I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall i really liked this reboot/expansion of the Battle Royale lore. I am a huge Battle Royale fan and loved the original book and the movies and the older manga series. This one has a very similar feel to the other manga.

As someone who has read/watched the book and movies, the story format was familiar. I was fully engrossed in the story and characters so I was curious about this new series. Characters being introduced to the reader and reacting to their situation are consistent with past media. Characters are thoughtfully introduced and described so the reader feels invested in what happens to them. I am waiting to see how the story line plays out and if there will be a new twist to keep things interesting.

I like the concept but I was a little confused in the beginning. The art is very busy at times but overall feels fitting for the type of story. Some of the deaths feel very abrupt but after the first few it starts to feel more like an actual plot and not just random murder. There are 42 characters so I really only focused on the few that seemed important but am sure as the series continues, I'll recognize/care about more. I do like that there is a character page that basically looks like yearbook photos grouped by squad for those who want to know who everyone is rather than wait for their part to become important to the story. The first volume sets up the setting for the games and has the reader already rooting for certain characters. I'll want to keep reading to see who makes it through to the end.

Thank you VIZ Media for the DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(4.5 rounded up to 5 stars) Though I haven’t read the novel yet, I often cite Battle Royale as my favorite movie. The narrative is bizarre (especially for the time), gruesome (in a good way) and very exciting. This graphic novel spinoff is no exception. I think I can sometimes get characters confused with each other in mangas that have a cast size this large, but i was able to get my footing. i think this would be resolved in the physical version when i can easily reference the character list. I’ll definitely continue this series! Thank you so much for the opportunity to review.

Based on the original novel published in 1999 Battle Royale presents the reader with a high stakes story with a unique art style. It is not without it's flaws, as it is tries to accomplish what the novel set out to achieve, it falls flat, yet it has potential as further volumes are released.

I am a big fan of the original Battle Royale book and film, so having a new installment in the series is both something to be excited and cautious of. I went into this with an open mind and was happy to see them including history fairly quickly as to WHEN we are in the timeline. It makes sense that things have gotten worse since the original book, a couple of kids escaping wasn't about to change society after all. It will take more than one volume to find which character I like, but that also comes with revealing histories and the motives of each character throughout the story. The big thing is that this volume made me want to read MORE. I want to know how these characters will deal with the game as a whole, and the added element of squads. The kills have been well paced, as needed at the start, and I am also interested in the part the student council plays in all of this. The only gripe I have, and it's nothing crazy, is the lack of randomized weapons for each character. Though, that is just me being attached to certain elements of the original game.

I do recommend this for fans of the original, hopefully we will get some more engaging backstories and gruesome deaths.

Koushun Takami is back with a another story of Battle Royale. Taking place after the events of the first story, the BR had been eliminated but returns for some reason (maybe I missed it). The BR was instituted to fight juvenile delinquency, so I'm guessing that's why it's back, this time run by a malicious A.I. system. I personally am a fan of this change. It's very current and removes the human aspect of the deplorable acts, emphasizing the brutality with the program's cold indifference. The first volume sets things up nicely, introducing the characters you will following through the story. We haven't met most of the class yet, but just like the first story, we shouldn't get too attached.

This continuation of the Battle Royale world is great for fans of the original cult hit. The action scenes are fast-paced and gory, just like its predecessor. Another extensive set of characters dominates this volume, but the manga adds a character page, which is helpful to keeping track of everyone. The ending has the same page but with pictures of the deceased blurred. Not having read the original Battle Royale in manga format, this visualization was a nice touch and aided in my immersion.
Some of the art was difficult to follow, and certain body proportions felt off. This could have been intentional on the illustrator's part, as it did add an eerie factor to the art. However, there were times I almost laughed at how odd-looking some of the characters were due to proportions or angles. Manga is generally more fast-paced than typical novels, and that was the case here. While the novel Battle Royale moved at a quick pace, Enforcers' is breakneck. I wanted more details about each character before they died, and I felt like the deceased were not given an appropriate amount of time in the spotlight. That was my favorite part of the original novel, so I was disappointed at how few backstories we have so far, despite all the deaths.

A worthwhile manga based modern day follow-up to the noteworthy Battle Royale. It’s always hard in a first volume to introduce 42 characters, but some unique traits in illustration made for remembering the main characters. Let the dystopian fight to the death commence. I’ll continue the series.

"Battle Royale: Enforcers, Vol. 1" is an eerie modern horror story of squads of students who are pitted against each other. There are plenty of chilling, modern updates--much of the violence is delivered via apps--and the unveiling of the mission of murder is still horrifying. It did feel like the action took a while to unfold, but once it did the text moved right along.

Thank you to VIZ Media and NetGalley for the ARC. Wow this Manga starts out with a bang and does not let go. The story concept was hunger games meets AI. I enjoyed reading this manga and look forward to issue 2.

Takami returns to the world of Battle Royale with Enforcers, set decades after the original novel, where Class F, a class made up of societal deviants, is forced to play a squad-based death game run by the school's student government with the aid of a sadistic-smiling AI as their lone teacher, placing even more emphasis on Japanese school social dynamics.

It's been more than two decades since the original novel was published, and in the new series two decades since the Battle Royale program was outlawed. The fascist government of the original is made even more explicit, with the members of the Class F all having been transferred due to some level of delinquency or deviancy (like listening to rock music, or deviant thought) with each member being a part of a specific "squad". The squads are informed that their group survival is their pathway to rehabilitation, with some other adjustments to the rules. Death for leaving the boundaries or breaking the rules is now enforced by a fast-acting toxin that makes them pretty much explode with blood coming out of every pore, graphically rendered by artist Yukai Asada, as well as characters being able to change squads with a request. Survivability is heavily tied to a squad tablet with a number of "helpful" apps, but also as a vector for monitoring by the student council.

The squad-based element is a nice touch, with social groups already in play when the game starts both internally and externally to their squads. Asada's art is suitably graphic, with a clean, highly detailed style. Both Asada and Takami seem to know what the audience for this book wants and are happy to serve it up in a new package. In the decades since Battle Royale, death game narratives have become something of a sub-genre in anime, manga (and popular media across the world) often tied to some specific cultural social satire (Hunger Games and Squid Game, and the multi-platform Danganronpa series being prime examples) so there's a certain level of shorthand involved in this book that feels rushed to get to the action as quickly as possible; some of the set-up feels a bit thin or broad, making it a feel a little shallow. However, this hardly detracts that much from the blood, gore, and heartstring-pulling as character stories are revealed leading to and upon the occasion of their grisly deaths.

This is a manga that knows exactly what it is, what it's appeal is, and isn't afraid to lean into it. Good for fans of the original or gorehounds who are looking for something similar to other grisly death-game manga or media (Alice in the Borderland, etc.).

This is a new spinoff series from battle Royale. It takes place 20 years later. The beginning is a little confusing. All you know is there are students in multiple classes, and class F is the worst. Each class is made up of multiple squads between five and six people. Originally Class is to clean up the island but after an earthquake, they’re all sent to a basement for their lesson. It’s while locked in this basement they find out that their goal is to kill everybody and only the survivor gets to win. What do they win? No idea. The beginning of the books a little shaky but when you get into the action and what’s going on, it moves rather quickly. If you liked battle Royale or Alice in Borderland, or Squid Game you might enjoy this book.

Very disappointing. Compared to the original Battle Royale, this fell completely flat. The characters were bland, I didn't even want to root for them. I'm a fan of the original series and it makes me very sad to write this review, but I wouldn't not recommend this.

Having only seen the original Battle Royale movie (which I really enjoyed), I was excited to see that another story in this universe was being released. While I did really enjoy this book, I missed that this was only Vol. 1 - not an entire story in itself. So I was a little disappointed that we didn't get a lot of action. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of action and a few deaths, but I was thinking it would be complete story. Instead, this book serves as an introduction to all of the characters that will be having a role in the larger story. Now that I know what to expect, I am really looking forward to Vol. 2 and seeing where the story goes.

"Battle Royale: Enforcers, Vol. 1" by Koushun Takami marks a gripping return to the brutal, dystopian world fans of the original series know well. After being banned for two decades, the notorious Program 68 is reinstated, this time overseen by a sinister government artificial intelligence. This new iteration promises to be even more chilling and relentless, setting the stage for a thrilling read.

The narrative follows the troubled and misbehaving students of Daitoa Academy's Class F, who find themselves thrust into this deadly game. Armed and divided into squads, they must now fight each other to the death. Takami masterfully explores the psychological and emotional turmoil of the characters, as friendships and loyalties are severely tested. The stakes are high, and the tension is palpable from start to finish.

The introduction of the government AI adds a fresh and menacing twist to the familiar premise, amplifying the sense of dread and unpredictability. The AI's cold, calculating nature contrasts sharply with the raw, human emotions of the students, creating a compelling dynamic that keeps readers on edge.

Takami's storytelling is as brutal and unflinching as ever, with well-paced action scenes and poignant moments of introspection. The artwork complements the narrative perfectly, capturing the intensity and desperation of the characters' fight for survival.

Overall, "Battle Royale: Enforcers, Vol. 1" is a worthy continuation of the Battle Royale legacy. It successfully combines the gritty, high-stakes action of the original with new, thought-provoking elements, making it a must-read for both longtime fans and newcomers. The only downside is that the story can sometimes feel overwhelmingly bleak, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise stellar manga.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I requested this manga because I loved the Battle Royale book and movie. This is set after the original program is shut down. It was a good start with some good modern updates. I'm curious as to where it is going to go.

Rating: 4/5

I haven’t read the original Battle Royale manga, but I’ve watched the films and finished the original novel. The latter two media are great for those looking for more “death game” romps, and I wanted more from the world aside from the main narrative. (Well, maybe not the second film, but…) Battle Royale: Enforcers is a sequel that excellently delves into a dystopian Japanese setting where students need to fight to survive.

Rion Sakamoto is the Squad 8 Leader in Class F at Daitoa Academy. Spending time with his best friend Kunimitsu Watanabe, Rion is a bit of a rebel as he plays rock music in the band room unauthorized. Prospective love interest Aoi Hayasaka also gets to see a different side of him, while Kunimitsu’s childhood friend Hikaru Ninomiya sticks up deals with some catty bullies. Aside from the dystopian undertones, the story begins as a little nod to something like Assassination Classroom with segregated classes.

This introductory lull is broken as the malevolent AI known as Sister rounds up the class together for a sinister game: An inter-squad fight to the death. While cancelled in-universe for years, it seems that Program 68, the Battle Royale, has resurfaced. Each squad of students has to team up and fight the others in a match to the death, with the last 5-person squad standing getting to graduate. Rion, Ninomiya, Aoi, and the others try to make sense of the situation as they’re put in a deadly game with an oppressive time limit.

What I was surprised about with this manga is how sudden the casualties pile up. The original novel did have deaths before the game proper, but there was an interesting conflict that happened in the beginning. The sadistic choice to lop off a student even before the beginning just emphasizes how much deadlier this game will be compared to its predecessor. The story clips by at a blazingly fast pace, so much so that flashbacks and present-day events get muddled in the narrative. It’s fine after another read-through, but it may be confusing the first time around.

There’s a ton here to explore for the next volumes, and I’m curious as to what caused the reinstatement of the Battle Royale program as well. The fact that a malicious AI system is hosting this game brings a futuristic dystopian feel to the setting, and I’m itching to see more of it. Since Alice in Borderland wrapped up here in the west, I have a death game-shaped hole in my manga reading schedule. I’m keeping my eye out for this series after a great debut!

The project known as the Battle Experiment No. 68 Program, or Battle Royale, has officially been banned in Greater East Asia for many years. But the regime's control of the country is still strong, and there are other ways to punish those that break the rules or cause dissent. One such way is an isolated school for delinquents, where students are broken into classrooms based on how good, or how bad, the sinister AI running the school views their behavior.

After a strange Earthquake, the students are instructed to take cover in underground classrooms. There Class F learns that a new Battle Royale program has started, and they're the first class. Broken into squads they are given seven days to be the last group standing.

Once again Takami plays with themes of rebellion, trauma, control, empathy, and a desire for freedom. What will someone do when their life - or their teammates lives - is on the line? Another similarity is the initial main protagonist. Rion is a bit of a Shu clone, being a fatherless teen interested in the forbidden world of rock music. He is also playing the voice of empathy, wanting to find a way to work together rather than participate.

Despite working with similar themes and characters, there are some key differences between the original and this sequel. In addition to the class not being chose randomly and the students participating in teams, there are key changes to who is watching the students. There are also appears to be less overall gore and graphic content than before, though that could change in later volumes.

As this is only volumes one it can be hard to fully judge the series, but so far this seems to be a solid addition to the Battle Royale world. As a long time fan, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

This digital ARC was obtainable via NetGalley for an honest review.

In my late teens I was a tiny bit obsessed with "Battle Royale" for whatever reason (it was a very short phase). When I saw "Battle Royale: Enforcers, Vol 1" I had to check it out. The dialogue was a bit shallow, and the characters were okay. I was not connected to any of the students, but I do wonder how they will survive. I will keep a look out for volume 2.