Genre Horror
Age Rating Mature
Price $9.99

Publisher's summary of volume from the back cover: As sixth-grader Sho fights for his life in the buried city that once was Tokyo, his cries for help travel across time and reach the ears of his mother in the distant past. But how can she save her son now? Back at the school, as their resources dwindle, the students revert to savagery and despair. Suddenly, a dying student staggers in from the wasteland, bearing signs that life may exist somewhere in their new world. Together with the last surviving adult, the children march into the desert...but are they ready for what they find?

Previously, I couldn't quite pinpoint what it is that I dislike about The Drifting Classroom but re-reading the first few chapters of this volume reveals some of the series's weaknesses. While there are clearly parts where you surrender to Umezu's plot, the opening chapter feels contrived. One can insert fantastical elements into the story but there needs to be some consistency. That's lacking here as our protagonist, Sho, is suddenly saved by his mother who's in the past. If you're not paying attention, you might buy into this premise but more critical readers like myself feel that this fact is inserted way too late into the series and for no apparent explanation at all. Worse, there are really some ridiculous scenes, such as the main character shouting "I can't breathe" when he's being strangled. I understand why it's present but that's honestly shoddy storytelling.

Another point against Umezu is the use of stereotype characters. Perhaps what's painful to watch is the inclusion of the braniac nerd who's intelligent but isn't physically able to the point that he trips himself as he attempts to get up on stage. There's a couple of other similar situations but that's perhaps the most striking.

Still, despite those criticisms, the rest of the manga handles itself well. Umezu explores the other aspects of being stranded in a dystopian setting such as the problems of hunger and mutiny. The author is brutal and doesn't hold back, whether it's the torture scenes (one physical, the other social) or the inevitable conflict that takes place. In fact, by the time you reach the end, there's a lot of interesting developments being juggled that you can't wait for the next volume.

The art is functional and there's a few breathtaking scenes here and there, such as the spread that showcases the ruins of a hotel. Other than that, most of the burden on Umezu is distinguishing the various characters, especially since there's a huge cast. There's a caricaturish element to the artist's style and so far, I don't have any problems distinguishing the main characters. The technique is old-school and while it's not necessarily the most elegant of methods, it gets the job done.

Overall, it's decent but not perfect. Sustaining a series this long based on the premise is difficult and the cracks are starting to show. Still, there's enough to keep readers hooked and for a series several decades old, you have to cut it some slack.

6