Gantz

First off, let me start by saying that I believe the manga should have two separate reviews: one for the story up to around chapter 280, and another for the remainder up to chapter 383.

Up until somewhere between chapters 280 and 300, I'd give the manga an excellent rating. The artwork is impressive, the plot is engaging, and character development is solid. It keeps me entertained and eager for more. However, it takes a steep dive after that point. Somewhere between chapters 280-300, or perhaps even at the beginning of the final (third) phase, it feels like the author was just trying to wrap things up. He also seemed to shoehorn in the romance between the protagonist, Kurono, and his girlfriend Tae, despite the fact that most fans, including myself, despised this because it detracted from the overall plot. In fact, the entire final phase (the final invasion) revolves solely around getting Tae back - forget about his missions, Earth, and all the other people he cares about; he just needs to save Tae!

But the worst part, which utterly ruins the manga's grade, is the ending. The final chapter, named "The Final Chapter," is shorter than usual and answers very few, if any, questions. For those who have watched the anime, I would compare it to the anime’s ending, if not worse. The author rushes from the final battle to the end of the manga within half a chapter, a quarter of which consists merely of crowds cheering and Tae crying.

Overall, if you can stomach an absolutely terrible ending, then this is a great manga. I would argue that it should have ended after the Osaka arc, which would have been a fantastic conclusion, albeit still with some unanswered questions.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!!!!!!
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Story - 8
In my view, the story had a fantastic build-up leading almost to the end, but I felt let down. Why? Honestly, it's because of Reika and Suzuki’s deaths after the aliens in the Room of Truth brought them back. Like, why did that happen? I understand they were trying to make a point (humans are just 'things'), but I was hoping Kato would win the argument.

I don’t mind Kei’s clone dying; I get it, he killed Reika to set up the clone’s death. But killing off Reika and Suzuki seemed unnecessary. I'm honestly disappointed, especially about Reika’s death. Suzuki’s death is more understandable since he wanted to be with his wife. This series has been full of fan service, nudity, and all sorts of things. Maybe it should’ve ended with Kei having a harem of two girls (Tae and Reika). Plus, I really dislike the idea of Reika being reborn as an American woman twenty years later and giving birth to Kei. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Art - 10
The art is excellent! It’s polished, strong, and layered. The gore and horror elements were drawn perfectly, and yes, the fan service was great too. There’s nothing much to criticize here. The art is flawless.

Characters - 7
Some characters were annoying, but I understand why. This is how it should be. Yes, I’m still upset about the aliens in the Room of Truth.

Many characters are lovable, such as Tae, Anzu, Sakurai/Cherry, Reika, and maybe even Kato.

Kei’s character development is very likable too. He went from being a selfish pervert to becoming a courageous hero who saves people. And the fact that Kato isn’t afraid to use weapons despite his personal reasons makes this character category worth a 7/10. Without their growth, I probably would have given a lower score.

Enjoyment - 9
I really enjoyed the action, concept, and progression throughout the chapters/volumes (except for chapter 371).

Overall - 9
If I could change that one chapter and the ending, I’d be thrilled, but sadly, I can't. In the end, I did enjoy the anime despite the disappointing ending and some character deaths. For me, it’s a 9/10.

I definitely recommend this series if you’re okay with gore and nudity! To wrap it up, thanks for reading or listening to my opinion. Have a good day!

I find the idea behind it really intriguing, but I’m not a big fan of Gantz as a complete work. Don’t misunderstand me; there are definitely some incredibly intense, heart-wrenching, and emotional scenes. However, these positive aspects are often overshadowed or marred by numerous problematic elements. The manga is riddled with racist, homophobic, and misogynistic content that significantly detracts from the overall experience. It feels like an attempt to be edgy, which I find quite off-putting. Additionally, the story introduces some absurd and random plot points that either lead nowhere or are completely forgotten (*cough cough* vampires *cough cough*). It’s just all over the place.

Despite this, I did manage to read through the entire manga. There were enough insane moments—though mostly not in a good way—that kept me engaged enough to continue reading. While it garners a lot of praise and has many fans, I personally think it’s somewhat overrated and hasn’t aged well. At its best, it’s an absolutely intense, compelling, and emotional journey. At its worst, it’s incredibly repulsive. That’s my overall impression. It’s an overrated mixed bag.

Gantz is a fantastic series with thrilling action, stunning art, fanservice, emotional scenes, and an intriguing mystery.

Reading it was an exhilarating experience, and I couldn't put it down. A significant highlight was the inclusion of cute girls, not just for fanservice but because they added to the overall appeal.

Spoilers ahead

The mystery unfolded gradually, yet some questions remained unanswered, like the vampire dudes and their brother's fate. Additionally, the situation with the two Kuronos left me wondering if both survived (though I might have missed that detail).

When the end of the world scenario hit, it reminded me of Tokyo Ghoul:re, but Gantz's version was more understandable.

The series can be an absolute angst fest at times, which made it all the more captivating.

Tldr: Gantz gave me vibes reminiscent of Tokyo Ghoul and Attack on Titan. It features cute girls (with nice fanservice), hype action sequences, extremely detailed art, deep and emotional scenes, and a mildly satisfying conclusion. Most mysteries were resolved, though some weren't entirely clear. :(

8/10 personally

Gantz is neither a beautiful nor an ugly depiction of the soul; it's a near-perfect mirror reflecting the human spirit under despair. This manga is remarkable, though not for the faint-hearted, designed to strengthen one’s perspective and love for the world. It offers nearly perfect portrayals of what it means to be human, evident throughout the series. While I could praise this aspect endlessly, I must acknowledge flaws in the initial volumes and exaggerated darkness in characters. There are many disturbing moments in Gantz that I wouldn't recommend to just anyone.

The story of Gantz is bizarre yet extremely captivating, leading to thought-provoking content. Oku delivers on this and more. The plot is fascinating due to its spectacular fights and events, embracing its bizarre side almost to breaking point. The deeper layers are equally beautiful, with fantastic plot content. However, the pacing is off; some chapters move too slowly while others too quickly, disrupting the flow. Despite this, it never failed to keep me engaged, and I can’t imagine someone putting it down once hooked. Be warned: it gets messed up and heartbreaking, potentially exhausting.

The art in Gantz is a masterclass in detail. Oku understands textures brilliantly, making everything he draws incredibly believable. His work doesn’t need color; he draws skin, rubber, brick, feathers, metal, and clothing so realistically your brain knows exactly what they are. Oku excels in visual storytelling through facial expressions and mannerisms, making the world more believable. His drawing style allows for realistic viewpoints but limits dynamic exaggeration, which isn’t a criticism, just an observation.

Gantz's characters aren’t paragons of hope or villains to hate; they're people trying to survive and live peacefully. Each character has complex depth, taking center stage and being the best part of Gantz. Their importance gives the story value and longevity. For instance, Kei Kurono starts no better than those around him but matures believably and admirably. Every character undergoes similar growth, adding humanity to the story. It’s their journey that makes the final panel worthwhile.

Despite my praises, I didn’t fully enjoy reading Gantz. Pacing issues aside, graphic imagery and violence sometimes felt gratuitous. There were many close-call rape scenes, used for shock value. Another issue was excessive use of girls in sexy clothing on covers. Additionally, deus ex machinas and manipulated character actions occurred too frequently. Some scenes made me uncomfortable, but I believe they align with Oku’s intent. Yet, moments of relief and happiness were spectacular, making me smile when recalling them. These moments alone restored my faith in humanity.

Overall, Gantz isn’t for everyone but can make readers better people. I wouldn’t recommend it to those squeamish about gore or graphic content. At the end, I felt good and happy, not regretting picking it up. Gantz is an amazing story about humans and their will to survive and fight for good. That final panel fills me with joy and hope in life. Gantz is a story of humans.

This manga is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most underrated of all time. As the story progresses, it only gets better. The action scenes are incredible, with unpredictability at every turn. You never know who might die, making every battle feel like it could be the characters' last. This adds a level of engagement and excellence that's hard to match. Gantz has it all: action, tragedy, sadness, comedy, romance, drama, sub-plots to keep things interesting, ecchi, mystery, horror, psychological elements, and more. However, one downside is that the storyline isn't as cohesive as it could have been. The ending also left much to be desired, with too many loose ends not neatly tied up. Despite this, it wasn't entirely disastrous. The artwork is phenomenal, some of the best I've ever seen. It's unique and looks more realistic than most other manga. Overall, Gantz is fantastic and offers so much. It remains entertaining from start to finish.

Let's put it this way, Gantz is the perfect blend of death, high doses of action, top-tier artwork, and a story that remains intriguing without resorting to illogical ecchi scenes, unnecessary character deaths, or plot twists akin to those found in low-quality content. The storyline is simple yet excellent, evolving well as the chapters progress. The drawing style is phenomenal; backgrounds are created using Photoshop and then drawn over, giving them a professional touch. The characters are well-crafted, though not quite at the 'god tier' level, they certainly fall into the 'top tier' category. It's highly enjoyable; you can read a chapter in about 3 minutes, but those 3 minutes offer some of the best moments you'll have with a manga. Gantz is not suitable for children. I consider it a 'god tier' manga and recommend it to anyone looking for something beyond a monotonous or cliché story poorly executed. 10/10

Gantz is a masterpiece in my opinion. Despite my love for this manga, it's definitely not for everyone. This manga contains explicit scenes, including sex and an abundance of blood, as well as naked girls/monsters with supernatural and technological twists.

However, if you can handle all of the above, then this manga is for you. The story revolves around killing aliens using incredible suits, weapons, vehicles, and anything else you can imagine. These aliens are not passive; they're strong, sometimes overwhelmingly so, making you wonder if they can even be defeated. From human-sized aliens wielding crazy fire or thunder powers to dinosaurs with thousands of eyes and temple statues, the variety is vast.

Gantz centers on a ball that randomly saves the memory of someone who dies in any manner and transfers that memory into a clone to fight monsters. It's like getting a second chance but with one mission: Kill and Survive. Characters who last long enough all share one common goal—survival. They fight not out of fear of death, but because they have something important left to accomplish or someone waiting for them every day or night.

I see Gantz as a test of survival. If you truly cannot die now, you fight with everything you've got, as if there might be no tomorrow. You may fight as part of a team or alone—it doesn't matter, as long as you stay alive for just one more night.

This manga's story is very complex, and despite having over 274 chapters, much about Gantz remains unknown. If you enjoy the elements described, you should give this masterpiece a try =P

Oh, by the way, Gantz starts with a very unlikeable character, but at the same time, one with a tremendous will to survive.