The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition, Vol. 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Sho has a bad fight with his mother. After arriving at school, the entire school suddenly and violently disappears. Families and authorities are devastated and left without answers. Meanwhile, the several hundred students and faculty are trying to cope with their new reality in a future wasteland. Sho becomes leader, but there are challenges within as well as without.I've already reviewed the first two volumes (and the seventh, which happens after what's in this volume); you can read those reviews here. If you already own the series, there's not much benefit to buying this. However, I love the hardback binding. It's a solid yet easy-to-handle 744 pages. In the end, it will take up less shelf space than the separate volumes, too. If you're a real fan of Kazuo Umezz, or Japanese horror in general, I'd recommend getting this edition, even if it means replacing separate volumes. There's something about holding a book with real weight that adds to the horror. Plus, you don't have to put it down when a volume ends; you can get sucked into the situational and psychological horror. If you're unfamiliar with this story, it really nails horror in a way that's heavy-handed with its realism despite the fantastical time-travel setting. Viz recommends this title for "teens plus", but the original Japanese audience is younger, more closely tied to the sixth grade main characters. It's really a personal call, especially since people view and interpret horror differently at different ages. This is something I would have read at the same time as the original audience. That being said, as an adult reader, it's still chilling. There's violence, insanity, murder, suicide, torture, beatings, deceit, and a Lovecraftian sense of dread. And then there's the giant man-eating bug that hunts based on the prey thinking! It's attack on the school and the stages of trying to fight it are a touch of intangible horror, completely different from everything else going on, and it's rightfully frightening no matter how old or young the reader. What the adults do is terrible at every turn, though it's understandable -- from the onset panic, to the hundreds of little kids to deal with, to the insanity of the situation. It's a shame none of them could keep their wits and instill organization, but that plays to the Lord of the Flies-esque scenario with the sixth graders in charge. Plus, the explanation offered by Sho as to why the adults went crazy and (most of) the kids didn't is perfectly realistic. Most of the actions from the kids are what I'd expect, including acceptance and organization from the sixth graders, especially in a culture like Japan. What surprised me was how violent the "Queen" / "Princess" is. Is she really a sixth grader? She and her flunkies are huge compared to Sho and the others. And so violent! It's like she just wanted an excuse to rule and hurt people into submission. She's not the positive kind of "strong female character" we've come to like and want, but I am curious what role she'll play later in the story. There's also a sexist comment made by the "genius" boy about women's role and how they're unfit to be leaders because they're breeders, nevermind the fact that everyone is in sixth grade or younger at that point, so not looking to breed any time soon. The story would have been better off without that comment, but it's in there. The art is fairly realistic, with somewhat bigger eyes for the kids. There's a strong focus on facial and eye reactions to horrific scenes, and these have an energy to them that transcends the page. The manga-ka doesn't shy away from harsh realities or brutal scenes; you won't be prepared for all of it. There's blood and gore, but I wouldn't call it gory, other than maybe the aftermath of a single scene. Don't let the fact that the main character is a sixth grader prevent you from picking up this masterwork of horror. Written: October 30, 2019
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