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The journey to this manga finale was so agonizing and that's solely because of the rollercoaster type of chapters Wakui had for the readers, especially after certain choices he decided to pursue in the storyline. With that said, this review will contain spoilers so look at this with caution if you haven't finished reading it yet. Tokyo Revengers is a manga that involves both of my favorite things about different troops: time-lapping and gangs, but certainly those concepts were morphed into something more mystical to say at least, but it was fun while it lasted.

The story has Takemichi Hanagaki, our MC, a regular young man ... who had not prospered very well at the moment due to his difficult circumstances during his younger days and knows about the death of his high school girlfriend by the dangerous gangs in Tokyo that lead him to be pushed to the railroads to his imminent death, time-travels 12 years in the past and decides to take this chance to make things right. What he did not know was that the more he tried to save his girl, the more people would be getting the consequences of his actions which would trigger his intentions to save everyone he gets to encounter on his journey.

With that premise, it was obvious that Takemichi had to find himself the people involved in the Tokyo gangs in the future, and that was a huge task on his hands. Here is where I would like to stop and talk about two very important aspects: The story and the characters' roles in said story.

I'm pretty sure Wakui had a lot of ideas since he inspired his work from Black Emperor, a gang he was involved in -or that is what the media reports- during his youth, as well as the grasp he got from the time-traveling concept, which made things a lot more convoluted in future chapters. The idea of Takemichi getting to know, interact, and bond with almost every single member of different gangs as a way to introduce consequences to certain events was brilliant; it worked as a mechanism to give our MC a proper development through the arcs as well as the chance for characters related to each moment to grow. Takemichi, going back to the future and discovering how different each timeline was due to his choices and inevitable events was certainly engaging because who would've thought about the reasons for so much hatred and violence in all the possible futures? But then, with each character being introduced and how Takemichi's powers were evolving and working in those scenarios, the storyline went to something I did not expect, and I'm sure people will agree, was becoming whatever after the 1st wedding timeline, and here is when the characters and their roles enter by Wakui's logic and creativity.

I really enjoyed the whole Takemichi's motivation thing, to save his girlfriend and his friends, to gather the courage to not be a wimp about every single negative situation, and to actually take action as well as how his growth as an individual and skills was built...

But how are you gonna present to the reader a whole power that allows our MC to get premonitions, use it conveniently in very specific situations and never address it ever again? Why it took so much to explore the triggers of each timeline but not this power-up that came from nowhere? People would let that pass -actually, I did because even if it left a taste of plot-armor artistry, it gave space for Takemichi to act, specifically in the two last arcs. I'm a believer that if a power-up that special is introduced in the final moments of a story, is because it was being dragged for so long to a point where Wakui was probably asked to end it and pulled his last efforts to rush it in the most logical way possible and it felt that way, sadly...

Other proof of this belief is the most unfortunate pseudo-relevancy of characters and their final chances of proper development during the plot. It still seems unbelievable how Senju, the leader of Brahman, was hyped up so much for her same-level skills as Mikey, being part of the Three Deities, and yet she was almost a lady in distress if it wasn't for her physical skills. It was so contradictory to let her brother treat her as a capable member and still tell her to stay away from the battles knowing her reputation among the gangs and her own strengths. Hanma Shuji, an actual headache for the main characters, was given an actual chance to tell his story in front of his only friend and Wakui forgot about it, it was literally never addressed unless it was a metaphorical way to say how the rest of the manga would go on, which seems unnecessary due to the lack of depth it was given to him, an actual enemy on this story, in that precise moment. Kisaki, which I think is a great villain, by the way, is the only real enemy for who I felt something good in this area and that is because Wakui kept it real and all that motivation came from loving a woman, which is more likely to happen in real life tbh: changing for someone to be a better self. Mikey, a controversial yet hyped character in the main cast, became frustrating to see. The dark impulses plot was expanded in such a way that being described as a CURSE at the end felt laughable -great explanation made by Sanzu in the middle of a battle btw-.

In contrast, the story of Shinichiro Sano and the reveal of the second timelapper was so well done; I think Wakui had it already planned and it felt well planned and so the final arc was great for a moment. All the characters had significant experiences in all the arcs and learned how to carry on in their lives and then Wakui came with the most pulled-out-of-your-ass final I've seen. Because with a simple trip to their childhood, the whole cast's journey of growth became nothing. It felt weird to only see children Mikey and Takemichi casually meeting and gathering all the members as if nothing happened.

The finale is rather a scenario that I would've loved if a reset did not happen at all. The reader will know by then that only Mikey and Takemichi will remember the whole story, and even though this happy ending was for all the characters who might never know about the struggles lived in multiple timelines, it felt nice to see that Chifuyu had notions of it. Again, with the rushing to end this story, it can only be assumed that the other characters and triggers, especially Naoto Tachibana, the first and main trigger for Takemichi, had the same blurry memories of the past timelines. It was nice to see all those characters happy but was throwing all their stories and redemption moments into the trash worth it? Wakui had the chance to make a positive message out of this finale because I've seen a lot of people struggling with their circumstances, working on their traumas, and embracing their experiences to make themselves a better person, so knowing that all told stories in this manga were basically erased in this timeline was counterproductive -I will never forgive Wakui for this, Mitsuya had such a great development after Draken's passing... How sad-.

Good for them though! Takemichi managed to save all his beloved ones!

This is not the first work Ken Wakui has done, but it was his moment to improve his artstyle which I currently like. I really loved his previous works and first volumes ' artstyle, he managed to keep his characters almost realistic with the features he draws and later became something more anime-esque with more cartoonish aspects which will be assumed is for the sake of productivity on weekly releases. The art in Shinichiro's story with the expressions and effects in the panels was amazing and truly one of my favorites to see. It can also be noticed how important is fashion when it comes to his characters, his taste in outfits for each character's volume cover and special illusts was perfect and it shows in the way every character was dressed in their uniforms and casual fits as well as the creations Mitsuya has done in the story. The wedding dresses for Hinata Tachibana in both wedding timelines were lovely. So much to say about his art and how it progressed to the peak that it was Shinichiro's past- for real, the really angry Shinichiro panel was exquisite~- but so many written words already lol.

So...

Did I enjoy it? Yes, very much. The plot is engaging, the amount of action and fighting moments were great and the art is amazing. Each character is likable in their own way, it may resonate with the reader depending on their own stories or outcomes and the constant curiosity of knowing how the future will change with each step Takemichi did was thrilling.

Was it worth it? The answer is debatable. The Mixed Feelings recommendation is the only way I could put this. For others, it may be the worst manga finale, almost of bad taste. For me, it was an okay finale for such an amazing story but that was only because I let myself be in a state of almost faking dementia to let all the shitshow of the final arcs go as nothing lol.

So my overall rating is actually an 8. The whole story can not be left to rot in a corner just because of a mid ending. The art is great, the characters are cool and you can tell the love Ken Wakui has poured into his work.

TL,DR: If you enjoy some gang shit action with time-lapping in the companion of the realest MC out there, then Tokyo Revengers is a good story to jump in. Be careful while reaching the end though, it's better to be prepared for some of the weirdest asspulls of the year.

Bakuten!! What a ride, a pleasant one.

For something so simplistic as its plot focused on rhythmic gymnastics, this show truly conveys a lot of emotions and experiences that are hella enjoyable, and that makes it one of the greatest shows of the season imo.

The story, as I said, it's very simplistic yet effective: the rhythmic gymnastics club and their journey to the junior tournament. For the introduction of the club members to their coach and manager- hell, even their rivals; each of our main characters had their own little backstory that added a spark to the story. Certainly, the show focused a lot ... on those details, like the interactions between characters, their growth, and how to relate to each dynamic. The friendship between the team members and their struggles seemed pretty real, it made me feel the lightness the show's aesthetic and storytelling had conveyed. I really appreciate how the show was more focused on their character's development rather than solely just the sport. Also, the show's sense of humor is very amusing haha I just love the way they carried the whole Mysterious Coach's Wife and the hide and seek episode.

There are still some unanswered questions like Misato's parents or details for the Shiro Highschool Team members but I'm pretty sure that they will eventually have their own lil arc once the movie comes out or even future seasons.

The art is one of the main reasons why I enjoyed it so much! When I found out that Zexcs was the studio in charge, I couldn't help but hesitate. They are known for Diabolik Lovers, and I'm pretty sure that is something very overwhelming if you know about the show lol. However, there is undoubtedly a major improvement from DL saga and Bakuten: the character designs, the artstyle, the aesthetic, in general, was a total upgrade and how they decided to implement CGI was pretty satisfying. I guess everyone worries a lot about CGI but in this show is well used.

I'm still amazed about the panoramics and visual effects for certain moments. From Shotaro's first impression of his current team to his sensations while doing the handstand with Mashiro, the visuals were almost magical and made me feel chills every time Shotaro discovered something. That also applies to the show's more sad moments! The setting created for those moments was so well done... I'm still thinking about his conversation with Misato, Misato's struggle with a certain part of the choreo or Shichigahama's determination scenes.

I would like to also give major props to the choreography team! The show couldn't have been possible without the amazing choreos shown here. Each choreo seemed to fit perfectly with the vibes of each team and that's a fantastic aspect to remark along with the music. Surely Shiro HS Team had a very spicy performance, one of my favorite routines in my very vast one of anime performances.

Now, bringing back the characters, I felt really engaged with every single one of them, and it may be due to how each character had a special characteristic in their personalities. Surely, our MC, Shotaro, is an emotional little bean, discovering a whole new world in the field or getting to know his teammates and rivals. How he acted in certain situations and interacted with the cast was so charming... Same for Misato! I'm used to your typical character with a stoic personality or resting bitch face but, somehow, with how cold-minded was Misato, seeing him flustered or nervous about something was very amusing~ I may be biased but the whole show made me appreciate the way characters behaved.

I would talk about the rest of the characters- For real! Each one of them is special- for a long time but I want to mention two things regarding characters: Mashiro was such a good character, his range from being this cute fluffy boy to a serious and passionate athlete amused me. And lastly... The confrontation in the tournament between both captains... That was so damn attractive and that says a lot. It's the way each character embraces the positiveness of competition, how their rivalry is healthy, and share the same goals that make these tense moments so good. Not gonna lie, the confrontation made me a big Takase fan, since my boy Shichigahama was already best boy lol

So, in the end, Bakuten was amazing. I'm pretty sure this show can be considered a comfort one, with how fluffy, funny and relatable it was. I would totally do a rewatch of this show on a very bad day just because of those facts. And you, people, should watch it too! That's an overall 9 out of 10 and I will probably rate it a perfect 10 if I rewatch this show enough times to convince me that it's a masterpiece lol

I just can't believe that this manga is rated 7? Are y'all okay?

How do I begin... I stumbled upon this manga because of memes and posts talking about how sad, impactful, and well-written it was for a hentai manga and I went on-board with that in mind. My expectations were incredibly high since I'm a young woman trying to enjoy more erotic and heavy-plot content and it was inevitable to feel weird out by how fucked up this shit was.

So let me begin per section.

"Metamorphosis deconstructs how hentai is viewed" my ass. I'm a believer that even hentai is an object of criticism as ... any other type of work. So with that in mind, the story did not provoke me nor triggered the need to start questioning myself about anything. What's in the plot that would've made me feel like this hentai is trying to give me a message? Nothing. Just purely shock value content. I totally understand that some people may have cried while reading it but is not because the story is rich in content or social criticism neither realism, it's just because the events presented here are just dreadful.

What part of the story is giving you the idea that our views regarding erotic content should be questioned? It doesn't exist. I can search for other hentai manga with the same topics and I assure you that it will probably be more well-written than Metamorphosis. Even if the intentions of Shindo are to ask ourselves what the fuck are we doing reading hentai, the message simply doesn't come across because it fails in its delivery: Metamorphosis fails as a social critique because this is not a story to think about it, it's just porn -the one that could be qualified in some type of disturbing media iceberg.

I couldn't even read the whole thing because the so-called story is so repetitive that I just wanted to finish it! I want you to recall the events told here: Saki wanted to be more out-going and those attempts led her to become a victim of rape, bullying, and abandonment till her death. Nothing else, a whole repetitive cycle of brutalism against this girl by different people, there is no questioning in our own values -other than "Why I am reading this?"- neither about the characters and their motives. More about that further in this review though.

Are vile and disgusting people out there in the real world? Obviously, but this is well-known without needing to read a hentai manga where the protagonist is violated just because. Even in that aspect, Saki didn't have any reason to be involved there. There was no real reason that led those events to happen, they were not a consequence of a bigger and impactful motive. The cruelty here just happened because is pure shock value from the author.

And the final, oh my lord, the final.

Shindo was not satisfied with Saki living through those horrible things so he decided to just kill her. Once again, there is no instance to use any critical thinking skills here. Yeah, she lived that way between addictions and sex and then what? She died? How sad, poor little girl, yeah yeah. Now, what hentai doujin should I read next?

Now, Shindo has a great talent, that's for sure. I will always remember Shindo because he's just that good. And, well, his skills while drawing porn are great too!

The character design is good too, there's not much to say about it because it is not outstanding, but throughout the manga, it clearly worked to demonstrate how Saki changed from being this shy, cute and naive girl to what she later becomes.

And with that said, Saki's character is just... poor. Going back to my take on how badly this manga did to show any type of instance of critical thinking, some of the thoughts that people may have had are "She did this to herself" and "She did some really bad decisions" but the thing is Saki did decide nothing. Like, literally she couldn't even take any decision by herself because she had been raped, drugged, and bullied by every single person she encountered. The only thing that comes to my mind as a sane decision was when she wanted to keep the baby. But that's it.

Keeping the same thought process, if this was meant to be a masterpiece regarding the social critique aspect, it did a bad job with the lack of depth in the perpetrators of those events, meaning that there's no real background in any of the characters to deliberately make us go "Wow, so that's why".

So...

I clearly did not enjoy reading this, and I'm sure this wasn't meant to be enjoyed anyways- if there's someone who truly enjoyed this manga... yikes. But you did not enjoy reading this because the story was sad, it was just because the sadistic events were horrifying enough to collect some tears that added absolutely nothing important to this topic.

So that's an overall 3 points for the art and yeah. If you are willing to read this manga, please read with caution since it has a lot of trigger warnings aside from the obvious porno characteristics!