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Story: 4/10
Initially promising, the narrative of this manga quickly loses its allure, descending into stagnation. Gratuitous sexualization, particularly in instances like Himeno's encounter with Denji, detracts from the story's potential depth. Denji remains a stagnant character for the majority of the first part, with minimal growth beyond superficial changes. While Makima stands out as a well-written character with solid motives, other characters like Aki fall flat due to bland personalities and lack of development. Power's gradual growth is a highlight amidst the underwhelming character dynamics.

Writing: 7/10
Symbolism offers some depth, but falls short of the complexity often lauded by enthusiasts.

Characters: 6/10
Despite the overrated cast, Makima shines ... as a well-crafted character.

Art: 5/10
While devil designs and scenery excel, human anatomy and facial depictions often miss the mark, detracting from overall visual appeal.

Pacing: 8/10
The story's straightforward, linear progression aids in comprehension, but occasionally rushes key moments, hindering emotional investment.

Enjoyability: 4/10
Despite high expectations, the manga fails to deliver on its hype, resulting in disappointment for readers seeking a standout shonen experience.

Overall: 5/10
Personal enjoyment was limited, with standout characters like Kishibe, Power, and Makima salvaging an otherwise lackluster narrative. Objective analysis suggests a middling performance, with notable shortcomings in character development and artistic execution.

Kuroko's Basketball is a sports anime. While it may appear uninteresting to watch an anime about a sport if you are not a sports enthusiast, it is important to note that the anime delves into more than just the sport itself. It places significant emphasis on the camaraderie and bonding among the players of each team, while also imparting a valuable lesson about the importance of perseverance and never giving up.

The aforementioned phrase provides an accurate description of the entire anime. The characters have a shared objective and work together to achieve it, demonstrating trust and belief in one another.

Even when everything appears to be ... lost, and even when they experience defeat, they consistently manage to progress. They shed tears and experience disappointment, but they have also endured a great deal, not just in the present. They possess a history and carry a significant burden. All of these factors contribute to their ability to take another step forward.

For sports enthusiasts, Kuroko no Basket may appear more fictional than realistic, but this is not necessarily a negative aspect. By showcasing extraordinary basketball moments in each game, it enhances the entertainment value and captivates the audience more effectively. The intensity and adrenaline rush experienced while watching the series are remarkable, and it consistently leaves viewers yearning for more.

While watching the first season, one may gradually begin to consider the possibility that it cannot progress any further or improve in quality. However, it consistently manages to surpass expectations and become even more remarkable. Each time, it seems that a certain move cannot be bettered, that a player lacks the necessary move to defeat the opposing team, and that the entire game is about to conclude. Yet, there is always more to discover. Even if one team is unable to secure victory, the players themselves continue to improve and develop their skills.
And yes, the main team is one, Seirin, but it also shows the other teams. It shows their hopes, their ways, their practices... You end up not being able to take one side but with contradicting feelings.

This anime is truly worth the time spent watching it, and even reading the manga.

Kingdom is an exceptional manga series that has captivated readers with its masterful storytelling and intricate plotlines. It has the unique ability to pique interest in subjects that may not have been previously appealing, such as ancient Chinese history.

Kingdom stands out in its exceptional handling of political intrigue and strategic battles, surpassing many other works in the genre. The battles are not only thrilling on the battlefield but also in the courts of kings, where cunning and diplomacy play a crucial role. The character development is remarkable, with each character possessing distinct traits and motivations.
Xin, Quan Lei, Huan Ji, and Li Mu are ... just a few examples of the well-crafted characters that have resonated with readers.

With over 715 chapters to date, Kingdom continues to captivate its audience, leaving them eagerly anticipating the next installment. It is a truly remarkable manga that deserves recognition as one of the finest in its genre.

One good arc, and the community is losing its mind.

Story:
The narrative centers around Guts & Griffith.
Although Guts' narrative revolves around his quest to find a significant purpose in life, Griffith's narrative centers on living a life driven by a meaningful purpose.
This could have been a wonderful story, but unfortunately, the mangaka had different plans.

Plot:
The plot of Guts is often straightforward, involving him being tasked with defeating monsters due to the lack of other capable individuals. When the next quest is unclear, the NPC called Skull Knight provides helpful hints.

Griffiths plot appears to be centered around the idea of a chosen one who ... survives and triumphs due to their special status.


It's worth noting that there are four arcs that share similar structures. The Black Swordsman arc and the Lost Children arc both feature Guts being accompanied by a talkative annoying character called Puck, and both arcs end with Guts being influenced by a young girl.

Similarly, the Troll arc and the Sea God arc follow a pattern of arriving at a location, defeating a monster, and moving on without significant additional developments.

Main Cast:

Guts' character development was promising at the beginning of the manga, but it unfortunately declined after the timeskip in the Golden Age arc. He regressed into a rather typical reactive shonen protagonist, but with an excessive amount of trauma. His thoughts and actions often feel contrived, driven by the plot rather than his own agency. For instance, he only thinks about Casca after the eclipse when his son informs him of her danger, and he only remembers Judeau, Pippin, and others when Rikkert shows him their graveyard.
You get my point?

Many individuals express negative opinions regarding shonen anime due to the fact that the protagonist does not experience defeat in battles. However, in this instance, people appear to be accepting this aspect. Within the initial fifty chapters, the protagonist essentially emerges as the most formidable human. Unlike conventional shonen anime, there is no depiction of the protagonist engaging in training except if you consider standing one year under a waterfall as a training...

I am curious as to why the mangaka often depicts him as injured. He either recovers instantaneously or continues to fight as if his injuries are inconsequential. Neither does it matter that he is fighting against multiple enemies with one eye nor does it matter that his lost arm gets replaced with an iron man arm as if it is a sci-fi setting now. The arm was invented by a random kid, but no other nation has such technology. What?

I like how Guts says to Ganishka, "No, I don't want to fight with you against Griffith because you are both demons." One chapter later, he fights with Zodd, a demon, against Ganishka. Wow!

Or how he says, "No, I don't like to fight with a magical weapon." Then proceeds to fight with magical armor...
His armor is one of the most trash power-ups I have seen in anime and manga. Just because I don't feel pain doesn't mean that I can now lift 200kg or run faster. But you know, somehow the main character must get a power-up to defeat the new, stronger villains, like it's a trashy battle shonen.

At some point in the story, you can exchange guts with a random mercenary to protect the group. In most cases, it would not make a significant difference.

Griffith - feels like a character with multiple personalities and later transforms into a NPC after his rebirth. The mangaka intentionally refrains from providing monologues or insights into his thoughts, maintaining an air of mystery to create an unexpected plot twist. Cheap writing

Casca, a character introduced in the narrative, serves as a plot device in the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. Casca holds the position of General within the most formidable mercenary force and is recognized as one of its most capable members, alongside Griffith and Guts. However, it is noteworthy that Casca encounters defeat in every engagement...

Since she is 12, she is in a mercenary force. She has probably seen many comrades die, experienced countless battles, and killed many soldiers. You would think that would toughen her up, but yet she acts like a 12-year-old Disney princess who has no life knowledge.

Also, her getting sexually assaulted is like a running gag in this manga. She probably holds the record for the most SA scenes in Animanga.
I feel sorry for the people who waited twenty years just to get her "fixed" by a fairy. If the mangaka had the courage, then Casca would always be this potato character. She would learn again like a child, but it would take years.
Somehow the story must go on, huh.

Puck - His transformation into a background character since Isidro's arrival for comedic relief speaks volumes about this character.

Isidro: ***********. You may skip all of his dialogues without missing any important information.

Schierke - Either Miura wanted to cover a specific group with this character or he likes those himself because later there is more of this shit.
She is just a plot device for Guts so he can go berserk while she is always saving him.
She gets sexually assaulted for the sake of comedy and gets into a goofy situation where she is standing naked in front of Guts. Definitely what I expect from a seinen manga. 🤝🤝🤝

Farnese - The character is interesting, but it is unfortunate that she is transformed into a typical support character for the main character, similar to Hinata from Naruto.

Serpico - The character is intriguing, but after his flashback, he regrettably fades into the background.

It is somewhat disappointing that he consistently loses his battles with Guts. Despite creating the ideal circumstances, Guts ultimately prevails due to his protagonist status.

Villains: These guys are like your goofy-ass cartoon villains, but with gore and rape. They just shit-talk a lot and then get one-shotted. They leave no impact on the main cast or the reader. They have no interesting interactions with the main cast.

Ganishka is the only intriguing character, but his sacrifice seems to serve the plot's convenience. He claims to control most of the world and possesses a formidable force, yet he impulsively engages in battle with Griffith due to plot demands. Tactical considerations seem to be absent in this manga, except when your name is Griffith. Other characters are portrayed as less intelligent to facilitate the plot's progression.

World-building: pretty underwhelming. It seems that many individuals believe world-building solely entails drawing detailed locations, but this is not the case.

Throughout nearly 400 chapters, we only gain knowledge of Midland, where we learn the necessary details for the plot, and the Kushan Empire, of which we only know the name. In comparison, other fantasy manga of similar length provide readers with an entire world that exhibits immense depth and political intricacies.
In a particular section of the narrative, multiple monsters spawn across the entire world. One might expect to witness reactions from various nations regarding these monsters, but that is not the case since the perspective is not from Griffith or Guts. This is how the manga operates.


Fights: the fight scenes in this manga are a mess. While the fight against the snake man in the Black Swordsman Arc showcased some tactical elements, all other fights are simply mindless hack-and-slash action. This becomes even more pronounced once the protagonist obtains his armor.

Additionally, the level of detail in the drawings can be overwhelming. When viewing a fight panel, it can be difficult to discern the positions and actions of the characters involved.

Overall, this manga gives the impression of being a typical battle shonen manga that makes a significant effort to be profound and psychological but ultimately falls short.
Oh, but with an unnecessary amount of gore and rape.

It would be more enjoyable to read the first half of the Golden Age arc and consider it as the conclusion.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Detective Conan is its ingenious premise: a brilliant high school detective, Shinichi Kudo, gets transformed into a child after being poisoned by a mysterious organization. Under the alias Conan Edogawa, he continues to solve intricate crimes while navigating the challenges of his new identity. This unique setup sets the stage for endless suspense and intrigue, as Conan uses his intellect and deductive skills to unravel complex mysteries.

The manga's plot is masterfully crafted, with each case presenting a new puzzle for Conan and his friends to solve. From seemingly impossible murders to elaborate heists, the cases are diverse and ... consistently engaging, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The attention to detail in the mysteries is impressive, and the twists and turns are executed with precision, leaving readers stunned and eager for more.

Aside from its compelling mysteries, Detective Conan also excels in its character development. The cast is rich and diverse, with each character bringing their own unique skills and personalities to the table. Whether it's the ever-curious Ran, the bumbling but lovable Detective Mori, or the enigmatic members of the Black Organization, every character feels fleshed out and essential to the story.

Overall, Detective Conan is a masterpiece of the mystery genre, offering a perfect blend of suspense, intrigue, and character-driven storytelling.
Whether you're a fan of mystery or simply enjoy a good story, Detective Conan is a must-read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

Usogui is a manga with profound insights and contemplations on life. This is evident in the way it predominantly delves into the philosophy of gambling and the psychology of gamblers. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. Usogui treats gambling as a metaphor for life, and life as a gamble. At its core, it explores the philosophies of living and the psychology of humans.

While the gambles serve as a framework for thematic exploration, they are not merely superficial elements. In fact, the gambling scenes are exceptionally well-crafted, featuring intelligent characters and brilliant mind games and tactics. Usogui also incorporates exciting and well-choreographed ... fights, which, like the gambles, often serve to reinforce the underlying themes.

All of these elements are complemented by fantastic artwork that is not only visually appealing but also serves as an effective storytelling device, with its expressive and dynamic style.

In conclusion, Usogui stands as one of the finest manga I have encountered.