolute despair. The movie adaption for the manga was also really good even though it took quite a few different turns.
Synopsis: Kasumi and her sister, Shizuku, are infected with the Medusa virus, which slowly eats away at the body. There is no cure, but of the two only Kasumi is selected to be cryogenically frozen with 159 others until a cure is found. At some point in the future, Kasumi awakens to find herself in an unfamiliar world with violent monsters. How long were they asleep and why is the world worse off now than it was before?
Review: Wow! For such a short series this was an absolute mindfuck. It starts off as a survival-horror thriller with tons of monsters and gore which was genuinely frightening, then it transitions into a psychological fairy tale with science fiction twists. Marco is a badass character, the mystery between the twin sisters was much more imaginative and insane than I expected, the other supporting characters also had some heart to them. The directing style and the pseudo fairy tale theme really reminded me of a Guillermo Del Toro film. It has the same theme of finding fragments of hope in the face of absolute despair. The movie adaption for the manga was also really good even though it took quite a few different turns.
September 22, 2017
Cuarto tomo de King of Thorn, lo que nos deja ya sólo con otros dos para acabar la colección y ver qué tal termina todo (no lo recuerdo XD).
El volumen en cuestión nos da más información sobre lo que sucedió en el pasado, así como la naturaleza y efectos que puede tener la enfermedad que sufren (casi) todos los personajes. Una explicación de origen alienígena, con la posibilidad de que los personajes manifiesten sus ideas o temores… ya sabemos lo sucedido.
Por otro lado también sabremos más cosas sobre el pasado de Marco, y nos contarán la secuencia de sucesos previa a la caída de las instalaciones de criogenización.
La obra sigue sin acabar de destacar como podría hacerlo, la trama de ciencia ficción se ha convertido en algo más de ficción que de ciencia, los personajes no acaban de conectar conmigo (y menos la chica protagonista) y a veces tienes la sensación de que las cosas suceden porque sí.
Un tomo que me evidencia que a ésta obra le faltaba un poco de maduración antes de salir a la venta, y que pese a ello funciona bien como entretenimiento si no quieres comerte la cabeza. Curiosa pero no recomendable, bastante del montón.
El volumen en cuestión nos da más información sobre lo que sucedió en el pasado, así como la naturaleza y efectos que puede tener la enfermedad que sufren (casi) todos los personajes. Una explicación de origen alienígena, con la posibilidad de que los personajes manifiesten sus ideas o temores… ya sabemos lo sucedido.
Por otro lado también sabremos más cosas sobre el pasado de Marco, y nos contarán la secuencia de sucesos previa a la caída de las instalaciones de criogenización.
La obra sigue sin acabar de destacar como podría hacerlo, la trama de ciencia ficción se ha convertido en algo más de ficción que de ciencia, los personajes no acaban de conectar conmigo (y menos la chica protagonista) y a veces tienes la sensación de que las cosas suceden porque sí.
Un tomo que me evidencia que a ésta obra le faltaba un poco de maduración antes de salir a la venta, y que pese a ello funciona bien como entretenimiento si no quieres comerte la cabeza. Curiosa pero no recomendable, bastante del montón.
March 16, 2021
This volume reveals what the series has been building toward and its a little underwhelming but fine. Maybe it’s because up until now it’s been full of action and suspense and this volume is largely expository.
I wrote about an earlier book that it seemed geared toward a junior high audience but it’s become much darker and violent since then, although I still would’ve read this at that age. Black and white illustrations always tone things down though and there are dinosaurs and giants toads so I feel like I’m watching a Saturday morning cartoon when I read this. Not a bad thing but I probably won’t revisit. I’ll be reading through the last two volumes next to make room on the shelves.
I wrote about an earlier book that it seemed geared toward a junior high audience but it’s become much darker and violent since then, although I still would’ve read this at that age. Black and white illustrations always tone things down though and there are dinosaurs and giants toads so I feel like I’m watching a Saturday morning cartoon when I read this. Not a bad thing but I probably won’t revisit. I’ll be reading through the last two volumes next to make room on the shelves.
July 5, 2019
This volume lost me a bit. Also, I am annoyed by one-sided fanservice, so until the mangas I read feature a full page of mid-20 year old men wearing little clothing, posing in suggestive ways, and are muscular and rock hard, I'm going to be irritated lol.
October 21, 2020
Pretty awesome survival/horror manga about a pandemic, interesting story/plot and love the art work 👌😁😻🦠
December 26, 2020
4.5/5 The secret behind Medusa is uncovered. Things are getting out of control. What is the end game of all this???
January 24, 2022
Marco's backstory and more about the Medusa virus
I liked this volume - we're starting to be given more about the Medusa virus and it turns out it's much more than just people turning into stone.
I liked this volume - we're starting to be given more about the Medusa virus and it turns out it's much more than just people turning into stone.
Read
February 25, 2017Now, trying to give answers to the mysteries introduced in a story is no easy task. And even if Yuji Iwahara pace and style gives some consistency and an interesting approach to the answers to Medusa, the story falters in its repetitions, flashbacks and male-as-savior decisions.
The answer to what is Medusa and why it has appeared is not particularly shocking or astonishing, but its introduction and the way it is justified is good enough. It gives meaning to what is happening and keeps the interest. However, the endless flasback that comes afterwards is just stretching things thin, as Marco as savior going around shooting at things. Iwahara believes Marco is an interesting character, and he way overdoes it. I know Iwahara is trying to give the story a frantic, action-oriented pace, but you can't just have shooting-at-monsters pages going on forever. For that, I would play a videogame.
"King of Thorn" keeps the interest in this fourth volume, but just barely.
5/10
(Spanish version; translation by Ayano Koike)
The answer to what is Medusa and why it has appeared is not particularly shocking or astonishing, but its introduction and the way it is justified is good enough. It gives meaning to what is happening and keeps the interest. However, the endless flasback that comes afterwards is just stretching things thin, as Marco as savior going around shooting at things. Iwahara believes Marco is an interesting character, and he way overdoes it. I know Iwahara is trying to give the story a frantic, action-oriented pace, but you can't just have shooting-at-monsters pages going on forever. For that, I would play a videogame.
"King of Thorn" keeps the interest in this fourth volume, but just barely.
5/10
(Spanish version; translation by Ayano Koike)
August 28, 2013
I'm not really sure what happened with the storyline. I've read the last three graphic novels, and, all of a sudden, the story takes a drastic turn. And I'm not sure if it's for the better or the worse. I liked where the storyline was going, and now it's gotten a little too far-fetched for me. They introduced a little boy-type creature with a tail (can't really see the features of the thing), which looks like something from Black Butler to me, and started giving details to the storyline that I didn't find too appealing. You get to find out, supposedly, where the Medusa virus originated from, where the monsters came from, and what were all the characters doing during the time when everyone should be in their sleeping chambers. It answers those questions, but I wasn't too satisfied with their answers. Well, I only have two more to go, as far as I know. I'll get to reading them soon, I guess, and finish the story.
January 3, 2015
En ésta entrega está casi todo el meollo del asunto. Se nos explica todo lo que ocurrió previamente a la entrada de nuestros protagonistas en las instalaciones acondicionadas del castillo para hibernar y curarse, así del porqué de los animales, demás peligros y ruinas del castillo en el presente. Así mismo, se nos da la clave y origen de los personajes ( no sin alguna que otra sorpresa por resolver) importantes de la historia, el significado real de Medusa y de quién está detrás de todo el desastre montado; un buena historia salvo la excepción de un añadido tópico a ésta.
TOMO IMPRESCINDIBLE DE LA SAGA
TOMO IMPRESCINDIBLE DE LA SAGA
December 8, 2012
The horror surrounding the small band of Medusa survivors deepens as they fight to keep sane- and alive. When a newfound video reveals the secret of Medusa to Kasumi and the others, will it give them hope, or simply plunge them further into despair? And why does Marco seem to know more about their situation than the others, and why was he chosen to infiltrate the mysterious "Level Four"?
Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews