REVIEW: ‘Dr. STONE,’ Volume 15

Dr. STONE, Volume 15 is an action-adventure science fiction manga written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi. The Shonen Jump series is published in English by VIZ Media. The series follows the events and aftermath that caused all of humanity to mysteriously turn into stone. For thousands of years, they remained frozen unable to move, until one day a boy genius, Senku, emerged from the stone. Armed with his vast knowledge and the limited resources around him, Senku determined to bring civilization back from scratch.

While the Kingdom of Science is busy reviving people, Senku’s task force is putting together a plan to nab the petrification device. Once the equipment’s ready, it’ll be a three-way showdown between the Kingdom of Science, the Petrification Kingdom, and the mighty warrior Moz. However, it seems their enemies might be one step ahead with a scheme of their own.

Volume 15 brings the Treasure Island Arc to an exciting climax. The majority of this arc focused on the Senku and his crewmates set sail to the island where the International Space Station landed after the Petrification event. Their goal is to locate the platinum that is needed to revive the petrified people while also combatting another human tribe that inhabits the island.

Boichi’s art in this volume perfectly captures and adds to the suspense in this volume. For the most part, I feel like Boichi’s art style in this volume is the same standard that I usually expect. However, it is the moments where a situation becomes dire or intense when Boichi kicks things up a notch. Specifically, it is the level of detail, shading, and dramatization of a character’s facial features that makes the illustrations stand out in this volume.

Another thing I enjoyed about this volume is that gives more insight into the Petrification Weapon, the Medusa. The Medusa is a technological device that can turn people to stone and is used as a weapon by the opposing human tribe. This volume showed the device in action and answered some questions as to how it turns people to stone. However, while it answered some questions it also left me curious wanting to know more about them. Such as where did it come from, who made it, or was this the original device that originally turned everyone into stone at the beginning of the series. I’m looking forward to seeing how these questions are answered as the story proceeds in the series and what other mysteries will be revealed.

As for the characters in this volume, there isn’t much time for in-depth character development in this volume. However, I liked that Chrome gets a small moment to shine in this volume. Chrome is one of the human descendants from Ishigami Village.  After learning about science from Senku, became friends, and now serves as his unofficial right hand. I have always enjoyed the friendly rivalry that Chrome and Senku’s share with one another when it comes to science. Even though Senku has a greater level of knowledge, Chrome strives to one day surpass and beat Senku one day. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but in this volume, I was glad to see Chrome gets a chance to help find a solution before Senku.

I really have to applaud Inagaki’s writing in Dr. STONE, Volume 15 because it is just so good! From the very beginning of this arc, I have been eager to see what would come to see how the plot would be revealed. I love how the plot isn’t predictable and reveals just enough at the right moments to give the right amount of suspense to the story.

For example, in this volume the plot reveals unexpected twists and turns that Senku and his friends to overcome. Inagaki does a great job of using the suspense to make readers believe that they won’t succeed this time. Especially when it comes to the cliffhanger at the end of this volume. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but all I can say is that it made my jaw drop.

Overall, Dr. STONE, Volume 15 might just be one of the most exciting volumes in the series to date. This volume brings the Treasure Island Arc to a tremendous climax that ends with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. This volume is accompanied by great character moments, suspense storytelling, more of Boichi’s intense artwork, and intriguing reveals that give answers, but also leave you with more questions than before. I honestly can not recommend this manga enough, it is well worth the read.

Dr. STONE, Volume 15 is available wherever books are sold.