The returnee hero is a sub-genre of isekai that I particularly enjoy. It always follows the same pattern; the hero returns but retains his powers, that he now has to use in this world.
Reason why I enjoy this sub-genre of isekai (but dislike trash isekai proper) is because this subgenre tends to be comfortable and much better-drawn than your ordinary isekai.
Comfortable, because we know the hero is already the strongest, and because now, after everything, the hero just wants to take it easy. In addition, being sent back to one’s youth is always nostalgic and comfortable.
Secondly, the art in this subgenre tends to be much nicer than your average. In this manga particular as in this subgenre in general, the dark, detailed yet tender artwork, drawn and shaded entirely by hand, reminds me of an older, better time of more serious manga from late 80s and 90s. It’s refreshing to see this art style in a modern manga, and it proves that the craft of good drawing isn’t completely dead yet
Art is strongest point of this manga.
Ofcourse, beautiful art means a beautiful heroine. There is one here as well. Shonen and seinen manga always have beautiful heroines. But here, plot-line actually provides a very logical explanation why the FMC is so beautiful. This is a big bonus for overall believability.
Also, at 30ish odd chapters, it’s short enough to be a concise work, and long enough so it doesn't feel rushed or axed. Now for the things that could have been done better.
PACING
This manga seems well paced, but in reality, it isn’t. enemies of the week just appear one after another and are dealt with in short succession. It’s as if it’s being compressed for the sake of moving the plot forward. This keeps the plot lean, fresh and without a lot of unneeded filler, but this fast pace leaves little to no room for “rest”, for “little things” in life, those where the MC and FMC can actually bond. You know, MC anf FMC going somewhere to do some little errand. A spilt juice glass on shirt. dry cleaners. Onsen. Walk in sunset. all these are missing, and that's a shame.
PLOTLINE LOOSE ENDS
There is a number of threads or even subplots that could have been explored or at least explained and concluded before the manga ended.
Just what is FMC? What is she? What exactly is her mother? Why does her father keep her mother - and FMC - in contempt? Why is her father basically Gendo Ikari without beard and glasses? Will the father-daughter conflict be resolved? How? When?
All these questions stay without answer. And don’t even get me started on entire background of his little sister (and by extention, MC himself)
SHALLOWNESS
Aside of grinding through enemy of the week, well, not a lot happens. We don’t really see the relationship between MC and FMC progress, nor anything really change beyond the initial setup. The core characters once introduced are static.
CLICHE TROPES
do we REALLY need to include a beautiful childhood friend? why not have the heroine be just classmate? and does there have to be an obligatory little sister character with pony tails in every manga? Ugh this is one point both in general and in particular that i dislike about manga industry.
But i digress.
Is it an enjoyable read?
Yes. Yes it is. But it also feels somewhat lacking. Especially since it seems made for older guys, who have seen older, more substantial manga during their lifetimes.
But, it IS well drawn and comfortable enough, so in short a nice read. Not more, not less.