Gekiryuuchi

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Gekiryuuchi is an interesting manga. It’s a short 25 chapter action manga wherein a weak character grows up to be strong with the help of someone who trains him.

This is the kind of concept typically used by larger manga, but this one does it in only 25 chapters and, boy, does it do it really well! I have nearly nothing but compliments for this manga. So much so that I’ll have to review by building up from the weakest compliment I have to the strongest.

First, the weakest compliment is the great art. It is attractive and, more importantly, it makes fight scenes clear and easy ... to understand. This is not something action manga always gets right, so it’s good the author does it here.

Second, the next compliment I can give is that the fight scenes incline towards the realistic sides. Fighters in this manga fight by using tactics, good form, and actual real skills. In the beginning, the MC succeeds due to aggression, ability to read moves, and because his opponents are utterly untrained.

It uses this realism to great effect. There’s no easy wins without getting a single scratch. The MC would often get bloody and everyone gets injured. Every fight is a street fight too. Weapons and dirty tactics are used. The MC would maim guys by biting then smashing their face in with a bottle. That aggression is also real. In one case, a guy tries to mug him and he immediately responds with a punch. He didn’t even bother to try to de-escalate and sometimes doesn’t even say a word.

Can you believe this guy originally tried to kill himself after being bullied too much?

Lastly, perhaps the biggest compliment I can give this manga is the pacing. The pacing is the absolute best I have ever seen for an action manga.

We learn about the MC and his goals, then we see his progression (which is logical) in a straightforward manner. His training is also simple and straight forward and goes at a steady pace.

The author keeps the story straight and simple with only a few minor subplots (that are all quickly resolved) and permanent characters. This keeps the plotline free of clutter and distraction and the author doesn’t bother with unnecessary dramatic backstories. For once, there’s also no love interest to get in the way.

It seems like such a silly compliment, especially one to call the ‘biggest’, but it’s such a rare thing in manga, especially action manga. Action manga would often grow to 80+ chapters (if not double, triple that). From beginning to end, the story would progress up and down, back and forth. There would be numerous subplots and some of those will take 30+ chapters to resolve.

Nothing is ever simple either. The MC trains through the most Rube Goldberesque methods to learn the simplest thing. There would be two dozen characters and readers have to learn the dramatic backstories of every single one of them. There will be a love interest if not two or three which will then become an arc/subplot of its own at some point.

All this and so much more. The things above can make a dramatic and complex manga; plus, they are also needed to keep the plot going. However, the problem is that it destroys pacing and drags the main plot down. Sometimes, I just want to see a simple dispute get resolved in a single chapter instead of 10+.

Gekiryuuchi avoids all this and, with skill, the author keeps the pacing and progression and story tight. Everything moves forward logically, quickly, and simply. The suspension and action is built up with no downturn at any point. This is why I considering the pacing to be this manga’s biggest compliment.

Ultimately, if there is any flaw in this manga, it is that I didn’t think the ending was too great, but considering the journey there is so fantastic, I’m willing to forgive it. I’d definitely give this manga my recommendation.

Gekiryuuchi starts off promising, becomes some-what weak by the middle and leads to an almost rushed ending.

While the story-line and motivation that drives the lead character seem strong in the early part of the manga, the mere 25 chapters the story had to work with just isn't enough to completely carry through that strength to the finale and thus the manga concludes in something of a hurry and leaves me feeling a bit let down considering all of the hype in the early chapters.

Regardless, Gekiryuuchi is still quite enjoyable as a steet-fighting based manga but don't go expecting it to quite live up ... to the depth of the likes of Holyland.

7.5/10 from me!

This is a pretty realistic fighting manga , as realistic as works of fiction can get concerning the subject of fighting , and from what little information there is on it on the net , seems like that was it's downfall.

The story isn't original , a bullied kid who snaps and realises giving is better than receiving ( especially if it's pain ). It starts of well , the first few chapters are interesting , they make you want more. After 3,4 chapters i though "hey this is the new Holyland ! "... but... it was canceled. And as a consequence , quite a bit ... of action and the ending were rushed , obviously it didn't become what it could've been , and as a whole it's a bit disappointing.

There isn't really much that can be said about the characters , they're fairly cliche.

The art is ok , the fights are brutal , well drawn , full of blood , and interesting.

In conclusion if you're looking for a realistic manga , that can be a bit depressing and very bloody give Gekiryuuchi a try...