Distant lights illuminating the darkness pique Chito's and Yuuri's curiosity, so the two hop aboard their beloved Kettenkrad and head for the horizon。 What they find may not be what they were looking for, but the surviving fragments of civilization are enough to keep them going。 There's no telling what other strange surprises lie in store as their journey continues。。。
This is a review for the manga as a whole and not this individual volume, so it will probably be somewhat spoilerish。 The anime for this manga had been on my radar for some time。 I knew very little about it, other than it was usually compared to Kino's Journey which I enjoyed。 I think I watched the entire anime within a forty-eight-hour period of starting it, and I immediately knew I had to read the manga to find out more。So, I had already read the manga a couple times in unofficial translations This is a review for the manga as a whole and not this individual volume, so it will probably be somewhat spoilerish。 The anime for this manga had been on my radar for some time。 I knew very little about it, other than it was usually compared to Kino's Journey which I enjoyed。 I think I watched the entire anime within a forty-eight-hour period of starting it, and I immediately knew I had to read the manga to find out more。So, I had already read the manga a couple times in unofficial translations by this point, so this isn't exactly my first read。 I've had plenty of time to process my feelings towards this story, and there was really an extraordinary amount to process。The first thing most people I know who have either seen the anime or read the manga say is it's very depressing。 I'll be honest, just looking at the basic plot makes it seem like a horrifically sad and hopeless tale。 Yet, I never was hit by any pity for these two girls in this hopeless situation。 If anything, I envied them。They were born into a dying and nearly dead world, in a collapsed society built in the ruins of an older collapsed society。 They seem to have been separately taken in by an older man after something conceivably happened to their separate sets of parents。 That was the only family/parental figure they can remember。 They lose him at a very young age and are forced into the world to fend for themselves。They are almost entirely ignorant of humanity, history, morality, and basically anything that we humans take for granted from our social constructs。 So, they experience the remnants of this long dead world from an entirely fresh perspective, and it's so well executed to make it breathtaking。 I was in constant awe of how effortlessly thought provoking it was。 Heavy concepts were given fresh perspective from the eyes of these two unbiased observers。 War, death, life, the afterlife, art, music, literature, and that's only the first ones to come to mind。 They have one simple purpose, and that's to find their way to the highest level of the multilayered ruins, hoping there's something up there。 Yet, the journey comes to mean more to them than the destination。 All the experiences they share together on their trek make their lives worthwhile, as unfair as their lives seem。 Despite having only each other for almost the entirety of the story, they always had each other。 Both of them had one ever faithful and unshakable companion to help them navigate through life。 I guess that's why I'm envious of them。 The simplicity of their existence, coupled with having a person they loved deeply to get through it with, sounds nice。 I suppose that's odd to say about two young girls forced to scrounge for every bit of food and water they can find, but the author herself mentioned feeling envious of them in the afterword。 I guess I'm not alone, and that's one of the feelings these manga volumes gave me。 I felt that as long as this story existed, and there was an author out there who could invoke these kinds of emotions in me, I'd never be alone。There are so many powerfully emotional scenes that it's hard to even begin going into the finer details of the plot, so I'm not going to do that。 I just want to say that I'm not sure if a work of fiction has ever moved me like this。 Even the artwork, which I don't have much of an eye for, constantly made me want to sit and appreciate it。 Every time I read this, I'm filled with a sense that everything will be okay, in the end, and that life, for all its hardships, is very much worth living。 。。。more
Adrián,
Me dejó una sensación extraña, algo así como melancolía。 Me da mucha pena, aún no entiendo del todo por qué。 Las historias son muy dulces, pero la soledad es vasta y acorta distancias con la tristeza。
Yuri,
Now it’s seems promising。
Joe Kerr,
So somber, yet so engrossing。This is very different from my usual fare of supernatural & harem rom-coms。 Such a morose subject here。 It's a wonder the girls aren't filled with utter despair。 Such a strange adventure, & such a strange life。 I hope we get some backstory on the girls。 It would be nice to see where they originated, how they met, etc。 I have a feeling though, that we might not get that。 Art, very rough, feels much more "rough sketch" than "finished art"。 But, as much as I didn't like So somber, yet so engrossing。This is very different from my usual fare of supernatural & harem rom-coms。 Such a morose subject here。 It's a wonder the girls aren't filled with utter despair。 Such a strange adventure, & such a strange life。 I hope we get some backstory on the girls。 It would be nice to see where they originated, how they met, etc。 I have a feeling though, that we might not get that。 Art, very rough, feels much more "rough sketch" than "finished art"。 But, as much as I didn't like this style at 1st, I now am beginning to appreciate it, as it really fits well with the story。 Dialogue, a bit boring at times。 You'd think the girls would be more engaged with each other, as they have no one else。 It seems a lot is left unsaid between the 2。 。。。more
Summer,
cute manga series in an interesting setting
Aleksandra,
3。5 starsAnother good volume, I’m vibing with postapocalyptic slice of life, the art is lovely, the girls are blobs of cuteness。
Colton,
"A being that lights up the dark。。。" "A being that lights up the dark。。。" 。。。more
Beth,
The first volume of this manga didn't do much for me, but coming back later and reading it back-to-back with this one, I'm much more involved with these two young women and their "cozy post-apocalyptic" story。 Chi and Yu are subsisting on rations they scavenge as they go, the only animal we've seen is an already-dead fish, we haven't seen any plants that I recall, and there's no evidence of there being any farms or anything to farm, or even to gather aside from stockpiles of manufactured food。 A The first volume of this manga didn't do much for me, but coming back later and reading it back-to-back with this one, I'm much more involved with these two young women and their "cozy post-apocalyptic" story。 Chi and Yu are subsisting on rations they scavenge as they go, the only animal we've seen is an already-dead fish, we haven't seen any plants that I recall, and there's no evidence of there being any farms or anything to farm, or even to gather aside from stockpiles of manufactured food。 And we've only seen two people besides the girls, so this world's prospects, and their prospects, are maybe not that great。。。。At six volumes, this series is very short by manga standards, so that's another incentive to continue with it。 。。。more
Mike,
Perhaps not what it could have been, but a compelling journey all the same。Series thoughts: https://derailmentsofthought。com/2019。。。 Perhaps not what it could have been, but a compelling journey all the same。Series thoughts: https://derailmentsofthought。com/2019。。。 。。。more
Melania 🍒,
3。6|5
Wendi Lee,
I really love this manga, which takes place in an unnamed post-apocalyptic city。 Chito and Yuuri roam around, trying to figure out how people used to live when everything around is foreign to them, daydreaming about sleeping in actual beds。 It's a terrific blend of innocent wonder and the stark realization that these girls are just barely surviving。 I really love this manga, which takes place in an unnamed post-apocalyptic city。 Chito and Yuuri roam around, trying to figure out how people used to live when everything around is foreign to them, daydreaming about sleeping in actual beds。 It's a terrific blend of innocent wonder and the stark realization that these girls are just barely surviving。 。。。more
May Fisher-Guest,
More of the same from the first volume, but enjoyable none the less
Donna,
Chito and Yuuri head toward a distant lighted building and find - something。This is an intriguing little series。 It's very much a low key slice of life story。 The girls enjoy the sound of rain, imagine staying in one place for a while, and meet another stranger。 But at the end, they are again alone。 They make a good pair and it's obvious in this volume that they appreciate having someone along in this post-apocalyptic world。 I love the fact that they're not trying to figure out what happened, or Chito and Yuuri head toward a distant lighted building and find - something。This is an intriguing little series。 It's very much a low key slice of life story。 The girls enjoy the sound of rain, imagine staying in one place for a while, and meet another stranger。 But at the end, they are again alone。 They make a good pair and it's obvious in this volume that they appreciate having someone along in this post-apocalyptic world。 I love the fact that they're not trying to figure out what happened, or why it happened - they're just trying to live。 I'll be reading the next book in the series。 。。。more
Eressea,
下一本就沒看過中文版了~
Brandon,
Similar in structure to the first volume, we follow Yuu and Chito as they trudge along by themselves through the post-apocalyptic ruins of a megacity, until they run into a new person for the last three chapters - with the new person going her separate way at the end, snapping the manga back to its primary dynamic。A major highlight is the "Temple" chapter, with the tall, skinny statues of weird gods。 Other elements in the manga suggest a big war that led to the downfall of the city, but the temp Similar in structure to the first volume, we follow Yuu and Chito as they trudge along by themselves through the post-apocalyptic ruins of a megacity, until they run into a new person for the last three chapters - with the new person going her separate way at the end, snapping the manga back to its primary dynamic。A major highlight is the "Temple" chapter, with the tall, skinny statues of weird gods。 Other elements in the manga suggest a big war that led to the downfall of the city, but the temple has a purity to it, sustained throughout time, that it's hard to imagine just how terrible the war might have been for this temple to remain so well-preserved。A bit of a dip in quality (arguably) with the "Rain Song" chapter。 The main idea is that the two girls are taking shelter from the rain, beneath an abandoned spider-tank or something, and Yuu notices the sound made by rain dropping onto her helmet。 They then gather a bunch of cans and things to make a little symphony of rain-on-metal sounds。 Cute stuff。 Only, you know, this is manga, so there's no sound, so we're expected to make the music in our head based on the SFX printed on the pages(?)。 I'm sure the idea is better-executed in the anime。 At the very least, I cannot say this chapter is a dud because it still looks nice, and the giant SFX create their own meta-visual atmosphere to make up for the silence of the physical book。 。。。more
Georgia Monk,
Certainly more stuff to sit and think about。 Might be the best, or worst, series for someone in an existential crisis。
Michael,
Dark ApocalypseA future with few people but lots of layers of civilization that must be thousands of years old。 Dwindling resources must have doomed civilization along with constant warfare and over-population。 Dark manga!
The simplicity of the actions in this book hide some really deep concepts。 It’s so lovely paced and uses quiet moments the same way Mr。 Rogers did on his children’s show。
Brook,
Loved the series, and now I'm reading the manga。 I think the anime was much better, but the manga is also cute and depressing all at once。 Loved the series, and now I'm reading the manga。 I think the anime was much better, but the manga is also cute and depressing all at once。 。。。more
Aaron,
The environment has changed but the struggle remains the same: Chiito and Yuuri must comb through an expanse the abandoned in search of food and shelter, surviving from day to day, with one another as company。 The path of GIRLS LAST TOUR #2 rekindles one's flair for dead-civilization survivor stories 。 。 。 if only glimpsed through the experiences of two women's penchant for discerning humor, philosophy, and hope on their unending journey。In truth, the unanswered questions plaguing this manga kee The environment has changed but the struggle remains the same: Chiito and Yuuri must comb through an expanse the abandoned in search of food and shelter, surviving from day to day, with one another as company。 The path of GIRLS LAST TOUR #2 rekindles one's flair for dead-civilization survivor stories 。 。 。 if only glimpsed through the experiences of two women's penchant for discerning humor, philosophy, and hope on their unending journey。In truth, the unanswered questions plaguing this manga keep piling up, and yet, the narrative is never quite burdened by the added complexity。 What happened to all of the people? What was the city's main enterprise? How did Chiito and Yuuri come to be in this city? And for that matter, how did Chiito and Yuuri meet? GIRLS LAST TOUR #2 is not in any particular rush to answer these questions。 And while this deprives the story of any real structure or goal-setting, it nevertheless permits the lead characters to keep a firm grip on the fair-minded whimsy and free-spiritedness that lends the manga much of its charm。Once again, the characters find themselves tickling the nose of domesticity despite their itinerancy。 Would settling down and building a home of their own bring true happiness? Well, it seems too good to be true when Chiito and Yuuri stumble upon an abandoned dormitory (Chiito: "It's kind of a dream of mine, you know? Living in a place like this。")。 Or how about when the girls get snared in a downpour, and seek shelter beneath the rusted carcass of a dilapidated tank? As the storm surges, noises of the natural world abound。 And once it's all over, Yuuri ponders the damning truth: "Was the world always so [quiet]?"The story again broaches talk of god, of the afterlife, and generally speaking, individual purpose。 The travelers again encounter a stranger with a narrow focus (whose achievements, again, slip through their fingers)。 But in the end, it seems Chii-chan and Yuu-chan are delightfully resigned to their calm camaraderie。 Because if one is to face the end of the world, it may well be impossible to do so alone。GIRLS LAST TOUR #2 keeps strong to the platonic relationship between the two main characters。 Yuuri does confess that being with Chiito brings her comfort in times of despair ("I got more peace of mind when I found you 。 。 。 in the dark。"), but alas, Yuuri's one-track mind quickly strays from sentimentality to goofiness in the ensuing panels。 Not to say there isn't innuendo in this book 。 。 。 there definitely is。 But it is perhaps best to not weigh down impending thoughts of futility and death in lieu by also adding the encumbrance of loneliness。Tsukimizu's style remains loose and undemanding。 The patterning of word balloons is vastly imperfect, however, and there are times when it is difficult to know who is speaking。 Altogether, GIRLS LAST TOUR #2 is a good continuation of a good manga。 。。。more
Jordan,
I really want to know more about this world。 On to the next volume!
Loz,
Despite it being a whole set of things I don't typically enjoy, I am liking this series a lot。 Interesting questions are being asked, and fascinating ones are being left whispered。 Art style is perfect for the absurdist philosophy being pecked at。 Despite it being a whole set of things I don't typically enjoy, I am liking this series a lot。 Interesting questions are being asked, and fascinating ones are being left whispered。 Art style is perfect for the absurdist philosophy being pecked at。 。。。more
Feliza Casano,
While Girls' Last Tour isn't precisely the sort of manga I expected it to be, Girls' Last Tour, Vol。 1was an unexpectedly touching story that affected me, um, a bit strongly。 Set in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, Chito and Yuuri are simply living the best life they can, despite what's going on around them: the land they explore is for the most part environmentally devastated。Read the full review at Girls in Capes。 While Girls' Last Tour isn't precisely the sort of manga I expected it to be, Girls' Last Tour, Vol。 1was an unexpectedly touching story that affected me, um, a bit strongly。 Set in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, Chito and Yuuri are simply living the best life they can, despite what's going on around them: the land they explore is for the most part environmentally devastated。Read the full review at Girls in Capes。 。。。more