This is just your generic action shounen manga, except it has an added layer of frustation because of how often it skirts the line of being something greater. For the first few chapters, it was very similar to Fullmetal Alchemist, but with it's themes more focused in a concrete manner (the horrors of war rather than the metaphysical concepts FMA muses on like the boundary of life and death.) The point is, it was showing promise that it could intelligently explore some higher-brow concepts while still delivering the action that so titillates us. I was a little concerned that it might not meet these lofty heights what with the eyebrow-raisingly stupid noble who cartoonishly mows down serfs in his tank, but I figured it was the first chapter, he's not that important, I can let it slide. This, however, was a portentous warning of things to come. Every time the series neared an intelligent analysis or waxed the philosophic in a thought-provoking way, it was quickly dashed by cliched drivel that completely invalidated the preceding moments of brilliance. By the time I got to chapter 9 or so, there was a certain development that came literally out of nowhere that sets up all the shitty tropes you could ever cram into a shounen action manga, and sure enough, over the next several chapters, it hit every single one with an ardent thud, as if taking pleasure in making me roll my eyes in exasperation. You can predict every single development from that point on, although it often may surprise you with just HOW stupid they can present it.

If Pumpkin Scissors had not that gleam of cleverness that ever so faintly shone beneath the ordinary surface, I would not be so impassioned to tell you what a misleading washout this is. Alas.

This has been one of my favorite series ever since I watched the anime. I love the dark, gritty, post-WWI-esque setting and both main characters are strong character leads with solid character development, which is very refreshing to see. The manga version is better as it avoids filler and is a bit less censored than the anime. Unfortunately, the last scanlation chapter was released in 2014, and Del Rey Comics canceled Pumpkin Scissors back in 2010, so it could be a while before we can see more of this manga (unless you are literate in Japanese, of course).

... Last updated on November 23rd, 2015, 1:38pm

I watched the anime first but I am enjoying the manga more. Its very interesting and fits the dark type I enjoy reading and even though I usually am not big on guns This one is already one of my favorites. I can't wait read more.

Seams most don't like the anime, I think it was great, compared to the manga, there are some fillers and a few changes in the plot (like how the guy of the silver wheel escapes on the 908 arc or the way the baby is handled), but overall it follows the same line.
Its a pity, that some of the arcs settings that come after those of the anime are too forced, makes the world created loose coherence, and it's not really necessary imo.
It's really a pity the group translating it is so slow, it's a good manga and very hard to read in japanese, lots of phrases per page and many complicated terms, need to use the dictionary too often >_<
Later on, the manga becomes kinda boring, about 80% of the pages are an explanation of the other 20% or the point of view of the chars. Also the story continues but hardly deals with any of the situations presented previously. I get the feeling the manga is loosing it's focus and headed in a bad direction, it would be a pity since it's an interesting setting and story, It's equally posible that reading it in japanease was making me loose focus.

Edit: Kodansha seams to be releasing it in english, almost cuaght up to were I stopped reading, that's great.

... Last updated on October 5th, 2017, 12:15am

agreed with the other poster, do not watch the anime, manga is way better.
I felt that the anime only serve as advertising purpose only for this series.This manga version is the only way to go.

i made a huge mistake. i watched the anime first. the manga is so much better. now it is like my favorite. i cant find a good japanese distributor so i kinda had to buy the english adaption, which is farther than the scanlations. but its good to see that somebody sorta picked it up again.
i think this deserves a 10, but i just have not read quite enough (4 tankobon) and the art was a little sketchy in the first volume (-0.2)

... Last updated on April 5th, 2009, 4:36pm

January 31st, 2008

Like the previous poster I too enjoyed the anime. Seems the anime was only some of the volume. So either we wait for a scanlating group to actually take on it or wait for the next batch of volumes to pile up and give us a new anime.

July 31st, 2011

Been 3 years and its still at volume 12 :/ I guess its not one of the most popular stories. Its not bad its still alive but I worry it will end suddenly with the closing coming out of nowhere and being the usual "imagine what will happen" or a very fast forwarded sum up. I always hate it when this happens with manga I enjoy >.<!

... Last updated on July 30th, 2011, 6:25pm

Still ongoing? Does someone have any info on this series? I'd like to read it. Anime is cool, so I think i'd like manga too...
sigh...