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Reading tokyo revengers and then coming to this one, the difference is enormous. The time plot tokyo revengers so carefully crafted at the start fell off at about the middle of the manga. I can't say it won't also happen to this, but one thing is certain, Nine peaks is the superior story.

I tried to like tokyo revengers, I really did, but there were oh sooo many issues, you simply can't overlook them. The teenagers in it acted like generic shounen sociopaths with the main villain the mastermind a cliche "I got you" mastermind. It based itself on the cool premise and mystery, both of ... which trailed downwards with every new reveal. The tipping point in quality was after the mc became a gangster irl.
The conflicts were all solved strangely too...
The MC is a generic shounen crybaby like deku from mha, and he solves everything by tanking hits, crying and inspiring others. This is a gimmick he never stops using, before being powered up in a bs fight at the end of the manga, and that horrid ending....

Anyhow, this is not a review of tokyo revengers, but it is important to note how different nine peaks is despite the borrowed half-premise.

I'll call the mc goku because I can't remember Japanese names. The tokyo revengers MC shall be TRMC.
Goku is the exact opposite to TRMC. He is too cold, detached to the world, as oppose to how TRMC is a pathetic loser both in the present and past.
Goku is not cold in an edgy way, it makes perfect narrative sense. He has a lack of both maternal and paternal love, the only way he could end up is an outsider, choosing to be one, or a man desperate for attention.

Goku is a loner, but in a way that he doesn't feel like he can trust people, his former friends using his name to get money from students, classic delinquents.

This in no way represents him after the time travel. He starts to learn to appreciate his father and make friends he can trust.

His rare crying made out of remembering his youth are much more nuanced than anytime TRMC does his "trademark". TRMC does it so often it loses all meaning.

Even more important is that the Author had the balls to let Goku fight, and even be good at it. I will never understand the idea that some would prefer a pathetic MC who only wins by being saved by other people.

The spotlight is also not stolen by him from his father. Goku is not inspiring, for he never knew something like that.






I fully recommend Nine peaks and Tetsuhiro Hirakawa's other works like Clover and Crows Zero 2, he is a master at delinquent manga.

Do not misunderstand for i do not in any way hate this manga. It is an interesting piece, putting a lot more philosophical thought than your average mystery flick, but I also believe there is an exaggeration in its praise created by fan chambers and total glee over it. Spirit circle is better than most in its subjects, but my problem stands from observing people talk about it in regards that it is more than a fictional piece. I see around many people in comments starting with "as a man who blah blah I see that....", but in regards of philosophy you really have to ... read more to know what you are talking about. Existentialism, Karma and Morality, the are not subjects that can be thought of in terms presented here.

People who read into this work as more than fiction, as a "book of wisdom" commit a great mistake. Fiction is in no way a replacement for Theory.



>Spoiler<






>Spoiler<




>Spoiler<







Story:4/10
"Spirit Circle" revolves around the concept of reincarnation and follows the protagonist, Fuuta Okeya, as he explores his past lives and the connections he has with others through various time periods. This concept is simple in hindsight. Spirit circle is really an anthology of short stories rather than a cohesive unit of information. Fuuta is told by his new transfer classmate that she will kill him because "his soul is evil".

This is the first mistake the manga makes, for which I will explain more in the character section.

The timeline is asymmetric and his past lives are not in a logical order. The story makes use of time dilatation The multiple universes theory, the time paradox and "the river of fate". Fortuna, the main villain and the mc's first life is using the whole first 40 chapters as a hypothetical look into the future. when he sees the ending would be no different than for today, he takes Fuuta's place.

Him, a possible destroyer of an universe is defeated in a seemingly jestery way by a "soul catcher in the form of a bug catcher". The plot hole of the aliens, the catcher, the observers, Carol and Fortuna's failure are uninteresting for me. Any other person would focus on how, due to the endless nature of alternative timelines, there is an universe where Fortuna won, and as such the whole premise of the manga is meaningless. This is what a multiverse does. For the purpose of this review I shall ignore them. In the first place I only read this because it was recommended to me as philosophical.

That being said, there is no excuse to the fact the conflict does not make much sense.

A man can't simply go from genocide is no problem to I only wanted friends. I find the conclusion in which he has not been destroyed, but surrendered and was sealed as insulting. Fortuna did not repent, and there was not necessarily even a punishment. It is all unsatisfactory.





art style:7-8/10

I can't comment on style very much, it is pleasing. Art is not my pursuit in mediums, and this was not presented to me for them. Mizukami Satoshi has a clear, defined and unique artstyle.


characters:4-5/10
This is the section that needs the most attention.

The main conflict is the supposed fight between a past life of Fuuta and Kouko. Only at the end do we learn the true story of Fortuna, but before that is the action of the conflict itself.

Kouko sees Fuuta just as Fortuna. This is because of her "warrior scars" that apparently gave her the memories of her past life. Even though it deserves it, I shall not make a life by life comparison, but it needs to be said that the whole moral perspective of the manga is misplaced.

The author treats Kouko's lives as in the right almost all of the time. It is pure hypocrisy.

The best example is Kouko’s second life and Fuuta’s third.

Kouko was the daughter of a priest in an Aztec society and she had to sacrifice Fuuta’s lover due to her father’s orders. The author justifies this as a needed action. He explains through Kouko that there would be chaos if they didn’t. Fuuta is made to be naïve, too angry and an idealist. Despite so, his sacrifice in rebellion led to the fall of this tribalistic, man killing clergy. He was successful even if dead. He did not save his lover, and furthermore is treated as in the wrong. Mizukami puts Kouko as making the hard choices, and had her redemption at offering herself as a substitute sacrifice instead of another child.
This is all meaningless, and it will come forth later.

In his third life, Fuuta killed Kouko because he was an up and coming knight, and she was branded as a witch. The rest of his life, Fuuta lost his title and lived as a normal man, adopting a daughter off the streets. He died pitifully, falling while hitting a rock with his head.
Mizaki then says through Kouko that he was only a meagre pawn of the greedy church, sent there to kill a poor little apothecary that helped the local populace, resulting in less tithe. Kouko says that his death is fitting, karma and a punishment. Him being a drunkard and alone, she proposes was punishment.

But what is this about? Fuuta is in the wrong for upholding the status quo while Kouko is good for doing the same? Does he not realize these are double standards?

I normally do not critique a character by transplanting the author’s words and thoughts, but is this not a “great piece of wisdom”? it shall be criticized as so.

Fuuta is treated as having in every life a potential to be evil, as in a higher than normal, at least through Kouko’s perspective. I can understand a sociopath like Fortuna, but all lives?

Argouably in most he lives quite a good life and does not hurt others. Mizaki forgot that all of Fuuta’s lives bar Fortuna were reactionary. He only made actions when others moved him. It was all circumstantial.
Even his second most controversial, the manager life, Fuuta was at fault only for not communicating with Kouko’s life. Arguably what he did is hero worthy, freeing the trapped souls. This is not a matter of perspective, they were unable to move on into afterlife. Furthermore, the black hole bomb would have already killed them fully. What Fuuta did in that life was meaningless and as such not even wrong no matter the argument. He changed no outcome, and as such did nothing.

Overall:6/10
I do not totally disprove the concept of karma and neither reincarnation, but combining them is a mistake in my opinion. It is unethical for a human to be regarded for his future or past actions, future or past as in another life.
Even if these concepts may be true, we only have to prove our worth now.

We HAVE to be GOOD humans NOW.

Fuuta should not help a person like taking Carol in so as to repay a past life. He would have to help that person because it is the right thing to do. Because that is human to do.



Do people really learn morality from this? Having his current confidants all be past lives connections is cheap. It belittles morality, it downplays what it means to be a human.

I shall repeat it so that it is certain.

You have to be a good human just to be a good human, not because the poor granny crossing the street might have been your sister in another life.

Spirituality is a totally fine subject but it is a grave mistake to bring morality into it.

Morality is strictly philosophical.

What the heck the stuff is straight up pedophilic. I don't get why everybody praises this manga it is just an empty shell. It is a slice of life with no story full of ecchi and horny moments for no reason So Formulaic And at the same time for nothing.



I get it if you like it for the art Style, But the art style is the only thing of note in this manga. I read some messed up stuff, But chapter one hundread feels just like Pedo material. It is too much and too cringe at that.

What I find strange is that we shame ... pedophiles who like lolis When it comes to normal manga But suddenly when it is a yuri it becomes alright?

Don't bring me this excuses. People should face reality.


Those who praise these are In the same category as the fat otakus in terms of taste.

All in all boobs and nothing more.

A very interesting manga, one in which I did not expect the quality I received. This is the story of a reincarnated salaryman that took to the line the workaholic culture of Japan. Many would scoff at the concept of an isekai in this day and age, with the description also painting an idea of immaturity. "What Do You Wish For With Those Murky Eyes" appears to be a generic edgy power fantasy, one of those works in which the main character uses his knowledge of the modern world/ "cheat skills" to dominate the battlefield and earn renown, and while this particular work does not ... stray away from that idea fully, it succeeds in resisting the temptation to fall into common tropes.

At reviewing my words I realized that despite recommending it, I appear to be very critical, but that is only because I use to let out all my opinions when writing these king of reviews, some may consider them just nitpicks. In any case, I do fully endorse the manga, it is a good read. some may consider the following as spoilers( depending on individual) so you can skip the rest.




some may consider the following as spoilers( depending on individual) so you can skip the rest.***











some may consider the following as spoilers( depending on individual) so you can skip the rest.







some may consider the following as spoilers( depending on individual) so you can skip the rest.**

In the whole of the story, Raizou ​​Takakura, while a somewhat acomplished swordsman, does not act with a greatness that enters the realm of unstopable. He is a cut above the common soldiers and lower masters, but does not overwhelm the higher levels in the power ranking. He is carried by the magic in the later parts of the story, but that is to be normal. What I praise about this manga is that the author did not fall into the easely exploitative trap of the "magic-swordsman", with magic being more of a tactical nuclear weapon and not something to be abused like how many isekai protagonists act.
However, at the same time, I believe that he did not go enough in stripping Takakura of power. Having the more phisical magic taken away would have made him more vulnerable, and henceforth, more understandable at the sight of his magical abilities.
This is though just a matter of preference, and while I would have liked more vulnerability, I do have to state that Takakura is saved by allies quite a few times. Take this how you will.

The art is quite above average, with many details and unique styles for the many nations. Because I for one do not particularly care for art itself, and just its design, I shall connect it with the discussing about the story.

The fact that Highserk Empire, Takakura nation, is painted in black and all others in white may at first seem like a balant attempt for "edgy", but through characterization, it is clear that no nation is comprised of "good guys", and just that Highserk Empire happened to be the aggressors. This goes further into the main theme of the manga, of war being muddy and murky, and while I do understand the effort, I find these kind of opinions as exhagerations. While yes, in wars it is usual that sides commit the same kind of crimes, usual it is that also one side at least tries to play a morally superior position, of MERCY. It is to be admitted that we only really see the perspective of the Highserk Empire and only Takakura's unit at that, but the moral side of the war is not emphasized, almost never.
The deepest it goes is: "They do X, so do we" or "They are not used to killing, but we are".

The same goes for the characters.

While I praised it at the beginning that Raizou ​​Takakura is not a classic isekai protagonist, he does not live up to the potential I found in him. Many would say that his morals conflicting with the world he is now in come as an interesting conflict or perhaps even a new kind of characterization, but it is sadly just not for me. I do understand that stress is the matter of most importance in his character, that and guilt. Acts like smoking and his rare hesitation that break the character of "a perfect soldier" create a somewhat realistic idea of how a pragmatic individual would react to a now barbaric, violent world, but I only say somewhat because of one main issue.
"The evolution of our modern society and its values"

While at the beginning of this review I appreciated that he did not try to force his modern ideals onto the world he found himself in, as the story progressed and Takakura became stronger and stronger, I found his lack of... Thought? disturbing. In the world he found himself in Authority is atributed to lineage and power. While he does not have the first, the main character possesses a lot of power.

While at first I found his lack of action normal, as he was only a stronger than average grunt, as he became stronger, I found Takakura's lack of action stranger and stranger. One might say that 12 chapters is too early, but from how quick events progress, I would not be surprised if this is about the half-way point. If this is all Takakura evolves to be, I would be dissapointed.



All in all this is a good manga. I may be overthinking as many other works do not do any better than this one and many possess far worse issues than what I found here.
I surely enjoyed reading it.
It would be better if there were more like it

Terror man is no villain. You, as the reader might find that obvious, but even so, shouldn't this be acknowledged?
I do not mean the statement that he is no vi8llain as a simplistic imput and introduction as to talk about his morality. I say that he is not so because it opens up problems in the story structure.
My problem with Terror man not being a villain is that it actively deducts from the stakes in it's 209 chapter runtime.

I read the series patiently over the course of a year and I must say that I never found the vindication of a thought that appeared ... early in the chapters: "This is a bad story". "What am I doing with my time?".

To the first statement it is clear that I never subdued it.
To the latter question, it is obvious I never got an answer.


To say that I am disappointed with the overall story is an understatement, but this is not because there is no redeeming quality.

There aren't actually many and me stating that there even are some is a lie on my part...
The art is good, a unique style that gives the manhwa a feel unlike most others.

Most would praise this style, and I can see why it would be recommended just because of the artstyle, but I honestly found it jarring. The detail and shape of the lines are well-made, but the bleak color of the style, of it being mostly black and white, subtracts from the experience. It is unfortunate, but I would have preferred more standard black ink manga colors so that the vibrant moments where the main character, korean name nr.39, stand out, and not because the viewer's eyes are not tired from focusing so much, but because it is an actual contrast.

The characterization of korean name nr.39 is not much better, as it is basically non-existent. He cares for his "big sister" and that is about all. Is this a spoiler? That he never actually grows mentally past the start of the manhwa as a 13(?) year old?
The fight scenes, a few of them that are good carry the whole manhwa.

He acts childish and emotional from start to finish and while some may foolishly find that as a piece of character building because of the absence of his parents, because of studies, I can only call it an exhaggeration.


There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Still, these are complains only if the reader actually pays attention to the chapters that are bloat. This work DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN 209 CHAPTERS.

The premise and art, though flawed, are still competent. I recommend giving it a skim, and if you happen to do so, heed my warning:
--feel free to not read every dialogue bubble( no reason to read obvious stuff)
--feel free to skim over parts you feel are obvious( there is no catch, events will turn out exactly as you assume THEY WILL)
!!!-SKIP THE BIG SISTER ASSASSIN BACKSTORY. It is about 30-60(?) chapters and is the worst part of the whole series, so obvious I can just spoil it and you won't lose anything. HER BACKGROUND is obvious through the actual story, THERE IS NO NEED TO RE-KNOW IT!!!

Not wasting time unnecessarily is key to enjoying this manhwa, I am serious.
I just hope they had made it shorter from the start so these kind of self imposed rules would not ne necessary.

I don't really get what was the execution of the manga. Only way I could describe it is childish, as a premature, unscripted look in an ungrown mind of a loner.
I like works that have conflicted personas, but this just was not it...
It is one of AA's earliest works and it shows.

Story:2/10
Plot was rushed, but that is obvious considering it has 25 chapters. Still, there is no excuse for how badly framed the events are, just jumping from one event from another, inserting cliches and acting like acknowledging them makes the ordeal satire( it in fact does not, satire needs build-up). With the ending ... being tipped in without invitation, it leaves a sour taste behind the prior work, a kind of feeling that lowers the earlier opinion of the manga without much room for improvement. As the mangaka( really bad with Japanese names so we'll go with AA) explains himself in the post credits commentary, this can only be rebooted. Nothing to salvage of the plot.

art style:7-8/10
I am not an art guy and as such do not particularly care how a manga looks, but AA's work is competent, and just like his other works, the strongest point in his toolset.

characters:1/10
There is so much to say about AA's interpretation of "unfortunate" people in the world, from the 1 in 100 remark on which I could write a whole essay against to the backstories and general characterization, but let's be honest with ourselves, no one is here to see my rants.
My point is, that like in the intro, the way AA makes characters in this manga is childish.

The main character, Fukase, Kuro, is the victim of an interpretation of misfortune so exaggerated and outlandish that I had a hard time even reading about. It is not that the story is sad or heartbreaking, just.... pitiful? I do not mean pitiful as a way of meaning "feeling bad for the character", but simply that it is composed of surface limited puddle level deep traumas. It is not that they are light traumas, but that they are implemented in a way that actively takes away from their significance, in the end making the character also surface deep, the bare embodiment of... a teen who sees himself as meaningful and profound.

I do not like to use words such as "edgelord", but this is what he is...

I could also talk about the other characters and how only about 3 of them get any meaningful showtime, or even an actual backstory, but the problem is that all side characters, in a way or another, are an extension of Fukase, Kuro, be it "enemy?(seriosuly, a word used in poor taste too many times in the manga)", "illusion/ghost that is a part of him?", "fated/forced love interest?"... and the background assets( won't even mention the bunny girl, after her arc she is as irrelevant(to the story) as the other backstage mobs).

So yes, not good characters.


Overall:3/10
It is very clear that this story is carried by the art. For better or worse AA is a prodigy of his time in that regard, but the overall content( like his other works) lacks substance. The main problem is that he aims for subversion of expectations through satire. Mediocre writing and cliches can be carried by good art, but is this really what we should subject ourselves to?

Kaguya-sama, for all I care is a 7/10, Oshi no ko a 6/10 and this one a 3/10. It is clear that he has developed since cancelling this( a decision where unlike most other scenarios, I approve) and I can only wish AA to rework this manga( fully) when he has time, just as he had said in the post-credits page.

I do not hate any of his works despite how it might seem. It is just that due to my background, I try to find in mangas a certain type of character( those who read my other reviews( not that it matters...) will know. This just isn't my style, and above not being so, it is undeserving of the high score no doubt afforded only by newly-founded good reputation( on what if-s and mangaka respect) and good-looking art. It is because of that,
I wish AA good luck in making it deserve the ranking and apparent reputation.

Now, you may probably be wondering how I am able to something like this when my score was low. I'll spare you the pretenses and not act like I had some high-level investigation of the source material.

Honestly, subjective opinions do not really matter over here so I will go straight to the point.


To judge the 'manga', you have two options.

One is to see it as a piece of media, and on that front, it is not that good.

The second is to be categorized as porn.
...
As pornographic material, not that bad, the plot is better than average and the art is clean, emphasising voluptuousness and curves rather than the more... Plank bodies seen in usual 'manga'?



Honestly, I went into this as a story with a villain MC, not the sex, and on that end I am quite disappointed.

Despite how the MC is portrayed as, he never actually experiences mental breakdowns, not even when he realized he was no better than the scum he hated, and that feels...
Meaningless.


What I especially don't like is the latest 2 chapters. Any kind of logic is thrown outside, and what happens is visible from a mile away.

It basically devolves in an NTR porn magazine, and while there is nothing wrong with that, I believe people shouldn't expect it to be anything else.

I for one am quite tired.
No true villain....
Haaahhh.....

SO yeah, a preliminary review of it.
Not the first kill the corrupted heroes type and with it being a monthly release it will be a while before arcs really show if it is good or not, but it is fine at the moment?

It made me think of the books I used to write of psychopaths that I never published.
With this kind of manga, the only concern I have is if it will be dropped, as it is currently( from what i see) not that popular. We shall see. I never got past chapter 13 in my published writings( may seem unrelated, but it ... is). These kinds of works get boring to write after a while, and as they don't get that much support due to the gore...

Ah, I suppose I should actually write about the current content. The art is fine, 8.5? Better than most isekais, but that is expected considering the rare release.

The characters are also about normal for this genre, with the MC gimmick being more....
Original?

Anyway, I suppose I reccommend this? I would just not suggest to have big expectations, better to be impressed than not.


{Small Spoiler?}















{Small Spoiler?}














[spoiler]The whole being abilityless, but with the book about the reincarnators...
honestly, I don't get how the goddess can't make an ability that also gives her a clause to kill the receiver if she wants, That would have been more practical then sending someone powerless.[spoiler]

One of the most thought provoking mangas out there. I came for the psychopath and art and that is exactly what I've got.
I could go into detail, but there are too many reviewers already doing just that, so keep this in mind: {This is the disturbing exploration of a man who doesn't feel]. I suppose some will find the more gory scenes an exageration, but in the end it doesn't really matter.

What really matters is that you feel good in your own skin, and that is a personal effort.

As to fill the word count...

Is the story unique? If it was predictable, did you enjoy ... it anyway because you like this genre/set-up?
-Not really predictable, it does take you by surprise
Do you think the art style is fitting for the story?
-Yes, somber but realistic
Were the characters well-rounded? Did they have flaws and strengths, or were they unusually strong/smart/stupid?
-Can't really comment on this. I only really focused on the MC as it was in the time I was debating whether mangas can really have a villain MC.
Did the characters react to situations and events in a realistic way?
-Realistic is a bitt much... though I could see a police case about these events showing up in the news
Do you think others will enjoy/dislike this series, even if you didn't? Why?
-A subjective work, not for everybody. I don't give the rating as to "preach about life changing philosophies" or anything like that. I came to research if Psychopaths can be shown well in mangas while being the MCS and that I found in plenty.
My research ended in failure though, so who can really tell...