Black Clover

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A modernized 90s shounen with a splash of fairy magic and sinful consequences.

Most people are scorning this as a Naruto rip-off but it’s equally as heavily inspired by Fairy Tail and Nanatsu no Taizai. Black Clover itself weaves a classic tale of rivalry, magic, and relentless ambition that resonates deeply within the shounen demographic. While it doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel, Black Clover excels in its execution of familiar tropes. The series is riddled with shounen clichés and plot devices, bringing almost nothing original to the table except for its execution, which is, admittedly, quite the new tier of youthful complex. This is a train ... that never stops, every arc is better than the last and the art is among the best you’ll ever see in Shounen Jump!

~ Set in a world where magic is everything, Black Clover introduces Asta and Yuno, two lovely orphans raised in the classist Clover Kingdom on the verge of a renaissance, who aspire to become the Wizard King, the most powerful mage in the land ~ The twist? Asta, unlike everyone else, is born without any magic! ~ The story unfolds as the classic underdog tale, with Asta relying on sheer determination, physical strength, and his mysterious anti-magic sword to carve his path to the top and become the Wizard King ~

If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then that’s fine. The plot might initially seem predictable, but the rich world-building and gradual unraveling of the kingdom's history and conflicts will keep you rooted to your seats. From the intricate magical abilities and systems that deviate from nation to nation to the diverse cultures within the various nations and territories, Black Clover supplies an abundance of vibrant and immersive characters, cultures and relationships that are easy to get lost in. However, the notion that Asta has no magic is misleading. Anti-magic is, after all, still a form of magic. Tabata’s insistence on portraying Asta as someone who triumphs without magic is frustrating, especially when his "anti-magic" is arguably one of the most broken abilities in the series! It often feels like the narrative is trying too hard to paint Asta as an underdog when, in reality, he’s been blessed with powers Shinso could only dream of. This repetitive emphasis on his "magicless" status detracts from the story’s tension, as his victories often feel predetermined, lacking the ingenuity and struggle that should accompany his bloody and hard-fought battles.

Asta, with his unyielding spirit and infectious positivity, is a quintessential shounen protagonist. His rivalry with Yuno, who is the polar opposite in terms of personality and abilities, is the driving force behind the narrative, showcasing the parity between talent and hard work. Although this attempt is somewhat undermined by the fact that Asta has magic and is almost equally as talented as Yuno. His powerful anti-magic magic and his powerful physical body and his lack of mana which double as stealth and protection from certain magic more than makes him an equal for Yuno in terms of talent in my eyes.
The supporting cast is equally strong, with characters like Noelle Silva, whose journey from a timid and insecure noble to a confident and powerful mage, is particularly noteworthy. Noelle is by far the best character in Black Clover and one of the best female protagonists in Shounen Jump. The Black Bulls, Asta's quirky yet lovable squad, each have their arcs that explore themes of self-acceptance, loyalty, and the importance of family. The villains in Black Clover are the weakest part of the cast. Although the devilish and grim scenarios paint one story the villains never manage to quite accomplish anything except in backstories.

At its core, Black Clover is about perseverance, the bonds of friendship, and the belief that hard work can overcome any obstacle. It embraces these themes wholeheartedly, delivering a narrative that, while familiar, is executed with a passion that’s hard to resist. However, one significant flaw that hinders its overall impact is the lack of meaningful stakes, particularly when it comes to character deaths. In a series filled with high-stakes battles, intense confrontations, and world-threatening events, the decision to keep nearly all major characters alive significantly undercuts the tension. This approach creates a sense of narrative safety where we can always predict that characters, no matter how dire their situation, will survive unscathed. This predictability diminishes the emotional weight of the story, as the fear of loss is conspicuously absent. This safe writing style may align with the magazine's generally optimistic tone, but it also prevents Black Clover from reaching the heights of tension and drama seen in more pragmatic and stirring shonen series’ where the threat of loss is palpable.
Despite this, the series still managed to convey powerful themes of perseverance and camaraderie. However, the lack of consequences in life-or-death situations ultimately limits its potential to deliver truly gripping, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

Black Clover has some of the best art in the manga industry if not the whole world. I think Tabata Yuuki is one of the best artists in human history and his talents would have been better utilized working alongside a more talented writer to craft a more stunning, perfect manga. The only reason I still continue to read Black Clover is because of the gorgeous artwork and it makes me feel so happy and sad at the same time. Happy because I get to look at this beautiful work of art and sad because I wish this art was paired with a better written story.
Black Clover may not be the most innovative manga, but it’s a series with heart. It captures the essence of what makes shonen anime so beloved: a journey of growth, fraternity, and the unyielding pursuit of dreams. For Shonen Jump fans, Black Clover is a must-read, offering a tale that, while familiar, is executed with a charm and enthusiasm that makes it truly special. When I think of shounen anime and manga now, Black Clover is the first thing that comes to mind. If it’s not at least as good as Black Clover then I’m not reading it. BC has really set a new standard for shounen consumption for me and if you love shounen then you’ll see what I mean.

Art: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall: 7/10

Black Clover both is and is not just another bland shonen fantasy adventure.

In terms of plot, Black Clover does an excellent job establishing mysteries to maintain interest, foreshadowing future events, and building to the bigger picture of the story. Within each arc prior to the end of the Royal Knights arc contains a few offhand, isolated interactions between major characters foreshadowing future reveals, while the Elf Reincarnation arc is the culmination of these occurrences and the catalyst for future story direction. Paying attention to these scenes can help offset the story’s primary weakness, which I will get to later.

It does take a ... while before things really start to set in motion (approximately 150 chapters). In the meantime, Black Clover is primarily driven through its incredibly drawn fight scenes. The sheer quantity of full-page, nearly double-page, and double page panels are astounding, and Tabata is extremely skilled drawing magic effects and battles. Also, in agreement with Geoff from Mother’s Basement, the ½ cloaks representing the Magic Knight squads are both cool and give plenty of space for characters to show off their personal style.

If there’s a drawback to Black Clover, it would likely be its character writing. While it would be dishonest to say that Tabata is a poor character writer, I think it is fair to say that it isn’t his strong suit. Tabata does a good job making characters layered, even if their one predominant feature (Asta’s determination, Noelle’s tsudere-ness, Veronica’s drinking, Charmy’s eating, Gaude’s sister complex) tends to peek through more frequently than not. Characters aren’t forgotten about and can hold their own, but Asta does end up pulling most of the weight in battles. Yet, compared to something like One Piece, Bleach, or even Fairy Tail, Tabata relies heavily on Asta’s unwaveringly positive attitude and ambition to almost mystically bring the Black Bulls together, rather than organically bringing them together through individual conversations, banter and surprising reveals in personality or character. Consequently, Black Clover leaves some gaps in the natural progression of friendships and romances. However, this isn’t to say that all the characters are relatively weak. Yami is a standout, as well as Luck, and Fuegoleon and Mereoleona Vermillion.

All this to say, Black Clover’s plotting and art alone are enough to justify giving it a read. Tabata has an impressive vision for the series, and despite its weaknesses is a unique addition to the shonen battle manga world.

Black Clover is as generic shonen as it can get, on the same level as Fairy Tail in my opinion. If you're a teenager who haven't read Naruto or Bleach yet, you might find something interesting with Black Clover. The main character is as bland of a perfect, innocent main character as shonen can give you. The battle system is non-existent here. All the schools of spells that exist practically have nothing interesting in them. You'd think that there might be intriguing interactions between the spells, like water beats fire or fire beats ice or something. Na. In the end, it's always who has the ... most shonen energy of friendship that completely wipes the opponents' butt.

Overall not recommended for those who've read any shonen that has a glimpse of world building and somewhat structured battle system.