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Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 19 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 19   

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: December 5, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

High school acceptance letters have been sent out and received, and all of Koro Sensei’s students have been accepted either by their first or second choices, happily. After yearbook photos are taken, Koro Sensei decides to make a better yearbook just for his class, including photos of them they weren’t even aware existed! Naturally, not everyone is happy about this.

Time stands still for no one, including Koro Sensei and his class of would-be assassins. The deadline for his assassination is drawing near, and the government is taking it seriously – deadly seriously. Far from relying on a classroom filled with young assassins-in-training, they have put their own plans in place. They manage to trap Koro Sensei on the mountain so he can’t escape. Then they have Karasuma tell the students to stay home. When they insist on going to school anyway, they find their way up the mountain completely blocked. The students end up being taken into custody… “for their own protection.” Will they take this lying down? Of course not!  Where there is a will, there is a way! After all, they have been trained by Koro Sensei!

Karasuma visits the students in lockdown and gives them invaluable information, followed by a visit from Ms. Vitch, with what they will need to carry out their plans.  Thanks to Karasuma, they know when to make their move. The Head Assassin has people deployed all over the mountain. No way those children can get past his trained men. But they never took into account that these same students have been training on this mountain for the past year and know it like the back of their hand, whereas they do not. Not a fair match, is it?

Down to the wire now, only two volumes left. The students are determined to complete their assignment of assassinating Koro Sensei, despite not wanting to do so. But can they overcome the hurdles that have been placed in their way? They’re still only kids at the end of the day. But these kids have been trained by the best. So maybe they can save Koro Sensei’s life, rather than take it.

One way or another, the end is coming soon. But will it be a happy ending for anyone? Looking forward to the next volume, somewhat apprehensively.

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 17 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 17     

Author: Ysei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 1, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

The students of Class 3E are in a battle – against one another! Divided on the question of whether to assassinate Koro Sensei or try to save him, they have decided this is the best way to reach an agreement, with the understanding that either way, the entire class will support the winning side. The team to save the teacher is led by Isogai while the opposing team is led by Karma, with Karasuma as judge and Ritsu will keep score.

Each member of the class has a decision to make  –  continue with their assignment to assassinate Koro Sensei, or use what time is left to try to save him. The decision they make will decide which team they are on.  Karma’s team becomes the Red Team and Isogai’s the Blue Team. The two teams are just about evenly matched in number, but not necessarily with skills. Unfortunately, the Red Team ended up with most of the specialists – combat, marksmanship, defense, and recon. Each team has a flag, and the object is to capture the flag, knocking out as many opponents as possible along the way (using paintball guns).  Koro Sensei is happy to see his students do their very best work, what they have been training for.

Let the battle begin…

This volume was really good, as we watch the students fight one another in order to see whether they will try to kill or save Koro Sensei. They all care about their teacher, but some of them feel they need to justify their new skills and use them for the purpose for which they were intended. They have all agreed that whatever the outcome, the losing team will wholeheartedly support the winners and the class will then continue to work together toward a common goal. We get to see how much the individual students have developed since their training began, both as assassins and people. It’s not surprising that the end of the battle turns out the way it does.

After the battle, still seeking information, they learn that the data they seek is on the space station, which is in orbit. To request the information would take too much time, time they don’t have. But Koro Sensei has an idea of how they can acquire the info sooner. However,  this solution is not without its risks. Naturally, his students are all in! Can’t wait to see how that works out in the next volume!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 14 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 14     

Author: Ysei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 7, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The battle continues at the Kunugigaoka School Festival! A few disgruntled malcontents have it in for Class 3-E after what transpired on the school trip in Kyoto. However, once they make their way up the mountain, their plans fall apart thanks to Koro Sensei and his students.  Even so, Class 3-E is at a disadvantage due to location and also due to the advantages Class 3-A has over them. Asano’s class even has entertainment including a comedian and a music idol! Hard to compete with that.

Some of the strangest people are showing up on the mountain unexpectedly, including the guy with the crush on Nagisa when they were on the island. He’d rather tell this guy the truth, but his classmates urge him to continue the charade because of the money he can bring in. Oh, the things we do for our friends! Another unexpected visitor is Nagisa’s mother! Oh dear, will there be more trouble?

Once the festival is over, it’s time to prepare for the final exam. Principal Asano is determined to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means brainwashing his students and force-feeding them their studies! He is not even pretending that he is above harming the students of Class 3-E! Even his son is beginning to question his methodology.  In a surprising turn of events, after blackmailing the government for another billion yen to keep quiet about the assassination, the principal has taken over teaching duties and sent his son home to study on his own. At last, the final boss has appeared!

Young Asano approaches some of the members of Class 3-E with a proposition – he wants them to assassinate his father! Not literally kill him, of course, just kill his pedagogy. Show him that he’s wrong in his teaching methodology. No one saw this coming! He wants his friends and his father to learn how to fail. Can they believe in his sincerity? The Final Exam begins, and it’s even harder than they ever imagined. In the end, it all comes down to Asano vs Karma – can Karma save the day?

A disgruntled Principal Asano orders Class E’s classroom to be demolished! His plans for them are formidable and rather terrifying. He threatens to fire Koro Sensei and then challenges him to a little wager, involving five tests, four hand grenades, and one anti-me grenade. If he accepts the challenge, Koro Sensei might actually die! Who will be the victor in this bizarre battle of wills?

This was another great volume of Assassination Classroom! I love how ingenious the students are becoming, and not just in the ways of assassination.  They use what their environment has to offer, but without depleting it to the detriment of those who live there. They are growing stronger day by day, thanks to Koro Sensei. Now they are the class to be like, much to Principal Asano’s great chagrin. But only three months remain before the earth is to be destroyed. Will they be able to assassinate their target, Koro Sensei – and will they want to when the time arrives?