There's not much that I can say that hasn't already been said in other reviews. :-P

What I love about this story is that it never loses focus of the main plot- it is full of lovely side stories, but they all fuel into the overall picture. The pacing is fantastic, it's loaded with action and great fights, but the story never drags at any point. Even the flashback is placed at an opportune moment that also furthers the main story, instead of being standalone flashback chapters.

What I do love the most, however, is the ending. It was a surprisingly gritty and realistic (as realistic as a fantasy manga can be) sort of ending. Instead of suddenly coming down with some random and convenient super!great!hero!power! at the very last minute, he... well you'll have to read that to find out. All the lose ends were tied neatly and supported previous chapters, so it's clear that the author thought through the plot, which can be rare in lengthier manga.

I enjoyed reading this very much, and I highly recommend it.

I wont repeat what others have already mentioned about this manga...basically a strong recommendation.

However one thing I found notable was how the artwork developed throughout the manga...Munsu the protagonist suddenly becomes more and more handsome along with the other characters ^^

I have completed this manga in a personal record amount of time, since i picked it up. In fact, i have finally registered on this site (which i have been using for years!) just because i really wanted to input some feedback and my strong lasting impressions of this very accomplished and fabulous manga.

Honestly, this is definitely one of the most memorable and best manga that i have ever read, despite being 17 volumes long, but you will really never see it coming, until it's already over. Don't agree? Read on... It is very fast-paced and there is really no pages or space lost, as every single page delivers new actions or emotions. It is an absolute pleasure to read. Don't get me wrong, it is NOT rushing through the story, but it certainly does not allow any slackening in the reader's interest. Shin Angyo Onshi has that single ingredient that so many other mangas have tried so hard to accomplish -- make the reader care for the characters. And this is beautifully accomplished in this story.

As the story unfolds, you quickly get pulled into this fascinating world and start to care about the characters, as you learn that neither of them have had an easy life before we finally meet them at some point where the manga's story starts. Don't worry, the author covers the past of each of these characters rather cleverly, whenever a particular character takes center stage in the story. So, this does not keep the actual story on hold, while going over the past of the main characters. There is an enthusiastic feeling of adventure and discovery as you follow the protagonists when they move on throughout their journey, meeting up with varied mysteries and it keeps getting even more gripping as the truth and solution is revealed. The authors could have really pulled this one for many more volumes, had they wanted to. There is always the possibility of having more side stories, but the story in this manga has been adequately sized to keep the main story going without losing focus on the ultimate final conclusion of the story. This demonstrates the great care and attention that have gone into the script, and the authors being Korean, makes that they have had to overcome bigger challenges than Japanese authors normally do, as they interestingly explain and justify the choices and logic in the story at the end of each volume.

As you might also notice, some of the scenes and creatures in the big battles, have struck me as having a rather close resemblance to the Lord of the Rings, especially the last sequel; The return of the King. However, that's about the limit of where you can compare this manga to any Hollywood movie ever made. In the final battle encompassing the last 2 volumes, the creatures and the story's setup, are very cleverly stringed together to give a vivid image of the battlefield. You can never really guess the outcome of each battle, as everything is spanned on the pages to give a real-time sort of impression, as the different main characters deal with their part of the battle.

I very highly recommend you read this. It is something that you will read and will not put down until you have ravaged every page of the manga, including its side stories, which have been all been completely translated into English (Huge Thanks to all the translators!).

The authors of this manga, particularly impress me, as it is obvious and clear that they have really been pouring all their time and efforts into this work. The story is one of the very best i have read, as it always manages to keep that last element of surprise, so you really never know what's going to happen next. New twists happening when you least expect it, and i was especially fond of Munsu's Sando, and his entertaining Bang Ja. The characters will mark you for a long time after you have read this manga. Sando especially. She adds a heart-wrenching/warming side to the story and you really get pulled into the whole Shin Angyo Onshi world. The planning of the story (which also combines various episodes of the main protagonist, as he and his followers explore the world) is extremely well written and illustrated in an equally clever way. My only little regret, is that in some scenes, Sando could have been drawn better, with more realistic curves, but maybe that's just me caring a bit too much

I rate this a perfect score.
The ending is great and unexpected as well, as is everything in this surprisingly good Korean manga.
I might re-read this, after i read the other works from the same authors. Just to take all my time this time and appreciate every little detail in the drawings leisurely, as the first read will probably make you turn the pages like crazy!

... Last updated on January 26th, 2009, 10:45am

you won't quite experience what an antagonist feels like until you read this one.
the storytelling can be quite linear at times, otherwise, it's an interesting piece.

go take your fill.

Though they were somewhat predictable since i pretty much grew up with Asian folklore but i liked how it was used to link up the story.

One thing that bugged me was the messy background/past of the main characters. It was rather twisted and complex, it took me quite a bit before i figured out what really happened. Especially with all the flashbacks involved.

Still, i suppose it was also due to this "offering of bits and pieces of different memories" that made the series interesting. It was complex perhaps, but it was more real; people dont usually recall traumatic things in blocks, they remember it in bits and pieces and usually might be false.

All in all, those it might not be a good read for those who like happy endings, the mature, complex and dark storyline is worth a shot for those who dont mind.

... Last updated on August 2nd, 2009, 11:38am

One day being bored I read this because it was on my wishlist... I never thought I'd be blew away so randomly. I don't have many words to say but it was beautiful. I could see the emotions in the characters, and the plot got to me. This manga is easily one of the greatest I have ever read.

Something about this manga just got my attention at first. As I read on I really enjoyed it. Until the end came; I saw it coming, really, just not that fast and cruel. I suppose all in all it deserves something for having a decent plot . Definitely an original in my book. I really wouldn't suggest this to everyone, because it doesn't really have that sappy happy ending (Even though as I progressed through the novel that's really something I came not to expect.) that I'm really used to. But really a wonderful read.

This manwha was a masterpiece in every way. Alright, it bears a really close resemblance to Cowboy Bebop(compare Spike to Munsu and you'll see what I mean), but I'm not complaining. The ending, despite being a little unsatisfying in a way, was still great and conclusive (I say that because I hate series with cliffhangers ending that leaves room for sequels that never comes out).

Well ! Never read any manga which had super good story like this one. It was somehow hard to understand at first. At about vol. 11 or 12, it explained the whole story , at that time, you will know how good it was.I like the main character, he was super cool man and the way he talk, act is unique,never seen once alike.The the ending is super sad.Really recommend!!!!!!!!!!

Action and drama, tragedy and comedy -- this is the rare series that has everything you could possibly want in a well-balanced story, all blended flawlessly. And at the center of this is Munsu, one of the most charismatic antiheroes to live on paper.

... Last updated on February 12th, 2011, 8:11pm