Would be disappointing even if it weren't Toriyama. The whole reason the plot happens is because the main character was chasing around animals to kill them with rocks. I'd rather see him get killed with a rock, but instead we skip past his entire redemption arc to see the tepid battles at the end.

The series starts very close to the ending, so don't expect any character development. You expect things to hit the ground running, yet the main character is exactly where a hero would be if the plot had just begun - no peers, no history, unescalated odds, talks to his mentor like he has no clue what to do. He's busy saving a lizard or something. Saving nine hundred bugs and lizards took him five years?

You're begging for the final fight to arrive and when it does the climax is perfunctory. Everything... just works out. The dragon doesn't do anything. The villain powers up and instead of scattering the weakest heroes he starts fighting off-screen with their second-strongest, with no consequences for either combatant, so the good guys can examine their resources and go through a whole pit stop, restoring their life and powering up. They don't even rush! They know they'll get as much time as they need.

Kajika's power to take evil out of people is ludicrous. If it's moral and just to change someone's personality like that, why do Kaya and Donko get to opt out?

The last page was a surprise. After not enjoying reading it, I suddenly wanted the series to continue. For the first time, I had no idea what was going to happen!

Kajika has a good heart, but it makes so many senseless pacing mistakes, I can't recommend it unless you're truly starved for shounen action.

I read them all and this one is easily the worst out of all of them. The characters act odd, the ending is not really satisfying and the story and fights are not memorable at all. Don't waste your time on that one. I recommend reading "Sandland" or "Go! Go! Ackman" instead.

I personally liked Kajika, I think everything's really good but there I felt the climax of the story was a bit disappointing, and the story was very predictable in the end in my opinion. Otherwise, I recommend it :] Read it when you got time!

An interesting fantasy adventure story, although it feels like it could have been more enjoyable if things had been elaborated upon more, perhaps by making it a 2 volume series. I notice a lot of similarities to both Dragon Ball and One Piece in this (Toriyama had probably read One Piece by this time, and the similarities were all from the first volume anyway). Firstly, the "guy meets bandit girl who uses him for her own ends" reminded me of how Luffy and Nami met. Secondly the "bounty hunter when necessary to make money" bit reminded me of Zoro.

As to the Dragon Ball similarities... Well, the tail was very reminiscent of Goku. In fact Toriyama even used the same gag about somebody mistaking it for a toy accessory that he used in the second chapter of Dragon Ball. Also, he had both Kajika and Isaza be the last surviving members of their race, and have a rivalry of strength going on, reminiscent of the relationship between Goku and Vegeta. And Isaza, by serving as the hired hand to capture the desired object from the hero, reminded me of Mercenary Tao. By the same token, Gibachi, by hunting after a mystical item, reminded me of Commander Red. And the ending, where Kajika's arm was injured and he saved all of his energy for one final blow reminded me very much of Goku's defeat of King Picollo.

And yet none of this felt rehashed or dull. Rather, I got a pleasant feeling of recognition when I recognized where Toriyama seemed to be getting an idea from. It felt comfortable to see the similarities in Toriyama's style, to see Kajika as Toriyama-esque story, but in a bit of a different way from Dragon Ball. All in all, it was a very enjoyable read for a quick, one volume series.

Well, if anyone had read Dragonball, this manga has some similarities to it.

(i.e.

Spoiler (highlight to view)

The main character has some inhuman strength or him battling the ringleader of the gang who had turned into a monster.

)

The story was okay, I guess... Nothing too oozing or interesting, but it was an enjoyable read.

... Last updated on July 21st, 2007, 4:54pm