Even a rabbit can become a hero if he is forced to protect someone.
Creative Staff:
Art: Kunieda
Original Story: Fujino Omori
Character Design: Suzuhito Yasuda
Translation/Adaptation: Andrew Gaippe
What They Say:
Bell finally reaches the 11th level of the Dungeon to face his fated opponent–the monster responsible for his humiliation, the Minotaur. The memories of his flight and his failure assault him even as he confronts the deadly beast. Will the heroic drive that Aiz Wallenstein inspired within him be enough to defeat the Minotaur? Maybe, maybe not, but either way he’s going to need some help from a new friend…
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
After days of training with the Senki still fresh on his mind, Bell bids his goddess Hestia goodbye and heads off to the Dungeon, even though she has misgivings about this outing. Today will be he and Lily will be trying their hand at the ninth floor, but when they get there, the place seems strangely quiet. All the monsters are gone and more unusual than that, there are no adventures wandering the area. As they venture deeper beyond the entrance, this uneasiness causes Bell to question their safety and urges him to quicken the pace. However once they pass the main passage, a terrifying howl chills them to the bone and the scrapping of metal upon stone freezes the pair in place … and then it appears. From the depths of his nightmares the bipedal form of man and beast lurches from the shadows, the sound of coarse breath as it drags a gigantic sword behind him, its blood red eyes shining in the darkness – the personification of Bell’s failings: The Minotaur.
This unihorned monstrosity’s roar shook the very stalactites as it lets loose another earth rumbling cry, its dim orbs from within a mammoth skull scanning for any signs of life. The sickening smell of blood mixed with iron lingers in the air, fetid breath steams from a mouth agape as it stares down its diminutive foes. Bell is without words, Lily cannot but help to shake as they face down this blood thirsty beast. She is the first to speak, questioning why such a high level monster is on the middle floors, and yelling to her employer for their quick departure. But the white haired rabbit is too stunned to move – all he can think about is how scared he has become. His supporter’s constant tugging is to no avail and the only thing which can move him is the eruption of double edged sword to ground. The cavern quakes under the shock wave and the poor friends are flung aside in the aftermath. Lily now unconscious clings to Bell’s sleeve, the reaction having finally awoken the rookie from his forced stupor … and now into an even worse world than he wished he could return. The bull charges, leaving him little choice than to toss the unconscious Prum aside, in a vain hope that she can survive the creature’s wild rush.
A quick Firebolt flashes in the Minotaur’s eyes as Bell tries to delay the beast, knowing full well that he is too weak to even make a difference. But in the back of his mind, he knows that he is the only one standing in the way of the monster from pummeling Lily. It lunges forward, fist at the ready and striking hard as the poor adventure begins to feel flimsy pieces of light armor crumple under the forceful impact. His flying body meets wall, shattering the rough stone easily beneath the resultant force of gigantic maul versus fragile frame. All he can think to do is to run, but he also knows that if he does, Lily will be the creature’s next target for its rage. Forcing his weakening form back into an upright position, the Level One adventure cringes at his choice: To continue this tumultuous assault, with each passing second another one for his loyal supporter to live and find a way out, leaving him behind so that she might live. Is there really any choice?
In Summary:
I will admit, this volume is my favorite so far for one simple reason: A scared rabbit becomes the hero he always wished he could be – the Argonaut. Anyone who is a fan of this franchise will remember this scene, from the very beginning we watched Bell start his journey cornered by this bovine beast and now, we once again witness his transformation as the two adversaries face off once again. While the episode which enclosed this epic battle was spectacular, to see it in a different material form with the artwork of Kunieda creates something which has to be seen in order to soak in all of its magnificence. The animated version I admit was intense – the fluidity of shapes dashing across the screen, the sound of a roaring rabid beast ravaging anything in its way and then the music signaling changes in mood and finally victory, nothing can portray that event better … until you see black and white upon a barren page.
There is just something which cannot be communicated on a television screen and can only be shown in the illustrated form. The terror on Bell’s face is absolutely mesmerizing, his stark eyes and pale face are completely different than what we saw in the anime. You can see the sheer panic in his body posture, which has a distinct emotional nuance as to when it was in the show as an internal monologue – this version is so much more fitting for this scene. The reader can stare at the image for as much time as need to bring across that horror, as opposed to the animated version which was only the shown for a second; this ability to progress the story at a controlled pace brings a contrasting resonance to the viewer, allowing them to soak in the drama rather than to be bombarded. You can almost feel the terror on the page versus as to what we were forced to see as it was presented.
Then we come to the final conflict of man against beast, Bell versus the Minotaur. We knew there was a disparity between the two: a towering creature with a stature to compare to its overwhelming presence and rage not to be contained … and then the scared little boy which so many times has been described as a white rabbit. This battle was destined to unfold since the beginning and now his adventure will be seen by the one person he wishes to catch up to – Aiz. She saved him not over a month ago and now she will witness his prowess against the one foe which traumatized him so much as to unlock the rarest of skills. This epic match is best to be seen in this format: black and white forms blazing across the panels – a frail boy against the rippling muscles of a monster which set him down his path. The illustrations which the anime is based upon do not do the story justice, with the animated version so censored that the manga is the truest way with which to see Bell’s conflict. You cannot but help to remember his struggle, his sheer determination, his sense of justice against that which started and now ends his journey – turning Bell Cranel into the hero with which we will remember this epic story.
The satisfaction of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? comes to fruition as the beast which began now ends Bell’s struggles as an adventurer. To compare the anime to this book does not fulfill the truest struggles of the young boy and now with foresight, is a pale comparison when you witness this singular event. A mammoth beast against the rabbit, David versus Goliath, man over nature … however you describe this conflict, this version is the one to rule over all.
Content Grade: A++
Art Grade: A+
Packaging Grade: A+
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: November 22, 2016
MSRP: $13.00