I have to say, before I picked up this series I had heard little about it, and everything I had heard (including reading the reviews on this site) make it out to be straight up loli guro hentai, which is definitely NOT the case. From what people said I expected it to be like something from Waita Uziga or Shintaro Kago, but it turned out to be pretty damn Bad-ass.
It's true, it does have a lot of sex and violence, but the sex is not all that detailed and it's nothing that graphic compared to REAL guro. And as said before, it's not even actual hentai. So I think people are just put off by the fact that it's a little girl getting torn up (in more ways than one, if ya know what I mean) but it's not any more graphic than anything you might see in Berserk, and people are REALLY over exaggerating when they say it's something for hard core loli guro fans (If you've read Franken Fran, that's 10x more guro than this) I really enjoyed this nice little gem and the setting and action remind me a lot of series like Hellsing or Dorohedoro. And if you like similar series, you should definitely check this one out too.

... Last updated on October 31st, 2010, 12:06pm

It really does have a plot behind it, truly. The first few parts almost seem like they're merely put there to intentionally offend you, but trust me, it's actual character development.

Honestly, the way the story progresses, and the plot reveal both remind me a bit of Hellsing. So if it helps, you can think of it that way. Hellsing. With guro. And a loli. And references to Red Riding Hood's story.

And vore. I think...

Despite how horrid that sounded, it's one of my beloved manga, so those who aren't squeamish and think Gunslinger Girl needs more blood and sex, this is the manga for you.

... Last updated on November 9th, 2009, 3:22pm

*At the time of this post, I have read up to Chapter 8.

It's not as gross as some people may say it is (IMO). Honestly, before I finally picked it up I was pretty hesitant on reading this because of all the comments on how sick this manga was. It's actually not that bad. I was especially discouraged to read this because it's a lolicon but the smut parts are actually pretty tame and bareable. The action rocks and the gore is pretty graphic but it's wicked cool. So far, it's just awesome right now, however I do not reccomend this to everyone, only to people who do not mind twisted things like this and definately not for children.

... Last updated on September 26th, 2009, 8:23pm

I don't think the person below me knows what he/she is talking about, yes the manga is messed up but it's not that bad, i have seen some guro thats 10 times worse than this that will make you throw up, trust me; and no, you don't have to fanatsize about raping or whatever little girls to read this manga.

Anyway, for the first part of the manga (1 to 6 chapters) it's kinda sick and messed up but the shock value just go down from there and just gets bloody than shocking. There is a plot but not too visible and the characters wern't half bad and the story moved slow but steady, but the ending wasn't great either.

I don't recommend this to readers who can't read twised stories like this but only for mature people who can read anything without getting their mind screwed up. Heck, i like this manga, ok overrall.

... Last updated on April 8th, 2009, 4:38pm

Its pretty good if you like sick Loli gore scenes well I dont think its very disgusting I have seen more disgusting Mangas and the story isnt too bad either.

yeah its weird but its not necessarily better than anything, and despite being weird, the story plays out like any other of its type.

The strength of this manga is the charcter design. followed by the action. It´s hard to explain but it sometimes has that ultraviolence coolness to it.

But the weakpoints are just as plentiful. Sometimes you get the feeling you don´t know whats happending but you do. It´s just phrased badly. And if this was a film, I´d say it was edited horrribly. The way its cut sometimes just isn´t good, and sometimes its hard to make out who said what right away. To switch analogies, it´s the difference between a hard game, and a game that has bad controls.

Also there´s a rather stupid amount of rape in the stupid hentai world style. Where apparently everyone really wants to get rape and will enjoy it as soon as it happens. Oh no, getting forcibly molested will not leave anyone resentful and will in fact make you friends with them.

This is one of those things that I'm not sure I should be admit to having read. It is, after all, illegal in my country.

Let's clear up any ambiguity: This is porn. Lolicon guro, in fact. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, you shouldn't read it. Yes, there is a plot - but the porn : plot ratio is tipped quite strongly to the porn.

I didn't enjoy it much. Intestines are not sexy.

If the porn : plot ratio had tipped the other way, I imagine I would have liked it a lot. The characters and plot are actually pretty good. Around a quarter of the way into volume 4 it leaves the porn and we get badass demons and tragedy. Maybe even depth?

But, well ... I've read porn for the plot before and it worked well. It just didn't this time. Even though the good elements are present in the earlier volumes as well, they're overshadowed by the porn. The earlier volumes are getting better in retrospect, but I remember at the time of reading thinking that I'd definitely not recommend this to anyone who isn't in it for the porn - so there we are.

If it had all been like volume 4, it would be getting an 8 or 9. As-is, I guess I'll leave it unrated. I'm sure it's good for what it is, I just don't especially like what it is.

(And don't take this as a squeamish I-hate-gore thing. Among my top-rated series are Narutaru and Bradherley's Coach. It's the role of the gore that doesn't do it for me here)

... Last updated on September 5th, 2010, 2:32am

In comparison with other mangas it has personality, although it does make you regurgitate.

In high-school we used to read just as twisted stories, it has a symbolic value for the sake of psychological effects. (Also: Michael Jackson said "bad publicity is better then no publicity".)

Criticism: It is unintelligible at times, largely caused by indistinct drawing.

It lies somewhere between "Joe Black" and snuff movies.

... Last updated on November 24th, 2007, 10:59pm

I'm not a big fan of guro, but I really enjoy Tamaoki Benkyo's art. The first encounter I had with his work was while reading Blood: The Last Vampire 2001, and I fell in love with his drawings right away. While it's true the story in Akazukin is a little on the bizarre side, I'm also a fan of traditional folk lore. His version of little red riding hood is pretty damn close to the original, albeit some changes here and there. If you're not a big fan of gore, then don't check it out, but even then, if you want to try something interesting then give it a shot. The grotesque scenes in this manga aren't going to make you want to gouge your eyes out like some of the reviews would have you believe.

This manga is brilliant with great art work and a great story line that keeps on making you come back for more and more highly recommend this.