Alive

Story:
Not particularly impressive. The narrative is a chaotic mix of forgotten character traits, weak relationships, and generally underdeveloped characters. It feels like a waste of time. The first chapter was especially disappointing. It introduces an intriguing protagonist—a writer on death row—but this detail is never revisited despite its relevance to a crucial scene. His background as a writer or his situation on death row doesn't matter much, which just seems pointless.

Much of the story follows a similar pattern: it's filled with nonsensical elements. I'll acknowledge that there are moments of potential scattered throughout, but almost every story has some redeeming qualities. The real issue lies in how these elements are utilized, and unfortunately, this mangaka fails to capitalize on them.

I can't say much more about it, and perhaps that's fitting.


Art:
The artwork is where "Alive" truly excels. It's quite good, although some proportions were off. However, there were a few panels (and even entire pages) where the action was unclear, suggesting the artist could improve their portrayal of motion and better distinguish between setting and characters in future works.


Character:
Simply put, the characters are terrible. There’s a basic foundation, but it crumbles under scrutiny. I can’t give it a 1/10 because at least there was an attempt, so I’ll settle for a 2/10.


Enjoyment:
Once I realized how many plot points were left unresolved and wasted, my interest waned. By the halfway point, the manga had little to offer besides its short chapter count. I recommend steering clear of this one—it’s just boring.


(If you enjoyed this review, check out my other reviews by visiting my profile and clicking the 'reviews' tab. I review nearly all the anime and manga I come across!)

Before diving into this manga, I had read a few reviews which set my expectations quite high, especially since psychological manga is a genre I enjoy. However, for some reason, I didn't feel as fulfilled as I hoped.

The storyline is robust, but the manga's brevity prevents it from leaving a lasting impression. It seemed to me that the characters could have been fleshed out more thoroughly. Overall, it was an okay read.

This manga had the potential to be outstanding, but it concludes just as you start getting engrossed in the narrative. By the end, I didn't experience a sense of resolution.

For me, it was worth the time invested. If you decide to read it, you might appreciate it if you're into stories that challenge your thoughts.

This was an excellent one-shot manga, but I believe it would have been significantly improved with a few additional chapters. The concept and artwork were appealing, yet the characters didn't stand out as much as they could have, and the pacing felt somewhat off. The author placed himself in a challenging position by making things more exciting only around chapter 7 or 8, leaving just three chapters to truly showcase his talent. If this manga had spanned two volumes instead of one, I might have rated it an 8 rather than a 6. Although it remains above average, it still left me feeling quite disappointed.

In my view, this manga is extraordinary. I've frequently pondered the potential of a one-shot story, and "Alive!" has provided my answer. The narrative begins innocently, but it swiftly plunges into an allegorical tale about evil. Two inmates on death row find themselves entangled in a bizarre mission to transfer this malevolence from the body of a seemingly innocent girl, who was infected by her father. Is this affliction truly a disease? Or is it an inherent darkness lurking within all humans, awaiting its awakening? Who can triumph over this inner darkness? A person with a pure heart, or someone with nothing left to lose? How far are individuals willing to go merely to survive? These are the profound questions this one-shot dares to explore. And remarkably, it manages to provide answers as much as possible.

Alive! is among my top favorite manga, and I often revisit it every few months (it’s only 10 chapters long). Even though the manga is brief, it provides a vivid depiction of the world each character inhabits. It doesn’t bog you down with unnecessary details or excessive explanatory dialogue to stretch out the story. Instead, it conveys everything clearly through its stunning art that seamlessly flows from panel to panel. Before you know it, you’ll have finished reading.

There are three points I should highlight before you dive in:

#1: The artwork has a sketchy quality and isn’t as polished or high-contrast as what you might see in mainstream magazines (but it’s still incredible).

#2: This manga is intended for mature audiences or those who can handle R-rated content.

#3: The ending diverges significantly from the beginning.

Beyond these, the protagonist, artistic style, concept, and overall structure of Alive! are fantastic. My only complaint is that every time I finish reading it, I immediately want to start over again.

Horror and manga. I never knew that combination existed. And I have to say: I'm glad it does exist. I was looking around for some manga and I found this. Only ten chapters, why not read it?

I finished it in about half an hour. The story kept me reading and guessing what would happen until the very end. Why did I give the story a six then? It was fine, but there was no moral or whatever behind it. The main character is a son of a bitch, and I just wanted him to die. Perhaps not everyone agrees with me on that, but that's my opinion.

It is quite a typical horror story. Two fellows in a room, they can have something they want if they kill each other. I was surprised when I found out there was a whole lot more behind it. Without spoiling: there is a form of evil which can consume people. And it can jump onto whoever wants to kill. The one with the biggest intention of killing will be consumed by it.

The graphics were fine. Although it pissed me off when I noticed that almost everyone has drops of water on their faces. Always. Sometimes it is sweat, then it is rainwater. But what the hell? It was unnecessary and just messed up. I mean, someone can sweat if he feels fear, but he doesn't get wet by just sweating.

Well, that was a minor thing I didn't like. The story wasn't very sadistic; I got that impression at first. It's quite good. Not fantastic because there isn't any bonding with the main character. It's a bit short, but that's not a real issue for me. This story shouldn't be long. It was a typical horror. Not really good, not really scary, but worth your time!

As soon as I saw the synopsis and the length of this manga, I knew I had to dive in. So, here's my take on it...

The story is quite engaging for its brevity. It intrigued me enough to try piecing things together. However, once explanations started rolling out, I found myself a bit puzzled. Not because it was hard to follow - it was fairly straightforward. The origins of certain elements caught me off guard, but pleasantly so.

The artwork is striking. Though somewhat chaotic, it has a unique allure that draws you in. Characters occasionally look incredibly cool, and action scenes are visually appealing. Yet, some panels can be a bit confusing due to the drawing style. This isn't a huge issue since everything becomes clear eventually.

Character development is minimal, which is typical for such a short series. Yashiro, the protagonist, stands out due to his circumstances, but overall, the characters lack depth. Still, each character does possess a touch of personality.

Story: 9
Art: 8
Characters: 7
Enjoyment: 7

Alive is an intriguing manga despite its short length. Perfect for those seeking a quick read. Overall, I'd give it a solid 7.

"Misako... I'm coming over there."

"Alive!" is a story about a man named Yashiro Tenshuu, who killed five people and was sentenced to death. However, he's given a chance to live if he agrees to become a test subject for a secret government program. Alongside another man named Gondou, they are placed in an isolated room where they can have anything they desire but are forbidden from leaving. A girl on the other side of the room, Saegusa Yurika, tells them that if one wants to reach her side, they must kill each other. The one who survives gets to be with her. Who will stay alive? You have to keep reading to find out.

Their faces... are... so... intense. Haha, that's what stands out most to me about the manga: all the characters were always drawn intensely and sweating. Overall, the art was excellent and perfectly suited for a horror manga.

However, the characters don't really form a bond with the reader, which is why I gave it a 6. It's nothing special, but it's fun to see what happens to them next.

If you're looking for a quick read that's also enjoyable, "Alive!" is a must-read.