Battle Royale: Angels' Border

From Viz: Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller envisions a nightmare scenario: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan, where it became a runaway best-seller, Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world.

In the future, random Jr. High School classes are chosen to compete in a game called Battle Royale. The rules: only one student can survive after 3 days on an island or else they all perish. Weapons are handed out and each student is sent out into the field alone and unprepared for the horror that awaits them. The classmates turn upon themselves in a battle for survival, treaties are made and broken, and former friends become foes as the relentless countdown continues. Amid the betrayals and rising body count, two classmates confess their love for each other and swear to survive this deadly game together. *Source: TOKYOPOP* --- The hyper-violent classic is back in a new edition! Forty-two middle school students are forced to fight to the death until only one survivor! *Source: Yen Press, Deluxe Edition Vol. 1* --- The original English volumes by TOKYOPOP were extensively rewritten by Keith Giffen, which eventually led to contradictions and plot holes in later volumes. TOKYOPOP rereleased the series in five omnibuses under the name Battle Royale: Ultimate Edition.