地獄楽 4 [Jigokuraku 4] (地獄楽 [Jigokuraku] #4)

James DeSantis

Rating: really liked it
This is probably one the weaker volumes for me.

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

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

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

MajesticalLion

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

Michelle (In Libris Veritas)

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

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

bookcaked

Rating: really liked it
Oooo this one really added to the plot! I’m loving the reveals and how the story is told. Even the tropes are integrated nicely so they aren’t so obvious. The more we learn about this island and the possible theories behind it, the more I want to keep reading.

kat (absolutewench)

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

Amethyst

Rating: really liked it
Mei: “Strong. Fruit of weak. Weak is seed of strong”

Hanna

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

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

Matty Dub

Rating: really liked it
A series that had gotten better with each new volume regresses considerably in this cheesy exposition filled affair.

Ambia

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

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

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

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

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

Gabrielle

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

Sibani Mishra

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

✨Nouran

Rating: really liked it
I need a break from this; I can’t keep up with the characters names; the island and all the stuff that is going on (IT IS TOO MUCH DETAILS AND religious stuff) ugh I feel exhausted reading this even though I’m loving it but it feels like a damn History book I don’t know how to keep up!!!

Ruthsic

Rating: really liked it
Warnings: body horror, graphic violence, nudity and sex scenes

So this book has so much going on that it has me all excited over the series again. Gabimaru and co have come across the Tensen and the difference is skill has proven to be overwhelming. Furthermore, they are powerful beings being aided by the monsters, and they all are separated and dealing with the monsters. Gabimaru found another pair of executiner-executionee and sensing their strength, suggests to join forces with them, especially in light of high-level intelligent monsters called doshi sent to check out the humans. Which, you know, means more battles.

Sagiri, Yuzuriha and Senta, are learning from Hoko about the mythos of the island and Senta starts to theorize about the theology behind it all. Certainly the major themes point towards a Buddhist leaning, and the beings utilizing tao - the life force - opens up interesting avenues, but he also feels there’s a bigger player in the picture. I’m just very interested in how the ‘arborification’ started or why that island was special? Is it because of the inhabitants affecting the island or the island affecting the inhabitants? With Lord Tensen, the mystery keeps hopping to either theory.

Meanwhile, Toma and his older brother escape the pit created to harvest ‘something’ from the humans, but there arrives a doshi to stop and assess them. Toma makes use of the opportunity to learn how these beings utilize tao. Simultaneously, Shion is explaining to Nurugai how he senses things around him, which closely resembles the concept of Tao that Mei is also trying to explain to Gabimaru and Tamiya. We also get to see what the situation at the Tensen’s place is like (with some Sexy Times scenes thrown in), and I’m still trying to learn all their names at this point, but most of them just blend into each other really. And to round it off, we see the situation back in Edo, where the shogun has ordered another expedition, this time with Gabimaru’s former colleagues being sent in.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.

Jenny

Rating: really liked it
Wow, this volume was definitely...something. Honestly so much happened that my poor brain short circuited, but I'll do my best to discuss my thoughts.

First and foremost, I LOVE the theory that this island is house one "religion" that's really a mishmash of different religious beliefs and tales. I'm SO FUCKING CURIOUS to meet this person and discover their motivations for doing this. I only wish I knew more about Taoism and Daoism so that I would have a foundational understanding of the prayers and religious symbols.

Second, can I say how happy I am that I like/love basically all of the characters? Seriously, it's so rare for me to become this invested in practically the entire cast, but I do really like all of them. Granted, they're not the most deep individuals, but they're still fun and are full of character.

Third, the fight scenes were DOPE AS FUCK. I was drowning in action this volume and I don't want to be saved. Ever.

Finally, I'm interested in the discussions of sex, sexuality, and gender in this series. I know I brought this up a previous review, but the heavy emphasis on sex and gender is not something I was expecting and I'm starting to wonder whether Kaku's focus on it has to do with the religious themes and the time period. Regardless, it's piqued my interest and I'm already looking forward to going back and rereading certain volumes to analyze these themes.

That's all I've got for now, but I'm loving this series and can't wait for more. I'm so glad I decided to give this series a chance.

Megan Lowde

Rating: really liked it
[especially if it goes the copious amounts of sexual assault route (hide spoiler)]