History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi Chapter 430

This is the Neo-version of "Tatakae! Ryouzanpaku Shijou Saikyou no Deshi" (A martial arts manga by the same author and featuring many similar characters and events)

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/history_s_strongest_disciple_kenichi/


Dialogue takes a secondary role throughout this story, as most things happen through "showing" (that is, Taisuke's actions and decisions) rather than "telling." Most conversation occurs in a plain, everyday tone, although it occasionally reaches higher levels as some characters wax philosophical about the nature of death and the emergence of their strange powers. The translation also retains a couple of culturally unique Japanese phrases in the text ("Itadakimasu" being the most obvious example), but the glossary in the back explains all of them anyway, as well as a couple of other notes regarding everyday life in Japan.

What's good about this volume of Alive is that the mysteries of the "suicide virus" are starting to become clearer, and the story is definitely going somewhere. Unfortunately, it seems to be getting there at a frustratingly slow pace, as our hero takes his sweet time figuring out how to reach his friends and trying to understand exactly what's happening to him. At least there are some visceral action scenes to keep the excitement up, and the sight of such bloodshed against an ordinary, modern-day setting reminds us that this thriller means serious business. Are there greater perils in store for Taisuke? The last few pages in the book would suggest so. It might be a long time before he ever gets his friends back, or even makes sense of what's happening around the world, but following his adventure is a gripping experience nonetheless.