Book Review: Kaiju No.8, Vol 1 

By Naoya Matsumoto 

4 Stars 

Kaiju No. 8 Volume One, story and art by Naoya Matsumoto, takes place in a world where humanity is ravaged by monsters known as Kaiju, with only a military-based organization named the Defense Force to stand against them. Kafka Hibino once dreamed of becoming a Defense Force member in his younger days, but now only works as a cleanup crew member for the aftermath of a Kaiju attack. However, through a series of events, he soon finds himself to be the very being humanity wishes to eradicate. This provides one last chance for him to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a member of the Defense Force. As Kafka walks the line between Kaiju and humanity, it remains a mystery whether he can hide his identity as a Kaiju. If anything, Kaiju No. 8 has a very comedic tone, which I do find myself taking a liking to. The comedy does not distract from the moments meant to be taken seriously. The art is also quite amazing, and the designs of the Kaiju are remarkable, especially Kafka's Kaiju form and even the more basic Kaiju that don't have much story impact. For all the praise I give Kaiju No. 8, I do have my issues. The most glaring one is the rather plain nature of Kafka, despite being the protagonist. I found his personality to be somewhat underwhelming, although his comedic moments are enjoyable. I still believe that Kaiju No. 8 is worth a read despite that flaw. Overall, it's a fun, action-packed story and, in my personal opinion, a rough 3.9 out of 5.   

Reviewed by Amare as part of the Teen Reviewer, opens a new window program.

View in Library Catalogue: Print