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Battle Royale #8
Battle Royale, Vol. 08
The sun is setting on the first day of The Program, and the students of Class B are in for one hell of a night. With the failure of their initial plan to take down The Program, Shinji Mimura and Yutaka Sato are putting their backup plan in motion. Having located all the supplies necessary to create a bomb, the pair are all set to deliver their package right where it will do the most damage: the "school" which serves as The Program control center. But with the school in a permanent danger zone, will it be their bomb that detonates first... or the explosive collars locked around their necks?
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 30, 2022
What makes this volume especially weird is that there's an interview with both authors talking about Battle Royale as if it really is something. It's so pretentious and bizarre, reading about them talking about honesty through art and what the novel and manga meant to young high schoolers and middle schoolers, acting like they've really, you know, created something momentous and groundbreaking.
In reality, this volume returns the focus to the fifteen-year-old prostitute (see the cover) with even more gratuitous and whole unnecessary flashbacks to her rape as an even younger child, all illustrated as if the manga is a pornographic magazine...
Were the authors trying to create an honest portrayal of childhood sexual abuse as they pencilled in all the panty shots?
The standard excuse for this is usually that the characters are adults who are only being drawn in a kawaii, lolicon style, but the author and illustrator here are really bizarrely clear about and fixated on wanting to draw this fifteen-year-old girl raping and being raped by other characters. They're, like, really into it. One of them goes so far as to say she'd their favourite character...
So, that's all I have to say about this volume. The victim-turned-rapist villain gets another backstory illustration, (it's possibly the third or fourth time they've done this now), and goes on to rape a dying boy on the island, doing to others as was done to her.
Meanwhile, all the other characters continue to just sit and reflect about how good Shuuya is as a hero.
In reality, this volume returns the focus to the fifteen-year-old prostitute (see the cover) with even more gratuitous and whole unnecessary flashbacks to her rape as an even younger child, all illustrated as if the manga is a pornographic magazine...
Were the authors trying to create an honest portrayal of childhood sexual abuse as they pencilled in all the panty shots?
The standard excuse for this is usually that the characters are adults who are only being drawn in a kawaii, lolicon style, but the author and illustrator here are really bizarrely clear about and fixated on wanting to draw this fifteen-year-old girl raping and being raped by other characters. They're, like, really into it. One of them goes so far as to say she'd their favourite character...
So, that's all I have to say about this volume. The victim-turned-rapist villain gets another backstory illustration, (it's possibly the third or fourth time they've done this now), and goes on to rape a dying boy on the island, doing to others as was done to her.
Meanwhile, all the other characters continue to just sit and reflect about how good Shuuya is as a hero.
March 9, 2024
LEER RESEÑA COMPLETA EN MI BLOG: https://www.blogdivergente.com/2023/1...
“Battle Royale” de Kōshun Takami y Masayuki Taguchi es una obra maestra del manga que presenta una historia intensa y provocadora en un entorno distópico. Publicado por primera vez en 1999, el manga es una adaptación del libro homónimo y ha dejado una marca duradera en la cultura pop.
La trama gira en torno a un oscuro y siniestro programa gubernamental llamado “Battle Royale”, que selecciona a una clase de estudiantes de secundaria para participar en un juego mortal. Los estudiantes son transportados a una isla desierta, se les proporciona armas y se les da una misión: luchar hasta la muerte hasta que solo quede un estudiante en pie.
El protagonista, Shuya Nanahara, y sus compañeros de clase se ven atrapados en este juego macabro sin entender completamente sus razones. La historia se sumerge en la psicología de los personajes mientras luchan con la moralidad, la lealtad y la desesperación. La lucha por la supervivencia lleva a relaciones complejas y a decisiones difíciles que desafían la ética y el sentido común.
“Battle Royale” de Kōshun Takami y Masayuki Taguchi es una obra maestra del manga que presenta una historia intensa y provocadora en un entorno distópico. Publicado por primera vez en 1999, el manga es una adaptación del libro homónimo y ha dejado una marca duradera en la cultura pop.
La trama gira en torno a un oscuro y siniestro programa gubernamental llamado “Battle Royale”, que selecciona a una clase de estudiantes de secundaria para participar en un juego mortal. Los estudiantes son transportados a una isla desierta, se les proporciona armas y se les da una misión: luchar hasta la muerte hasta que solo quede un estudiante en pie.
El protagonista, Shuya Nanahara, y sus compañeros de clase se ven atrapados en este juego macabro sin entender completamente sus razones. La historia se sumerge en la psicología de los personajes mientras luchan con la moralidad, la lealtad y la desesperación. La lucha por la supervivencia lleva a relaciones complejas y a decisiones difíciles que desafían la ética y el sentido común.
May 24, 2020
Este es sin duda uno de los tomos más explícitos en cuanto a violencia y sexo de los que he leído hasta ahora en esta serie, habrá a quien le tire para atrás esto, en especial por el fan service descarado alrededor de la figura de Mitsuko Souma. A mi esto no me molesta, y creo que su relato de trasfondo explica todo correctamente y muestra las razones de que este personaje sea tan extremo.
Ojo con este tomo, ya no por los desnudos, el sexo y el gore, sino porque hay algunos momentos muy perturbadores... no es para todo el mundo.
Ojo con este tomo, ya no por los desnudos, el sexo y el gore, sino porque hay algunos momentos muy perturbadores... no es para todo el mundo.
February 12, 2011
Very good book. Loved the sequence where it delved into Mitsuko's past with the doll representing her as a child.
January 26, 2020
Adding child sexual abuse to Mitsuko's backstory doesn't make me hate her less. Using child sexual abuse as an excuse for someone to do all the things she does without caring just makes me hate the author a little more. Especially when that author says how proud he is of how he wrote her in an interview tucked into the book coincidentally right around the pages where her backstory is revealed.
Why did I like this series so much, again? I really don't remember anymore.
Why did I like this series so much, again? I really don't remember anymore.
June 14, 2022
¿Con que se drogaron para escribir tanta porquería?... 😷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2024
I should have dropped it after volume 7
September 28, 2018
Sweet mother of all that is holy. This volume made me feel like I needed an ice-cold shower and some serious therapy. The previous volume ended on an incredibly sad cliffhanger, but this volume takes it even further with a new character who was originally portrayed as a one-dimensional sociopath.
Her backstory is so disgustingly perverted and sickening that watching her suffer bouts of childhood sexual trauma and violent episodes of psychosis from relapsing that there were times I almost felt like puking.
I never would’ve imagined that the most unsympathetic character up to this point would end up having the most twisted and tragic backstory. This volume really shook me up.
Her backstory is so disgustingly perverted and sickening that watching her suffer bouts of childhood sexual trauma and violent episodes of psychosis from relapsing that there were times I almost felt like puking.
I never would’ve imagined that the most unsympathetic character up to this point would end up having the most twisted and tragic backstory. This volume really shook me up.
August 9, 2022
No me esperaba que el personaje de Mitsuko me intrigase tanto, se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos debido a su buen desarrollo. Es más, éste ha sido uno de los volúmenes que más me han gustado.
En todo momento puedes ver la historia desde todos los puntos de vista, cómo cada uno piensa y actúa de forma diferente (sobre todo Mitsuko, que actúa conforme a su trauma infantil, creyendo que ser abusado está bien, aunque su tormentoso pasado no justifica todas las cosas malas que ha hecho).
En todo momento puedes ver la historia desde todos los puntos de vista, cómo cada uno piensa y actúa de forma diferente (sobre todo Mitsuko, que actúa conforme a su trauma infantil, creyendo que ser abusado está bien, aunque su tormentoso pasado no justifica todas las cosas malas que ha hecho).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2011
Este es el volumen donde cuentan la historia de Mitsuko Souma.
También creo que la ves en todo su esplendor y como lo que es: Una asesina, manipuladora y que usa todas las herramientas en su alcance para lograr lo que quiere.
Se puede apreciar, de igual forma, qué tan rota está. Ella es la definición del "damaged goods" de los gringos.
Este volumen es hermoso y horrible, y sólo contemplarlo como una obra aparte vale la pena.
También creo que la ves en todo su esplendor y como lo que es: Una asesina, manipuladora y que usa todas las herramientas en su alcance para lograr lo que quiere.
Se puede apreciar, de igual forma, qué tan rota está. Ella es la definición del "damaged goods" de los gringos.
Este volumen es hermoso y horrible, y sólo contemplarlo como una obra aparte vale la pena.
June 13, 2015
Oh my god!! Warning, foul language to follow but there is really no other way to express how I feel about this other than using these words: Man, Mitsu is f*cked up!! DAMN!!! I mean, I get it, super traumatic childhood... but she just literally Holy Christ.
I seriously love this series like whoa! It is totally intense and gripping. I'm always on the edge of my seat and cannot wait to see what is going to happen next!!
I seriously love this series like whoa! It is totally intense and gripping. I'm always on the edge of my seat and cannot wait to see what is going to happen next!!
March 1, 2021
Giving your villain a tragic backstory does not make him/her any more interesting.
Making everyone around the villain gullible does not automatically make him/her any more cunning
Having every single character rave about how awesome and likeable your protagonist is (when he is, in fact, less active and way less charming than a sack of potatoes) does not earn him any points.
The ghastly symbolsim too.. my god.. talk about subtlety.
Making everyone around the villain gullible does not automatically make him/her any more cunning
Having every single character rave about how awesome and likeable your protagonist is (when he is, in fact, less active and way less charming than a sack of potatoes) does not earn him any points.
The ghastly symbolsim too.. my god.. talk about subtlety.
April 7, 2012
I really like Mitsuko. In the manga she's a little TOO crazy for my taste, but I liked some of the symbolism used for her childhood. Vol. 8 is definitely one of the more graphic volumes, not for children!
June 19, 2013
I can't believe how easily Souma got away from all this men, for the simple reason that she got big boobs.
I liked the way her past was showed in this volume so we can finally understand why she is so hardcore, but it was way too nasty and disgusting.
I liked the way her past was showed in this volume so we can finally understand why she is so hardcore, but it was way too nasty and disgusting.
October 15, 2022
Such a good manga series. A great adaption with wonderful art work.
July 27, 2015
Mitsuko!!!!! <3 <3 <3
"Sometimes lost people do bad things."
"Sometimes lost people do bad things."
August 26, 2019
i just love mitsuko
July 19, 2019
It's been a while since I read the novel, so I might've forgotten a few things along the way, but I feel the same way about this one that I felt about Volume 3. Yes, Battle Royale is an explicit book. Violence, language, sexual content, etc. However, I think the manga, in adapting that story, has taken advantage of Mitsuko as a character and used her to make the manga more graphic and exploitative than the novel was. I was tempted to give this volume ONE star, but the actual program-related and non-sexual moments were what made me give it a 2 star. I appreciate Mitsuko's backstory. She's a broken person because of things in her past. But the way the manga is written, this volume feels like it's just there as fanservice. Yes, it tells her backstory, but the way it's presented, it feels like it's done mostly just to give the reader excessive nudity, rather than to actually tell the story. The things that were added (or... I think were added-- I might've forgotten some things, but I don't think I would've forgotten... THAT) all seem to be for that reason rather than to actually tell the story. And that, to me, feels gross.
IDK, I feel like I'm walking a fine line here. I understand Mitsuko's character and why she's so messed up and manipulative and I appreciate that aspect, but I feel like there's a lot of stuff added in solely for the reader to drool over rather than to progress the plot and that's the aspect that feels gross. It's just excessive.
volume summary for me to remember how the story is split up between volumes:
Noriko is worried about Shuuya & Kawada reassures her that he's ok. Sugimura runs into Mitsuko & is going to murder her for killing his friend, but she distracts him and escapes. She then runs into (Tada)Katsu & Yuichiro and is caught trying to kill Katsu, but she manipulates them into letting her join them on the condition that she's tied up. She talks to Yuichiro as Katsu sleeps & we get some backstory on how she was abused as a child, leading to how she acts now. Katsu wakes up & Yuichiro sleeps. Mitsuko comes on to Katsu and tries to kill him and Yuichiro wakes up. She claims Katsu was trying to kill her and Katsu tries to shoot her but Yuichiro jumps in front of the bullet. As Katsu is crying over him, Mitsuko kills Katsu. We get some more Mitsuko backstory. She then quite literally BANGS Yuichiro to death and then re-dresses and heads off. Literally this whole volume was just nude or semi-nude Mitsuko. pls stop thx.
IDK, I feel like I'm walking a fine line here. I understand Mitsuko's character and why she's so messed up and manipulative and I appreciate that aspect, but I feel like there's a lot of stuff added in solely for the reader to drool over rather than to progress the plot and that's the aspect that feels gross. It's just excessive.
volume summary for me to remember how the story is split up between volumes:
Noriko is worried about Shuuya & Kawada reassures her that he's ok. Sugimura runs into Mitsuko & is going to murder her for killing his friend, but she distracts him and escapes. She then runs into (Tada)Katsu & Yuichiro and is caught trying to kill Katsu, but she manipulates them into letting her join them on the condition that she's tied up. She talks to Yuichiro as Katsu sleeps & we get some backstory on how she was abused as a child, leading to how she acts now. Katsu wakes up & Yuichiro sleeps. Mitsuko comes on to Katsu and tries to kill him and Yuichiro wakes up. She claims Katsu was trying to kill her and Katsu tries to shoot her but Yuichiro jumps in front of the bullet. As Katsu is crying over him, Mitsuko kills Katsu. We get some more Mitsuko backstory. She then quite literally BANGS Yuichiro to death and then re-dresses and heads off. Literally this whole volume was just nude or semi-nude Mitsuko. pls stop thx.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
This manga is not that different from the original Battle Royale novel except for a few minor differences.
It's not perfect but it was awesome.
My feelings for this manga are about the same as the original novel except there is more drama and the characters are fleshed out a bit more.
The story is about a class of 42 junior high students that are transported onto an island where they are placed in this program where the students have to fight to the death and there can only be one winner. Similar to the book, the program has no time limit, however a student has to die within a 24-hour time zone, or the collars explode on all the students and there are no winners. In both scenarios, it forces the students to kill each other and try to survive. The tension from that is still there and you can feel it.
The dystopian theme is strong in the manga as well as the book, but it's slightly overshadowed by the drama of the characters and their own self conflicts.
Now, unlike the novel where some characters don't have much of a backstory, the manga takes it's time to explore the characteristics and backstories of all the students. Granted, some more than others. And it gives a new perspective.
However, this manga is definitely for adults. You have sexual themes and more brutality of the gore and violence the students participate in. If you want a more visual storytelling of the original book and don't mind extra violence, the manga is not bad.
It's not perfect but it was awesome.
My feelings for this manga are about the same as the original novel except there is more drama and the characters are fleshed out a bit more.
The story is about a class of 42 junior high students that are transported onto an island where they are placed in this program where the students have to fight to the death and there can only be one winner. Similar to the book, the program has no time limit, however a student has to die within a 24-hour time zone, or the collars explode on all the students and there are no winners. In both scenarios, it forces the students to kill each other and try to survive. The tension from that is still there and you can feel it.
The dystopian theme is strong in the manga as well as the book, but it's slightly overshadowed by the drama of the characters and their own self conflicts.
Now, unlike the novel where some characters don't have much of a backstory, the manga takes it's time to explore the characteristics and backstories of all the students. Granted, some more than others. And it gives a new perspective.
However, this manga is definitely for adults. You have sexual themes and more brutality of the gore and violence the students participate in. If you want a more visual storytelling of the original book and don't mind extra violence, the manga is not bad.
August 17, 2019
HOLY MOLY SHITBALLS GALORE!!!
I knew this was a "for mature audiences" manga...
BUT HOLY MOLY SHITBALLS GALORE!!! This went straight from typical manga with a few pairs of tits and the random panty-shot here and there to FULL-ON HENTAI in no seconds flat! LOL!
Seriously though... I didn't expect it really to get THAT explicit... Even though this volume highlighted and focused on the femme fatale of the series, Mitsuko "Hardcore" Souma, I really didn't expect them to go nearly as far as they did. I mean... SHE FUCKS THE SHIT OUT OF A LITTLE DYING BOY... LITERALLY FUCKS HIM TO DEATH!!! while she's going batshit crazy, spouting out all sorts of crazy nonsense! lol! And holy shit, the background flashback-vignettes of WHY "Hardcore" Souma became so hardcore to begin with were FUCKED UP! Even moreso than the book version! I mean! Shit! They really went all out on her character and beefed up her hardcore craziness! I mean the way they used the doll to represent her and how it got all torn up from the damage done by her step-fathers and shit... man that was fucked up!
Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying that's a bad thing! In fact, I definitely really liked this volume of the series... I just didn't expect to see a GIANT-EVIL-MUTANT-MONSTER-PENIS WITH TEETH in this manga series. LOL!
I knew this was a "for mature audiences" manga...
BUT HOLY MOLY SHITBALLS GALORE!!! This went straight from typical manga with a few pairs of tits and the random panty-shot here and there to FULL-ON HENTAI in no seconds flat! LOL!
Seriously though... I didn't expect it really to get THAT explicit... Even though this volume highlighted and focused on the femme fatale of the series, Mitsuko "Hardcore" Souma, I really didn't expect them to go nearly as far as they did. I mean... SHE FUCKS THE SHIT OUT OF A LITTLE DYING BOY... LITERALLY FUCKS HIM TO DEATH!!! while she's going batshit crazy, spouting out all sorts of crazy nonsense! lol! And holy shit, the background flashback-vignettes of WHY "Hardcore" Souma became so hardcore to begin with were FUCKED UP! Even moreso than the book version! I mean! Shit! They really went all out on her character and beefed up her hardcore craziness! I mean the way they used the doll to represent her and how it got all torn up from the damage done by her step-fathers and shit... man that was fucked up!
Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying that's a bad thing! In fact, I definitely really liked this volume of the series... I just didn't expect to see a GIANT-EVIL-MUTANT-MONSTER-PENIS WITH TEETH in this manga series. LOL!
April 2, 2023
Aunque es verdad que quizás hay un exceso de fan-service, eso no quita que el tomo está muy bien pensado para desarrollarnos a uno de los personajes más importantes de la saga: Mitsuko Souma. Creo que quizás haya algunas cositas que hacen ruido, pero en líneas generales nos plantea un panorama que, a pesar de no ser realista, logra encajar a la perfección con el tono de la historia y el carácter de los personajes.
Puede que sea un poco fuerte, habría que leer con cuidado este tomo, pero tampoco es nada en extremo diferente a lo que ya hemos visto. A ver, ningún niño debería tener nada de Battle Royale en sus manos, pero quizás alguna persona de estomago sensible puede llegar a horrorizarse un poco de más.
No me voy a extender de forma innecesaria, creo que los flash-back mantienen viva la historia dado que cortan la monotonía del juego que si bien es lo más importante, puede tornarse en exceso repetitivo.
Puede que sea un poco fuerte, habría que leer con cuidado este tomo, pero tampoco es nada en extremo diferente a lo que ya hemos visto. A ver, ningún niño debería tener nada de Battle Royale en sus manos, pero quizás alguna persona de estomago sensible puede llegar a horrorizarse un poco de más.
No me voy a extender de forma innecesaria, creo que los flash-back mantienen viva la historia dado que cortan la monotonía del juego que si bien es lo más importante, puede tornarse en exceso repetitivo.
Read
January 24, 2025Uhm, now this volume was an incredibly weird distasteful addition?
I remember Mituko being a sexual being in the novel but it was not like this! I feel like the manga adaption is really taking advantage of her character and over sexualizing her to the max??? The background story can explain her behaviour and actions but it's just tooooo much. If it was drawn more subtle, with more care and respect for women in general it could have been quite impactful. But her being in a position of beyond fan service, where she's fully nude and over sexualized in a context where we are getting SA'd as a child is distasteful and quite gross.
I understand that this is an explicit manga, but this is beyond. Incredibly disappointed and I am enjoying the overall story. But the handling of her character, even beyond this volume is making the series as a whole take a massive hit for me. Gross.
I remember Mituko being a sexual being in the novel but it was not like this! I feel like the manga adaption is really taking advantage of her character and over sexualizing her to the max??? The background story can explain her behaviour and actions but it's just tooooo much. If it was drawn more subtle, with more care and respect for women in general it could have been quite impactful. But her being in a position of beyond fan service, where she's fully nude and over sexualized in a context where we are getting SA'd as a child is distasteful and quite gross.
I understand that this is an explicit manga, but this is beyond. Incredibly disappointed and I am enjoying the overall story. But the handling of her character, even beyond this volume is making the series as a whole take a massive hit for me. Gross.
June 15, 2023
Shitty writing, very uncomfortable "sex" scenes and boring characters (oh my god, the protagonist is so lame and everyone is soooooo in love with him).
I mean .. the sex stuff is so unnecessary and very inappropriate lol and I like gore and borderline improper things, but this is nothing like the work of Mr. Yamamoto, for example, doesn't make the story deep or interesting, just gratuitous and weird.
And then, the interview, they really thought that "Battle Royale is a series that makes you want to think about the meaning and value of living". KKKKKKKKK yeah, I don't think that's why you guys wrote and drawn it like that or why there's a quasi fascination about it.
Gonna finish just because.
I mean .. the sex stuff is so unnecessary and very inappropriate lol and I like gore and borderline improper things, but this is nothing like the work of Mr. Yamamoto, for example, doesn't make the story deep or interesting, just gratuitous and weird.
And then, the interview, they really thought that "Battle Royale is a series that makes you want to think about the meaning and value of living". KKKKKKKKK yeah, I don't think that's why you guys wrote and drawn it like that or why there's a quasi fascination about it.
Gonna finish just because.
May 30, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
mitsuko’s character has always really intrigued me, both in the movie and the book, so getting more of her backstory in this volume was really interesting but also heartbreaking to read…
i do hate how sexualised she is in this series though, especially because of the age she is supposed to be but looking past that for the sake of the story i really enjoyed this volume and i’m interested to see what next happens with her character from here ~o_o~
mitsuko’s character has always really intrigued me, both in the movie and the book, so getting more of her backstory in this volume was really interesting but also heartbreaking to read…
i do hate how sexualised she is in this series though, especially because of the age she is supposed to be but looking past that for the sake of the story i really enjoyed this volume and i’m interested to see what next happens with her character from here ~o_o~
December 14, 2017
I was a bit conflicted on this volume - we delve into Mitsuko's past and why she is so "hardcore," but it also felt like an excuse to have a sexually gratuitous volume with a lot of violence. It was a bit weird, but at some point, Mitsuko will hit her weak point - who will she be against by then though?
May 5, 2019
Aquí podemos ver el pasado de Souma, y aunque haya vivido todo eso, sigue sin agradarme y sin darme lástima. Su pasado no justifica su forma de actuar de hoy en día, es obvio que está enferma y de verdad, no puedo esperar a que la asesinen de una vez. Así de mal me cae.
June 18, 2022
1 ☆
Entiendo lo que le pasó a Mitsuko (me parece completamente repugnante) y porqué actúa así en el libro, ponele, pero en el manga es qué. El final de este tomo es tan ¿? Innecesario.
En el libro se me hizo algo tierno Yuichiro y lo que le dijo a Mitsuko, pero acá es mmm meh.
Entiendo lo que le pasó a Mitsuko (me parece completamente repugnante) y porqué actúa así en el libro, ponele, pero en el manga es qué. El final de este tomo es tan ¿? Innecesario.
En el libro se me hizo algo tierno Yuichiro y lo que le dijo a Mitsuko, pero acá es mmm meh.
February 7, 2018
I didn't like this volume as much as the others.
July 28, 2018
Wow! Finished this 2 minutes before midnight! Mitsuko’s past is sad.
December 10, 2019
Mitsuko es la p*ta ama y no se discute
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews