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"Jack" is somewhat intriguing, even if it's not necessary at all for the Tokyo Ghoul mythos. The plot and art are decent enough to carry how paper-thin the characterization is. If you want more details, read on.

[Story - 6]

The story follows a ghoul case pursued by the then-teenaged Kishou Arima, the Reaper of the CCG in the main series. He is accompanied by a 'classmate', Taishi Fura, a tertiary character in the main series and arguably the actual protagonist of this miniseries.

The mystery in this story is pretty predictable, but the build-up towards it makes the climax as depressing as what the original TG pumped ... out in its prime. Thankfully, with 7 chapters, the pacing is tightly packed.

While there's nothing particularly deep about this story, it continues exploring the themes of mainline TG: what IS humanity and its place in the 'food chain, along with how we handle the knowledge of said food chain.

[Art - 7]

The artwork is admittedly gorgeous here. Perhaps because of its setting in terms of the timeline, Ishida uses an even murkier artstyle here than before. This gives the whole story an atmosphere of hazy reflection and detachment developed through time. This is made more poignant right at the end, when the art starts to sharpen more to resemble the main series.

Action here is rendered adequately, but not to the heights of the original manga. Character design is fairly plain, but since the core cast is so small this time around, everyone is able to stand out. Special mention goes to Yamori's protomask and Kishou's significantly darker hair, since they tickle my fancy.

[Character - 5]

This is probably the aspect of this sidestory that I found the most lacking. I can't really say much, since these characters either show up in the main title in some capacity (Arima and Fura) or are pretty one-note to complement the former type (EVERYONE else, even Yamori). All I can really say is that it's serviceable for this story only.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 6]

It's not bad by any means, but as stated before it is completely unnecessary in the grander mythos of Ishida's work. Read it if you love Arima, I guess.

As a modern classic that also helped me get into the medium of manga and anime, I hold Death Note in warm regard. This naturally led to me deciding to reread the entire manga when I got back into said mediums two or so years ago by purchasing the Black Editions. While I still enjoyed myself, I found myself developing new opinions and feelings regarding this title.

[Story - 7]

In case if you don't know what this manga is about, here's the elevator pitch: A high-school kid finds a notebook that can kill people, and decides to become a god with it. From there, he is ... drawn into a world of psychological games and plans upon plans.

Now, if that doesn't quite hook you in......that's okay, actually! I now understand why it might not appeal to some people: whether it reeks of pretention (to a point), seems to prioritize plot over character (which can be argued both for and against), or any other reason. However, I feel that its core being the 'games' that Light, our protagonist, both initiates and participates in is a huge strength for the title. Even if it does come at the cost of some characterization, it's still riveting to read along and try to anticipate (or foresee, if it's a reread) how these events will play out.

Because of this focus on thriller elements, Death Note has pretty good pacing; For Part I (L), it's all tightly woven together to build towards that shockingly divisive climax we all know. Even the 'breather' scenes serve to build, as they are either ruminations on the themes or developing the relationships between everyone involved. Part II (Near/Mello) is a bit weaker than I would have liked to remember; It has a tendency to get wrapped up in the inner workings of character's minds, along with the plans these characters develop and partake in, but it still succeeds in developing the tension towards that epic finale in SPITE of said deviations.

Thematically, Death Note is.......actually holding up pretty good. As somebody who is going through a coming-of-age, it was interesting to see an extremely-warped version of this appear in the title through Light, Near, and Mello. I don't mean that in a literal sense (though a corruption of one can be seen), but in a sense of one's moral compass and definitions of what 'justice' & 'crimes' are. While it's a bit ham-fisted at times, the discussions of how morality is perceived by society, both at large and by certain factions within it such as the media and law enforcement, held in these 108 chapters is worth reading. Outside of the core theme of 'moral relativity', I believe there isn't a lot to be said in Death Note. Any other themes people may find, such as mob mentalities or the ethics about the death penalty, ultimately tie back into this one.

[Art - 10]

I'm gonna be honest, I still love Obata as a mangaka. I just can't bring myself to nitpick on his work, which is OH so beautifully rendered in a 'gothic urban fantasy' art style. His choice in wardrobe for every human (Light's honor student apparel, L's slob savant look), the gorgeous otherworldly designs of the Shinigami, the tantalizing realism of the settings, the simplicity & clarity in the action, and even the very faces + bodies of the characters all tie together to perfectly portray just what is going on. It gets even better when Ohba crosses over into the mental ruminations and monologues of certain characters, with brilliant symbolism and an even more distant feeling in how it's rendered.

TL;DR If you're gonna read it for one reason, read it for the art.

[Character - 7]

This is probably the one aspect of the manga that I have the most different emotions about compared to my first foray. It's still pretty solid, but I can see some of the cracks start to show.

I'll try to keep the positives short since everybody and their mother has sung praises about it: Light Yagami's transformation from a diligent, yet bored, student to the maniacal, yet arrogant, Kira is so fascinating to see no matter how many times you go through it. It's especially helpful that you're shown every step he takes towards reaching this persona, and the steps he takes following this apex. L is the perfect foil for Light: While he's quite the match for him, and possibly the only person who could be, he's outright ambiguous about what he has in store. This moral ambiguity in our designated antagonist greatly helps depict the core theme of Grey vs. Gray Morality. While a lot of people might not like them, Near, Mello, Misa, and Mikami serve as both great foils for L/Light AND as people who genuinely contribute to the themes and plot occurring. Near, in particular, is somebody I adore; In my honest opinion, he's not just an 'L expy', as some may decry, but a deconstruction of what L WAS when it came to certain traits such as his ambivalence towards people and general moral ambiguity (shared with Mello). Couple this with sprinklings of originality such as an absurd fixation with toys reflecting a state of boredom (and innate youth) and a similarly dishevelled appearance, and you have one of my favourite characters in the whole medium.

However, with these positives, I've found that I have certain issues with how people are written here. For starters: While I don't quite demand that EVERYBODY be reasonably fleshed out, I would have liked to see more development for supporting characters that AREN'T Soichiro or Matsuda. I do recall a few minor characters receiving some, such as Aizawa and certain Yotsuba members, but they usually don't get a lot. I attribute this to the focus on our core cast and the games they play, but I would have liked to see some peripheral development to see how the plot and themes might impact people outside of this inner circle of sorts.

Another issue I have is rather spoilery, so I'll have to be rather vague: Light's actions in the endgame. It just seems odd that he wouldn't have accounted for such twists to have occurred, even if he was enveloped in the hubris he would have inevitably developed. Speaking with the perspective of Matsuda's theory in the final chapter to be at least partially true, it's especially baffling when you consider that he was able to still contact Mikami preceding the series of events that kickstart the endgame. I'm still okay with how the finale turned out in terms of dramatic appeal, but it gets frustrating to dwell on when you start to think about the logic behind how it arrived to that point.

More issues that I have, but are more nitpicky, are: Misa's apparent lack of growth even taking her comedic value into account + her actions in the endgame, Mello somehow not predicting how /THAT/ would have happened, and a lack of insight save for one great chapter into Mikami's POV.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 8]

To restate the opening lines, it was still enjoyable to go through this modern manga classic again after so many years of not engaging with it and having matured a bit more. I would recommend this to absolutely anyone, whether they be a newbie to animanga, an experienced consumer who hasn't touched it somehow, or even a veteran who has gone through it once or twice. I guarantee you'll find something new to think about because of it, whether or not you like it all that much.

A cute one-shot that just fills you with good feelings. That's it, really, but read on if you want to see just why.

Story (7) - The main two, Shiro and Kojiro (along with his good friend Saburouta), go to a small town renown for its water-themed entertainment. They partake in it as part of a small vacation, and encounter a cranky old woman. They find out that she used to be a rather popular dancer, but has since fallen out of grace due to her old age. Despite a promise to see the two with a new 'dance' when they visit again, she passes away; ... However, her task is accomplished with a contraption of sorts that continues her life's work.

This isn't much by itself, frankly, but framing this against the general melodrama of Adekan makes it a breeze of fresh air. No crazy plot-twists or wily antics from Anri: Just a fun getaway for both the cast and the reader.

Art (10) - Since this one-shot is in colour due to its presence in an artbook, what is already stunning artwork becomes amazing. Tsukiji's wispy art-style mixes well with the murky colouring used in this piece, further amplifying the 'surreal' atmosphere the title is known for.

Character (7) - Probably one of the 'weaker' elements of the one-shot, but considering its nature, this makes sense. It definitely feels a bit more 'down to earth' and simplified compared to what is seen in the main story. A lot more quips and practical jokes are present than what would be in the title (which is already a fairly-comedic affair).

Enjoyment/Overall (6/7) -Like I said at the beginning, this is just a cute one-shot that makes you feel good. Read it regardless of your familiarity with the source material; It's worth it.

This is eleven minutes. Whether or not that eleven minutes is worth time out of your day is what I'm here to tell you about. Let's dig in, shall we?

Story (4) - Mabuchi and Mira go to a bathhouse because of Water Issues. Mira asks her friends why she’s called a ‘piece of junk.’ She gets answers, and goes home. That’s it. The interactions are cute and all, but come on.

Art (6) - Same things I’ve said for the actual anime: Pretty competent artwork (character design, setting), but ruined by fanservice (a lot of it).

Sound (6) - Nothing notable can be said about the music ... in my opinion, but it was just fine.

Character (5) - I feel like the characterization for the characters here was dumbed down more than necessary for an episode revolving around bathhouse antics. Perhaps I’m nitpicking, but like…...come on, Mira, you had like twelve episodes to get used to it + ask questions before.

Enjoyment/Overall (4/5) - This was cute, I guess. Not quite my cup of tea though. This is only for hardcore fans.

Dimension W
This show looks very........Twenty-Tens Anime, if that makes sense. As in, too sleek, or too 'cool.' To a point, this is true, but once you decide to really give it a shot, it doesn't let down. It's not as uber-unique as some people have said, but not as horrid as said by others. A solid story, competent characterization, and good work in the art + sound departments makes it worth the ride.

[Story - 7]

Our story follows Kyouma Mabuchi, a soldier turned repo-man in a sci-fi world revolving around a fourth dimension and its energies fueling new advancements on earth. This setting might not be ... uber original, but it certainly is a memorable one. It was interesting to see even GLIMPSES of the mere politics (New/Neo Tesla’s interal squabbles + beefs with the government), ‘science’/fantasy elements (dimension-hopping, memory exploration), and so on/so forth. You can tell that the writer(s) did try to do as much world-building as they felt they could, and it works. I hope to see more of this expanded upon in a future season.

Moving on from that, however; Pacing’s alright. Nothing too shabby, but the beginning drags a bit until episode 4, which may be a bit too long to really set up the world and dynamics. By then, though, the story picks up a lot and really gets down to the real grit of the show (a hunt for a macguffin that holds a lot of importance for Mabuchi’s background). The finale is perhaps a bit too neat with how it resolves everything + comes about (sudden antagonist reveal), but it’s serviceable and allows for more to be explored potentially.

Thematically, this show isn’t too special. It covers typical sci-fi stuff like Are Robots Human? and the ethics of meddling with unknown technologies/energies/whatever. Even with a setting and story as engaging as this show has, it’s still…...meh. I guess it’s fine, but I’m getting tired of these types of things not being extensively explored.

[Art - 6]

The artwork is pretty solid. Action can be followed pretty easily, and is fairly fluid. Character design is competent in that it’s all individualized, and can convey core traits with ease (i.e. Mabuchi’s gruffness with his happi coat + absence of any tech). The setting artwork is alright; It’s not a Shinkai movie, but it looks nice and is engaging enough.

However, this is not a ‘7’ because of one word: fanservice. It…..lurks underneath the show as it goes on, and pops up when you most expect it (but least want it). Truly a devilish fiend, that fanservice.

[Sound - 7]

Soundwork is thankfully devoid of said fanservice, and thus deserves its 7. The music is nothing to really rave about, but it works in being suitable to what’s going on + the general setting and its atmosphere. The OP is a bit too ‘EDM’ for me, but it’s cool; The ED, however, is fairly memorable with how angsty it sounds and reads.

The SFX + voice-acting are good. Nothing to really say since there’s no stand-out performances save for Yuki Kaji as Sudden Antagonist (god, he has such range……….one minute he’s screaming his head off, the next he’s whimpering) and Daisuke Ono as Mabuchi (this totally didn’t influence me being reminded of Jotaro).

[Character - 6]

Characterization in this show is interesting, to say the least. Maybe it’s because it’s only one cour, but there’s a lot of build-up that doesn’t quite come to fruition here. Certainly frustrating, but this is ultimately mitigated by how well said build-up was done.

Mabuchi’s a rather tragic man, honestly. Between what happened on Easter Island (watch the show, even if it’s kind of obvious) and losing such a close loved one (even if she looks 14), no wonder he’s so stereotypically stoic. It may certainly grate upon some people, especially in those first few episodes where everything is being established, but it does grow on you over time after you start to learn about why he’s like this. Naturally, he goes under the process of recovering from all of this (or at least the beginnings), and he comes out of it fairly okay.

However, his sidekick/partner/robot/surrogate daughter/etc. Mira is a big part of the reason as to why, which means I have to talk about her. I’m gonna be frank: I don’t know how to feel about her. She can be really cute or funny sometimes, but really annoying with how naive she is at other times. Her arc mainly revolves around Pinocchio-style desires, but it never really gets dug into; This results in…...me not really caring about her.

Then we have the foil to Mabuchi: Loser. I can’t talk a lot about this character, since their very identity is core to the mystery of Mabuchi’s past, but all I gotta say is that it’s worth the wait, and is PAINFULLY tragic.

Last, but not least, is our surprise antagonist: Haruka Seameyer. While I enjoy how the character himself is written (genius driven to madness due to failure and all that), I HATE how suddenly he was introduced. No build-up at all in this case, so we’re just kind of…….accepting him at like episode 10. Ridiculous, in my opinion.

There are a bunch of other characters, but they’re either forgettable or Cool but not cool enough to really warrant a full sentence about them.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 6]

Dimension W’s nothing radical, but it manages to escape the scorn of not being radical by just being light fun. I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent on this one, and would recommend this show to anyone looking for cool sci-fi action with decent world-building.

Since the total runtime for this entry is about half an hour, let's make this a quick one!

Story (6) - These are just cute skits spinning off of situations and characters in the original series (whether it be the anime or manga). Nothing significant is really added, but just for fun!

Art (8) - Looks as good as the original anime. Nothing to add.

Sound (8) - Same thing as the Art. The music's stellar as per the norm.

Character (6) - Like the comments for the Story here, nothing substantial is added here. Just silly situations based off of established character traits

Enjoyment/Overall (7) - These specials were ... fun! I recommend these if you either want more of Tanaka-kun's adventures or want something laidback.

I'm keeping this one brief since my review for the main title can be easily applied here. Let's go!

Story (4) - It's more of Shinichi Akiyama But In University, really. If you've read the first 'Roots of A', or even just the first volume or so of Liar Game, you already know what to expect: extraneous plot twists and themes of trust & doubt. However, the poor pacing in the main LG is not to be found here, and thankfully so since this is a 30-page oneshot. This comes at the cost of a fairly obvious plot twist that I saw miles away.

Art (4) - ... It's serviceable at best. Perhaps this is because it's a oneshot, but something about the artwork here is just not up to par when compared to the main title. The expressions are even more grotesque, the settings are too moody for something to be set in a relatively peaceful past, and character design is too bland.

Character (4) - Akiyama is his usual self, save for some form of naivety since it's supposed to be when the 'genius' of his was being developed. Professor Okabe's his typical stoic self, and the two new characters are standard fare for the LG franchise. Nothing to really comment on, since there really isn't an arc here save for one of the new characters realizing that It's Bad To Have Preconceptions.

Enjoyment/Overall (4) - Nothing uber notable, but a fun light read. Read it if you're a hardcore LG fan, but skip it over otherwise.

This manga has reminded me to not put too much stock into MAL's rankings for popularity + scoring. Perhaps I walked in with expectations that were just too high, but this didn't even live up to its premise all that well. While the characterization and artwork were competent enough to keep me coming back, the story itself is pretty shoddy. Let's dig in and see just why I feel this way!

[Story - 4]

The basic premise is that an overly honest girl gets a pro conman to help her out in an underground tournament of games revolving around deception. This is all fine and dandy, since ... it's a fairly intriguing premise and it does deliver initially, but there are some things I take issue with.

One thing I'll harp on right now is PACING. God, the pacing is so abysmal. The first 3 or 4 volumes have great pacing, but following this, it just gets progressively slower and slower until the final 'game' is over 3 or so volumes yet takes place in the timespan of several hours or so. For a title that is supposed to feel pretty 'high stakes' and tense at all times, it just got extremely dull for me after a while.

To lead into my next gripe: It would have been one thing if the story was paced like this to slow burn towards an explosive climax. However, this title does quite the opposite. It goes out with something that can be said to be less than a whimper - a tidy, clean ending that comes and goes in about......3 to 5 chapters or so. I don't necessarily mind this 'happy' ending, but the final few panels really grind my gears since there was no previous build-up or indication it would turn out like that. It just comes out of nowhere for shock value, and that's especially insulting considering how intellectual this title presents itself to be.

It isn't ALL bad, however: Some of the 'games' are actually pretty intriguing, and can have great twists (first one that comes to mind is that musical chairs one, along with the contraband game). The themes of trust and doubt (+ how they go hand in hand), the human condition, and psychological complexes dovetail well with the story and can be rather poignant at times. Just a shame that they didn't get a better writer to handle them.

(Side note - you know those two extra chapters? They're just the original last chapter split into two. Totally worthless to read them.)

[Art - 5]

Okay, I'm not gonna beat around the bush on this - the art is so hit-or-miss that I don't blame anyone for being turned off by the first 2 volumes alone. The expressions of each character can get rather goofy, the settings can be either too moody or bare-bones, and most of the character design isn't really all that notable.

On the flip side, however, the rest of said design can get good; I'd say that Akiyama's consistent stoicisms, matched with his cunning personality and bland fashion taste, suits him well (and totally reminds me of Light Yagami). Kanzaki's wardrobe and expressions just ooze 'woobie', Fukunaga's an absolute treat to see, and Nokoya's very face is just pure mischief.

[Character - 6]

This is probably the strongest element of the title in my opinion, even if that wasn't what it was aiming for. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that the investment in some of these people's fates are what really kept me going after the story started to drag its feet.

Shinichi Akiyama is a bit of a Gary Stu, sure, but he's just too much fun to read. Something about how wildly sharp and on-the-nose he can be is just addicting, even if it takes AGES to get to the true payoff of his reveal. His backstory is adequately angsty, and he's got the temperament to match! It rubs up perfectly against Kanzaki's overbearing warmth.

Speaking of Kanzaki, let's move onto her. I have more mixed feelings about her than I do about her male counterpart, but she's fine for the most part. I know that some people don't enjoy naive kindness in characters, and it remains until the end here, but seeing her develop was interesting. It wasn't much, unfortunately, but you can totally tell that she has a shift in mindset over time and is able to adapt to the situation accordingly. Again, something about her compassion is just too palpable, and it just rubs off on you.

This leaves two other characters to discuss since the rest are admittedly bland and/or forgettable. To sum it up: Fukunaga's a delight to read between her comparable wit and her overall vicious personality. She serves as yet another foil to both Akiyama and Kanzaki, and it's genuinely great to see her develop over the course of the title. It's a damn shame that she got shafted HARD during the last arc, because the payoff in her arc was just....splendid. As for Nokoya, he's totally just another Rich Brat Who Loves Being Mean, but he presents as a perfect match for these three. While he doesn't get royally screwed over in the end, the few comeuppances he received were wonderful. He does have some form of an arc, but it plays second fiddle to seeing him ham it up as a 'primary' antagonist.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 5]

As you can see, this title has left me feeling unsatisfied despite its good elements being enough to keep me around until the very end. I'm sorry to say it, but I can't really recommend this one to anyone save for those who want to see psychological game shenanigans get drawn out way too long. The real liar game at play here was most of MAL giving this a 9 or 10.

I was genuinely interested in BAA:LO after the....interesting read-through of its predecessor. This was mainly because I heard that LO was better in terms of story, character, art, action, etc. etc. However, does it /really/ live up to the hype I was fed? Read on to find out.

[Story - 3]

I should probably begin by touching on That Retcon: Yeah, this story basically edits out like the last chapter or so of the original story because it wouldn't exist otherwise. While I am still critical of how rushed the original ending was, I was glad that some of the concepts (Ketheres the Space City, Figure Four ... looking for Alita) carried over into Last Order.

However, I'm not sure if I feel good about such elements carrying over into a story like this. To be more specific, I don't know if this should have been a Battle Angel Alita story because it just.....does not read like it. Between the painfully-stereotypical shonen tropes seeping in (tournament arc, Powah Of Friendship, hyperfocus on martial arts) and extremely poor pacing (the tournament arc literally makes up 2/3 of the 124 chapters), I'm curious as to why the story shifted into this tone. Whether it was done to attract new readers or the mangaka genuinely thought this was good is unknown, but I sure as hell don't like it. I know I was a bit prude regarding the original's story, but compared to this, it's the freaking Iliad.

I don't really remember any Actual Themes being a thing besides stuff about 'destiny' and 'space karate', so that's not even worth commenting on. There are way too many characters as well, to the point that I genuinely enjoyed a side character's backstory arc way more than the main story. The focus shifts around a lot as a result; While I don't necessarily mind huge casts, I DO mind huge casts being present without proper handling.

[Art - 7]

The art's pretty solid, thankfully. For one, it's a lot cleaner and fluid than its predecessor. Even in large-scale action pieces (which are abundant this time around), you can tell exactly how so-and-so is striking so-and-so with a charged-up limb and whatnot. This is especially helpful when the team battles start up, since there are so many people involved naturally.

Another aspect worth commenting on is character design. While I'm miffed about how many characters there are, and how poorly they're written, at least they all have distinctive designs. Whether it's the various robot combatants in the tournament, their 'pit crew', the space council, or whoever else, you can tell exactly who is who. This pairs up nicely with the art being cleaner than before, since you get to truly appreciate their looks.

But of course, not everything is perfect (perhaps even less so). The background/setting art isn't abysmal in its quality, but it's not exactly up to the task in terms of being interesting to look at + giving proper context. I don’t mind ‘sketchy’ artstyles, but the way it’s used here doesn’t help: there are a few scenes where it works and gives a more ‘cerebral’ feeling to the manga (namely the ‘cyberspace’ region a select few can access). However, it’s mostly just really confusing to look at, ESPECIALLY during action.

[Character - 6]

Since the plotting and pacing are messy at best, I was hoping that the characterization would pick up some of the slack left by those two. Unfortunately, this wasn’t quite the case - there are a few stand-out characters + arcs, but it’s mostly just the mangaka trying to inject character into what amounts to rejects for Ultraman action figure rejects.

However, I feel like it says a lot about the writing when I like the side characters more than the actual main cast. Caerula Sanguis isn’t even in ⅓ of the actual story, but the few chapters dedicated to her backstory + her interactions with Alita were far more captivating than the brutally drawn-out tournament arc. There is a genuine anguish and melancholy to it, unlike the rather bland But-Muh-Karate antics from most of the other characters. Aga Mbadi/Trinidad is a compelling antagonist, and follows a (debatable) rule of solid writing: ‘a good villain believes that they’re the hero.’ His heart is truly one borne from the purity of his upstanding morality of the past, but it is ultimately aimed in the wrong direction because Plot. Jim Roscoe is a minor antagonist at best, but god DAMN was he a tragic villain.

This amount of gushing cannot be said for the main cast, as hinted at before. Alita has certainly grown a bit since the preceding manga, but she’s mostly the same bratty ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ character for no legitimate reason. Her counterparts aren’t any better: Sechs is at the forefront of most of the good action, but his personality is just too ‘tsundere’ for his own good. The twins aren’t even worth discussing, so let’s move on to the rest; Nova never changes in his characterization, so the whole ‘mad scientist’ schtick gets old after a while if it hasn’t already, Zazie’s a stereotypical Good Soldier, Toji is a karate-chopping waste of panel space because of how much of a broken record he sounds like, and Zekka is trying way too hard to be cool but just looks like a complete prick. I could go on, but it would be a waste of our time.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 5]

I’m frankly a bit disappointed with LO, but this isn’t the absolute worst thing I’ve read. There are worse titles out there for sure, and it’s not like the bad completely outweighs the good. It just hurts to see something with a lot of potential get squandered like this. I would recommend this if you liked the action and artwork in BAA, but not if you either liked or disliked the characterization, plot, and pacing; It just drops off from here, and will hopefully be beaten out by BAA: Mars Chronicle.

I was spurred on to read this after hearing about MAPPA's plans to adapt this earlier this year. I'm glad I did because this was a hell of a ride. It's certainly aged a bit in terms of the art and whatnot (hence the updating), but goddamn, the story and characters are timeless in their beauty.

[Story - 8]

While we start off with the pursuit of what 'Banana Fish' actually is, it's really a story centered around the push-and-pull between teenage hoodlums and their overbearing adult counterparts on both sides of the law. Considering this is set in 80's NYC, this lends itself to a ... lot of pulpy action and social commentary (whether by accident or by intention) regarding racial profiling, the sexual abuse of children, struggles in crime journalism, and so on/so forth.

The pacing's fairly solid: it doesn't take too long for the story to get moving along, but it does take a break in the back seat around the second act. However, this was only to allow the characters to get a breather from the grimness of their realities, and thus go under rather believable development thanks to (completely rational/logical) melodrama. Fortunately for the thrill-seekers, this second act isn't as long as the first act, so it takes very little time for the third act to begin. When it does, be prepared for WAY more twists and turns than before, with copious amounts of action and angst. This all pays off rather splendidly in the denouement, but even that stands by itself as a fitting conclusion for a tale of this caliber.

By itself, the manga is fairly strong, but there are a couple of drawbacks that are typical of this genre. It holds up to the test of time in some areas, but others do not; Some of the lingo/slang terms are rather stereotypical or callous, and both discussions & portrayals of rape can be awkward despite its universal depiction of the act as vile and inhumane. In these moments, the characterization (which will obviously be discussed below) helps salvage the title's reputation. Collectively, this title will be sure to stick around with you for a while thanks to its interesting take on themes, good pacing, and a splendid blend of crime action, mystery, and romance.

[Art - 7]

Admittedly, the art really sticks out as the defining trait of Banana Fish's age. Yoshida's art style certainly develops over time (especially in terms of character design and shading), but the minimalist aesthetic is a mainstay.

The action is alright most of the time (you can tell who's who + what they're doing, and it moves very fluidly), but there are certain pages that could have used a good re-draw to better clarify what exactly is going on. One could say the same for some of the settings, especially those that take place outside of NYC in the 'countryside'. While I do enjoy seeing settings represented in a 'minimal' manner, Yoshida's variant makes it hard to decipher just what exactly is going on sometimes.

However, character design is king here. From the teenage beauties such as Yau-Si and Eiji to the hardened looks of Max and Dino, Yoshida absolutely nails their designs in terms of conveying each character's core traits. Ash's look, however, is the most vital of these designs. His beauty is genuinely unmatched within the title (and perhaps amongst similar titles), which wonderfully contrasts his character forged from the consequences of having such looks. This is all further boosted by how timeless the fashion is; Sure, sometimes there are a couple of 'dated' looks, but this WAS published in the 80's. Otherwise, it's perfect for helping the designs convey the core traits, along with inspiring part of my wardrobe.

[Character - 9]

Characterization in this title is especially appropriate for this genre and demographic. The melodrama is perfectly......melodramatic, but within reason. The angst is heartbreakingly-convincing, and occasionally universal in nature. The humour, while occasionally crude, certainly lightens the mood and reminds you that not everything has to be so dour and grim in crime fiction.

Ash Lynx is easily one of the more compelling protagonists I've seen in recent complete reads. His arc of slowly opening up emotionally and recovering from the many traumas he's experienced is beautifully realized with confusing mixtures of rage, grief, and fear as his relationship with Eiji Okumura develops. By the end of the story, Ash is a completely different person than he was at the beginning, both for the better and for good reason. Eiji himself warrants some gushing for his arc of coming out of the shell of anxiety and growing into a fine young man. While he may not do a lot at first, he certainly rivals Ash in terms of Action Hero by the end of the story. His actions in the short story in Volume 19 is absolutely heart-wrenching in its frank portrayal of how people deal with loss, along with its consequences.

The antagonists, however, are hit-or-miss. Colonel Fox and Arthur are just glorified henchmen, while Golzine is irredeemable yet charismatic. Yau-Si is probably the only major antagonist I genuinely enjoyed: between his startingly-sympathetic monologues inspired by his tragic past to his cool and collected nature, he was probably the only genuine match for Ash in my opinion.

The supporting cast is all right for the most part: Max Lobo is a decent surrogate-father who helps Ash stay on track (and laugh) and Ibe is alright as a guardian but is there for the comedy really. Shorter Wong and Sing Su-Lin are great foils for Ash, yet are even greater for being completely different types of people. My favourite, however, would have to be Blanca: A KGB defector and probably the closest person besides Max that Ash has for a father, he embodies the effortless calm that Ash definitely aspires to be. While his time in Banana Fish is short, it is ultimately sweet for both the reader and the people around him.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 9/8]

This was a genuinely great read. It's not perfect, but those blemishes are (mostly) attributed to the time it was being published in initially. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone looking to try reading older titles, especially those that prioritize amazing characterization.