Feb 1, 2016
What is it that makes Helck so enjoyable, I often ask myself. The story is nothing new, nor is the art anything special. The cast is simple: there are good guys and then there are bad guys. It really isn't anything groundbreaking.
But what it has that separates it from other manga is its execution. Helck delivers a heartfelt story filled with laughter and tears in a simple yet elegant manner. There is nothing else to it- it's not convoluted like Death Note, and it doesn't need to be.
All it needs to do to kick-start the whole thing is ask one question: "So, can a
...
human who hates humans become a Demon King?"
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Story (8): Helck is a story set in medieval-esque times, with demons and monsters. Just before the start of the story, a hero killed a Demon King. The plot begins with the titular character entering a tournament to decide who will become the next Demon King.
Yes, he's a human entering a tournament for demons.
Naturally, when Vamirio, one of the Four Heavenly Kings (who is higher than a Demon King in the demon hierarchy) finds out about this, she freaks out and tries to sabotage his chances of winning. However, Helck is ridiculously powerful, and he is pretty much a maxed out RPG character at Level 99.
Needless to say, things don't go as planned and it goes downhill for her from there. Along the way, they face a threat to the Demon World, and it seems Helck may know more than he lets up on.
Basically, it starts off as seemingly slapstick humour and One Punch Man-esque jokes before developing into something more substantial.
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Art (8): Nothing special, to be honest. The art is on par with most manga, but it does seem to be getting better as the story progresses.
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Characters (10): The characters, from Helck to Vamirio to the other human characters are mostly stereotypical characters abiding by common tropes, but as the plot thickens the way they interact with one another becomes something special. For example, Helck is the typical hero with the heart of gold, and Vamirio is the cold kuudere loli. But the more they interact with each other, the more interesting they become, building off of each other to create distinct personalities that veer away from their default character templates.
I won't say too much for fear of spoiling, but it's amazing how far the cast has come in 62 chapters (as I'm typing this, that is). I struggle to think of characters that can beat Helck in terms of sheer memorability. Everyone has a role to play in this story, and every one of them fit it so well that it makes my enjoyment seamless. And speaking of which...
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Enjoyment (10): What more can I say? I enjoyed this, and I'm still enjoying this weekly. Also, special mention to translator Rello on Batoto. His one-man translation is the reason why us Helck fans get to even enjoy this hidden gem, and all props to him for bringing this single-handedly to our attention.
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Helck is a manga that is definitely worth reading. It is a simple manga that works off a simple premise, which evolves into an intriguing story that is still simple but absolutely excellent in its execution of said story. It can be touching one minute and boisterously fun in the other, a balance I have found to enjoy greatly. There really isn't much else I can say about this without going into spoiler territory, but I can guarantee Helck will take you for a wild ride.
In short: It's simple, it's elegant, it's Helck.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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