LadyAxeFace7

One Piece is the most charming, heartwarming, heartbreaking, unique, well-thought out fiction I have ever read. It was life-changing for me to be honest. It manages to be hilarious while teaching amazing lessons, heartbreaking while still instilling feelings of hope, have a unique art style while still being visually stunning, etc.
It's often been said that the characters don't develop at all, and while I understand that claim, I don't agree. Characters like Robin manage to do a 180 throughout the course of the series while still retaining the core traits that made you like them in the first place.

Every moment of One Piece for me is pure joy.
The best way I could describe what makes it stand out from other long-running shonen is that to me, in series like Naruto, you believe Naruto will become Hokage because he is the main character.
In OP, you believe Luffy will become the pirate king because he is Luffy.
OP has the best world building out of any story I've ever read, a unique and well-written cast of characters with goals and morals as diverse as they are, and a story that still manages to be engaging after 20+ years.

As much as I may love this series, I am not blind enough to think everyone will enjoy it. If you are new to the series, I would recommend reading up to the end of the Arlong Park arc (about 8 volumes in). At that point, you can get a feel for the rest of the series will be like, and decide if you want to continue.

I'm still stunned that a manga that I only rediscovered about a year ago has managed to change my life so much. I can definitely say that OP has changed my life for the better.
If you read it, that's cool! If you aren't convinced, that's cool too! Either way, thanks for reading this far!

"Look at me! Look at me! The monster inside of me has grown this big!".

Is the righteous path always the right path to take? Is it possible to regret doing the right thing and standing for justice? Is a righteous choice with a bad effect a good choice or a bad choice? How far is anyone prepared to go to correct what wasn't wrong in the first place? In these questions we find the basic premise of Monster.

Monster is a brilliant piece. A thriller with a story so unified, steady, complex and without plot holes that puts 99% of all thrillers (be them books, movies or TV shows) to shame easily. It is very well thought out by its creator and manages to keep you interested even in its most calm scenes. I do have to say I haven't watched the anime, so I won't be making any comparisons, nor will I tell you which one you should watch. I decided to review this after seeing that it had just a few reviews, which surprised me since it ranks 4th.

[Story] - 10 - The best thing of this manga, in my opinion. First of all let's talk about the style of the narration and story-telling in general. For those familiar with Naoki Urasawa, you are probably aware of his particular style of story-telling, which isn't anything short of amazing. He moves the story along at his own pace, slowly introducing more and more characters, more plot points, which answer some previous questions by providing additional questions and mysteries. He also makes a great use of the manipulation of time, adding a lot of flashbacks and time leaps all the way through the story. Those flashbacks are like small puzzle pieces that slowly build a bigger picture that enable you to understand certain situations and certain actions of the main antagonist. This author’s style meets its peak in Monster, in my opinion. The flashbacks complement each other wonderfully in a way that leaves nothing unexplained. A lot of complex stories fail when they try to set up more mysteries than what they can handle, thus not giving a satisfying solution to some or even most of those mysteries, that is highly frustrating. But Monster doesn't have any of that. Even though it feels like the story takes epic proportions with more and more stuff being thrown together, slowly but surely everything comes to make sense. The perfect metaphor for Monster is definitely a puzzle. A very complex puzzle with a big number pieces to use. In the beginning you can't really tell anything of the picture, you merely see the outlines and get a general idea of it by looking at the scattered pieces. But slowly, as you piece one upon the other, everything seems to fall into place. There are no pieces missing and in the end you look over the picture as a whole and see that you have an extremely concise, completed puzzle. But I have to say there are a few extra pieces. Monster has some arcs that aren't completely vital to the main storyline and end up being used merely to build up the characters and their experiences. That is good and bad. It's good because it makes for a more complete and filled story, but bad since it takes a bit of a toll on the overall pace of the series.
Another thing that is very good about the story is the way the author managed to wonderfully present the story in several different angles. Even though Tenma is the main character, we don't always see things through his point of view. This helps us envision the situation as a whole by understanding the several sides and forces colliding here. Some of the most interesting scenes for me were the scenes with Lunge as he pursues Tenma. Those really gave us an overlook of Tenma's situation in a whole different perspective.
To sum it up, the story is great and manages to be complex without plot holes, also presenting us several characters’ points of view which only build up the reach of the story itself.

[Art] - 8 - The art is good. It's not amazing, but still good. Not much to say here. It portrayed the emotions of the characters in a subtle but clear enough way which was nice. Also, the characters actually aged and changed throughout the years, which was a nice touch.

[Characters] - 9 - Like I said before, the story isn't limited to Tenma's POV, but actually shows several other characters' too. This actually helped the character development of those characters significantly. The characters change a bit throughout the story and their goals and actions are constantly changing with the new information they're uncovering. Johan, the main antagonist, is a very interesting and quite intriguing character. In fact he's one of the best villains I've seen, managing not to fall in any of the villain stereotypes, creating a unique character that expresses so much. As we get to know him better our idea of him slightly changes, but it also becomes more and more intriguing and by the end I think that out of five different people you'd get five different descriptions of him. That just goes to show how complex he is and how well he was developed throughout the story.

[Enjoyment] - 9 - Before I started reading I honestly thought it'd be a boring manga. You know the type. Those mangas that are very well done, they have lots of details, but all in all, you just can't have fun reading them, they're just not alluring enough. Well thankfully Monster isn't one of those. As I read in a review before I started, Monster's a real page-turner. As the mysteries start getting deeper and the plot develops and gets larger and larger, you can't help but get sucked into the story. You have to keep reading because you have to understand what's going on, what lead to this situation and what's going to happen next. Though there are some parts where the pace tones down a bit, most of the manga is a great ride that'll make you want to keep reading all the way until the end.

[Overall] - 9 - Overall it's a great read that I can safely recommend to anyone. It's a bit long, but trust me it's worth your time and after a couple of volumes you'll stop worrying about how long it is since you'll start getting into the story for real.

"Solo Leveling", what seemed like an underdog story has really left me disappointed. At first glance, the whole reason I started was to expect him to grow as a character slowly and PROVE himself. However, this is not what I got at all.

Forget the underdog story, forget the meaningful process of character growth and development, the story tries it's hardest to make the character look like he's "struggling", but it's pretty difficult when the MC has the same emotionless, edgy facial expression on every panel.

It's just extremely confusing and frustrating how this supposed "underdog" MC gets so strong so damn fast. He is literally flawless, he feels completely void of humor and emotion and is just a living, breathing, OP, issekai MC. These 3 paragraphs alone are all about my number 1 reason as to why I dislike this Manhwa so much. The main character just really sucks.

The only thing that doesn't give this a "1" for me is the art. Absolutely amazing art that made me stomach through the horrible MC writing and directionless plot that could've been finished if the MC just didn't hide his power. The art was literally eye-candy, filled with clean line-work, shading and colours.

Anyways, if you don't like edgy, power-fantasy MCs, don't read this. If you were expecting the slow-climb and rise of an underdog, go read "Hardcore Leveling Warrior" (technically a "re-rising" here), or read Tales of Demons and Gods instead. The MC might be OP in HCLW and ToDaG, but they have limitations and a bunch of situations where they can't just "clean up" the enemy as easy as Sung Jin-woo.

2/10

Why the heck they are fighting🤬? Its better if human get along and have fun, why they dont play basketball or maybe amogus😥? But i like titan he look really funny and friend so its a 10 i think. But i dont understand why they would attack him? The title ''Attack on titan'' is very bully 🤬🤬🤬.

The review has to be longer oh muy god why? My review is very pohosogical wtf 🤬 I need to make it longer, but add me on amogus - TheAmogusSussy5

Guys....... who is imposter in attack on titan? 🤬 Not me i was doing task in walla maria. gagahahagha 🤣🤣🤣.

Simply one of the best light novels I have ever had the pleasure to read, for those who watched the anime series is very worth going in search of reading the original material.
There are many points that differ from the anime, so I recommend you start reading from the beginning of the story, but if you do not have the patience and desire you can go straight to the end of volume 3 and the beginning of volume 4 which is where the anime ends the adaptation.
About the story: It is very well built and we feel light and willing to continue reading to know what will happen to Ayanokoji and his classmates.
About the characters: One of the few novels that can make you care about practically the whole cast, it is clear that we have established a greater connection with Ayanokoji, since he is the protagonist of the story (one of the great differences of the anime for the novel is in Ayanokoji's thoughts that differ greatly). I've never been able to relate to anyone or think that anyone could understand me but this changed when I discovered this anime/novel. Ayanokoji is someone that thinks the exact same way I do so that may influence my opinion on him but I feel that those who are curious should definitely read and not be limited just because of my bias.
About art / illustrations: Simply beautiful to see, nothing to complain about.

Manshuu Ahen Squad is a story set in the historically largely unrecognized puppet state of Manchukuo. It is a story set in the periods of tense war between China and Japan.
To preface my review, I would like to start by saying that I am Chinese, and I had been to Nanjing's massacre museum during my exchange trip there.
I shouldn't have to prove it, but here are some photos I took there https://imgur.com/a/k95bhHA (there are spots where you're not supposed to take pictures out of respect, but these are the ones I took.)
The first reviewer called this Japanese propaganda and a Nanking denier, but I for one did not feel so.

Manshuu Ahen Squad creates a gripping story showing it's readers the cruelty of war, authority manipulation, and it is certainly not made for the faint of heart. However, the main focus of the story is not about politics (although it may evolve into such as our MC builds up political power) but the survival of a young man and his family.
Higata Isamu is looking to make some money for his sick mother and discovers a way to create opium by chance and intends to sell the drug. The problem is that the Japanese Kwantung Army and the Chinese Green Gang are already selling opium and are already at each other's throat. You could say that they wouldn't be glad to find out someone's trying to break into their market.
Despite only a few chapters available, the manga has showcased its incredible storytelling through art style and writing.

I would say give it a try as it's still a new manga. I could totally see it becoming a dark horse seinen or going downhill into a mess. The choice is yours.

On the surface, a collection of zombie stories by different authors sounds promising. Certainly, it's an opportunity for depraved scenes of mutilation, body horror, and other repulsive content. To say nothing of abominable sexual scenarios.

All of which this manga has in abundance.

However, one ALSO needs mangaka who can write decent stories, draw good art, or even make intelligible transitions from one scene to the next.

And in those qualities, dear reader, this manga is very lacking.

Hiroaki Samura is listed here, but he only did a single 2-page panel with some accompanying text, not a full story. It's a simultaneously gorgeous and revolting scene of bloody zombie carnage involving a former prostitute turned zombie, her zombie children, and a naked man. Possibly the highlight of the entire work. In terms of the individual stories, here are my views;

1. A bleak, depressing tale where a human family with a zombie grandmother is as ugly and wretched as any undead fiend, told from the point of view of the psychopathic daughter.

Nothing special, aside from the dark outlook. The art is uninspired, but decent enough. Sadly, the 3rd best tale in the collection.

2. The main character's sister has her arm bitten off by their mother, but instead of becoming a normal zombie, turns into an incredible sword-wielding zombie assassin whose skin remains intact. This is never explained.

There are lots of gratuitous upskirt shots of the sister, who still wears a sailor school uniform, which don't jibe at all with the zombie guts.

All would be forgiven if the action was good, but the author sucks at fight scenes. I couldn't even tell when the sister had hit a zombie or how, since it was never clearly drawn.

The conclusion was random and unsatisfying.

Poor.

3. A stomach-churning story in terms of both the plot and its visceral scenes, featuring two young kids whose parents are both turned into zombies and shackled up. Features solid art and an ambiguous ending portending evil.

I liked it. Second best story of the manga.

4. At a school reunion, a man wonders whether a classmate who died was in his coffin at the funeral. We never find out one way or another and nothing happens. Pointless and bereft of ideas, it never should have made it into any professional publication.

The first, but not the last utterly garbage story in "Manga of the Dead".

Funnily enough, I think the editors realized this, since the Hiroaki Samura drawing referenced above appears right after this chapter.

5. A tale about a professor looking for a "Pet Sematary" based on a tale of Japanese mythology and his student that receives a journal of the former's research. While hardly original, it's executed well at every point. It was written by an experienced, respected horror manga author, unlike the neophytes on other chapters, and it shows.

Good art, several unique quirks, and a solid conclusion. Best work of the collection, if nothing spectacular.

6. A horribly animated work about a kid who doesn't want to die a virgin and gets roped into fighting zombies. Gordon Freeman from Half-Life and Kilgore from "Apocalypse Now" ("I love the smell of napalm in the morning") are both characters, and the naked, sword-wielding female looks suspiciously like Molotov Cocktease from "The Venture Bros".

If this sounds cool, rest assured my description is much better than the reality. The art is garbage, and damn near incomprehensible when any action is occurring. There is no humor, which is paramount in a work like this.

As a "bonus", when the main character worries he might have to sell his body, there is a thought balloon of a graphic scene of gay prostitution.

Awful dreck that gives the impression it was written by a stoner 14 year-old.

7. "What if zombies mixed with MMA? Oh, what's that? It was already done many years ago in a live action movie called Tokyo Zombie, with way more ideas and actual humor? And the movie was ITSELF an adaptation of a manga of the same name from the late 90's? Oh, fuck it! I can't come up with anything else!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJEmduNwjKU

8. In the future, a virus known as OV causes human skin to rot and the victims to go insane and want to eat flesh. A hitman decides to take out an old man and a young girl.

The author is clearly new to writing manga. Certain transitions were poor, several facial expressions didn't make sense, and the story was muddled and nonsensical at times. The art is mediocre and so are the action scenes, but given what I saw just two chapters earlier, it could be much worse.

Better than some of the previous garbage, but that's not saying much.

Thus, there are 2 worthwhile stories in this collection, another passable one, and a nice drawing by Samura. Check those out, and skip the rest. You will be glad you did.

Kimi to Nadekko is a very memorable story, one that will be close to the hearts of all that read it.

The art is a beautiful flooding of colors that will enrapture you and captivate you to the thrilling plot and distinctive characters.

Without spoiling the story, I will just say that it will enrich your way of perceiving life as you are taken on a journey with dynamic characters, who all grow so profoundly that it will touch you dearly.

I specifically enjoyed how the heroine was able to meet many different people and influence all of their lives greatly.

The only thing that could somehow detract from this wonderful experience it that it is too heartwarming, I feel as if I am on fire.

Please enjoy this manga, and I hope its pensive nature will move you.

I read this in Shonen star
It caters to cater all otakus out there. The premise is what will ya dork do if he/she is brought back to life?
I've got an impression that the author to make a series. Because the first two chapers is about the girl you see in the cover of the manga.. But midway he changed it into a collection of short stories. It might be because the poor reception, the editor decided to drop the series.
the lead in all of the mini stories is good for nothing guy. He/ she always cry like a baby, the author pay no respect to masculinity. The supporting characters in each of the stories of course unbelievably tolerant to the lead 's behavior.
The problem is those who are brought back to life all have no reedeming value that could make otaku feels he/she want to relate to them

I want to preface by saying I received Ousama Game from a Secret Santa during 2016's Christmas event. I am so thankful and it feels so great to know that someone looked at the things I enjoy (horror manga!) and picked something out for me. I know my score shows that I found it rather foul and tasteless but I am still grateful that someone offered this to me. It means a lot to me, even if I think this manga was, well, real bad.

So, without further ado~


Story:
Really quite horrid. It's exploitative, abusive, and offers nothing in return to the reader. It's constant abuse on the characters as well as the reader who is left wondering why this was ever created. Maybe the mangaka poorly translated the source material, but I don't think that's the case. This story is absolutely horrible. I mean, it's one thing to have a strong introduction, but it's even worse to constantly repeat the depressing acts of the first few chapters over and over without substance.

So, constant horrid barrages on the reader and then you finally get to the ending and learn there's no resolution what-so-ever. Yes, this is a finished manga and yes there is, in fact, a climax, but no it's not worth it. It was all a waste, and the original writer shouldn't write another story ever again.


Art:
The artwork is overly dramatic. I mean, everyone's screaming and yelling all the time, and the facial expressions are ridiculous. It's hard to tell if it's a parody or if it's a legitimate choice by the mangaka to just go over the top with everything. Perhaps the source material had a lot of yelling? Well, the mangaka doesn't need to interpret yelling as a huge open mouth with beady eyes all the time. Goodness gracious.

Backgrounds are blank and spacious. There's nothing all that specific or special about each scene. It's like reading the funnies on Sunday but worse because it's not funny, it's exploitation.


Character:
Pretty dang bad. I mean... Alright I'm just gonna admit it, I've been drinking 100 Proof Captain Morgan and it's so hard to focus on this. I mean, let's be real here, the manga itself is so hard to focus on because my mind kept thinking, "Why don't I just read some more Dragon Ball?" or "I started 20th Century Boys 2 years ago. I seriously need to finish it. It's great!"

Yet, here I am, sad and tired, hunched over a desk while I type out a review for a present that, while I do appreciate, I question the general morality of the mangaka, the individual who sent it, and myself for finishing it.

I'm not cutting corners anymore, I'm forgoing my normal review pattern of breaking everything down, I'm just gonna get serious here. This manga is disgusting. It throws people into no-win situations without recourse. I don't mind that, in fact I like narratives like that. But, here's the thing, nobody does anything right. Let me compare this to Gantz, a manga that I actually quite enjoyed despite it's depressing and no-win-esque nature.

Gantz starts out heavy and everyone's dying left and right. You don't know who your main characters are and you don't know who the focus will be in the next chapter because everyone will die. That said, everyone fights to survive, and there's something beautiful about fighting adversity with tooth and nail. It's just awesome. And, while every character is at fault and really deserves to die, they recognize their faults and seek to correct them. Sometimes they don't, and that's sad, but sometimes they do, and that rocks.

Ousama Game has characters thrust into equally unwinnable situations and everyone kinda does some pretty nasty stuff. However, nobody is trying to do the right thing. For instance, although this doesn't happen in the manga, this sort of thing fits in well as a metaphor. Imagine your class from High School was trapped in a cave. Only 90% of the students can get out in time before the cavern finally closes. What do you do? This is what Ousama Game is about and each day there's less and less students to basically play this game.

Now, if you've ever played this philosophy game, you've probably heard people say, "Well, I have a family." or "My mother is in the hospital and only I can care for her." although people all have proper and morally understandable answers, the answer people would most connect and almost feel rejoiceful is the answer, "I'll stay in the cavern and you guys go out without me."

Gantz has characters like that. Gantz has characters where people, in the face of adversity, seek to sacrifice themselves. Sometimes it's in vain, but they still sought to do the best for others. Ousama Game has no one like that. Everyone is selfish, disgusting, horrid, and the events that takes place to these characters amplify how gross they are. It's on a degree that is unrealistic and not able to be connected with. I hate it. Not because the story is so immoral, but because it's also exploitative of horrible acts like Netorare and sexual abuse, let alone murder.

That's about all I can say about Ousama Game. There's other issues like the insistence that the police will not get involved despite Death Note doing a great job of convincing the reader that the police could TOTALLY investigate what seems like PARANORMAL killings. If Death Note could convince me, Ousama Game should have, too. I would have loved to read about the police investigating these games rather than watch a bunch of stupid high-schoolers (or, even worse, were they middle schoolers?) try and "solve" this case, even though they don't pursue solving it at all, they just suffer and die and it's miserable and stupid.

Man I hated this manga.


((If you liked this review, check out my other reviews by going to my profile and clicking the 'reviews' tab. I review virtually all anime and manga I find!))