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May 14, 2021
Full disclosure: I liked :Re's ending and, whilst I know that's probably an unpopular opinion within Sui Ishida's fanbase, maybe that perspective will help some people's perceptions of what to expect with this new series.
Also, I will be comparing this series a lot to Tokyo Ghoul as I feel that's where a lot of the most interesting points are in the early discussion for this series.
Story 7/10:
It's hard to say with this type of thing when there's only one chapter available, but thus far the set up is intruiging whilst also feeling pretty familiar. The basic elevatory pitch is very similar, as many people have
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already pointed out (superhumans in a society where they don't belong), however the similarities become thin beyond that point. Notably, unlike the Ghoul of Tokyo Ghoul, the superhumans aren't some underground group but active terroristic threats that leave visible destruction that scars the city, and the specifics of being a superhuman feel less focussed on the necessary evil inherent in being one as much as it does the naturally corrupting nature of the powers it gives you.
As far as the story so far, this is pretty comfortable territory for Sui Ishida fans, but it's pretty clear that not only is the direction Sui Ishida's taking it radically different, but fundamentally incompatible with the themes and general plotline of Tokyo Ghoul.
Art 9/10:
Fun fact: Sui Ishida is a good artist. But I guess I should probably just do that thing where I compare expectations to his last series, right?
Art is great, but distinctively evolves off of his more experimental :Re style with quite a bit of what I detect as Mob Psycho flare? It's hard to tell, but the point is that if you're looking for gorgeously detailed and experimental artwork, it's right here as expected. If you're looking for attractive character designs, it's here too. But the introduction of a more cartoonish approach to the overall world design might not be your thing and tonally may put you off when compared to his previous works.
Characters 7/10:
There isn't much to discuss here past the setup, but that setup is solid. The protagonist has a strong design and personality split off from Sui Ishida's usual 'pathetic hero' trope, notably in his relationship to his best friend and their follower/leader characterization. The dynamic between the two is fun and genuine in a way that Tokyo Ghoul fans will feel familiar with, but their contrasting personalities are much more apparent in this case. The final moments between them as of chapter 1 are a legitimately sweet moment of expectation breaking that really emphasize their relationship as a focus rather than a plot element for this series, and I can see a lot of directions for them to take it in.
Enjoyment 10/10:
Still don't really know what 'enjoyment' means but I'm gonna use it as an opportunity to wax over the overall manga quality.
It's great. Sui Ishida's not rusty at all despite the break from publication and still presents his experimental style not only in the artwork, but in the layout, use of speech bubbles, and other technical elements. He has and continues to be someone who's really pushing the format's construction in really interesting ways, and for that reason it makes every page of his newest series feel like something to get excited about. You never really know what to expect with Sui Ishida's layouts and that's a bonus to his otherwise solid presentation.
Overall 9/10:
It's a great manga so far, and it's a shame to see a general sourness coming entirely from his last work rather than the merits of his current work. Choujin X is not Tokyo Ghoul (as much as others would profess otherwise) and whilst it could possibly develop its own flaws, pre-supposing them does a disservice to what so far has been a great opening chapter.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 7, 2020
This review comes after having just finished :Re myself after hearing a cavalcade of general backlash and dislike against it, so allow me to start with the conclusion:
Give this series a chance. Read it like the conversation the series' protagonists fight to produce and meet it at its word rather than at the expectations you may or may not set for it.
Now, to be more specific...
At its worst :Re is occasionally crippled by difficult to track plot lines that intersect maybe a bit too much for their own good, but at its best it's an excellent meditation on the appeal of anti-heroism, tragedy, and nihilism.
:Re's
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artwork follows a lot of the more experimental and ethereal work of the original manga's conclusion - in many ways experimenting even further with its use of almost sketch-like illustrations throughout. And whilst its artwork was unsurprisingly an excellent continuation of the original series', its characters exceeded my expectations despite the already stellar cast of the original; their fun, exceptionally well explored, and larger-than-life personalities make them a natural fit for Tokyo Ghoul's expanding universe, and the way they bounce off of pre-existing characters is just as natural.
If your fear is quality, then I can assure you that should be the least of your worries going into the series. :Re is Tokyo Ghoul 2 in that respect; an effective continuation of the previous series' successful artistic efforts and styles of character writing. What isn't so similar however is the story's overall direction.
The original Tokyo Ghoul sets a clear expectation; "My life is a tragedy" are its opening lines and, as many of you reading a review for its sequel are likely to know, that tragedy was in many ways fulfilled by the conclusion. In that sense I can understand a dislike of :Re with that expectation in mind, as Tokyo Ghoul :Re is in many ways a narrative designed to deconstruct Tokyo Ghoul. Rather than sitting upon the throne of its original series' conclusion, it challenges said conclusion with a series of twists that - whilst admittedly coming across initially as out-of-left-field or in some way jumping-the-shark - when seen in the wider context of the story that :Re (and in many ways its predecessor) is telling, they function more as direct criticisms of the attitudes of the characters involved and the expectations their perspectives set up for the reader.
In short, Sui Ishida isn't afraid to tell his audience they were wrong, and :Re in many ways feels like a bite back at the nihilism that the original series produced. Despite hearing complaints of a rushed ending the story concludes at a comfortable pace with practically every plot line completed or otherwise addressed.
Tokyo Ghoul is a tragedy, but it's equally anti-tragedy, and dismissing :Re on the basis of it not being sad enough or otherwise subverting the expectations of an otherwise depressing story is less an issue of the work itself as much as the expectations those reading it came to it seeking to fulfill.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Aug 3, 2020
Happiness shares many problems with its own name. It's grand and instantly relatable emotionally, but too broad to mean much of anything in the end.
Put simply, Happiness has too much stuff.
Oshimi is certainly talented, and even in as rough a concept as this that talent shines through. But rather than relying on his incredible - and still very much present - ability to write cathartic human conflict, he tries to drag a level of world building and scale too large for him to handle.
Secret organizations, various vampires with little to no real involvement in the plot, a cult plotline, all of these are segments that
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rather than feeling like genuine challenges to the protagonists' conflicts, come across more like painful detours from pre-existing struggles you'd much rather see developed.
Where I loved those short moments of intimacy between the cast, I equally hated the plot's attempt to drag them into conflicts completely unrelated to their own personal feelings.
Despite very much wanting to be Tokyo Ghoul (and in many ways its direct sequel, Tokyo Ghoul: Re) there is no hamburger steak, no 'You don't have to be cool' message, no neat bow to tie the stories various elements together.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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