Thunder 3 is every bit as strange as the synopsis on MAL makes it out to be, it seems to tell the story of our titular trio (Pyotaro, Tsubame, and Hiroshi) as they try to rescue Pyotaro's sister, Futaba, from aliens who govern the world they've traveled to all the while they discover just how strong they've become in comparison to normal humans living in this version of the universe. But, from the chapters I've read, three volumes in total, the story shifts perspective to a university student named Segumi who joins the rebellion against aliens occupying our planet.

It suffices as an action series with a great sense of pacing courtesy of its use of double-page spreads and the composition of elements taking space in said pages. One of its biggest pros is the scale of things as it lets you assimilate the danger befalling humanity just by showing you the sheer magnitude of alien ships or the stature of aliens themselves and while the incorporation of CG elements is a bit jarring at first it couples well with the contrast the series does between the cartoonish world and the realistically detailed world under alien control.

Now for the cons. It's a bit conflicting how people, in what we'd expect to be a world akin to our own (except for aliens of course), react quite indifferently to the cartoony trio (though it could be a commentary on current technology and social media, or just how accustomed they are to aliens at this point). Speaking of which, the trio, except for Pyotaro, don't have much character or motivation of their own. The series is juggling between being a Gantz-like set-up about people in battle suits fighting aliens with special weapons and powers, and a multiverse story about these odd cartoon characters entering a realistic world which felt more slapped in rather than something the story required, which feels incongruent with the hook the initial chapters had.

Overall there's much that could be ameliorated in future chapters I'm looking forward to reading, at the moment the series contains quality action, a unique style (uncannily similar to Hiroya Oku's works), and many mysteries surrounding the origin of the gateway opened between these two worlds and the intentions behind the aliens, that make it worth continuing to read for the time being.

Helpful

read more

"Thunder 3" es una obra extraña y algo experimental, firmada por un tal “Yuki Ikeda”, aunque resulta difícil no pensar en Hiroya Oku por el estilo de dibujo tan reconocible, prácticamente idéntico al de Gantz o Inuyashiki. En este caso mezclando el dibujo hiper realista, con uno más caricaturizado, digno de los mangas infantiles, en ese apartado, el manga es atractivo y tiene un estilo bastante particular.

El problema es que, más allá del impacto visual, la obra se siente bastante vacía de contenido. A lo largo de los 28 capítulos que lleva, apenas hay diálogos importantes y los acontecimientos avanzan a cuentagotas. Cada episodio parece más interesado en ilustrar imágenes potentes que en desarrollar una narrativa clara o personajes con los que se pueda conectar mínimamente. Tras varios tomos, la sensación es la de haber leído muy poco, pese a haber pasado ya bastantes páginas.

Lo más desconcertante es que, según se comenta, el manga estaría cerca de su final en Japón. De ser así, la obra corre el riesgo de cerrarse sin haber desarrollado realmente nada de peso, lo que convertiría todo este recorrido en una experiencia bastante olvidable.

En resumen, "Thunder 3" es un manga visualmente espectacular pero narrativamente hueco hasta el momento. Habrá que ver si consigue justificar todo esto en sus últimos compases, pero por ahora deja una sensación de tiempo mal invertido, y no puedo recomendarla a nadie que no sea un fan loco de Hiroya Oku.


ENG:

"Thunder 3" is a strange and somewhat experimental work, signed by someone named "Yuki Ikeda," although it's hard not to think of Hiroya Oku due to the highly recognizable art style, practically identical to that of Gantz or Inuyashiki. In this case, it blends hyper-realistic art with a more cartoonish style, worthy of children's manga. In that respect, the manga is appealing and has a rather unique style.

The problem is that, beyond the visual impact, the work feels quite devoid of content. Throughout its 28 chapters, there are hardly any significant dialogues, and the events unfold at a snail's pace. Each episode seems more interested in illustrating powerful images than in developing a clear narrative or characters with whom the reader can connect. After several volumes, the feeling is one of having read very little, despite having turned quite a few pages.

The most disconcerting thing is that, according to rumors, the manga is nearing its end in Japan. If that's the case, the story risks ending without having truly developed anything substantial, making the entire experience quite forgettable.

In short, "Thunder 3" is a visually spectacular manga, but narratively hollow so far. We'll have to see if it manages to justify all this in its final chapters, but for now, it leaves a feeling of time wasted, and I can't recommend it to anyone who isn't a die-hard Hiroya Oku fan.

Helpful

read more