Comics / Manga

Maximum Ride Volume 3

By Chris Zimmerman
September 1, 2010 - 14:07

It’s not often that an American novel series finds itself adapted into a manga. In Japan, the custom of adapting popular light novels into the medium usually results in a mixed bag of quality. However given the series’ focus on young adults overcoming hardship while mastering new powers, it only makes sense that Maximum Ride would prove to be a winning formula.

Previously a series of young adult novels written by the prolific author, James Patterson, Maximum Ride was met with fairly critical success, garnering acclaim and enough appeal to warrant the licensing of a film. Released by Yen Press, the manga follows the series closely, deviating from it at certain points so as to allow the manga to flow at a brisker pace.

The series focuses on the continued struggle of a group of teenage outcasts who are forced on the run from a mysterious group that experimented on them, implanting them with the DNA of birds. The title is taken from the main protagonist’s name, Maximum “Max” Ride, who leads the group as they flee from a pack of human/ wolf hybrids called erasers. Volume 3 amps up the drama with the revelation that Max might be turning into an eraser, while the rest of the group contends with their own downcast feelings of failing to find their parents. Given the series focus on teenagers, readers should prepare themselves for quite a bit of angst spilling over into multiple pages before the drama is resolved or the focus is shifted to that of a different issue plaguing the group.

Surprisingly, given the usual art design of American-to-manga properties, the artwork is refreshingly good. As past titles such as X-Men: Misfits have shown, the key selling point of the property may be in the name but the art can make or break a series as it proved with the former’s lackadaisical effort. The artwork here is detailed and pleasant and different from the usual imitation manga art adaptations are known for.

Maximum Ride volume 3 won’t provide too much variety for those who have already read the books, though if teenage angst mixed with a solid story sounds appealing, Maximum Ride the manga is sure to satisfy.

Rating: 8.5 / 10

Last Updated: January 1, 2026 - 11:07