Norimitsu Kaihō

School-Live! Vol. 1 surprised me because it starts out looking like a cheerful slice-of-life story about four girls in a high school club. At first, it feels lighthearted and cute—focused on friendship, classes, and everyday moments. But as the story goes on, the truth about their situation slowly comes into focus, and the tone shifts into something much darker and more intense. I really liked the way the manga mixes humor and charm with suspense and horror. The characters are fun to show more follow, and the artwork balances the “cute” with the “creepy” very effectively. Readers who enjoy twists, survival stories, or psychological horror will definitely be hooked by this first volume. show less

Just reading out the end of this series since I've come so far and the next volume is the conclusion. Things are bleak for the girls as they are hunted by a mysterious military force as well as the zombies that have overrun Japan. Will we get a bloodbath or a happy ending next time? Will the creators be able to make me care? Seems unlikely at this point.

Ostensibly, this is the job search arc since the girls have completed high school and college. They set off with a scientist to find a cure for the zombie plague. And because of the scientist they suddenly have mobile phones with artificial intelligence and a lie-detector app?

I'm glad that all the extraneous college supporting characters are ditched, but this volume points out to me that I really don't give a crap about the original characters anymore. Well, maybe Kurumi, but she has gone show more from a shovel-wielding zombie-slaying kickass to a depressed and fatalistic invalid. As Kurumi goes, so goes the series I guess.

I'd probably drop the series at this point, except a little research says that volume 12 might be the conclusion, so I'll probably stick it out through the end. show less

A slow and disjointed conclusion to a series that ran out of steam a few volumes back when they sidelined their most interesting character. The remaining characters whine, mope, and still try to encourage each other as they race for a cure against the deadline of a nuclear option to wipe out the zombie threat. I should care, but can't, as they just complete a full circle on their journey.