[Manga Review] Dinosaur Sanctuary, Vol. 2

[chroniclesofabookworm]

BY: Itaru Kinoshita (Story & Art), Shin-ichi Fujiwara (Research Consultant), John Neal (Translator)
SERIES: ディノサン [Dinosan] (#2)
RELEASES: March 14, 2023 by Seven Seas
GENRE: Science Fiction, Slice of Life
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 3 out 5
SYNOPSIS: A SMALL MISTAKE... CHANGES EVERYTHING FOR DINOSAURS

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED…

When dinosaurs were found to have survived to modern times, people were enthralled–until a catastrophic incident drove dino-mania to extinction. When Kaidou, who was there to witness it, opens up about what happened, the rookie keeper Suma Suzume learns more about the disaster–and her coworker–than she ever expected. But that’s far from the only thing on her mind. Whether it’s raising a baby Troodon or throwing a birthday party for a geriatric T. rex, there’s always plenty for Suzume to do at Dinoland!



REVIEW: When dinosaurs survived into the modern era, people were enthralled—until a catastrophic event ended dinosaur mania. Kaidou, who witnessed it, explains what happened, and Suma Suzume learns more about the disaster-and about her coworker-than she ever anticipated. But that's not all she's thinking about. Suzume has plenty to do at Dinoland! From raising a baby Troodon to throwing a birthday party for a geriatric Tyrannosaurus T. rex, Suzume never runs out of things to do at Dinoland!

All of the things I liked about Volume. 1 continued to be enjoyable in this continuation. Despite this, I was not prepared for the harsh realities introduced into the storyline. A tragic event has occurred in the park's history, not only for humans, but also for dinosaurs.

Depending on your taste, this Volume may be a hit or a miss. The death of a dinosaur may spoil the enjoyment of some people. The death of a dinosaur is significant because it highlights the fragile balance between humans and these ancient creatures. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with reviving and caring for them in a modern setting. This event forces the characters to confront their impact on the dinosaurs' lives and prompts a deeper reflection on the ethical implications of their existence.

Suzume is given the task of caring for a baby dinosaur for two weeks after a heavy reveal. As the two weeks progress, it becomes clear just how difficult taking care of a baby dinosaur really is, particularly given the parental abandonment of the baby and the difficult challenge of the baby's fate.

Suzume's experience highlights the emotional and physical toll of caring for a creature that requires constant attention and care. The baby dinosaur's plight underscores the challenges of balancing compassion with the practical realities of its survival, forcing Suzume to grapple with the moral complexities of her role.

My rating was lowered due to a random teenager romance. It doesn't add anything to the story. The teenager romance felt out of place because it detracted from the more serious themes of the story, such as the ethics of reviving dinosaurs and the consequences of human actions. It trivializes the narrative, shifting the focus away from the pressing issues at Dinoland. Additionally, it disrupted the pacing by introducing an unnecessary subplot that didn't contribute to character development or the main storyline.

The inclusion of the romance subplot felt like a missed opportunity to explore the moral dilemmas and scientific consequences that are central to the story. It could have been replaced with scenes that explored the characters' struggles with their responsibilities or the broader implications of the dinosaur revival.

Leaving behind the romance subplot, we see Suzume throwing T. rex a birthday party. You can see how much Dinoland cares for its Dinosaurs. After that, some new characters were introduced.

All in all, a good read. The story would have been more impactful without the romance subplot, as it distracted from the core themes and diluted the narrative's depth.