Tag Archives: Yusei Matsui

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 16 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 16                                       

Author: Ysei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 6, 2017

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Once upon a time there was a very skilled assassin who went by the name of the Grim Reaper. But he was not always an assassin, so how did he become one? Born into a world of poverty and violence, he grew up the best that he could. The biggest lesson he learned was that “people die if they are killed”. And so he became an assassin. He was charming and intelligent… and deadly. After his thousandth kill, they began to call him the Grim Reaper.  He was invincible…

Until his unexpected betrayal and capture, which put him into the care and custody of a mad scientist, Chief Kotaro Yanigasawa. And then the experiments began. Yanigasawa was researching the use of antimatter as a substitute for fossil fuel or nuclear power. But his experimentation on animals was limited by their size and biology, which is why he found the Grim Reaper to be ideal for his purpose. Someone no one wouild ever miss or mourn the loss of.

Yanigasawa had an assistant, who was quirky but kind. She was assigned to keep an eye on the Reaper. Her name was Aguri Yukimura, and by day she taught at a junior high school. The Grim Reaper observed how poorly she was treated by the crazy doctor, and when he discovered what their relationship was, he was highly incensed. But there was little he could do about it. However, he was learning more and more about the changes that were taking place inside of him, and to his body, and the powers he was gaining. And so he bided his time.

The Grim Reaper and Aguri talked a great deal, about anything and everything, and she did her best to shield him, but when her fiancé saw what was happening, he retaliated, and the worst thing happened. Which was when Koro Sensei vowed to fulfill her dying wish, and demanded to teach the class she could no longer teach, and when the Fate of the world lay with him, even though it was not his fault or his choice.

Now that the students know the truth, can they still go through with their mission?

Even though I’ve read the manga before and watched the anime, this is one of the hardest volumes to read. Breaks my heart every time to witness what was done to Koro Sensei. How he turned from a handsome, charming man to what he became through no fault of his own. And yes, it made me cry. Can the students really save him? They say hope springs eternal in the human breast. Guess we’ll have to wait and see if hopes and dreams can come true.

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 15 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 15    

Author: Ysei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 4, 2017

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Koro Sensei is not the only monster at Kunugigaoka Junior High, the other one being Principal Asano. But was he always this way? No, far from it. He began the prep school with three students and a dream. He was well liked and had ideals. So, what happened? Now he has challenged Koro Sensei, and it’s his turn. If he opens the last book, he will assuredly die. Is he willing to die for what he believes?

Class 3-E is dismayed to learn that they are being forced to participate in the school play, when their time would be put to better use honing their assassination skills. And they have been given the worst time slot – during lunch. Who’ll be paying attention then? The students pick what jobs they wish to do, and Koro Sensei expresses his desire to be in the play as well. They quickly tell him what a good idea that isn’t, but Hazama, who is going to write the play, tells him she will write him in a part, which pleases him.

Hmmm, seems as though there is another secret assassin lurking in the classroom! When did Kayano acquire tentacles? She gets Nagisa to help her lure Koro Sensei into a trap, at which time she reveals herself. Will she be the one to end the teacher/monster? How did she get to be this way, and how did she fool the whole class into believing she was something she wasn’t? In revealing who she really is, Kayano accuses Koro Sensei of murder! His students are aghast! In order to clear himself of the charges, their teacher will finally have to tell them his story, although he hadn’t planned to do that quite so soon. But he has no choice now.

In this volume, we have two back stories, Principal Asano’s and Kayano’s. Boy, what a surprise! Who would have thought the nasty conniving principal ever had a nice side? I sure didn’t. And Kayano – never saw that coming! Never even noticed the small clues along the way! Now we come to Koro Sensei’s back story, but that has to wait until the next volume. Can’t wait to hear it! Another great volume, on the edge of my seat for the next one!

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?

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 13 Review

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 13       

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: December 6, 2016

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Still holding the students of Class 3E hostage, the Grim Reaper watches as Karasuma comes to the rescue, seemingly undeterred by the traps the Reaper has laid. So then he unleashes what he believes to be his ultimate weapon – Irina! But she is also being used as bait, and he explodes the ceiling on both of them. Irina is pinned under the rubble, but Karasuma fails to be ensnared. Still in contact with Koro Sensei and the students, he explains what happened and intends to move on, but they plead for him to help Irina, explaining how she is still young herself and the product of her upbringing. He should be understanding and forgive her.

The Grim Reaper turns his attention back to his hostages and is shocked and dismayed to find they’ve escaped!  But how? Frustrated, he detonates the collars around their necks. Turnabout being fair play, now Irina is being used as bait… for the Grim Reaper. When he takes it, Karasuma is ready, and now the two of them are going to face off! Will it be to the death?

Koro Sensei decides to play career counselor to his students, asking them what they plan to do for a vocation – assuming they assassinate him, of course. If they don’t, then no one has a future, do they? The students make some surprising choices, including Nagisa, who feels he should become a professional assassin!

Nagisa’s classmates and teacher are unaware of his horrific home life with his controlling mother. She decides she wants him out of Class 3E, for his own good, no matter what it takes. Not only is she abusive, but she has treated him like a girl for years, wishing she’d had a daughter instead of a son. She decides she will talk to Nagisa’s home room teacher and get him transferred to the main building, despite Nagisa’s efforts to dissuade her from going there. What can they do? Unfortunately, Karasuma is unavailable, and Irina is a poor choice, as they discover. That only leads Koro Sensei, which is cause for great concern, despite his attempts to disguise himself as Karasuma. During the interview, it quickly becomes apparent how unstable Nagisa’s mother really is. Just when it seems that maybe everything will turn out all right after they return home, his mother drugs him and takes him to the classroom in the dead of night, demanding her son burn it down with his own two hands! This can’t end well, can it?

It’s time for the School Festival! Class A is determined to get revenge on Class E, and everyone is stoked to find out how the two rivals will fare against one another.  Koro Sensei’s students feel they are at a disadvantage, being isolated on the mountain as they are. Who will want to trudge up there for cheap eats? But Koro Sensei shows them how to turn disadvantages to advantages!

This volume of the series sees the students deal with the Grim Reaper once and for all… hopefully.  They are able to utilize the skills they’ve learned from Koro Sensei so far and learn some more. We learn a lot about Irina’s backstory and what has made her what she is. It’s easy to forget she’s not much more than a child herself, one who’s had to grow up in a harsh environment and make difficult choices. Karasuma is beginning to change as well. Perhaps he’s not as hard as he appears to be. Nagisa’s mother is just nuts. What he has to deal with is horrible. I wonder if he becomes an assassin, will she be his first target?

I love the ingenuity of Koro Sensei and the class as they brainstorm how to do well in the upcoming festival, which continues into the next volume. This was a lot of fun, looking forward to seeing what they are able to do, and hopefully outsell Class A, even if they cheat (which of course they will)

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 11 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 11     

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date:  August 2, 2016

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga/208 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

One of the members of Class 3E has a name he really doesn’t care for. His parents were both police officers and very enthusiastic ones at that. When he was born, in their excitement they named him Justice Kimura.  He prefers to be called Masayoshi. Inspired by Kimura’s story, Koro Sensei proposes that they come up with code names for one another, the way the assassins they dealt with on the tropical island did, and then use them for the entire day. Ready, set, go!

Isogai has been nicknamed “Mr. Handsome”, and everyone loves him, including the customers at the café where he works outside of school hours. The members of his class turn a blind eye to what he is doing, because it’s actually against school rules. But Isogai’s family is very poor and rely on him to bolster their income. The truth is that he was demoted to Class 3E, not because of his grades, but because he was working. When Asano and some of his cronies discover Isogai’s secret, they threaten to out him. But Asano would rather make a wager. Sports Day is coming up. Class 3E has to beat Class A in the pole pull-down or Isogai’s secret will be revealed! But does Asano, like his corrupt father, ever play fair? Can Class 3E defeat the enormously strong ringers that Asano has brought in for the occasion?

Taking advantage of the parkour training they have received, Okajima proposes a shorter route to school utilizing jumping across the tops of buildings. Some of his classmates are skeptical, as Karasuma told them to only use that training on the mountain. But some are enthusiastic and go at it with a will. Until things go suddenly wrong and someone gets hurt. Now they have to pay the price for what they have done.

I really liked the pole pull-down story, watching the students strategize on how to win without relying on brute strength. It kind of reminded me of an episode of Alice in Borderland I saw recently, where the players were up against the King of Hearts, and had to accumulate more points than the opponents but it wasn’t as simple as it sounded and strategy was key. Also, the story with the old man on the bicycle ended up being very heartwarming. We saw Koro Sensei get truly angry with his students for the first time. Even Kamasura was disgusted at their careless behavior.

Looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 10 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 10       

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date:  June 7, 2016

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

A nationwide surplus of eggs leads to a brilliant idea by Kayano! Rather than throw the eggs away, she will buy them and make a giant flan, which is a weakness of Koro Sensei. She will rig a bomb to be hidden at the bottom with hidden anti-sensei bbs. She enlists the aid of the others and they all brainstorm their way through the problems of creating such a large eggy dish. Koro Sensei will be pleased with the custardy offering and will never suspect Kayano, as she has always taken a back seat in assassination attempts. But now is her time to shine!

Karasuma plans to teach Class 3E advanced assassination techniques this semester, including explosives and parkour, or free running. Koro Sensei notices the parkour training and has an idea for a game – Cops and Robbers. They can have a 3D game of tag using the entire mountain! Per his idea, he and Karasuma will plays the cops to the students’ robbers. If they can’t catch all of the robbers within the hour, the students win. As a handicap, Koro Sensei will play the part of the jailer and stay in one position on the field. Hewon’t make his own move until the last minute. Sounds like a good game! But will Koro Sensei prove to be his own worst enemy?

Someone is stealing lingerie in Kunugigaoka City, and a description of the thief sounds suspiciously like Koro Sensei! His students are disappointed in him and he is mortified. The only way to prove his innocence is to capture the actual thief!

Itona and Shiro have returned, and Shiro is determined to use Itona to assassinate Koro Sensei – even at the price of his own life! Shiro abandons his student and now time is not on their side as they have to remove Itona’s tentacles, or face the consequences!

Itona has come up with a great idea for how to kill Koro Sensei – a high tech little tank. His ex-mentor is warned not to involve the students in his assassination attempts any more, and he reveals that there is a worse monster than Itona in that class.

The students are growing and developing at such a rate! And so creative! Who would have thought of using flan as a weapon? I’m glad we’re rid of Shiro, at least for the foreseeable future, and that Itona has calmed down a great deal, to more tolerable levels.  Looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: The Elusive Samurai, Vol 4 by Yusei Matsui

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The Elusive Samurai, Vol 4         

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 3, 2023

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Fantasy Manga/200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Kiyohara is now the Kokushi of Shinano, and as such does not feel obligated to follow the rules established by the previous administration, including the taxation of the second crop. The citizens are less than pleased. In northern Shinano, Hoshina Yasaburo raises an army to rebel against this oppression, but Suwa feels they have no chance of victory. He sends Tokiyuki and his elusive warriors to convince Hoshina to abandon his plan and to help him and his men to escape. To be on the safe side, however, Suwa will not permit the girls to go, as there may be fighting.

When Tokiyuki and the others catch up to Hoshina and his men, they realize how deeply committed they are to dying for what they believe in. He finds a sympathetic ear in Shinomiya and strategizes with him about an escape route. But can he convince the stubborn man that this is the way to go? Will he have to battle him to get him to listen?

One thing Tokiyuki really misses about home is the fresh fish he was used to, especially sashimi. But where they are located, fish spoil long before they can arrive. So it’s up to the Elusive Warriors to find a way for their Lord to have his fish and make him happy.

Takauji and his brother Tadayoshi have brought an element of youth to Kamakura, being younger than the previous rulers, the HoJo, and they are working at restoring the city and maintaining order. Sadamune is determined to do his part for his new boss by rooting out any remaining Hojo.  He has no proof, but he is very suspicious of one young fellow (Tokiyuki in disguise) and decides to put him to the test. He requests a gift from Suwa, and asks that Chojomaru-dono/Tokiyuki bring it and then take back the return gift. To refuse this request would only make him more suspicious. Sadamune is still miffed at being bested by the young boy the previous year and is determined to look closely at him. Can this end well for Tokiyuki?

I really enjoy reading Yusei Matsui’s interpretation of historical events and people. His sense of humor is just as sharp as it was in Assassination Classroom.  I also like the notes at the end about life in feudal Japan. I hope Tokiyuki bests Sadamune. That man has something wrong with him lol.  Can’t wait for the next volume!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 9 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 9     

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date:  April 5, 2016

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The showdown has begun – Nagisa vs the Final Boss! Turns out the boss is none other than their former teacher, Takaoka, the one Nagisa bested before. Looks like he has a grudge against his former students! Or maybe it’s just the ten million dollars at stake for killing Koro Sensei… or both.  Nagisa is angry enough to kill the man, but will cooler heads prevail? Terasaka reminds him that it’s still murder and not worth it, to just beat him up without killing him. Nagisa bested him once before, can he do it again?

Once the situation is resolved, everyone returns to their hotel and sleeps like the dead! Afterward, Koro Sensei has an idea for the perfect way to wrap up their assassination vacation through a test of courage. But his true purpose is to play matchmaker! His plans don’t exactly come to fruition, as his students aren’t that easily played, but there is one possibility for a love match, and the students are glad to assist their teacher in his matchmaking efforts.

Back to school! Time is running out before the possible end of the world. The powers that be determine that the bounty on killing the creature should be increased for a group, since the students almost succeeded in killing him over the break. The reward is now set at 300 million! However the new semester also starts with a startling new development, as one member of Class 3E defects and returns to Class A – for all the wrong reasons! Oh dear, can they bring him back into the fold before he inflicts irreversible damage?

I really enjoyed the assassination vacation arc, it was a lot of fun, and we got to see the class develop and grow in many ways. The way the final situation was handled was wonderful. Nagisa has a great future ahead of him if he wishes to become a spy or a professional assassin! The matchmaking story was cute, and I liked the unexpected twist. Also, the defecting of one student was a challenge, trying to figure out his motivation. Love this series so much, looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 8 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 8     

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date:  February 2, 2016

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

What began as a well-earned vacation, and a chance to assassinate Koro Sensei, has turned into a nightmare when half the class is poisoned by person or persons unknown, and the only way to obtain the antidote that will save them is by handing over Koro Sensei! And as if that wasn’t bad enough, thanks to the class’s vigorous assassination attempt, their teacher is locked in his ultimate defense mode and unable to help them! But Class 3E is nothing if not resourceful, and they refuse to give up. Instead of simply handing him off at the designated meeting place, they are going to break in and get that antidote, eliminating anyone who gets in their way!

The students scale a steep cliff at the rear of the resort hotel, which has been left unguarded due to its inaccessibility. But they don’t know the training these kids have received, and that climb is no problem for them! Poor Karasuma is saddled with Irina, who is weighing him down! But she proves her value when they enter the hotel and have to figure out how to cross the open lobby! Deploying her considerable skills, she draws attention to herself, and the students are able to slip by.

But that is only the first floor. They have to get up to the tenth floor, and it’s not likely each floor will be as easy to conquer. These are professionals, after all. But that doesn’t stop the resourceful students of 3E, so off they go!

I really enjoyed reading this arc, watching the students display not just the skills they’ve learned so far but employing their own talents, oftentimes thinking outside the box. Karasuma is incapacitated early on, so they can’t rely on him, although they do carry him along with them. On each floor, a different student gets the opportunity to shine. I especially love the way the girls utilized Nagisa, although he was not too fond of the idea himself. But by the end of the volume, he has a difficult choice to make. Have to wait for the next volume to find out what he chooses to do!  And just want to say that the gun-eating gangster is gross lol

Great volume, looking forward to the next one!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 7

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 7   

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date:  December 1, 2015

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Koro Sensei’s study methods prove invaluable to his students when it comes time to take their exams. Several students won first place in their class, one even beating out the principal’s son! Of course his father was less than thrilled with that news, and was certainly less than supportive of how well Gakushu did, focusing on what he didn’t do instead. Koro Sensei promised that those students who came in first place could shoot off one of his tentacles, so that makes seven tentacles he’s going to lose!

More importantly, the students in Class 3E have bested those in Class A, and are thus entitled to the summer prize of a three-day, two-night trip to Okinawa! Of course they will be spending the time before they go in devising new ways of assassinating Koro Sensei! The first semester under his tutelage may be over, but the assignment is still on!

Irina’s superior, Mr. Lovro, returns, determined to bring in the winning assassin to complete the job! He believes there is only one real person who can do this, the greatest assassin of them all, known simply as the Grim Reaper. The students are excited as they sail to the island of their holiday, planning how to kill Koro Sensei. Since one of his weaknesses is water, this seems like an ideal location for an assassination! They break up into groups with varying agendas, but at the same time they are timing their opportunities to kill their teacher very carefully. They devise a plan that includes the ballroom of the hotel where they are staying, a structure which sits over water! But just as they reduce Koro Sensei to an indefensible state, someone else strikes who turns all their plans upside down! And now it’s up to them, as well as Karasuma and Irina, to save Koro Sensei!

I loved the exams and their outcomes, and how the students showed up the supposedly superior class. I feel sorry for the principal’s son with such a terrible father. The vacation on the island is just what the students needed, but who could have predicted what happened at the end? Looking forward to seeing how they utilize the skills their teacher has taught them in order to rescue him.