Review by Frank Plowright

So far Gantz has been an SF action thriller with small doses of school drama included. Now, though, Hiroya Oku has thrown in gangsters with swords. First seen invading the Gantz scenarios, they were able to track Izumi in the real world, and Gantz/14 ended with their attacking him. He’s slaughtered all but one, and Gantz/15 begins with the conclusion of that battle. As it continues, don’t forget that Izumi may be the one under attack, but he’s hardly an innocent.

Kei started the series as exactly that, but his experiences have emboldened him. In the last volume what spurred him on was the thought of returning to girlfriend Tae, with whom he has relatively explicit sex here, but his head is also being turned by teen idol Reika. She was on the last Gantz mission and although she never names him, she seems to be telling the media she fancies Kei.

Oku creates tension via the possibility of instant death, yet during the middle section here generates it from Kei’s personality. We want him to stay with Tae, who’s loyal, caring and incredibly nice, but we also know that when Kei was introduced at the start of the series he was hardly likeable. He’s been softened a little around the edges, but Oku makes it clear he retains selfish impulses. So will he dump Tae for Reika? Who’d have thought high school romance would ever play a part in Gantz?

Midway through Oku switches back to the Gantz room and a new mission. Those who survived previously, including Reika, know to wear their protective suits this time. Unlike earlier missions where there was very little teamwork, there’s a bonding between the survivors and they’re willing to respect Kei’s experience and follow his instructions. This time the threat is giant black knights on black horses, another great image for Oku to delight with.

It’s a brief mission, but something occurs that has significant consequences going forward, and the tables have really turned due to a great plot twist that takes us into Gantz/16.