The Promised Neverland Volume 17 is a fantasy thriller manga written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu. The English-language release is published by VIZ Media as a part of the SHONEN JUMP imprint. The Promised Neverland tells the story of the Grace Field House orphanage children who learn that their loving caretaker, Mama, has actually been raising them like cattle to be fed to demons. The children work together to escape their fate while they desperately try to find a place in the world where they can exist and be free from the threat of the demons.
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The Promised Neverland Volume 17 covers chapters 144 through 152. Following the previous volume, Emma has finally achieved her goal of making a new promise that will free the humans and send them to the human world. Meanwhile, Norman sets his plan to wipe out all of the demons into motion as he leads his army into the demon capital. To succeed he will need all of his cunning and trickery to have any hope of defeating the most powerful demon in the kingdom, Queen Legravalima. Meanwhile, Emma and the other children race to the capital to stop Norman before it’s too late.
The art The Promised Neverland Volume 17 is fantastic. I especially loved all of the action scenes throughout this volume. Demizu did not hold back on the grim, gruesome, and graphic horror illustrations that have made this series so popular. The pages that really focus on the royal demons, in particular, are some of the most amazing illustrations not just for this volume, but for the entire series. You can’t help but want to take in every detail on each page. I love that Demizu did not hold back on the grim, gruesome, and graphic horror illustrations that have made this series so popular.
A good amount of this volume focuses on the blood war and fight between the royal demons and the outcasted Geelan Clan demons. I liked that the story shifts its focus to the demons and gives readers more insight and background on the discord within the demon’s society. At the beginning of the series when the demons are first introduced as the antagonists of the series, it feels like there wasn’t much depth to them. It is easy to assume that they are simply cruel faceless figures that eat children. However, as the series goes on and you learn more about the demon’s society, specifically the royals. Understanding how the royal demons have corrupted society and that there is inner conflict amongst them is necessary and adds more depth to the story and them as characters.
Lastly, I remain very impressed with Norman’s character evolution from a deuteragonist who has shifted from supporting the protagonist, Emma, to now opposing her. This evolution of his character is so different from the young boy who was introduced at the beginning of the series. The one that worked supportively alongside Emma, to now being someone that stands in her way. Considering everything that Norman’s gone through as a prisoner and test subject for the demons, I can’t really blame him for his motivations of wanting to destroy all of the demons.
From the very beginning of this series, Norman has always been someone that cares deeply for his family and would do anything to protect the ones that he loves. However, his desire to protect everyone results in him putting a lot of pressure on himself. He even disregards his own humanity and worth as a person if it means keeping everyone else safe. Volume 17, is a great example of this because it shows how Norman has justified his opposition of Emma because to him it is the only solution that protects everyone even if it means he has to give up his humanity.
Lastly, The Promised Neverland Volume 17 ends on a note that makes me very eager to see where things will go next. Emma’s finally made a way for all of the cattle children to be free and go to the human world, but at what cost?! I think the fact that the mangakas don’t reveal what Emma exchanged for their freedom is deliberate. I suspect that she had to give up something big in order to make the deal and I can’t wait to keep reading to find out more.
Overall, I highly recommend picking up The Promised Neverland Volume 17. This volume is full of some of the beautifully grotesque illustrations, that I have ever seen throughout the entire series. The story continues to heat up in every chapter from the intense battles to the ever-evolving story and character motivations clashing and opposing one another. Best of all, the mangaka keeps the story interesting by not revealing too much too soon, which leaves me eager to read the next volume.
The Promised Neverland, Volume 17 is available November 3, 2020, online and in bookstores. Learn more at VIZ.com
The Promised Neverland Volume 17
TL;DR
Overall, I highly recommend picking up The Promised Neverland, Volume 17. This volume is full of some of the beautifully grotesque illustrations, that I have ever seen throughout the entire series. The story continues to heat up in every chapter from the intense battles to the ever-evolving story and character motivations clashing and opposing one another. Best of all, the mangaka keeps the story interesting by not revealing too much too soon, which leaves me eager to read the next volume.
