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Since my discovery of the Cthulhu Mythos, I have been drawn into the fathomless abysses where unspeakable horrors, born of Lovecraft's visions, reign. The tale I speak of today is no mere reading; it is a descent without return, a silent collapse into the chasm of cosmic indifference.

Where other works merely brush against unease, this one has torn me from every comforting illusion. I stood powerless as I contemplated the total insignificance of our existence before ancient, unfathomable, immutable truths. Every page whispered that everything humanity cherishes—its ambitions, its knowledge, its fleeting glories—is but dust scattered at the faintest breath of the cosmos. What, then, ... can the fragile human mind accomplish when it glimpses, even for a moment, the mysteries of a universe that transcends it? Nothing, except to descend into madness.

Peaslee, in his futile pursuit of understanding, became the very embodiment of this insanity. He, who dared lift the veil, found only burning truths, answers that destroy rather than enlighten. He lost everything that made him a man—his home, his happiness, his balance—for fragments of knowledge that none should ever touch. For knowledge is not always a blessing; at times, it is but poison distilled into the soul, drop by drop.

What hope can one extract from such a tale? What light can one perceive? None. There is no hope, no salvation within these lines. Each word seeps like venom—slow, relentless. Anxiety swells, the mind falters, and soon, only one certainty remains: we are less than nothing. Our pathetic existences, our vain dreams are but shadows within an eternal void where the ancient gods laugh, indifferent to our cries. They were here before us. They will remain after. Inaccessible, inconceivable.

I do not write to alarm. I write to bear witness. For I, too, lost myself in this infernal spiral. I did not emerge unscathed. And neither will you, should you dare to venture further. My final advice, the only warning I can offer, is but a whispered plea: turn away while you still can. For once you taste these darknesses, they consume you whole. And if you are foolish enough to persist, may the Lord protect you, for no one else can. Amen.

To be completely honest and transparent with you, readers who stumbled across my review, this story doesn't look like much. I wasn't expecting much. The synopsis is very classic. The drawing, while not bad, doesn't offer anything visually unique, and the story takes a while to get going. I was a little lost myself at times. However, the second part of the story moved me. I never thought the story would unfold the way it did. I would never have expected this tragic and brutal ending, but paradoxically imbued with melancholy and regret. I won't spoil anything about the story, at the risk of spoiling ... your enjoyment of it, but I do have one piece of advice to give you. Or rather two. The 1st is this: Go for it. As I said earlier, it doesn't look like much, but it's well worth your time. The second, and this is the one that helped me enjoy the story even more: Play the Kekkai Sensen And Beyond soundtrack in the background. The tracks “White Beyond” and “Tortoise Knight” fit perfectly with the melancholy and dramatic mood of this ending. These 2 pieces of music will add a whole new atmosphere to your reading experience.

In conclusion, and without wishing to repeat myself, this little gem is completely worth the detour. Give it a chance, I'm sure it will leave a lasting impression on you.

I've had a special relationship with *Fire Force* for some time now. Originally, I was indifferent to it. I'd enjoyed the animated adaptation, but my connection with the manga ended there. I must even admit that I had forgotten almost 90% of the plot of the first two seasons. However, being an admirer of its illustrious predecessor, Soul Eater, I decided, despite my misgivings, to give it a real chance. This decision was unquestionably one of the best I've ever made. Had I ignored this instinct, I would almost certainly have missed out on one of the most remarkable shonens of the new generation, and ... one of the best conclusions of the genre.

Drawings: 8.5
Cuts: 8
From a technical point of view, Fire Force easily stands out and is, in my opinion, in the upper-middle range of current shonens. Without being revolutionary, the drawing, though sometimes uneven, displays all its power in the symbolism it conveys, particularly on certain striking plates.

Story: 9
Universe: 10
Characters: 9.5
Overall development: 10
In terms of narrative development, universe and characters, there's so much more to say. At first, I regarded Fire Force as a rather banal work. However, I had only explored a tiny part of this immense iceberg. Little did I know the richness of its story and the breadth of its universe. The author, Atsushi Okubo, manages to tackle multiple themes with rare finesse, skilfully avoiding falling into caricature. I particularly appreciated his incisive criticism of religious aberrations, carried out with a subtlety that avoids any disrespect towards Christianity, unlike some contemporary works. His reflection on death and our perception of it also struck a chord with me, calling into question my own vision of human finitude.

Perhaps what touched me most was the pure, unadulterated heroism displayed by the protagonists throughout the story. None of them ever gave up, or even considered giving up on their comrades. They all fought with exemplary valour to preserve the future of their loved ones. Traditional values, such as preserving ancestral cultures and valuing the forces of law and order, are also highlighted, reminding us of the importance of these ideals, often wrongly denigrated today.

Arthur's unshakeable courage in the face of the fearsome Dragon is impossible to ignore. Their final confrontation is one of the most spectacular scenes I've ever read. This battle highlighted values that are dear to me: virility, courage, bravery and a sense of sacrifice.

Finally, concerning the conclusion, I had heard it was good, but I totally disagree with this modest assessment. It's not just a good ending; it's a masterful one. The way *Fire Force* naturally links up with *Soul Eater* is so fluid that the acceptance of these new codes is almost unconscious. The scene of the first resonance of souls between Shinra and her family is of unheard-of symbolic intensity, perfectly encapsulating the fascinating absurdity of Okubo's story.

With its subtle blend of drama, absurdity and virile strength, *Fire Force* is one of those mangas which, under modest appearances, hides unsuspected potential. For those who haven't yet ventured into this incredible universe, I'd like to encourage you to discover it. I'm convinced that it will leave an indelible mark on you, as it did on me.

To be perfectly honest, I've never been a fan of political stories, which I find, in my humble opinion, often complex and difficult to grasp, due to the heavy themes they tackle. However, *Shadow of the Ring* captured my attention thanks to its fascinating universe, blending ancestral traditions and cutting-edge technologies. As a result, I immersed myself in this thrilling and deeply moving tale which, despite its flaws, profoundly transformed my perception of certain beliefs I had taken for granted. However, before I get carried away, it's worth taking a closer look at the qualities and shortcomings of this work.

Drawings : 9
Cut-outs: 10

Technically, the work ... is beyond reproach. Although the distortion of the faces in some of the plates is regrettable, and sometimes detracts from the seriousness of the story, Nakagawa's illustrations are simply breathtaking in their detail. The wide shots reveal the extent of the author's imagination and talent, particularly in his depiction of the sublime city of Keiju, a complex mass of details where it would be laborious to distinguish each element. As for the cut-outs, they are of exemplary clarity, making it much easier to understand the story as a whole. I have few criticisms to make in this respect.

Universe: 9.5
Characters: 10
Plot development: 9
Drama and politics: 8
Ending: 6.5

As for the story as a whole, and the characters and universe around which these political, ideological and financial intrigues revolve, I was equally captivated by the love the author has infused into it. Despite the brevity of the story, the universe created remains remarkably rich and well-developed. Shocking revelations abound in every volume, to the point where readers lose their bearings. While some may feel that the narrative strings woven by the author are sometimes too visible, to deny my appreciation of this tale would be a shameless lie. I fell under the spell of this teeming universe, its dreamlike atmosphere and its novel technologies. As for the characters, although they are poorly developed, they are nonetheless endearing. Even if their character traits hardly evolve over the course of the story, their intimate relationship with politics mitigates this lack of depth. After all, it's geopolitics that takes center stage. This depiction of conspiracy and political maneuvering is a very accurate and realistic iteration of our own world. *Shadow of the Ring* is not intended to be subversive; rather, it exposes the raw reality behind the scenes of political relations, where nothing is left to chance, every action meticulously calculated and orchestrated with the sole aim of enriching oneself or preserving certain privileges.

To conclude this review, I'd say that a few more volumes would have allowed this story to develop further, as its concept, universe and characters still conceal so many unsolved mysteries. I was also somewhat disappointed by the abrupt ending, which leaves so many questions unanswered. However, despite these minor flaws, my love for this magnificent story remains intact.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Aushi, Kamalu, Dawa, Guan, Douan, Mahina, but above all to Kaiji Nakagawa, for all the emotions and memories aroused throughout this sublime epic. I won't forget you in a hurry. To all those who read me, I urge you to ignore the negative reviews and give this sumptuous manga a chance.

The perfect slice of life

This morning, my viewing of this sublime anime came to an end. This morning, I had to leave this wonderful animated work. I don't often talk about it here, but I'm a big fan of romantic anime. Whether it's Maison Ikkoku, Nagi no Asukara or many others, I consider this genre to be one of the richest in the anime landscape. We can go from rather naive works that make us laugh and relax, to more serious works dealing with serious subjects such as depression, suicide and so on.

However, despite this rich landscape, no work has managed to fill me ... with as much wonder as Insomniacs. I'll go into more detail about the anime later, but I consider this masterpiece, whether manga or anime, to be one of the most accomplished in existence. The author's drawing sublimates her talent for directing and her script. She manages to move us while tackling serious subjects such as illness, the fear of abandonment and the fear of death. Yet all these subjects are treated with such lightness and delicacy as to be disarming. Despite the hardships our protagonists endure, we are never really worried about the turn of events, as we are bathed in a dreamlike, idyllic atmosphere.

Animation: 8.5
Atmosphere: 10
Character: 10
Development: 10
Music: 9.5
Story: 10
Love Story: 10

Speaking of atmosphere and characters, I consider the manga to be simply perfect on these points. And, despite certain shots in the anime that didn't necessarily do justice to the manga's drawings, we can only humbly thank Lidenfilms for offering us an anime worthy of this sumptuous story.

The music, composed by the great Yuki Hayashi, to whom we already owe the dynamic OST of My Hero Academia, the soothing OST of Death Parade and the magical OST of Karakuri Circus, is of a beauty that wonderfully embraces the quietude felt in discovering and sharing this story with Ganta, Isaki and all the others.

Moreover, the actors' voices were so perfect in their respective roles. Nakami's voice, light but no less loving and gentle. Isaki's voice, energetic, adorable and ravishing. Their voices, tone and intonation are perfectly in tune with their respective characters. How can we fail to appreciate these characters, whose goodness, kindness and love for others eat away at them from the inside out?

But more generally, how can you not appreciate this work? It's one of the few works, in my humble opinion, to tackle such serious subjects, while maintaining a good-natured atmosphere. Every moment spent with these characters, every moment spent reading this manga or watching this anime is like a hug that warms me to the very depths of my soul. I know for a fact that if I need comfort, this story will be the equivalent of a candy bar given to me by my dear mother just after a fall on her bike. This romance makes me feel and exalts in me the same emotions as when I kiss my girlfriend after more than a month of separation.

I apologize if this whole review seems disjointed, or a little too long, but words are far too weak to express just how much the delicate lightness of this anime has stirred intense emotions in me. I'd like to thank everyone who reads this. For all those who missed this marvel, I have only one piece of advice: dive into this starry universe full of surprises.

On a rainy day like this, I finished this anime. And in this somewhat gloomy mood of exam revision and confinement, I fell under the spell of these 2 episodes. I fell in love with its atmosphere, its world, its musical universe, its artistic direction, its characters, its story. This Oav, an ode to the present moment, is a sweet love letter to serenity, quietude, the little moments of everyday life and the lightness of life.

This little haven of peace doesn't, I think, need deep stories or complex, convoluted plots. It doesn't need fight scenes or betrayals. Nor does it pretend to revolutionize anything. What's ... more, this Oav is to his manga what Position is to Kotonoba Drive. It's just a tiny part of what Hitoshi Ashinano's work has to offer.

This little audiovisual document, lost in the throes of time and in the galaxy that is the world of anime, is for me a little oasis of calm in which I can rest, thinking of nothing but the beauty of the world around me. A beauty all too often neglected to the detriment of our worries, problems and doubts.

This masterpiece made me realize something very special: time, however fleeting, must not prevent us from appreciating every second of our life here on earth.

I'm well aware that this is a work that is not very accessible to the general public. Many will see it as 50 minutes of emptiness. I grant you that there are too many of them. But for the rest of us, the others who are just looking for a little sweetness and ataraxia, I think I've found an anime for people like us. Thank you ajia-do for this moment of pure happiness and tranquility.

Really very disappointed by this manga. I've just finished the 2nd volume and it left me with a nasty sour taste. I was still hopeful about the series' potential, especially with the arrival of Van Hellsing, but my hopes were totally dashed by chapter XIV. I already had a lot of trouble with the characters (except perhaps Jo Suwa, who paradoxically remains the most intriguing of the group), but these last chapters confirmed that feeling.

I loathe the characters in this manga. I feel no compassion for them. Mina is barely interesting. Arthur is just a cliché of the rich, privileged white kid, petty and haughty. ... Suwa gets too little attention. And Quincey is depraved and deviant. The scene that definitively put the final nail in the coffin is unquestionably the chapel scene at the end of Volume 2. Being religious, I find this abomination blasphemous and immoral, as well as serving no useful purpose.

I may sound a bit reactionary or old-fashioned, but I'm deeply saddened by the way this story has been handled and turned out. With such sumptuous drawings, masterful direction and elaborate shots, Sakamoto's talent could have made this one of the greatest series for me. But it feels like a bad mix of Oshimi and Ito.

Sorry if I sound salty, but I felt the need to express my dissatisfaction. I'd also like to thank all those who will read these few lines. Don't hesitate to let me know if you feel like expressing an opinion contrary to mine.

The 1st work by Ono-Sensei, but above all the 1st manga, other than Blue Exorcist (obviously), that I read. And I must admit to having been nicely charmed by these 6 short stories. But let's take things one at a time.


To begin with, I had the privilege of buying the magnificent French edition of this collection of stories a few days before its official release. In this format, we have the honor of seeing some color pages as well as a hardcover book, perfect for the genre, in my humble opinion.

As for the technical aspect, I'd like to thank Kato-Sensei and her sense for ... detail for delivering a plethora of simply sublime plates. I've been in love with her style since Blue Exorcist, and I'm delighted to see that she's so at home in every type of story. She has succeeded marvelously in adapting the Ono-Sensei stories into manga.

To leave the technical side and avoid any spoilers, I won't go into detail about the story. I would, however, like to express the growing love I felt throughout my reading. Despite its heavy atmosphere at times, due to its editorial genre, I found the various stories paradoxically dramatic, touching, but above all melancholy. For the mangakas, notwithstanding the horrific aspect, touch us with the themes they tackle, which are personally very dear to my heart. The various stories all evoke the sometimes complicated and even conflicting bonds we forge with our forebears, and more specifically our parents and grandparents. And this theme is approached with such beauty and lightness that the horror didn't affect me at all, as I was too preoccupied by the realization of the importance of my ties with my loved ones.

Finally, as with all positive reviews, I warmly recommend this wonderful manga. Don't be intimidated by the horror, because it's really not the center of the story. The various tales will touch you as much as they do me, I'm sure. So don't hesitate and dive into Obana's mysterious world, which I'm sure will affect and amaze you.

Let me start by saying something. I'm not a big fan of josei/shojo. I find the layout rather chaotic and not always readable. And to be honest, if my girlfriend hadn't bought me the complete Kenen series, I wouldn't be here today to express my love for it. But let's take things point by point.

Drawing: 8
Cutting: 7
As for the side, I'd say it's pretty clean. The drawings are really charming and perfectly embrace the Japanese folklore atmosphere that the author wanted to infuse into his story. The layout, while having the shortcomings of the genre, suits me perfectly.

Story: 9.5
Universe: 9
Characters: 10
Now, what counts ... most for me is undoubtedly the emotional side, particularly with regard to the story, the universe, but above all the characters and the relationship I have with them. The story touched me deeply, not least because of its similarity to the history between peoples today. As for the universe, it's very close to our world, especially in terms of ancestral rivalries, while incorporating fantastic elements in the purest Japanese style (Mononoke, Divinities, Dragons, everything). And it works really well. We have a very coherent universe with very solid foundations.

So I'm going to talk about the last, and I think, most important thing about this manga. The one that impressed me the most in this magnificent manga : the characters. I can't think of a single character in this story who hasn't contributed to the overall beauty of this manga. I'm not going to talk in detail about all the characters to avoid any spoilers, but I would nevertheless like to say a few words about 2 characters who made a deep impression on me in black ink: Mashira and Hayate. Characters whom everything opposed. Enemies who did nothing but quarrel all day long. A conflicted relationship, but one that gradually turned into a true friendship. A deeply sincere friendship, with no ulterior motives, that allowed our 2 protagonists to evolve throughout their journey. We've gone from a naive, impulsive little monkey with a visceral hatred of humans, to a character with a heart of gold, who doesn't hesitate to sacrifice himself for his goal: to unite humans and mononoke, while accepting his own nature. And on the other, Hayate. A cold-tempered character with no empathy whatsoever for his prey. But when he comes into contact with this kind-hearted kakuen, he'll finally understand his place in this world.

I'll end my review with this wish, which I'm passing on to you. Whatever your tastes, whatever your reading desires, give this manga a chance. My words aren't strong enough to express all the love I feel for this series. So don't be afraid to dive into this sumptuous universe, which I guarantee will leave a lasting impression on you.

Part 1 of this excellent manga draws to a close with a magnificent conclusion.
After a succession of tomes whose intensity rose to a crescendo, especially in the last few, this one is intended as a conclusion to Part 1 of Denji's story. But let's go back in time a little.
For my part, I started with the anime, which is quite simply a technical showcase, as the animation is truly excellent, as is the cinematography. After a certain abandonment and obvious detachment from this work, I found myself wanting to see it again, like a toxic ex-girlfriend. And, as a result of the sequence ... of events, the battles and other shocking revelations, I found myself only 1 week away from the end of this sumptuous Part 1.
As is my wont now, I'm going to set out the various qualities and defaults of this story so far.
As for the defaults, ...
Let's move on to the qualities of this work.
Storytelling: 9
Drawing: 8.75
Worldbuilding: 8.5
Characters: 10
Character development: 10

I really couldn't find any major flaws in this manga, which dazzled me with its writing, its universe, its atmosphere and its characters. To avoid any spoilers, I won't go into too much detail, but I sincerely advise you to go and read this manga. Because, at the risk of surprising many, I loved Fujimoto's drawing. At first glance, it may look rough, almost amateurish, like Haruhisa or Tsutomu Takahashi, but it perfectly embraces the atmosphere of constant unease that hangs over our reading.
The 2nd part of the story seems to be starting on a completely new footing, which will perhaps enable us to flesh out this universe and tell us the rest of our dear Denji's peregrinations. I'm hoping for a better treatment than the second part of Moriarty, but I have faith in Fujimoto's talent.