This classic yet controversial Japanese novel is available for the first time in English--a high-octane thriller about senseless youth violence that is a potent allegory of what it means to be young and survive in today's dog-eat-dog world.

Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale is an international best seller, the basis of the cult film, and the inspiration for a popular manga. And fifteen years after its initial release, Battle Royale remains a controversial pop culture phenomenon. Join New York Times best-selling author John Skipp, Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm, Philip K. Dick Award-nominated novelist Toh EnJoe, and an array of writers, scholars, and fans in discussing girl power, firepower, professional wrestling, bad movies, the survival chances of Hollywood’s leading teen icons in a battle royale, and so much more! -- VIZ Media

"Parental advisory explicit content" -- p. [1] of cover.

The cult Japanese bestselling phenomenon! Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller is based on an irresistible premise: a class of 42 junior high school students are taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are electronically collared, provided with weapons of varying potency, and sent out onto the island. If they are in the wrong part of the island at the wrong time, their collars will explode. If they band together to save themselves a collar will explode at random. If they try to escape from the island, they will be blown up. Their only chance for survival lies in killing their classmates. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan - where it then proceeded to become a runaway bestseller - BATTLE ROYALE is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, and a potent story of politics and survival in a dog-eat-dog world. Made into a controversial hit movie of the same name, BATTLE ROYALE is already a contemporary Japanese pulp classic, and is now available for the first time to the UK mainstream.

Reads from back to front and from right to left.

Collects Incredible Hulk (1968) #234-244, Annual (1968) #8-9; material from Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #20, 24. Roger Stern brings his timeless Hulk run to a close with an Incredible finish! With Hulk icon Sal Buscema at the drawing board, ol’ Jade Jaws gets wound up in an epic four-issue struggle with Machine Man that’ll test the limits of both man and, well, machine! The high-tech thief Goldbug is searching for a lost city of gold, and needs the Hulk to find it, but what is his connection to the enigmatic They Who Wield Power? And can Hulk stand up to a foe even bigger than he is? Find out when he takes on It the Living Colossus! Plus: It’s Hulk vs. Canadian heavyweight Sasquatch in one extra-sized Annual, and the legendary Steve Ditko is on hand to draw another!

Tohru starts training with Elma to prepare for the Arena of Trials. But who will prevail when they find themselves up against three boss-tier opponents?! And what does Miss Kobayashi really think of Tohru's desire to get stronger? Meanwhile, chaos ensues when Lucoa's little sister unleashes her twisted love on Shouta-kun, and unknown depths of havoc are unlocked when Kanna learns about static electricity. It's Volume 15 of this tale of humans and dragons learning to coexist!