All you Need is is Kill
Author : Takeshi Obata
Give it to me straight and simple, that's what this manga is all about.
Spanning only 17 chapters this manga shows a coherence that is rare in such serializations, The action is well paced and the characters are quite likable.
For those of you who don't know, this was originally a light novel. Latter it was picked as the premise for the script for the Hollywood motion picture "Edge of Tomorrow". While the movie was not great and in my opinion a little too convenient ( the ending was too happy and more than just a little nonsensical) this manga is one of the best that I have read.
Premise: 4/5
The human race is at war with an alien race called the mimics. The hero gains a game like ability where he must relive his first day of battle every time he dies.
I mean .... shit! That's heavy! There is a saying that cowards die a hundred deaths... but this is outrageous!
The premise is very sci-fi. Standard alien-doomsday story-line ( think Independence Day not ET ). Definitely and undeniably shounen although it has a pronounced seinen leaning
There are a few key differences though.
1. The story is concerned only with the fate of 1 soldier, Keriya Keiji
2. The war with the aliens does not end
3. There is no real romance, more comradeship
Plot and story overall 4/5
SPOILER
The story starts off with the main character waking up from a nightmare. A nightmare which ended with his death. Not very pleasant but hardly anything to worry about. New recruits go through this all the time. But as the day progresses he feels uneasy because of how similar the events are to his dream. He goes into battle and dies ... pretty painfully. And wakes up on the morning of the day before.
The rest of the manga consists of a cycle of deaths and rebirths through which he begins to learn and gets stronger. To quote the manga.. " trading death for skill."
The female main character is the Goddess of war, Rita Vartaski, a veteran who leads the only consistently successful squad in the USDF. Like the MC she has also experienced the loop phenomenon and uses it to redo the battle with better results.
They share a few redoes of relative happiness. But at the last battle that they share, they realize that unless one of them dies the redoes will keep continuing. They fight. Keriya survives and goes on to win the battle. The manga ends with him becoming the leader of Rita's squad and promising to win the war for the Humans.
End of Spoiler
The story is pretty engaging. The growth achieved by the main character over the course of a hundred battle (redoes) is staggering. His realization on how to move and how to attack and his reasoning for the need of a different weapon are all simple but at the same time very impressive.
Rita Vartaski's origin story is also very engaging and more than just a little ...raw. Her contrasting personality as a very young girl and as the "bitch of the Battlefield" also adds to her attraction.
And easily my favorite bit, the part were unlike a shounen manga where the male MC lays down his life for the girl , this guys attacks her with all off his strength justifying it by saying, " If i just choose to give up here, what was all of this for!"
Characters 3/5
There is very little character development which is understandable considering the lack of chapters.
Kiriya's motives for joining the USDF is unknown. His growth and the effect of a hundred deaths is portrayed really well. He is the typical victim Hero. Thrust into circumstances where he has no choice but to become greater. Nothing to especially like or hate about him. The only thing the reader will feel for him, is pity initially and then latter a sense of respect I suppose for not cracking under the strain.
Rita Vartasky on the other hand is a different story. The origin story that spans 2 chapters makes her an interesting character. Essentially she is a woman driven by vengeance but the manga does not harp on it, which is great. Her overall personality is light and a little innocent but at the same time possessing traits of a jaded war veteran. She is the one who figures out the reason for the continued loops and decides to fight Keriya for the right to survive.
Art & Design 3/5
The manga illustrations are clear and intense. Although it loses out a bit at the time of extreme action. But i guess that's what the mangaka was going for, what with how Kiriya would see the world as he keeps dying. The deaths are shown in a way to produce shock or revulsion.
Kiriya's character design is generic. No real distinguishing characteristics as most shounen manga would have. He looks like the average japanese manga character. The only memorable detail are the eyes he makes when he goes through the loop and plans on improving before the next death.
Rita Vataski's character design is a little loli-ish. Making her look not only insanely young( she is only 18 by the way) but also much weaker than she is. Not at all like the "bitch of the Battlefield" persona that Emily Blunt portrayed so well.
The Battle suits are standard designs from mecha genre. Not very different from the battle suits an average soldier would wear, just a lot more beefed up.
The weapons are a bit lacking though. Both Rita and Keriya eventually adopt a giant battle axe as their main weapon. I guess a different design or a different weapon altogether would have been better for him, say a claymore?
The mimics are shown as blobs with mouths. Not particularly sophisticated and seem to only go for close quarters combat. Battle strategy reverts back to the time of roman legions. I suppose the mangaka didn't really think it through. If he has another reason I do not know what that is.
Other than that the art doesn't really add to the story. Nor does it detract from it.
Overall verdict:
A good manga. Totally worth reading and easily finished in a sitting. What more could you want?
Site map - http://bestcompletedmanga.blogspot.in/p/p.html
Author : Takeshi Obata
Give it to me straight and simple, that's what this manga is all about.
Spanning only 17 chapters this manga shows a coherence that is rare in such serializations, The action is well paced and the characters are quite likable.
For those of you who don't know, this was originally a light novel. Latter it was picked as the premise for the script for the Hollywood motion picture "Edge of Tomorrow". While the movie was not great and in my opinion a little too convenient ( the ending was too happy and more than just a little nonsensical) this manga is one of the best that I have read.
Premise: 4/5
The human race is at war with an alien race called the mimics. The hero gains a game like ability where he must relive his first day of battle every time he dies.
I mean .... shit! That's heavy! There is a saying that cowards die a hundred deaths... but this is outrageous!
The premise is very sci-fi. Standard alien-doomsday story-line ( think Independence Day not ET ). Definitely and undeniably shounen although it has a pronounced seinen leaning
There are a few key differences though.
1. The story is concerned only with the fate of 1 soldier, Keriya Keiji
2. The war with the aliens does not end
3. There is no real romance, more comradeship
Plot and story overall 4/5
SPOILER
The story starts off with the main character waking up from a nightmare. A nightmare which ended with his death. Not very pleasant but hardly anything to worry about. New recruits go through this all the time. But as the day progresses he feels uneasy because of how similar the events are to his dream. He goes into battle and dies ... pretty painfully. And wakes up on the morning of the day before.
The rest of the manga consists of a cycle of deaths and rebirths through which he begins to learn and gets stronger. To quote the manga.. " trading death for skill."
The female main character is the Goddess of war, Rita Vartaski, a veteran who leads the only consistently successful squad in the USDF. Like the MC she has also experienced the loop phenomenon and uses it to redo the battle with better results.
They share a few redoes of relative happiness. But at the last battle that they share, they realize that unless one of them dies the redoes will keep continuing. They fight. Keriya survives and goes on to win the battle. The manga ends with him becoming the leader of Rita's squad and promising to win the war for the Humans.
End of Spoiler
The story is pretty engaging. The growth achieved by the main character over the course of a hundred battle (redoes) is staggering. His realization on how to move and how to attack and his reasoning for the need of a different weapon are all simple but at the same time very impressive.
Rita Vartaski's origin story is also very engaging and more than just a little ...raw. Her contrasting personality as a very young girl and as the "bitch of the Battlefield" also adds to her attraction.
And easily my favorite bit, the part were unlike a shounen manga where the male MC lays down his life for the girl , this guys attacks her with all off his strength justifying it by saying, " If i just choose to give up here, what was all of this for!"
Characters 3/5
There is very little character development which is understandable considering the lack of chapters.
Kiriya's motives for joining the USDF is unknown. His growth and the effect of a hundred deaths is portrayed really well. He is the typical victim Hero. Thrust into circumstances where he has no choice but to become greater. Nothing to especially like or hate about him. The only thing the reader will feel for him, is pity initially and then latter a sense of respect I suppose for not cracking under the strain.
Rita Vartasky on the other hand is a different story. The origin story that spans 2 chapters makes her an interesting character. Essentially she is a woman driven by vengeance but the manga does not harp on it, which is great. Her overall personality is light and a little innocent but at the same time possessing traits of a jaded war veteran. She is the one who figures out the reason for the continued loops and decides to fight Keriya for the right to survive.
Art & Design 3/5
The manga illustrations are clear and intense. Although it loses out a bit at the time of extreme action. But i guess that's what the mangaka was going for, what with how Kiriya would see the world as he keeps dying. The deaths are shown in a way to produce shock or revulsion.
Kiriya's character design is generic. No real distinguishing characteristics as most shounen manga would have. He looks like the average japanese manga character. The only memorable detail are the eyes he makes when he goes through the loop and plans on improving before the next death.
Rita Vataski's character design is a little loli-ish. Making her look not only insanely young( she is only 18 by the way) but also much weaker than she is. Not at all like the "bitch of the Battlefield" persona that Emily Blunt portrayed so well.
The Battle suits are standard designs from mecha genre. Not very different from the battle suits an average soldier would wear, just a lot more beefed up.
The weapons are a bit lacking though. Both Rita and Keriya eventually adopt a giant battle axe as their main weapon. I guess a different design or a different weapon altogether would have been better for him, say a claymore?
The mimics are shown as blobs with mouths. Not particularly sophisticated and seem to only go for close quarters combat. Battle strategy reverts back to the time of roman legions. I suppose the mangaka didn't really think it through. If he has another reason I do not know what that is.
Other than that the art doesn't really add to the story. Nor does it detract from it.
Overall verdict:
A good manga. Totally worth reading and easily finished in a sitting. What more could you want?
Site map - http://bestcompletedmanga.blogspot.in/p/p.html
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