Zen Martial Arts Academy

Zen Martial Arts Academy is yet another shonen title with high potential and an utterly disappointing conclusion. Actually, to call the final chapter a conclusion would be a crime because the series was cancelled JUST when the plot was beginning to unfold. This is particularly disappointing given the main character was just beginning to show signs of progress. Nevertheless, ZMAA was a somewhat refreshing read while it lasted, and I wish to reflect back on all the things that I enjoyed reading.

The main character is your typical shonen hero, but also unique in other ways. Minkyum Kang is brash teenager with high energy, yet he's a complete weakling. He occasionally will show flashes of potential, but in most cases he gets shown up by better fighters. At some point, watching him get his ass kicked repeatedly may cause you to sympathize with him. (He has no favorites on MAL, maybe you could be his first!).

The art is nice, nothing extraordinary but it gets the job done. There are a few hilarious inconsistencies, but for the most part the author does a great job drawing fighting scenes.

The only reason I could possibly see myself recommending this to anyone, is the romance aspect of the story. Romance-category lovers will find themselves gushing more than a dozen times at some of the cute, intimate moments some characters share together. It just saddens me to look back on all that could have been with this manhwa.

ZMAA isn't exactly the worst series out there and for 29 chapters it showed solid promise, but to end so prematurely leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.