Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyou

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This is THE most shounen shounen series I have ever read, and honestly? It's brilliant.

Story
Premise: 8/10
Huge bugs infested the world and only the Mushibugyou can stop them from killing everyone. Stupid? A little. Simple? Hell yeah. Good? For sure.

Execution: 9/10
The story is great. It starts off fairly shallow, the main character wanting to save people from monster-like insects, you know, basic hero shit. However, as the story goes, a larger narrative starts to present itself. The enemies get stronger, but so do the good guys. There are epic, dramatic battles to the death, insane weapons, great character backstories and connections. The story is ... incredibly heartwarming, but it can get just as sad as well, so there is really something for everybody to enjoy.
And the fights, oh the fights! It's arguably the strongest point in Mushibugyou, each one being completely enthralling. If you're going to read this manga, do it for the fight scenes.

Characters: 7.5/10
The main character, tho a very basic anime protagonist, being a determined, strong, and somewhat dense guy is very likeable. He's kind, he's helpful, he's a trully lawful good character, and he grows as the series progresses.
Every character in this manga gets a backstory that really shapes them into what they are, what they struggle with, any grudges they might hold. No character feels two-dimensional, each and every one having their story told at some point. And that includes the antagonists as well.

Art: 9/10
The artstyle is so, so unique and charming. The character designs are amazing, especially some of the later ones. The bugs, the humans, their clothing, they are all so unforgettable.

Am I biased in this review? Yes, I might be. But there is a reason for this dumb shounen being in my favorites, and I think it deserves a try.

On the beginning i want say sorry for my english as it's not my main language.

How is the easiest way to describe this manga? it grow in You while You reading it.

At the beginning it seems to be really basic,BUT, after awhile You start to notice few nice and original things that push the story further, without making repeat itself (like many other mangas)

The biggest plus of this manga, is art. Chaotic and beautiful at the same time. Your eyes just can't be bored when you have this manga before them.

Characters are colorfull. They can be mad, happy, cute, ugly and stupid with the great ... power of art!(there also few "boobs" moments, there and there but not in quantity that will make you puke). Betwen some characters, happen also "love affection" but nothing of it You can call a real romance.

Overall, the enjoyment of readeng this manga is gigantic! You just want to go for next chapter, after another, completly forgeting about the world! In short: completly WORTHY of reading!

Thank You for your time, and hopefully, have nice "Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyou" manga time!

This abomination of a manga exemplifies everything that can go wrong with 'nekketsu' shounen manga. One of the 'highlights' of nekketsu manga is its astonishing ability to deliver an inconsistent and episodic plot structure. 'Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyo' proudly continues this tradition of confusion and bewilderment.

In the 'Ten Crucifix Insects' arc, the 'main' antagonists are finally introduced as a group of insect-humanoid hybrids with the goal of ruling over Japan. However, the lack of a coherent and continuous storyline makes it difficult to invest in the overarching plot. Instead of building upon previous events and establishing a well-crafted narrative, the manga jumps between different adversaries ... and storylines, preventing the story from reaching its full potential. This becomes even more apparent in later chapters and arcs.

In Castle Insect Arc, the story introduces a new set of antagonists known as the Castle Insects, who possess unique powers and threaten the peace of the city. In Chapter 20 (or Battle 20, as the manga refers to it), just as the tension builds and readers anticipate a climactic confrontation with the Castle Insects, the story abruptly shifts its focus to a different subplot involving side characters, relegating the main antagonists to a secondary role. This sudden deviation disrupts the narrative flow and undermines the stakes established in the arc. The lack of a cohesive and continuous storyline prevents readers from fully investing in the overarching plot, as the manga fails to build upon previous events and establish a well-crafted narrative.

The lack of originality in the manga's execution is worth mentioning. Although the premise of a group of insect-humanoid hybrids threatening Japan initially sparks interest, the execution of this concept feels derivative and fails to offer a fresh take on the subgenre. The 'Ten Crucifix Insects' served as major villains, but their motivations and development remain surface-level. Exploring their origins, their relationships with one another, and their individual struggles would have added complexity to their characters and made them more compelling as adversaries. Unfortunately, these aspects are not fully explored, resulting in underdeveloped villains that lack depth and fail to evoke genuine investment from readers.

Another drawback of the manga is the lack of clear world-building and cohesive mythology. Despite the potential to delve deeper into the lore and history of the world through the 'Mushibugyo' organisation tasked with protecting the city from insect attacks, the manga misses the opportunity to explore its origins, structure, and the significance of its members. The 'Black Ship Arc' is an example of how the manga introduces new and mysterious threats, such as a black ship, but fails to explore their origins and purpose.

In terms of thematic exploration, the manga touches on the concept of fear and overcoming personal traumas, particularly in relation to Tenma's fear of bugs. However, this theme is not fully developed or utilised to its potential. Chapter 3 briefly touches upon Tenma's childhood trauma involving insects, but the subsequent exploration of his growth and the resolution of his fear remain relatively shallow.

While the manga initially introduces strong and capable female characters like Kuroageha, the narrative frequently relegates them to supporting roles or objectifies them for fanservice. An example of this can be seen in Chapter 7, where Kuroageha's abilities take a backseat to her sexualised appearance, undermining her agency and potential as a multifaceted character. And let's not forget about Irori, who serves no purpose beyond the obligatory fanservice for the horny lolicons.

Occasionally, just every now and then, the manga manages to capture a fleeting glimpse of the Edo period's essence. It's almost like a rare unicorn sighting. But don't get your hopes up, because consistency is not this manga's strong suit. In the 'Giant Insect Arc', during intense battles against gigantic insects, the action sequences lack the necessary impact and fail to convey a sense of scale and danger. The artwork in these moments lacks the level of detail and dynamic composition required to fully immerse readers in the high-stakes battles. Comparing these scenes to earlier chapters, such as Chapter 5, the decline in artwork quality becomes more evident.

Overall, it presents an intriguing premise, it suffers from issues such as inconsistent and episodic plot structure, inconsistent artwork, lack of world-building, derivative execution, rushed pacing, horny fanservice, and underdeveloped thematic exploration. Not recommended.