Alive: Saishuu Shinkateki Shounen
Alive: The Final Evolution

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Alive saishuu was a read that surprised me. I had never heard about this work, but it has great quality.

The characters are very charismatic, carrying strong motivations and their own reflections. Not only that, but some are complex, as they can do something wrong for someone dear to them. added to that, due to these reflections, we have great moments of characters on screen, from how you see the world to what you want.

The protagonist, Kanou, is pretty okay. He's charismatic, but that's about it. In the end, it is the other characters who carry the story. He's just special because he's the MC, ... other than that, I didn't see anything special about him.

The story is pretty good. Initially it's very exciting and curious, with scenes and mysteries that encourage you to see more and more of the story. However, after a certain event, the story slows down and I'm just curious, not exactly bad, but losing the excitement of the action scenes and the mystery of the work. At that point, going on a path more focused on construction until it actually comes back to its focus on action. In the end, it's a good story developing a really cool theme - life and death - having a good conclusion, but also subjective, going from each reader like or not.

The art is very beautiful, being made by the author of Noragami. Scenarios, fight scenes, everything is very beautiful and well done.

In the end, Alive saishuu was a great surprise. A story with an interesting theme, great mystery that had a good conclusion in the theme of the work with a satisfactory ending for the characters.

Alive The Final Evolution is quite the experience. In a world where MMC's best friend is discount Saskue who gets Friendzoned by Discount Sakura, who gets convinced by Discount Orichimaru to join him in hopes for more power. Truly a unique experience. The story is set in modern century Earth, a random shooting stars decided to crash land(?) onto planet earth. Certain people seem to now have Evolved and gained superpowers. Not everyone who was affected by the shooting star became evolved though. They were unable to contain it and committed suicide. So a mass suicide went across the world. Our hero however cares for ... none of this shit and has only 1 job. To rescue discount Saskue from the clutches of Discount Orichimaru.

The series is split into 2 parts. The 2nd half is set after a timeskip which starts with an amnesia arc. And like many amnesia arcs its just doesn't connect. I found the story to be intriguing but also a bit complicated. I think which was a bit of a nice touch tbh. It had just the right amount of unknown ending aside (which I will get to). Alot of the characters powers also are never really explained. It feels less majestic more the author couldn't think of a reason that made sense. Nonetheless though the author combined with his nice art was able to give some insane panels and nice double page spreads.

The characters are without a doubt its strong point. Now i do think Discount Saskue was a weak villain. Characterization wise that is. He was simply someone who was literally upset over being friendzone. That was his entire thing. Thats it. Yes there was deeper meaning but honestly that's pretty much the core of his entire reasoning. NOW. Discount Voldemort on the other hand was just taking it by the storm. Every step was truly vicious. I like the fact that he wasn't stupid and was ahead of the MMC. Like he actually acted like a smart villain instead of just some random that manically laughs. Discount Voldemort is definitely one of the more entertaining villains I have seen so far... mostly. The main character is also very likeable. He actually doesn't resemble naruto as much as he resembles the MMC from Kekkaishi. Even his like Off duty job is similar kinda hilarious. Regardless the side characters are also very entertaining. Almost all of them have there own purpose. They are kinda selfish in a way people are. and it really gave them their own personality. I didn't like the FMC's character development though. She was a good character but she was really lacking in the 2nd half. I didn't like how the author developed her character. Made her less of her own person.

Fanservice was a bit of an issue for this series. Now i love naked women. I love half naked women. But this series did not need either. Now this is a minor issue considering that the author didn't really add them in serious moments but rather moments that were already light hearted. But it just kinda pulled the heroines down for me. Overall though its a minor issue considering the author didn't over do it.

Action was somewhat of a unique bag though. It was good but at the same time i wasn't good enough kind of. Now what i liked about the action is that the characters die. They die and they don't come back. Giving real weight and tension to the fights. Actually giving the MMC a run of his money. Now its not as flash as naruto or one piece its more like Psyren just better written. Also they never explain some of the characters powers. It feels less like the author was giving us the option to think rather it felt like he couldn't think of one that would make sense. So despite the fact that the action maybe a couple steps below the real great ones i mentioned i think with the death inclusion the tension kinda cranks up to 11 sort of bridging that gap.

There is also a psychological aspect to the series. Whether or not death is a curse or a blessing. Who decided the rain means sad? and though the introduction to these are fantastically presented. I think the author just never truly expanded this. Never used it to its full potential. I did enjoy this aspect however i do think this is something people have already been asked. So unless your tired of this i don't think you will like it either.

The first half of this series was really good. Discount Saskue was kinda fun. I liked the MMC and how he approached people on his travels. Who joined and what not. When i think about the first half is really more like an adventure than an action series and the really wrote it well. the 2nd arc though good and answers many questions ( and leaves some) it just didn't bring itself to the quality of the first half

**TLDR**: Manga was fantastic in the first half. But some minor speed bumps in every aspect except art. The 2nd half some moderate speed bumps in story and characters but everything else remained pretty much minor. 7/10. Also It was drawn by the same author/artist as Noragami. however Alive's author is different.

Although the story has shown a subjective idea from the beginning, I think it lacked a more conclusive touch on the premises established. What is Mitama really, how did she come about and what did she really want? What are extraterrestrials and powers really? What is Akuro and what does it mean? Points that, regardless of anything, only had to add, in the end, a lot of things just sound like a mere background to incorporate the narrative. This narrative, although it does not have a linear writing style, manages to develop very well while making a pleasant transition of arcs and spaces/times.

However some plot ... conveniences are really boring, some powers quite convenient with the moment are a good example, although the explanation that they arise from the "holes of the heart" is good as far as possible, it is clear that the author was not even a little worried about actually explaining it. The battles are more of a gimmick for the script to move forward than anything else and at times they are extremely lazy. This unfortunately reflects in other points, as in the art itself, which even being incredibly well done is not as immersive as it could be, I would say even devoid of introspective details at times.

And speaking of introspection, I would say that here the work lacks a little. Although there are several good characters that mostly just add, I felt a difficulty in seeing them in any other way than as support tools, or even develop any trace of intimacy to the point of caring about the death of some. The positive point is that the characters develop more and more, with the slight exception of the protagonist, who is above all a simple ready-made model.

The existentialist plot is great and well executed, with events that leave you intrigued and anxious with each chapter. Predictable at various times but still manages to satisfy the desire for resolved conflicts, although it lacks a little in the endings. Even with its subjectivity and some loose ends it managed to close the story well, a finished ending is still more valid than something open, regardless of any other factor.
It is definitely a work of potential, well structured and intense reading, but nevertheless pleasant. Although it prefers to develop its subjective and existential aspect more, it does not sin in being prominent and well written.