Hayate no Gotoku!
Hayate the Combat Butler

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Hayate the Combat Butler targets a specific audience, and hits it dead-on. Hayate is for people who love rapid-fire gags and Japanese cultural references. Those looking for serious plots or extremely well-developed characters should look elsewhere.

That being said, Hayate the Combat Butler accomplishes what it sets out to do: Make you laugh. Sure, there's a little bit of a plot thrown in every now and then, and maybe a character or two makes a realization after 10 or so chapters, but the main focus is on the gags, and each characters' role in them. Character deliveries range from deadpan-humor to Manzai stand-up, and each one's ... little quirks only make them that much more of a riot.

The art is simple, and if I had to count each time the artist used a black-background double-take face I'd have to get a new notebook to tally it up. However, each character has their own defining looks, and the simple art style lends itself well to the lighthearted nature of the series.

If you need a break from heavy plot and just want to chuckle (or roll on the floor), you could do a whole lot worse than Hayate the Combat Butler.

Story: It's very creative and original, albeit unrealistic, but not in a way that detracts from the series. It's a fairly simple slice-of-life type of story, but it's a very unusual life that the characters lead. This allows for plenty of interesting, crazy things to happen that flow well because the whole thing is interesting and crazy. The story is exciting and new, giving infinite possibility for the author to let loose with his creativity.

Art: The very pretty and distinct characters are fun to look at; again, the variety and uniqueness make it a great manga. There aren't many gorgeous glory ... scenes that stick out in one's mind, but there are also no weird, out of place scenes. The backgrounds look pretty good too, and although the blank background is used quite often, it's used for comedic timing to set the mood, and it all works well.

Character: The charactes are just awesome. They are many and varied, and all of them have their unique charms so you really love all of them. Their personalities really bring out the best in each other, and it's just great to watch.

Enjoyment: Certainly one of my all-time favorites. First and foremost, Hayate no Gotoku is a comedy, and comedy it does very, very well. And then, there are bits of romance, and a pinch of angst, and some cool action, and then that deep-down-emotional-inspirational-goodness that we all love. Used in moderation and with humor being omnipresent, all of these other genres come together really well in Hayate no Gotoku. It's all done well - Hayate is the perfect protagonist for showing these elements - and so there's something for everyone.

Overall: I highly recommend this series for anyone, old and young (but not too young - there is sexual humor, but it's not anything really bad. Compared to some other series, the sexual humor is quite mild, despite being used quite often.) I truly believe there's a lot to appreciate in this manga, not just the humor and the parodies, so check it out if you want to pick up a new series.

In a timeless romance one of the most somber things you’ll realize is that one of you will live to see the death of the other. I was 16 years old when I picked up Hayate and realized, hey, this character is the same age as me. As I grew older I came to my own realization that Hayate will continue to be 16 forever. I will be going through life while Hayate, poor Hayate, will still be attempting to pay off his debt and power through the silliest adventures you can think of. In a world where the parody genre is dominated by Gintama, ... Hayate keeps breathing through the will of its ever aging fanbase.

Unlike recent titles, this manga does not change to bring more fans. It does not take a stab into the food of conformism but ignores and stays pure to its fanbase. Every arc will be a rush of euphoria as you start remembering how you spend your childhood. Maybe you spent your childhood playing B-Daman or watching Pokemon. Hayate reminds you of those precious moments with its own brand of slapstick comedy.

If you want a comedy which has quick paced plot progression this is not for you. This piece is not for those who want to look at something nice, this is for those who want to remember. With constant reminders and fourth-wall busting you’ll find something you can relate to.

Lets start off with the main protagonist: Hayate. Hayate is a happy go-lucky kid who fell in some bad times. This does not deter our protagonist. He will do anything, and I mean anything, to pay off his debt and finally live a normal teenage life. He is not spiteful of the people who have brought him into these bad times either. “Good things come to people who work hard” someone told him.

Nagi is our second main protagonist: a tsundere (yes a tsundere) girl who is the sole heiress to a massive fortune. Hayate recognized her immediately as “having money.” It would be a mistake to say that she's not the median that keeps the waving plot going. After falling in love with a Hayate in his attempt to trick her, he then signs on as her butler.

Can I describe the other characters? Probably not. Not without any bias. Everyone has their own taste in the characters but I found the characters to be the best part of the entire series. You will learn to love, hate, and admire characters as you dive in and become consumed by them. You wish you could meet them in real life and maybe you even go as far as imagining them as your friend. This comes as no surprise as I often wished that I could share a beer Hayate. This does not mean I don't want to strangle him and to knock him out. Those condescending feelings are thoughts you get after experiencing someone for years.

Most people struggle to relate to most shounen characters. The amount of plot armor and asspulls found in shounens are some of its flaws found in the genre. Yes, this is a problem of this manga too as it grows apparent that the author needs popular character relevant. Out of all the crazy and maniacal things that happen, your forehead will scrunch as you realize "Hmm. This isn't right." The manga holds for dear life as you hope that a chapter has relevant plot material.

It becomes increasingly relevant halfway through the manga that the story's worst enemy is not one of the crazy antagonists but the author himself. Every attempt to bring suspense into the story comes to a screeching halt as the suspense is overwritten and the last arc was completely irrelevant to the story itself. You'll also find that the author will begin to force things down your throat and tell you "You better like it. I just cooked it up." The author forcing things became very apparent as Hayate started become aware of the romantic feelings around you. This often happens with the harem genre as the fanbase conducts waifu wars.

As I held for dear life every week I often wondered if this manga will ever end.

Now that I'm here at the end I can't find the courage to close my laptop and say goodbye.

I can't recommend this anime to a 16 year old. I just can't. You'll find that you'll even have to Google some of the references that come up. Even I had to Google a good amount. But to a fellow 26 year old I'll definitely bring up the title with a smile to my face. Remember, art wasn't meant to look nice. Its purpose to make you feel something. I have to say that it definitely made me feel something as I went through schooling, finding a job, and other adult things with Hayate awaiting me every week for another grand story.

This is a very bias review.
Hayate no Gotoku was one of the first manga I've ever read, dated all the way back in 2007, when it only had 100-ish chapters. I didn't read every week, I believe I took a 2 years break just so that I can read all of them at once. Regardless, It's like my child you know.
After 10 odd years with 570 chapters, it ended.

To the actual story, Hayate no Gotoku is about an unlucky guy, with many odd talents (especially with woman), who fall into debt by his parents and was taken in by a super rich lady to ... be her butler. Or something like that.
The sypnopsis really doesn't matter, if you read it, you'll know it eventually. What really matter is that it's a comedy, slice of life, gag manga.

It was fun, a lot of fun. I still remember falling off my chair from laughing, and my dad burst in asking if I'm ok. And like many other long running show, it eventually get off the comedy and be serious at some point (570 chapters of just comedy is impossible after all). The first 2 serious arcs was amazing. But at it core, it's a comedy still, so don't expect an action-pack seri just because the title have "Combat" in it.

Of course, it had it up and down, some arcs are just not that great, some chapters are just not that funny. But at the end of the day, I'm happy with what I got, it was a great ride, and I'm sure I'd read it again someday (570 chapters probably only take 2-3 weeks if I'm taking my time).

If you're deciding whether to read it or not, just read it. It could be a bit of a commitment, but i'm sure you would get something out of it.

On the side note, lot of people complain about the ending. But to me, it's surprisingly adequate. I've seen desasterous endings, and Hayate no Gotoku is nowhere near that. It's quite sufficient in my opinion. Could've expend a bit more, but I don't mind.

It's very difficult to categorize Hayate no Gotoku in a specific genre. On the surface it is most obviously a comedy, but of what type? Situational? Slap-stick? Dramatic? Parody? Hayate no Gotoku is in fact all of these, as author Kenjiro Hata seems to be ill content with sticking to a single source of comedy. The first chapter alone contains: the titular Hayate riding head first into a subway entrance, fighting off Yakuza, referencing biblical stories, referencing Gundam, and a cameo of Santa. All wrapped up in the 'poetic' first chapter title: "Santa's Red is a Blood Colored Hell," and we have a good point ... of reference to determine the tone of this manga.

Yet perhaps I'm being unfair. Hayate no Gotoku is a very effective comedy, but it is more than that. In it's parody of action anime, we see well drawn fight scenes, both filled with drama and dripping with irony, both mocking and reveling in the straight faced cliche. Hayate has its dramatic moments as well, and while Hayate may laugh it off when questioned by other characters, the reader feels more than a little sad for Hayate, who's been sold to the Yakuza by his own parents. The plot (if it could be called that) also revolves around elements of romance and harem, as Hayate somehow manages to earn the attention of every cute girl within a 100km radius. Kenjiro Hata pushes the action, and the drama, and the romance as far as it can go... before a side character drops a deadpan snark, or Hayate says something tactless yet again, and brings the whole thing crashing back down to its roots: a parody that fools the reader into thinking it's taking itself seriously, before yelling "gotcha!" and pulling the rug out from under everybody's feet, including its own.

Kenjio Hata creates a world in which the utterly impossible can happen, yet at the same time each and every character is very real. Beyond his comedic genius, perhaps one of the best indications of Hata's writing prowess is his ability to juggle so many characters (the cast of Hayate no Gotoku is huge, easily topping 25+ main characters by the time the manga is in full swing) yet giving each one a distinct look, set of mannerisms, and a 3D character. It's no wonder that many a shipping war has been waged over which of the 20+ lovely ladies Hayate will inevitably woo. Each girl gets to share in the spot light, and if they do happen to be gone for more than ten or so chapters, don't be surprised when the show up again, angry and demanding they get more panel time. This leads the the most dynamic of Hata's genius: his treatment of the fourth wall. Does Hata break the fourth wall? Perhaps he doesn't go that far, but he does bend it, crack it, warp it, twist it, sit on top of it, dig under it and paint thing hot pink. It really is a dynamic and wonderful form of comedy that needs to be experienced first hand to appreciate.

The art in Hayate no Gotoku varies, though most of the time it is a touch on the simple side. Characters are drawn simply, with standard anime overreactions as the situation calls for. Yet this does not stop Hata from cranking out a beautiful spread every now and again, whether it is of a night time city illuminated by its lights, viewed from the balcony of a clock tower, or a simple hug of two old friends reuniting. Hata has no shortage of talent, but he knows when to apply it, and when to keep things underplayed. This is not Berserk: not every panel needs to be lovingly rendered in order to convey every subtle detail of the world. Perhaps a good way to sum up Hayate's art would be: it works for what it needs to do.

I can honestly say that I don't think there is another manga out there that is anything like Hayate. Comedy manga tends to stick to one or two types of comedy, and roll with them. Hayate seems to try to blend everything it can, and somehow still have a concrete world and overarching story. It is a special manga that can some how manage to make me laugh out loud every week, much to my roommate's annoyance. It's an endearing manga that makes one care about the characters and the world, and enjoy both its comedic and dramatic moments. Anybody who is a fan of laughing (and really who isn't?) should check this manga out. It is a bright star among the genre of comedy that somehow manages to transcend its genre, yet still excel at it.

Having recently gone from having an interest in animes to an obsession , I can safely say that this is the funniest product to ever come out of Japan. Hayate the Combat Butler, is the story of unlucky teenager Hayate Ayasaki,who after being sold to the Yakuza(Mafia) and inheriting a debt of 156,804,000 Yen, decides to kidnap a girl named Nagi Sanzenin. Unfortunately, the idiot(Hayate), botches up the plan, and due to poor empathy, makes Nagi believe that Hayate is in love with her. After saving her from another kidnapping plot, Hayate then becomes Nagi’s butler, where he must use all means necessary to protect ... her, completely unaware that Nagi is in love with him.

It was in 2004 that Kenjiro Hata released this hilarious manga (which eventually turned into an anime) which featured funny characters, outrageous humor, many references to popular culture, parodies of pop-culture, and the craziest situations created. Whether it be walking to the grocery store only to end up getting attacked by thousands of bodyguards with swords, to attempting to sneak into a school, only to be met by a crazy alcoholic history teacher that really wants to kill someone, the situations simply from crazy to ludicrously demented. The reason for most of these “incidents”(If you can call them that.) is due to the fact that Hayate is the unluckiest 16 year old I have ever seen in my life. While he is skilled in combat, martial arts, stealth, weapon use, painting forging, assassinations, cleaning, door to door salesmanship, etc….(How he learns all these skills are beyond me), he just seems to always be at the wrong place at the wrong time. One other factor could also be that his weakness, girls added to what seems to be the poorest empathy I’ve seen from 16 year old, simply makes Hayate’s life a living nightmare. Whether it be that every single girl in Tokyo is insane, or the fact Hayate still hasn’t figured out (After two season and 20 volumes), that most of the girl’s that he meet are in love him, usually results in Hayate being in a lot of mental and physical pain.

The format of the show is basically scenario after scenario, a basic format that really doesn’t distinguish it from other animes/mangas. However, it is not format but the scenarios that it get right, for every scenario usually involves a lot of parodies, breaking of the wall, truly insane action, and lots of freaking misunderstandings. Whether it be misuse of the word “play”, or accidently killing off a character for really no reason what-so-ever, the series revolves around the idea of world where everybody takes everything too seriously, resulting many casualties caused by a war that ends many innocent lives. (Moment of Silence Please) However, all of these scenarios are hilarious, as for they rely on outrageous humor, a ridiculous amount of sexual innuendo, and amusing character abuse scenes. Even the normal scenarios are hilarious, for they range from attempting to get into one of the greatest school in Japan (An obvious parody to Love Hina), to trying to escape a gay person who loves Hayate, instantly turns into a fight to the death situation.

If their one flaw with this series (I don’t find it a flaw, but many people do), it’s the fact it leans VERY closely to Harem. For those of you who don’t know, Harem is usually an anime with the situation in that one guy is involved with two or more girls. This isn’t bad, in my opinion, but it usually leads to girls being made into sex symbols. (Still have no problem with that) Meaning if you are a woman, you may be turned off by this series. however, if you are willingly to overlook this and just laugh at what you on screen, then you will really enjoy this show.

If what I said make’s Hayate the Combat Butler a mindless comedy, then you are wrong, This series can be very touching at times, as for before Hayate became a butler, he was dirt poor kid that had to support two lazy parents that sold him to the mafia, even going to the extent of giving him the . After seeing the first episode, you really feel the problem that Hayate is going through, as for everyone has abandoned him. Heck I’m not afraid to say that I even shed a tear. Hayate the Combat Butler is the story of survival. Hayate, being a butler, has to constantly serve the most spoiled child I have ever seen (Nagi) and no matter how angry she gets at Hayate, Hayate always seems to do everything willingly, even feeling guilty when he isn’t working or taking a day off. Basically it’s the story of Hayate wanting to be accepted, but due to bad luck, has a very hard time doing it. Since the series is still running, I can’t come to any conclusions if Hayate is going to actually end up being happy, so I am hoping that the conclusion is really well done, as for death shall come to Kotoko if they do release a crappy final episode.

Hayate the Combat Butler is simply hilarious and touching. While the slight harem feel may stop girls from reading/watching this, most of the population will simply enjoy this great manga/anime series.

Jesus Christ, I finally finished this 500+ manga and it only took me 7 months to do so.
Anyway, I watched the Hayate anime a few years ago which is why I of course decided to check out the manga out of curiosity. I'm not a huge fan of the series like I am with other romance harems like Rosario Vampire and Heaven's Lost Property but I enjoyed the series to a certain extent.

Story: 6
Hayate's story is a very mixed bag. It starts out well with the idea of a Hayate being abandonded by his parents on Christmas Eve and taking on their debt ... which leads to him becoming a butler of the most richest girl in the world. It's a cool and unique idea that works out well. After the first chapter though, its just mixed for about 30-40 chapters. Some of the jokes don't land as well as they do later on and the writing isn't anything great. It gets better as it goes on but the manga does have a noticeable slow/whatever beginning.
Around chapter 100 or so the chapters become much more consistent in terms of quality. The quality however is usually just good/fine. The story isn't the series' strongest point but it works. There are some noteworthy arcs that do stick out as the better ones such as the Golden Week, School Trip Level 5, the final arc. But by far the greatest arc of them all is The End of The World which is honestly just amazing and shocked me by just how well written and enjoyable it was to read. I loved every minute of it, but sadly its only at most 20 chapters out of 570.
One of the stories biggest flaws would have to be its pacing. Again, this is 570 chapters which is also 52 volumes. That is an insane amount of chapters for a romantic comedy. There is a noticeable amount of "filler" within the series and although some of it is enjoyable and could be meaningful, the way in which it is presented just feels like filler most of the time. I would say at least 100 or so chapters could be cut out and the manga would work just as well as it does. This really doesn't have to be 500+ chapters long, and I know I keep complaining and bringing this up but this really is a big problem for me.
This might go in the "Art" section but when referring to pacing, the art/manga itself is also to blame for this. For about half of the manga or about the first 300 chapters or so, the chapters themselves feel longer than they are/should be. There are usually too many panels or text on a page which makes the chapters drag on. This is fixed much later on but the pacing still isn't amazing or anything.
Considering the length of the series, progression is a very important factor and the manga doesn't seem to progress that well. There's character development, story changes, etc. but the filler chapters just really put everything to a sudden stop. I never felt as though I was getting anywhere with the main story at certain points. It isn't nearly as big as a problem as the others I mentioned but its something noteworthy. Mainly a miss opportunity I noticed was Hayate's debt. I would've love to seen his debt go down every once in awhile but it doesn't get resolved until much MUCH later on. Imagine seeing it drop from $150 to something like $120 even. It's just something I really think could've worked well.

Art: 7
Hayate's art isn't anything mind blowing, I'll say that for sure. The series ran for 13+ years and the art actually got better as time went on. The art in the beginning wasn't anything too special but it wasn't bad. The style changes as the series goes on and the change is for the better. Besides the style, the character designs are good, the backgrounds are well drawn, no problems there. Considering it ran for over a decade, the amount of consistent quality it retained is quite impressive. Even mangas such as Dragon Ball which I adore the art of, fell in quality towards the end of its run even though it still looked amazing at its worse.

Characters: 7
The series' strongest point is easily its cast of lovable characters. Hayate may not be great but he's an enjoyable main protagonist. There isn't anything wrong or wind blowing in terms of the characters, they're all just entertaining and enjoyable. Also Hinagiku is best girl, followed by Athena.

Enjoyment: 6
I may have explained some of my enjoyment in the "Story" sectioned but overall I did enjoy Hayate, although I wouldn't say I loved it. Again, this could've easily been 100 chapters less and probably only been maybe 350 at most.
Hayate's comedy is good, I will give it that. I got a decent amount of laughs, and even the filler chapters that I complained about and felt as though they are unnecessary were still enjoyable to a certain extent. It may not be the funniest comedy out there but it does work well and most of the jokes were successes.
As mentioned, I would've enjoyed the manga more if the pacing/manga itself was more organized. The chapters dont fly by as other mangas like Chobits or Elfen Lied which makes them feel longer than they should be.

Overall: 6
If I sound like I dislike Hayate, well I actually don't. I actually enjoyed my time reading this manga. Hayate is a good manga overall, but had the potential to be a solid one at the very least. If the chapters flew by quicker and the material was cut down by half, this could've been a pretty solid manga. But enough with what ifs. Hayate the Combat Butler is a long, but enjoyable manga that I...kind of recommend. I honestly can't recommend this to everyone easily. The length is just way too long with the quality only being just good. If anything I can only recommend this to those who have a large amount of free time and to those who are fans of comedies. This isn't much of a harem or romance honestly. But yeah, Hayate is good, just good.

For a long 570 chapters of a series, my enjoyment has been maintained entirely throughout. Every day, I wake up and the most exciting event for me is reading my daily 2 volumes of Hayate the Combat Butler. This 2-volumes-a-day rule was actually a rule past-me enforced on present-me so I wouldn't binge until 5 am and kill the rest of my life.

What did I look so forward to? Firstly, the cuteness of the romance comedy element. Almost every character is well-crafted. My heart goes doki doki when Hina blushes upon Hayate's dense kindness, or when Ruka so explicitly shows her love. The exception ... is of course the characters who solely contribute to the overarching plot (Hisui) with very shallow motives and character, or the gag characters (Kotetsu). Even characters like Chiharu, who don't particularly have an important role, I still love because she is so full of kindness and laughter. What more could fulfill the heart of a romance-deprived teenage boy? (Right, fan-service, too) [Characters 10] [Art 10]

To be honest, I don't really follow the "main" story of this manga. During my reading, I even tried to do research on what the fuck was going on with "King Jewels" and other stuff. I was still confused in the end but at least I understood it more. Even though the whole story is revolved around a supernatural power and its associations, my enjoyment came from following along, not really understanding everything, but still appreciating the astonishing art and touching stories. I do admit that some of the chapters are seriously filler, but when this series gets intense, it sure fucking does. The drama and comedy aspects of the series I both equally like. As a result, I was very disappointed by the end of the series because the whole story felt like a journey. Reading it felt like I was living another exuberant and colourful life beyond mine. It wasn't easy to handle the truth that this manga had to be wrapped up for the good of the readers. [Story 8] [Enjoyment 8]

Finally, I would like to share that this series had some seriously motivational moments. There was a chapter I remember so clearly because of Izumi. She was explaining how a weed is not particularly interesting to anyone, but it grows and struggles against the nutrient-deficient soil and scorching sun, only to die. But, its nutrients contribute to the growth of other plants. Thus, even she lacks the abilities others do, her efforts will not be in vain. Perhaps I just don't think about life very much, but I loved that scene. Now you see why the characters can be so interesting, they all have a meaningful story, even if it is just a small one.

I would only recommend this series to people who have time, and even better, time-management skills. It sure is a journey, so enjoy every moment of it.

This is my first review, I hope you're proud of me!

It's difficult to talk about someone's own happiness and what that means relative to their financial wealth. People often say that money can't buy happiness, and yet this saying betrays just how utterly miserable being poverty-stricken can be - everything from personal relationships to material belongings to familial security can be taken away from you, with a reality that what little you have can be stolen at any second. Hayate Ayasaki lives one such life where he works day in day out, sacrifices any and all connections he may form with others in order to have a better future away from his parents, only for ... his parents to inevitably walk all over him and take whatever material belongings he has for their own egotistical reasons. This culminates in his parents quite literally selling him off to the yakuza for 150 million yen.

It takes a chance encounter with a girl who mistakes his kindness in saving her from kidnappers and giving her a jacket for a confession to finally turn his life around - with the seemingly minor and swept under the rug inconvenience that ironically he himself was planning to kidnap her out of desperation. This introduction sets the stage for a long, long, long semi-episodic romcom about Hayate paying back his savior in Nagi, who paid his entire debt in exchange for him being her butler.

Hayate has clear issues in how it structures its narrative and comedy. The series is often very tongue-in-cheek about lampshading events before they happen, yet this can often feel somewhat like it's a parody of itself even in instances when the narrative takes itself seriously. The comedy - while incredibly funny even if certain gags overstay their welcome - takes up a sizable chunk of the middle of the manga and this can make it difficult for readers to go through this entire behemoth of a manga they may not even find comedic. Kenjiro Hata's values are occasionally reflected through Hayate himself, chastising this or that female character for being a woman and not behaving accordingly (this gets fades away as the manga goes on before disappearing entirely near the end). The antagonists are rather onenote and serve their purpose without doing anything more - there is one noteworthy exception in the manga's first half, but the finale in particular, while definitely thematically fitting, suffers from this. There's a fair amount of fanservice - this doesn't bother me, but I can see why it bothers others. And, obviously, 52 volumes is an absurd amount to read for what is essentially a romcom parody that only occasionally takes itself seriously.

What there is for a narrative is a story about abandoning material comfort in order to connect with others, and how all the material gains in the world won't mean anything without a drive to succeed, a passion to embrace and people to love. Nagi herself epitomizes this, being deeply in love with manga and desiring to be a manga author for much of the manga, yet there's many instances where it's clear that her life is a lonely one minus Maria, who she literally sleeps next to in order for that emptiness to fade away. Several excellently written foils to Hayate exist in Hinagaku and Ruka, who both were abandoned by their parents and suffered considerably because of it - the former being saved by her sister and thus grew to have a functioning life later on, albeit one where she still occasionally shows scars of her old life, and the latter due to working for her parents' sake to be an idol, only to be abandoned later on.

More examples can be given via the side cast - Wataru and Saki struggling to manage a store together yet finding comfort in each other's presence despite the former being left behind, Maria's abandonment issues that come to surface later on in the manga, Athena being isolated and alone for so long despite her desire to reconnect with Hayate or Ayumu taking Hayate for granted before slowly but surely realizing that her chance to be with him has come and passed. This struggle to find connection with other members of the cast is at the center of Hayate - both in its largely comedic content, and its more serious moments - and without the more funny moments over the course of the series that involve the cast literally goofing off together, the series would simply not work.

The last quarter of the manga and especially the last few volumes is where somehow over a dozen character arcs discussing these themes are flawlessly wrapped up. The manga ramps up its story to 11, it goes absolutely bonkers with its villains and there's a damsel in distress arc and yet the manga was careful enough in building up to this moment that this somehow manages to work out insanely well. More than anything, the ending wraps up the series with the characters in many cases having less materially than where they started, yet somehow this is portrayed positively rather than negatively, since the characters find happiness in each other rather regardless of distance, lifestyle or occupation. This is a message that has aged insanely well considering our current economic situation, unfortunately, and I believe that it is one that would resonate with many a reader in these troubled times.

Do I recommend Hayate? I would, but with the nuance of approaching the story (when the narrative focuses on it) for what it's trying to tell, and understanding that its flaws are as part of the experience as its highs. When the manga ends, much of the less than ideal moments across the series or the long stretches of comedy become fond memories of a more nostalgic time - yet it's those precise moments that make the ending all the more powerful and memorable. Otherwise then I'd completely understand why someone wouldn't be into this series - the comedy isn't for everyone and the middle of the manga takes quite a while to get through.

Aside from that...I can't recommend this series highly enough, even with all its numerous flaws.

Thank you for reading.

A very good Manga, aka The best butler comedy manga. Despite the graphics from chapter 1-50 or so (You should watch the anime instead), The graphics get better and amazing. The story is 40% fillers but when it gets into the an arc/plot the story is amazing. This is a definite watch if you are a fan of Good Romance and not CHEAP romance

Overall, I got what I came for. I wanted to read a relatively light-hearted comedy/romance series that had a little bit of everything from jokes to action, and that's exactly what I got.

Why Do I Like This Manga : The first chapter really drew me in with the premise and since them I've kept reading because I wanted to see more of these characters. I loved how the jokes and references are done in a Gintama-esque way. And, this is a rather long running manga so there are more than enough chapters to keep you entertained for a while.

What I Didn't Like : At ... times I felt like there was some sense of discontinuity and the ending felt like Hata-sensei was giving us the middle finger through the page, it was way too abrupt and left too many loose ends for my liking. I'm hoping that this is because there is a continuation or some sort or short series for closure in the works.

TLDR; I think there are some minor flaws with the story, but if you can look past that its a great read for those who enjoy a harem/gag manga that can get serious at times.

Oh, SO many things can be said about this series. Sure, when I first picked it up, i couldn't stop reading all the way until chapter 300 or so. The i realized something. The manga was no longer just a bunch of zingers thrown together by some random plot (Randomness is 75% of Hayate's daily routine) and made into print. There was slowly starting to become visible a main story line, and somewhat of a deep romance as well. Before that, it was sheer comedy with occasional bouts of romance.

With the arrival of a certain lady into the story, the genre seems to change almost ... instantly, and become a true romance. I found myself becoming more and more attached to the story, and was swooning over the plot as soon as the classic love triangle formed. However, it all came to ruin. Soon enough, the romance broke off, and simply vanished.

As a storywriter myself, i do not agree with establishing a romance 1/2 way through the plot and not even finishing it at the end, just continuing as if it never happened, so this influenced my opinion greatly, but maybe not for some. Sure, the zinger style had returned, but it never truly went back to what it was origionally, and I think that was ofr the best.
All in all, this series stole my heart, broke it, and put it back in place, but at least made it look better than before. Although i still dont forgive it for that though...

Hayate the combat butler is at its core a comedy but its genre is not exclusively comedy. It can also make you cry. The romantic moments are mostly subtle, like a gaze or hug but it is nicely done. There is a bit of supernatural stuff in the story as well. There are references, breaking fourth wall, parody on various animes, manga, TV shows,popular culture but the manga never takes itself seriously. It is never boring, and even if you do not get most of the reference, like me, you will still enjoy it.

Hayate is like any other shounen hero ... yet he looks feminine, and a bit scrawny. He has a troubled past and bad things happen to him a lot but he does not let that get to him, doing his best, and that is what I admire about him.
He has problem comprehending his feeling and feelings of every other girls in his harem. And like most shounen heroes, he is oblivious to his harem, but that changes as story progresses.

Nagi is my favorite character in the manga. Why? The reason is that she is different from other main heroines who are really 'out there,' perfect or at least really good at a lot of things. But Nagi is not.
So in the end she is an otaku who wants to prove herself. It is a journey of her growing up.

Apart from these two I like almost every other character in the manga because they are developed really well.

My overall rating 8/10

tl;dr: A long journey with an incredible cast full of laughter and amusement with a solid enough plot though one that doesn't quite stick the landing on the ending.

This started off as a gag manga, but eventually the plot turned out pretty solid. But what really makes the manga is that there are a lot of amazing characters. My favorites seem to match the character polls pretty well, being Athena, Hina, and Ruka. But even beyond my favorites, overall the cast was really large but despite that still managed to pull off most all of the characters being really solid, which I find incredibly impressive. Trying to ... talk about it in detail would make this review far too long as there are too many characters to talk about, but to put it quickly, it did justice to a lot of characters and their character arcs with solid character and relationship development even with the strange structure. To elaborate on the weird structure aspect, it had a weird dichotomy where it was half gag manga and half serious with chapters switching around randomly. This was fine a lot of the time, but sometimes it would do this weird thing where in the middle of the serious parts with things maybe even at a climax, it would randomly switch to the gag manga parts, possibly even shifting the time line forward or backwards in order to do so, and that just felt kind of annoying.

As for the plot itself, it definitely felt like it took forever with the manga being extended ridiculously far beyond what it was originally intended to be and to a degree foreshadowing and plot devices that tied into the main story built up into something incredibly unwieldy that resulted in when things got moving for the plot and mechanics involved in it being quite convoluted with the occasional plot hole, plot thread that just sort of disappeared, or character that was mysteriously was never seen again. Still, holistically it was decent enough. The ending felt kind of weak. This is the type of manga that's impossible to end properly due to, as mentioned, it being really long in and dragged on in a strange way, so I don't put too much blame here as it would have been a miracle if it has managed to do justice to everything that was built up. The manga is more about the small things, just every day moments, character interactions, common events, and minor plot threads, that over the course of 52 volumes added up to quite a bit. The ending to the main story felt kind of rushed but was decent enough. It definitely tried, but at times it felt forced with some things being pushed through far too quickly. Though considering the finale already took up about three volumes, I'm not sure how this could have been improved without making things overtly bulky.

Now to further elaborate on the previously mentioned small things in general though, I should note that even though the manga clearly was dragged on beyond what was originally intended, and though there were some annoying moments with the story switching around randomly, overall it never felt like the pacing was bad even when the plot wasn't moving because the small events that had no major plot contribution were really solid, with most of that coming from solid comedy, but also during the latter half with being so invested in the characters just minor things can be quite touching and have an emotional impact, making those portions feel worthwhile even though they don't really move things forward. Another thing to note is because the manga has been going so long is that the art has changed tremendously. I'm not a fan of the old style much, but by the end I think it has a really good art style which makes the solid enough designs work quite well.

And lastly, I also want to mention that this is the only manga I know of that's a pretty random rom-com gag manga but lasts so long, so it was quite interesting just to watch it unfold, especially in light of how much fourth wall breaking with both references and parodying of popular anime/manga/games as well as real world events throughout the ages. It was also interesting to see how the art style changes seemed to fit in with larger trends in the industry, especially in regards to fanservice and such for which I think this is a pretty good case example on how standards on that have changed over time. 

Ten years since discovering the world of Hayate the Combat Butler through the anime, I have today put the series down for the last time by reading the final chapter of the manga. This is a series I will always have fond memories of in that it was a bond a friend and I shared, and for the fact that I watched the first few episodes on an iPod Classic while flying in an airplane (which would have brought Hinagiku much dread). Though I can't say it was my favorite series or the most impactful to my life, I will look back on it fondly. ... Anyway, to the review.

Story:
The overall concept of a boy sold by his parents and becoming the butler of the woman he tried to kidnap in order to pay the debt is an amusing one, particularly the way that it comes about. From this plotline alone you can tell that you're going to get a healthy dose of comedy along with drama, and on those fronts the manga does not disappoint. The plot though as it unfolds leaves much to desire and honestly becomes a bit too ridiculous, particularly some of the supernatural elements. At points I yearned for the earlier, simpler slice-of-life chapters.

Character: The two main characters develop in satisfying ways, however for the side characters growth is uneven or the same lesson seems to be learned multiple times without further progress. Unfortunately the characters' actions at the end of the series don't seem to match up with the insights they have gained about themselves, with the author seemingly unaware of it. Overall though the characters are the strength of this series.

Wrap-up: With a little more courage from the author or perhaps a willingness to accept the direction his characters had gone in, this could have gone down as one of my top series and one I returned to every few years. While that ended up not being the case, I enjoyed my time with the series and will continue to remember it fondly.