A Ninja Battle Royale: ‘Hell’s Paradise’ First Impressions
by Tito W. James
In Hell’s Paradise, a group of ruthless criminals accompanied by feudal executioners must journey to a mysterious island in search of the elixir of life. But not all is at it first appears. Alliances will be formed and morals compromised, as the most dangerous warriors in Japan compete in a battle royale on an island overrun with ancient monsters.
I picked up the first volume of Hell’s Paradise because I was intrigued by the core premise and characters. The series tells a complete story in thirteen volumes and there’s also been an anime adaptation one the way. The first volume relies a little too heavily on shonen tropes, but the series supposedly develops its characters and world in subsequent volumes. If you’re already shonen fan and want something a little darker, Hell’s Paradise might be your jam.
Hell’s Paradise is available now from Viz Media.