When I was a kid (not the target audience of this manga and could only read maybe 1-2 first volumes), this was the shit in the manga readers community where I lived - especially for the edgy ones. Because at first glance, most everyone was enthralled by the art (detailed, complicated and somewhat a realistic style) and the first few chapters weren't that bad, average story-telling but elevated by the drawing. Sum: it was different from most other mangas (ooohhh).

I didn't bother with it because: (1) no complete scanlation for a long time and (2) generally not interested.

Somehow I remembered it a few months ago and looked at some of the comments here. I got intrigued about... how bad it was, that I decided to have a full read myself.

And it was bad. SAD actually. Not in a sense that it made me feel emotionally sad because of the characters or stories, it was just horrible story-telling. Most everything was shallow, superficial and try-hard that I didn't feel anything for any character or arc. See, sad. And the art was sooo convoluted and distracting. (Note: I forced myself to try to read and swish through all the pages.)

But that's just my two cents. Many obviously enjoyed it.

The series is about a wandering Shin Angyo Onshi, a government issued special warrior from the now destroyed city of Juushin that is meant to take down corrupt official and bring peace to the world. Its a mouthful. However our main character is doing more than just bringing peace (in a very tsundere like fashion). He also deserves vengeance on the man who has wronged him. Together with his Sando, a scantily clad woman and a midget he must find peace not just for the world but for himself.

First lets talk about what i don't like about the series. Because this series is good and i want to get the bad stuff out of the way. First the obvious the main heroine. She wears exclusively lvl 69 armor. It is a problem. Now i don't think its a big enough issue to pull down the series but the entire point is fan service and its done so poorly. Like her bath scenes are more satisfying but no one wants to see ass during an epic fight scene. Its pointless make the fight overall less serious. She also has a confusing personality trait. She dresses like a whore yet acts like a princess. This contrast does not and this contradiction just leads inconsistency's rather than the intended effect. Another problem is the midget. This is one of those that did not need Jokes man. Too many jokes. Entire chapters dedicated to comedy stunts. Its this ridiculousness that pulls this series down. You cannot be serious and then throw in these really lame ass jokes and expect both to land. It ruins the atmosphere. Fairy Tail does it and it fucking sucks.

Another big problem was the first 8 volumes. Yes that is a massive issue. The first 8 volumes in general weren't bad and combined with the fantastic art it was definitely a delight to look at. There just wasn't anything really hooking me here. Yes the art was good. The characters were likable and the action was snappy. But what was missing? The motivation. The WHY! Black swordsman arc from Berserk has got to be the worst arc I have ever read in a good manga. Why did that arc suck? because the motivation was never revealed. Why is Guts is angry, What is his connection to god hand, who is Griffith. What is going on. How can he do much stupid shit and then cry like a pussy. None of this was revealed until the golden age arc mind you. If the author simply had put the black swordsman arc after the golden age arc it would've been acceptable.

We have the same problem here. Now the first 8 volumes aren't that bad. By any means, The characters are more likable and entertaining and these contained episodic arcs are better when compared to the black swordsman. The main villain when shown has an absolute dominating presence. But the overall story is lacking. So when the back story arc is shown which is like 6 volumes too. It is phenomenal. Like its not just normal great it is great great. Just a small thing like showing the context in between the characters of how they reached where they were does so much. Of course i don't think Its just cuz of the explanation of the characters backgrounds but how its done is also incredible. The romantic aspect is good. The story becomes more and more fluid as more of the answers are revealed. Overall it becomes what the manga was aiming for in the beginning. There are some rough patches here and there but overall they don't fuck up the over feel of the series. Also it has probably one of the most satisfying punches i have seen.

Everything past this point changes. The final arc becomes better because the context behind it is explained. Though the final is a bit lackluster it does end on such a great note. The series does remind that it is in fact Korean Berserk. I downright adored some of the characters. Especially the bandaged swordsman. He is by far the most threatning consistent character in the series. He is violent and aggressive. The main hero again when his backstory is revealed becomes this animal some even more so in the ending.

The series is great. It does kinda suck that the beginning isn't as good but goddamn if its not satisfying at the ending. The characters overall are great all around the action is good, But everything becomes so much better after the backstory arc. Now i don't tend to enjoy Prequel arcs. Even when there good i hate them. They entire idea of it is to halt to the story and to dump information. Even the great ones like this and Berserk i have this gnawing feeling of when its gonna end so the story can move forward. If the series was in chronological this could've been almost be considered a masterpiece.

Its a bit sad to watch a series lose its quality due to its chronological mess. Also characters die. Like a lot. I'm glad though that the good part of the series is in the second rather than the first half. Because that is what are you left with. I also recommend checking out the Shin angyo onshi gaiden, as it give some fun and good backstories. I do wish the ending for some of the characters was fleshed like what is a sando? How did the main villain get so strong. But in regards to what the series got right its a minor issue. The ending itself in regards to main is very satisfying.

TLDR: If you are willing to sit through 7 volumes of middling stuff you will be rewarded to something truly special. 7/10

Awesome art, trash story

Read the demographics, this is not for kids.
You don't need a character to tell you everything happening in the story like any kids oriented story does, you pick up the pieces laid by the chapters and have to see the flashbacks to see for yourself what happened.
If you were drawn in only by the marvelous art and action you might be disappointed that the story will not be chewed and regurgitaded for you to swallow.

Few mangas have left such a deep impression on me, but i can't recommend it to the regular manga reader, it is way too harsh, pain is the only feeling the main character has, it is the fuel that gets him moving.

I really cannot understand the negative reviews of this manga. Personally, I thought the story, characters, tension, and especially the ending were all amazing.

This is one of my all-time favourites. I recommend reading yourself and forming an opinion before skipping this due to negative comments.

The core concepts in this manga are doubt, self-reliance and relativity. Specifically, how doubt can corrode will and concentration, how self-reliance requires pain, and how different people can view the same perspectives wildly differently.



It's not a perfect manga--sometimes the slapstick humor occasionally falls flat as a platitude surrounded by otherwise novel devices, and Sando's S&M hooker outfit surviving to the last chapter is totally bufeddling, but the art is gorgeous and the story unique enough to make up for it's saving graces, and beyond.

As a post-script, this manga's comparisons to Berserk are absurd. Their similarities are: a) dark, b) demons, c) resolve of main character, but the themes, styles, content and premise are wholely different.

I agree with the previous reviewer, "fundefined." This is a series that started off pretty strongly, with an intriguing anti-hero protagonist. However somewhere in the middle, it became too draggy with all those flashbacks and a switch in focus to the comparatively boring backstory of the main character and his quest to defeat his archenemy. I gave up after Volume 11.

The art is above average, but not fully to my taste.

... Last updated on July 1st, 2016, 2:44am

It was intense.
I don't normally read tragedy, I don't like flashbacks and usually I hate not having a red-string of plot I can cling to, but I read it until the end anyway.

If one ever gets the chance to rescue a chick dressed in leather strips, for the love of all things holy, buy the girl some clothes!

I couldn't take this series seriously.

However the author did not plan out how the story would progress and added too many characters and settings that fundamentally changed the tone of the story. I was interested in the pseudo Korean historical origins of the main character and his powers but these later get overshadowed by generic fantasy tropes. The villain's relationship to the MC and his origin story wasn't interesting enough for me to be emotional invested in seeing him getting overcome. The first several volumes are incredibly strong and worth reading though.

... Last updated on October 4th, 2014, 6:46pm