I'm just going to quickly summarize a lot of my opinions here because I have some concerns with this series going forward. A lot of major spoilers ahead
Story: I loved the story, it was rich with world building, it had a unique and awesome magic and power system with the Sacred Gears and Evil Pieces, and the whole thing seemed to flow nicely. There were a few hiccups here and there and I do take issue with things like Asia being a dragon tamer came from nowhere, the link between the outside world and the barrier seems weird but not totally impossible, there aren't any
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major losses, etc. And while that's mostly minor criticisms I do have one large one. Why isn't there a major villain? Rizevim would have worked perfectly if he was introduced in early volumes and set up to be this large and looming threat. Instead he got properly introduced during the Romania trip and we saw him about 3-4 more times after that. That and why was Trihexa dealt with in under a single volume? Like yeah it isn't dead but it's contained and out of sight out of mind. Maybe it comes back but it isn't even set up properly. One last thing, Vali. Why does he get no development? Considering his past and the fact that his Grandfather is the main villain for the last arc it would have been better to see him get more attention.
Art: I liked the art but it does get weird a some points. Like the cover for volume 10 making Rias look closer to Sirzechs than anything.
Character: Like I said earlier the lack of central villain sticks out and drags the story down a bit. That and there was a huge missed opportunity when Issei died to further the relationship between Issei and Ddraig or Issei and Ophis or even all three, and to some degree it seems natural that Issei would initially be worried about losing his body and the repercussion of not being able to touch titties ever again but that's partially Ichiei writing himself into a corner with the character. Even so this could have been a turning point for Issei to learn to appreciate all he has and grow as a person rather than being a touch-starved pervert.
Enjoyment: This series was fun as hell to read and you actually get a full scope of the world you're in. It's immersive, it's fun, it's got something for damn near everyone. It's more than just ecchi and it got closer and more in touch with its battle shounen elements ever since volume 4.
Concerns: Oh boy, I fear for the future of this series. It seems like it's going to keep getting bigger and bigger with more and more enemies to face but how is it going to end? What is the whole point? This is why I take issue with there not being a main villain. If Rizevim was the main villain of DxD before Shin then after he dies in volume 20 we could have taken volumes 21 and 22 to fight and trap Trihexa, and taken volume 23 to give Issei his High-Ranking Promotion and end DxD there. then at the beginning of Shin it could take place shortly after with the announcement of the Azazel Cup and we get introduced to a new threat. That would be fine, but considering it's more like Dragon Ball in the fact that Issei keeps getting new forms and there's always a new stronger foe to take on every couple of volumes there really isn't a way this is going to end, at least not a good one. Really, can anyone tell me a good way that Dragon Ball will end? Because of the way it's set up peace is always going to be a temporary end. Just like how it was a few years after DB that DBZ up to the Cell Saga happened. Then the Buu saga happened years later. Then Super happens. It just feels like if peace is the note we end off on it won't feel like it's really the end, because the series it propped up to make us ask "so what happens next?" or "what new threat will end this peace?", and when we're told it's the end it won't feel satisfying. That's my concern. Is that the series will end with peace and we'll all say "so who breaks that peace this time" and when we're told the story doesn't continue it won't feel satisfactory. Demon Slayer ends when Mujan dies and the Demons are turned back into normal humans. No Game No Life ends when Sora and Shiro conquer all of Disboard. Konosuba ends when the Demon Lord is slain. they have concrete goals that need to be accomplished when the series ends. But just like Dragon Ball, that ending is both unclear and vague at best.
Overall: I'm here for the long haul and I know i will always be a DxD fan but I'm concerned that Ichiei has written himself into a corner and this series is going to fall flat on its face.
May 16, 2021
High School DxD
(Manga)
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I'm just going to quickly summarize a lot of my opinions here because I have some concerns with this series going forward. A lot of major spoilers ahead
Story: I loved the story, it was rich with world building, it had a unique and awesome magic and power system with the Sacred Gears and Evil Pieces, and the whole thing seemed to flow nicely. There were a few hiccups here and there and I do take issue with things like Asia being a dragon tamer came from nowhere, the link between the outside world and the barrier seems weird but not totally impossible, there aren't any ... 
Apr 27, 2021
Spoilers ahead, obviously.
Story: It was pretty good but could have been better. Biggest issue is the dreams. Tanjirou and Rengoku were the only ones that got any sort of character progression out of this huge opportunity. Zenitsu and Inosuke could have stood to gain a lot more from the dreams but instead were passed off as goofy sides that broke up the seriousness of Tanjirou's which kinda ruins it a little in the process. And why Rengoku? He dies right at the end. Next biggest issue, I don't get why the gang feels so bad about losing him. Sure, cry, it is sad I'll admit, ... |
