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Main conclusion: not brilliant, but certainly a good read.

story;
A girl (Yako) whoes father was murdered comes across a deamon (yes, it is consequently spelled as deamon) aka Neuro that solves the 'riddle' of this unsolved case. Neuro feeds on riddles and he wants to eat riddles from the human world. He uses Yako to navigate through human society and makes Yako a famous detective. Her role within their detective agency is mainly to smile friendly and keep close contacts with the police.

The first 60 chapters are short stories. Of course there is a big villain (X), but he's in the background. The short stories are ... all about a murder case where the murderer tried to hide he did it through a 'riddle'. There were several riddles that were way too far fetched, but overall it was nicely done.

After the first 60 chapters of only short stories there comes another big villain comes along: A computer virus that turns people into criminals. This keeps us occupied for another 30 chapters.
So after about 30 chapters containing a bigger plot we're back to short stories.
X gets a bigger role and appears more. Short stories, with a red thread concerning the cat and mouse game that develops between X and Neuro - we're heading towards chapter 120.
It turns out X is only the beginning of the trouble that awaits. There is a super villain responsible for X. This villain and his evil plans will be the grand plot of the story. So it is 80 chapters only the super villain and his minions against Neuro and the police squad.

The switches between little stories and the main story are, in my humble opinon, too big. When you read this manga in one go, somehow it doesn't feel good. The way how people from different stories fit to gether in the bigger picture manga is nicely done.


art;
On the first glance you'd say Matsui-sensei's art isn't worth mentioning. You couldn't be more wrong. When you look closer at the art you'll be pleasantly surprised. It is clear that Matsui-sensei likes art and he shows this in multiple ways. For instance trough a story concerning a artist. The sculpture Matsui-sensei has drawn for this story was awesome.

Matsui-sensei's drawings are clearly based on several artists. Neuro's deamonic form for instance, reminded me somehow of the creatures in the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. Other deamonic things had aspects you could defenitly link to Dalí. Several pictures (with Neuro sitting on the ceiling for instance) were obviously inspired by the works of Escher. Matsui-sensei is also clearly into (Picasso's) surrealistic cubism.


character;
The characters evolve. You can see they really change throughout the story. Some don't change for the better. This way it is realistic. I also like it Matsui-sensei doesn't have too much trouble with letting characters die.
However the way several of the murderers or the supervillain are portrayed is far beyond realism.


Enjoyment:
It was a nice story to read. I liked it, but I can't say I loved it. The comic relief was nice. Neuro's sadistic traits were funny, and Yako's eating habbits were hilarious. In the translator notes I read much jokes were untranslatable because the jokes were in the kanji readings. Too bad, it would have made the story even better.

Story & Characters: 9
A rather timid and shy samurai, Masa, comes across a yakuza, Yaichi. For the first time he isn't ridiculed for the frightening gap between his personality and occupation and is offered a job. When Yaichi notices Masa really has skills he tries to pull him into the Yakuza.
This is a realistic story about how someone gets sucked into a yakuza group, and about becoming 'nakama'. While Masa struggles with his own demons he gets accepted by the 4 members of Sarai-ya Goyō.
Within these twelve episodes we get to know fragments of their past and how Sarai-ya Goyō came to be.

Art: ... 8
The backgrounds are done beautiful. This is a style looks drawn. The faces of the characters are ...not realistic. Watching the anime however, it all fits. When I looked into it I found out those faces were typical for the mangaka's (Natsume Ono's) work.

Sound: 9
The opening tune was a shock to me. Some electrical beat for an anime placed in the Edo era? WTF?! After a few episodes I've come to like it and found out the songtekst couldn't be more fitting.
Overal the sound is nicely done. The rain pours realistic, floor boards that make sounds etc. The music is fitting to the scene and the voice actors really seem to fit their characters.

Enjoyment: 9
For the very first time I have come across a seinen anime that has adult characters without flashy fighting moves. The story is simple and has a nice slow pace. Watching a realistic, slice of life, yakuza story without unnecessary violence and all that jazz? It really is possible. The way awkward emotions are conveyed is also nicely portrayed.

Overall: 9
Looking at the whole picture it is a story that is nicely set and really grabbed my attention. This is the first time I went ballistic searching for the manga after watching only the very first episode. This anime really grabbed my attention.

Ok, here do we have Zion no Koeda. Sounds fine doesn't it? I thought as well. But I'm afraid I forgot the Japanese excel in using any kind of story/history and mixing it in their own little stories. It can be painful.
Therefore I beg you please: If you have any knowledge of the third empire or west or east Berlin, please do not read this story. It'll be torture.
However, if you weren't the brightest kid in history classes and you haven't the foggiest clue about WW2 or whatever happened there, please do enjoy the yaoi.

Story: 4
The idea of an abduction and yaoi/torture/rape are not exactly ... original, but can be nice if the mangaka put some effort in it. However, story wise you can't see any effort for historical details.
Art: 5
Nothing new, nothing flashy. Some nice details though.
Character: 3
I cannot possibly imagine a German soldier not getting shot for being gay, let alone a SS'er that doesn't kill Jews. Even in the sweetest fiction. No way.
Enjoyment: 4
It could have been a nice story if I just didn't know. However, I was too pissed off about the little facts that were so incorrect.
Overall: 4
I can imagine someone actually likes this story. So once again: Only read it if you have no history-knowledge whatsoever!

Story; 7
Four chapters, and an extra. The four chapters are about an overprotective father that won't let his daughter date men. The daughter is 17, and already has a serious relationship for a half year and wants her father to know and accept it. Boy isn't accepted > boy wants to be acknowledged > father is dj > boy wants to win dj contest > voíla, there you have an extraordinary story. I'd advise you not to read the extra though. It doesn't look like a follow up on characters from the first four chapters.

Art; 6
Mediocre. Many personages look like they want to look cool...

Character; ... 6
Not great, but not too bad either. I wouldn't say 'it is very realistic' but then again, this story is too short for real characters.

Enjoyment; 8
I really like the story. It really is something else!

Overall; 7 when you're looking for a short story this is a nice one to read!

The horror! It is too corny. Brother and sister get separated at a young age. The girl takes one of her two hair ribbons and tells him to wear it every day so they'll recognize each other the time they'll meet again.
8-10 years later (who cares?) the girl gets into a luxuries high school preparing them for the high class 'real life'.
Japanese isn't cool enough, they need to use German words.

Furthermore: Why is the mangaka determined to torment the feminist readers? The girls always say: [enter a boysname]-sama. Man and women are not equal in this manga.

Anyhow, this is enough negative comments ... from me. Please, forget my comments and find out yourself!
err, I hope you cán enjoy it!