Things are really heating up action wise! I love the attention to detail that all the characters get with their back stories. I am not a huge fan of action/fight scenes in manga, but there is a good balance of story and action in this series. I'm also glad the author doesn't pull punches when killing off characters and is strategic with storytelling so I'm invested in their deaths. I'm excited to read the next one!

The world is still compelling as are the protagonists and the main conflict, but this felt more like a filler volume filled with things that had to happen to move the plot along. Mostly fight scenes. Hopefully vol. 9 gets back to the heights of the earlier parts.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Hell’s Paradise) has easily become one of my favorite titles currently running (in volumes). It’s filled with body horror, mythology, magic, violence, and ninjas that all come together for a story about criminals on death row trying to find the elixir of life in order to escape their punishment. Last volume, the remaining survivors came together with a plan to take down the remaining “gods” and to escape the island once and for all. In Hell’s Paradise Volume 8, things don’t go as planned.

Hell’s Paradise Volume 8 is localized in English by VIZ Manga and published through its VIZ Signature imprint. The volume is created, written, and illustrated by mangaka Yuji Kaku, translated by Caleb Cook, and features touch-up art and lettering from Mark McMurray. In this volume, the survivors continue their desperate raid on Horai, the center of Lord Tensen’s operations. What they thought was a plan to at least stand a chance has warped into a fight for their lives thanks to Chobe’s meddling. For starters, Gabimaru and Yuzurija battle against Ran putting them at a disadvantage with their Tao weaker against his element, forcing Ran into his monstrous kishikai form. While this is the main battle of hell’s Paradise Volume 8, we also see Gantetsusai and Fuchi begin their fight, with Chobe and Toma having a reunion.

Truthfully, I can’t even begin to express how striking Hell’s Paradise Volume 8 is. Kaku’s ability to illustrate violence that is dynamic, captivating, and unnerving is unmatched. This volume covers chapters 67 to 76 of the series and consists of fights against the Tensen, and while we know that the second landing party is getting closer to the Horai, the terrifyingly powerful Shugen isn’t in this volume. Instead, we get innovative fight sequences and learn more about how Tao can be transferred and how it can keep you immortal or drain your life.

I’m stunned by Kaku’s ability to pack in exposition and also manage to pull of panels with enough space to showcase characters’ movements. But even more so, the strongest part of Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku Volume 8 is how much Yuzurija has grown as a character. She’s turned from a loner ready to sell out everyone around her for her own survival to a team player willing to give her life for the win. Her ingenuity and power are felt in her panels, and it’s great to see her finally shown as more than just fan service.



Overall, Hell’s Paradise Volume 8 is still a must-buy. It’s a series that continues to impress with grotesquely gorgeous imagery and strong character moments. If you’re still on the fence, make the decision to pick the series now! Not only can you buy the individual volumes, but you can also read the series through the Shonen Jump app’s web browser.

Nonstop action with some essential flashbacks.

Picking up where volume 7 ended, chapter 67 continues the battle between Gabimaru and Yuzuriha against Ran in his transformed form. The battle is long and hard with an ever-growing understanding of Tao that ends only with a death blow. With the climactic end to their battle, the story then shifts focus to Fuchi, Tamiya, Toma, and Aza Chobe against Tao Fa and Ju Fa. With the focus on Tao Fa and Ju Fa, readers get a background to the conception of the Tensen and more of Mei's story. There is a lot for readers to take in with this volume and endings that will leave them reeling.

An exciting volume on what is building up to be a long battle to an escape from Hell's Paradise with the elixir in hand!