Orient

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OK. When I founded that Magi´s author realased a new manga i didn´t expected too much. Maybe because it reminds me of Edens Zero or Samurai 8, which taught me that the fact that a person makes a good manga doesn´t means that everythinh it does is good. But I had a big surprise reading Orient.

The story is about the Edo Japanese period dominated by Onis and Kishins (basucally, demons, samurais, swords, magic, that kind of stuff) and a guy called Musashi and his friend Kojiro (I still loving that references to characters of the context that Ohtaka works)

STORY: 6
This is the weakest point of ... Orient. The problem isn´t that is cliche, but is very simple. Is just, the kind of stuf you´ll find in every manga, and its SO SIMILLAR to Magi in factors like the use of magic and the adventures. In fact, the magic system is pretty similar to all the shonens. But, for the other side, Orient is a light and simple reading of a shonen manga, and is starting to getting better from chapter 40. The battles aren´t a masterpiece, but they´re not bad. They have a good balance between power and strategy for a shonen, and they are long and enjoyable (the battle from chapter one, which is supposed to have a duration of a few pages like in every shonen has a duration of 5 CHAPTERS OF 30 OR MORE PAGES). The battles are not easy to win, and, in the most of causes, Musashi and his friends lost important battles only for learn, earning experience and try again. This. added to a comedy that doesn´t feels forced and a NULL fanservice (seriously, in manga industries is hard, VERY HARD, to find a series without nude woman everywhere), makes Orient stands out in rhythm between the new shonen manga series.

ART: 8
I don´t mind some characters have the same design that others from Magi, because it only shows in the faces of some characters. But the facial expressions are so similar between them. In the other side, the weapons are pretty well drawed: you can see the light effects on the metal, and the extremely ornate and collored clothing and hair. The battles can be well done when the situation warrants. But another negative point is the simplicity of the design in Onis and Kishins, looking just like deformed joint masses.

CHARACTERS: 8
Simple but not annoying. Between the MCs is a relation it´s a fluid relationship that doesn´t consist in only repeating things like "the magic of friendship". I´d like to add the learning and evolution is having Musashi in the manga, learning about his mistakes and trying to correct them, thing you don´t often see in a shonen. For now, we have a pretty little cast for a modern manga, but I hope it gets bigger

ENJOYMENT: 8
If you´re searching an SHONEN GENERIC MANGA (generic doesn´t means bad, it means normal), you´ll enjoy it

This is a review of only the first 3 chapters of the story, and now that you're informed, let us talk about this interesting situation we've got here.


Orient is the new manga of Ohtaka Shinobu, Magi's author. And though a lot of people say that you should separate the author's works, it should be acknowledged that you'd expect something good from an author whom you've read\watched their works before.

Just to make it clear, I've dropped this manga, Twice.

The biggest problem that it has is not managing to be interesting enough for me to read it. You can predict whatever's going to happen ... just by reading the first few chapters.
Of course, I hope that I'm mistaken and that the story is more interesting than how it seems, but I doubt it.

The story is this generic "Boy who wants to become something so he starts his journey chasing his dreams" formula.

Does this instantly make a story bad? No it does not.
In fact, it's one of the most succeeding formula of all time.

But when you're story seems to be following every little thing in this formula, that's when the problem arises.

Not to mention the second big problem that this show faces which made me drop the story for the first time: The world of the story.

It seems like something from a much older time, but then again there is this huge motorbike that is absolutely from our modern world, which makes you wonder why do they need human miners when there's such technology.

And then when you think that's all, you're going to have people wearing robot suits like they're from The Power Rangers.

No seriously, what is this world?

And talking about the characters, you have the red haired dude who is your generic shounen guy, and you have the blonde friend who's a little more interesting considering his character is different than what shounen usually offers but alas, hope they're not gonna turn him into shounen guy 2.

Now let's talk a little about the art because oh boy it's not helping.
It reminds me of One piece's art, that feeling you have when you feel everything's being thrown at you.

In summery, this is a story that I really want to give a chance to, but the story itself is not helping me with it's unappealing everything.

I heard it's going to have an anime so let's give it a chance when it's aired.

I first bought this manga simply for the cool cover, and was very dissapointed by the story as someone who doesnt enjoy "Generic Shounen" I did not enjoy this, the only reason i got 4 whole volumes is becuase of volume 4's cover. this story fails in its story basically.

Story - 1: Story is indeed generic and boring and as a "manga connesiur" it is something ive read enough Simply get with friend with superpowers and kill bad guys there was nothing special to killing demons. Though i did enjoy the politics and relations of the demon things and some foolish people who were trying ... to appease them that was the only intresting thing main characters not so much.

Art - 8: Arts pretty good, Volume covers are good. The art show the many enemys well um not bad slightly above average art, Thats all i got to say.

Characters - 6: Characters were fine relationships were one of the only things written well enough character designs were more intresting then their "Character"

I Dont like to hate on manga or any thing someone put their hard work in but this isnt great i dont recomend it.

Kinda re-did it

Overall, Orient got a slow start compared to Magi. Musashi as a character is hella annoying up until Awajima arc (which is super long), but recently he has gone calmer and how should I say, not brawn-over-brain like him in the earlier chapters?

We got to see development from Kojiro's side too! I'm surprised that Musashi's past doesn't have as much impact to the plot as Kojiro's past. Y'all better catch up!
Magi is more spread on this department as well, but that's okay, Orient still got a long journey.

The thing that bother me the most is, the details keep getting less and ... less in the latest chapter. You okay there, Shinobu?

I didn't watch, and probably won't watch, the anime, so I'm writing this as a manga only fan.

Most reviewers have already noted that Orient does not start off strong. Its no-brain 'shounen-ness' is so overpowering in the first few arcs, and the world-building also took a while to kick in and actually start making sense. Was very tempted to drop it at first, but now I'm glad I stuck with it! Things start getting more interesting at around chapter 40, I'd say.

Ootaka Shinobu's art is also fantastic, as per usual. The fight scenes are flashy, and I prefer less-flashy-more-strategic fights, but her art skills are ... undeniable. Her characters are also interesting, both in design and in personality (even Musashi grows on you eventually). Especially the 'villains...' I'm up to date with the manga and we still know very little about them, and you'll be left wanting to know more after every update. Hopefully this convinces at least someone to stick through with the manga, it's worthwhile I promise!

This is a great one. The story is predictable in some areas yet nostalgic in a sense. The art and art style is beautiful. The characters are the average Shonen bunch which isn't particularly bad and even though the base characters have the basic Shonen tropes the way they drive the story and the plot is interesting.
Tbh the start had me really bored, then it began to pick up the pace and things got interesting and the most recent chapters are really good, I've been enjoying every chapter.

The manga so far is in no way able to match that of the top manga's such ... as Kimetsu no Yaiba and Jujutsu Kaisen however its still able to entertain me with my nit picking.

An interesting fantasy adventure about our main character Musashi as he travels Hi no Moto with his best friend and brother-like figure Kojiro. After a life threatening encounter, they make a vow to each other to become the greatest band of bushi to exist. It's a fun story with an interesting world of mystery and excitement that the author is able to depict early on.

The character work in this story was for the most part well done which is always good to see in a shonen series. The characters are relatively likable, and you want to root for them throughout the story. Even a couple ... of the antagonists have a level of charisma that makes them likable as well. The depiction of trauma that many of these characters endure is also presented well. The characters labor over complicated feelings of loneliness, belonging, and purpose, which leads to them feeling like more complex characters. This only gets thoroughly explored in the main cast, but it's still a welcome development. However, there is a flatness that you feel from many of the characters that aren't Musashi and Kojiro. It's an unfortunate disappointment that contributes to the overall story in a negative way.

The art is also wonderful throughout the story. From the unique style of the swords characters use to the way their powers are depicted, also the way Shinobu Ohtaka depicts light and the brilliance of their powers is very detailed and pleasing to look at.

The story tends to be the weak point of this series for me. It's a simplistic premise, which isn't bad at all. A world of demons and the bands of bushi work tirelessly to slay them and free their people. The mystery behind how their world came to be is interesting along with the powers used to combat the Black Demon God. However, the power ups that happen for the protagonists feel, at times, unearned. Additionally, the explanations surrounding the history of Hi no Kuni and its leaders didn't feel very impactful for the overall story. It's a strange dynamic that there are many good storytelling elements of this series, but none of the payoffs, reveals, and twists in the story felt truly impactful. Possibly because the proper buildup to those moments wasn't given.

Overall, it was a solid ambitious series that I think did a lot of things well, but not great. Hoping for another Ohtaka masterpiece in the future!

Story is mediocore and predictable. TBH, I don't like the start of the manga. I feel that it started to improve in the latest chapters.

If you like Shinobu's art, then there's that. I love her art, although sometimes I feel her art is excessively 'detailed'. Unnecessary drawings are being drawn that makes the panels 'full' and pakced.

EXTRA; character designs are great, I really like Shinobu's design as always. BUT, there are many similar faces with Magi, so be prepared xD

The characters are alright, they're not amazing, but they're not bad. Like I said, generic.

I enjoy reading it til' the latest chapter, ... so if you have time go on read it.

Dull, so very dull. How anyone could give this a high score is beyond me. I liked Magi pretty well but it had some problems. Those problems dialed up to 11 in this manga.


Why the hell can't the manga just stop for a second and let things play out naturally and just focus on their adventures, the world and the characters. Why do they have to bring this stupid plot point known as the Goddess Vessel into the mix. Why can't exisintig characters grow a strong bond before you introduce new ones and try to make us care for them( cough.....couugh Michiru....).

I just got ... burn out in the end. My snapping point was when we were finally gonna see Musashi grow, going from a Third Tier bushin mocked by everyone to someone more competent and worthy of respect. Before his magical muggufin is revealed and there goes any chance of seeing him getting acknowledged on his own merit rather than on the muggufin.

I also got pissed when someone when someone who was growing into a maybe supporting character had a forced plot twist(Michiru). Why did you have to pull if of author. Even if the sales were low there must have been other ways around it.

5/10, unworthy of your time. Magi is a 7.5/10 so go read/watch that.