Quite simply one of the most amazing, elaborate, emotional and entertaining mangas I've ever read! An absolute must read for anyone. It has a great deal of action set agains the New York gang scene but the rivalries, power-plays and loyalties are well potrayed without any melodrama or shying away from the grizzly details which made the whole story seem very realistic.
It is Ash and his relationship with those around him that are the driving force in this manga. Most significat of these is with Eiji. The clash of two very different worlds and the struggle to form, and keep, the bond of friendship when it is Ash's mere existence which pulls them apart is touching and Eiji's presence allows Ash to show a deeper, more emotional side that would otherwise be hidden and supressed. It is not very often I get very emotional when reading but this one had me totally gripped and I ended up forming attachments to several characters and investing more than a few tears throughout the story.
Rather than dragging the 19 volumes seemed to fly by. The plot was elaborate yet at no point was it confusing despite all that was going on and the core element of gang warefare was never lost. This is a remarkable achievement in storytellingand one which deserves every credit.
The artwork is not great, especially to begin with, but it does improve and while Ash is supposed to be gorgeous he never achieves bishie standards. However this adds something to the realism of this manga I believe and one thing I can't fault is the sheer variety in terms of apperance. This manga drags you into it's whirlpool very easily and artwork, love it or hate it, no longer matters.
Despite the plot being mostly gritty action there is an awful lot of character development. As you learn about each character you can find yourself switching opinions and allegiances without even realising. This is a very serious manga tha deals with some very delicate and difficult issues but there is comic relief throughout in the interactions between the characters as good natured banter occurs alongside life-threatening gun fights. Which is another reason this manga is so realistic.
In conclusion this is one of the best manga I have ever had the delight of reading and anyone who doesn't will be missing out on a real gem.