This is the first volume of a manga series based on a light novel series that was based on a web-novel - so, interesting development history! I spotted it at Barnes and Noble, and liked the art-style. The premise - players trapped in a video game - was reminiscent of other series, including Sword Art Online, but there seem to be differences here, most notably that as of this first volume, only the main character has "survived" the shutdown of the servers on the multi-player game he'd loved so much. Now he finds himself a super-powered monster in a world of PCs and NPCs who each seem to have developed their own personalities - but what's he to do with his new world-to-conquer?

While the artwork is good and the premise interesting, I admit I didn't get terribly caught up in this volume - possibly due to the amount of setup that's needed here. Towards the end, new characters and settings pop in, suggesting a more interesting story-arc. That said, there are so many characters introduced here already that it's tough to keep them straight - and I found the main character less interesting than some of the supporting ones. Still, he looks pretty badass in his full skeletal-overlord mode!

[There's a TV Tropes page on the various forms of the story. And there's a 2015 anime adaptation.]

I plan to leave this book on a bench or window ledge in the plaza, perhaps near the hobby shop. Hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2017 Allergic to A release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2017 TV Series release challenge. ***