Comics / Manga

The Promised Neverland: Volume 3 manga review

By Leroy Douresseaux
April 18, 2018 - 23:50

The Promised Neverland Graphic Novel Volume 3 cover image

Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

At the Grace Field House orphanage, life is good, especially for the orphanage's three brightest children:  Emma, Norman, and Ray, who are all 11-years-old.  While there is daily studying and exams, there is also delicious food and plenty of playtime.  However, the children's loving, but stern caretaker, “Mom,” hides the fact that everything is not what it seems.

The Promised Neverland, Vol. 3 (entitled Destroy!; Chapters 17 to 25) finds Emma, Norman, and Ray still working on their plot to escape the orphanage.  The plot is now a quintet, as two more children, Don and Gilda, have joined, but more people do not make things easier.  Mom is preparing to make her most shocking moves, even against her “spy.”  Meanwhile, Mom's new assistant, Sister Krone, also makes moves to strengthen her position, but will her plans endanger both her and the children?

THE LOWDOWN:  I must say that I am shocked by how dark a narrative The Promised Neverland manga is.  In spite of its almost playful title, this is a dark fantasy mixed with even darker dystopian science fiction.

The Promised Neverland Graphic Novel Volume 3 reveals that the creative team of writer Kaiu Shirai and artist Posuka Demizu will not play it safe.  It seems as if they have no intention of even giving their readers a break.  The story unleashes one shocker after another, but The Promised Neverland is not a kinetic action thing.  It is an almost muted thriller that simmers and is mean to the bone.

If The Promised Neverland did not make some 2017 “best of lists,” it should make some “best comics of 2018” lists.  It is one of VIZ Media's best recent debuts and is also one of the best comic books available today.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers of dark fantasy comics, manga, and graphic novels will find a terrifying story home in Shonen Jump's The Promised Neverland.

A
9.5 out of 10

Rating: 9.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12