The MC is a bit disturbing at the start, but one of the reasons this series shines above it's copies is the MC's consistency and growth. The MC is by no means weak, but he has limitations, falls into others plots, gives up, feels guilt, makes good/bad decisions … which is quite refreshing when you compare it to OP MC settings that follow the same cookie cutter script to godhood whilst giving moral lectures. The world building is great and thoroughly planned, thought as expected some parts are skipped. The author doesn't force the world exploration and everything is quite natural.

Edit: As @oderflamund says the manga relies too much on Hitogami anything that isn't explained is dismissed latter as a conversation they had outside of what's shown. If you are reading this beause you like the anime check out the LN, and if you liked the manga more than the anime then you'll probably prefer the WN (though since it's the first version there are some skipable stuff ...).

The mange stays between the LN and NW. I personally prefer the WN since you can feel the authors unadulterated plot, LN and anime versions include many fillers and change some stuff to suit the tastes of a broader audience (I personally dislike the anime, it has way too many changes). Some adaptations that usually have more echi than the source this one has more ar less the same and it looks as if they'll skip the newly wed scenes (I did drop the novel some time because of these, so most changes are for the better). Believe it or not the pre-reincarnation MC is a bit more deprived in the WN, in exchange the LN has him be more reasonable and the side characters are more cliche, so I hope the manga stays in between.

As for the harem, it hasn't happened yet (ch 86), but it's a key point for one of the conclusions, so it probably will happen... I wonder if they'll be brave enough to change the plot and give Luke a girl and not mess up everything... I'm ok with the tag because it's preceded by one of my favourite tropes. All in all there are at least various great plot twists that make this series worthy of being one of the best.

If you were able to read until he meets Eris you'll probably like the rest of the story. From my POV compared to other mangas based an WN/LN the WN has one of the best conclusions.

... Last updated on December 7th, 2022, 4:24am

Honestly, I think the overarching plot and setting are really good, and the individual characterization of each character is well done, too. Part of this is how there's obvious thought to what happens in the background around the world, and part of this is due to things happening around the characters' flaws as well.

Yes, the MC starts out (and continues to have an issue with) sexualizing characters that are too young. But he also learns past that, to start seeing people as people and not as things for him to gawk at any way he wants. He's developing into a more mature person, and as of chapter 68, I could say he's resisting that temptation.

With that said, this manga isn't a 10. Heck, I don't even like it enough to call it a 7. But it stands out from the rest in a way that few others do, and shows care for creating a world and a plot with characters that often do more than the stereotype.

The art is great.

Something still rubs me the wrong way, and I think I know what it is, but I also appreciate that this story also shows the flaws of most of it.

I still don't know how much I would recommend this to anyone.

... Last updated on December 5th, 2022, 7:22am

I've got to admit that I didn't like this manga for the first 20 or so chapters. It seemed kind of bland and really, really slow for an action-fantasy Isekai story. But it wasn't until watching Gigguk's review of the anime that I realized I was looking at it superficially.

This is actually a COMING OF AGE story, not an action-fantasy. It's about a guy who still carries the stigmas and damage from his previous life to his new one. It's about getting a second chance at life. The bonds between the characters (like in the less-serious Fairy Tale) are what drive the story. In fact, almost all of the story is there simply to drive character development, and that's what I didn't realize for the first 20 chapters.

Most Isekais these days barely cover the past life in a meaningful way, but this one keeps coming back to it.

... Last updated on April 3rd, 2021, 10:14am

I’ve read “Mushoku Tensei - Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu” a number of times over the years, and been aware of it since it first started being translated into English. I even gave the novel a read once and was mesmerised by how garbage it was (light novels, whether a feature of the translation or otherwise, unanimously have poor writing). Each time I’ve read “Mushoku…” I’ve come away with a different impression, and it’s likely due to the relative importance I’ve placed all it’s disparate elements in my mind. On one hand you have an engaging fantasy story with some good ideas and competent execution, on the other hand you have the sex based comedy which can be rather tedious1. Having just read the 68 chapters back to back, I think there is enough content now that the more irritating elements of “Mushoku…” don’t stick out as much.

Light Novels and their adaptations are extraordinarily inward looking – a pot-pourri of various ideas and themes, at this point of unknown origin because of how many light novels exist with similar qualities and their incestuous reverence. So no, if you are coming to “Mushoku…” for “originality” or “creativity” then you are looking in the wrong place2. But, if you are looking for a story that takes it’s story elements and gives them a decent amount of breathing room, and has a plot that is wide in scope with relevance for the inhabited world, then I think you should give “Mushoku…” a try. I primarily refer to the magical disaster arc here as I was impressed with ground covered and the credence given by the story that this event was a big fucking deal with a large impact on the world. We even get some powerful moments of emotion and character development, even if it does feel like it’s all subsumed to the goal of making the MC seem like the best thing since sliced bread. The setting does remain rather undeveloped, which may have been a requirement for having the characters travel across a continent in good time, but the author clearly has a mind for scenario and the branching impact of action (e.g. first entering the adventurers guild, reuniting with Paul, the parallel adventure of Roxxy etc…). This is all occurring on the backdrop of lore that is typical for a fantasy setting, and strangely convoluted at points, but still present enough that there is some suggestion as to where the plot could move forward. If someone could explain to me why “saint” is a lower tier of mastery then “emperor” that would also be appreciated lol…

My primary issue with “Mushoku…” at this point may be intimately linked with it being a light novel and thus, being a bit of a mixed bag. In the current arc, what on earth is going on? The tonal whiplash from dour fantasy adventure to whacky school high jinks has been palpable. I still can’t work out how seriously the MCs impotence is being taken by the story, which may be one of these things that just translates better in the novel itself. With the update speed, I do worry that “Mushoku…” will exhaust those that have a lesser interest in it’s comedic chops and want to see the resolution of the broader mysteries in the plot.

In conclusion, “Mushoku…” is decent. It lacks coherency, which may be part of it’s charm, and it’s very much an adaptation of a light novel (for all the good or ill that means to you). But when the story gets going it’s an enjoyable fantasy adventure with some quality scenario writing and snappy premise. Let’s just hope it’s ends within 10 years lol.

Find below my responses to comments made in other reviews. I didn’t want to bog down my opinion on the manga with broader points about criticism and fiction.

1. I find moral stargazing in fiction relatively tedious. While there are interesting debates surrounding this subject, and I believe that an opinion on a piece of media can be coloured by whatever side one lies on, most people do not have the ability/haven’t thought enough about said issue to really justify them fat thumbing their keyboard. Does the presence of a character who sexualises minors mean that said work condones real world sexual abuse of minors and is thus, immoral and possibly also illegal? Can context change this relationship or is it black and white? What is the readers and authors stake in this engagement? And so on with the bellyaching… I feel this is important to address because it seems to be one of the primary reasons for people reviewing this manga very negatively. Personally I find the MC gross in a great many ways, which is why on previous readings I’ve come away with a poor impression of this series, but I also think there is a lot to like once the pseudo-comedic sexual foliage has been raked away. I would also like to note for the puritans in the room that this manga is one of the few to actually represent a blossoming young romance and takes it from infatuation to “love-making” in the good old Christian sense. Yes, it’s “depicting minors” but it also has a sex cursed 1000 year old elf who apparently has some taste for pubescent boys and goes to magic school to get her fill of it... The main character also develops “incurable” impotence at 15 (?) years old after his perceived rejection… In the context of manga and anime at large, this is pretty standard for the harem/ecchi tags, if not relatively benign. If your problem is with this creepy 30 year old NEET being a pervert in his new 10 year old body (while being 40 mentally), then welcome to the club of people that have recognised this as being weird for all isekai protagonists since the beginning of time… Ultimately you can come down on any side of the issue you want, I just wish commenters would leave higher quality points about it, to at least show the capacity for thought.

2. “originality”, “innovation” and Deux-ex Machina… I mentioned this before but it is far too common for my liking that rather than attempt an explanation of perspective on a series, reviewers will commonly utilise nebulous and quite stupid criticisms and slogans that are community sanctioned. “Real reviewers talk about “character development”, “pacing” and “originality” so I will too!” without the recognition that many of these terms are completely meaningless without context, or possibly even down right dumb. After all, please find me a series that is totally “original” or “innovative”. To bring this to the relevant argument I’ve seen on this “Mushoku...” – was the magical disaster that brought about random teleportation of all characters in the story a plot device for an “adventure”? Was it valid to do so, or was it trite and cheap? Was Bilbo Baggins being the first name on Gandalfs mind in the Hobbit a plot device for adventure? Was it valid to be so, or was it trite and cheap? Ultimately your answer to this will depend, but I think laying it out in this way demonstrates just how asinine the question is in the first place, as any and all plot points could be seen as artificially created for the sake of making a compelling story. But when is it right and when is it wrong?

... Last updated on February 11th, 2021, 6:13am

This really could have been a great manga. With the whole beer wanting to live his second life to the fullest and what not. We could have seen a real psychological understanding of the character. Yet this manga is screams predator the mc sexualizes his mother and minors alike as well has a weird loli fetish which is a problem of it own. He could have been a very thought provoking character but he was reduce to a an absolute d*ck and pedo a real let down. The family is also a whole problem of its own I really don’t know how this got a anime it’s so problematic. It’s really low key just fetish material

... Last updated on February 8th, 2021, 10:35pm

I have to say that I read the manga because of the anime and wanted to find out more of what to expect in the coming episodes. I had great expectations seeing how much I liked the first few episodes of the anime. I can look past the douche bag father, the creepiness of the pedo MC but... Enough is enough, the suspension of disbelief required to continue reading is beyond me. Also, when searching for someone without even asking people you meet if they might have seen them and no plans of any sort to make the search efficient but just go around and hope to magically find them, really!!!

Sad, I always forget to keep in mind that when "expectations exceed reality, frustration settles in". I'm going to wait for and watch the remaining episodes of the anime but drop this manga, it's just not for me.

P.S. Also, can people stop trying to skew the ratings by forcing 1s and 10s, thanks

... Last updated on February 8th, 2021, 4:13pm

what's meaning of random teleport anyone in one large city?is it because MC adventure progress is short so the author should did this to him?

and executing and killing side characters without visible reason just making the story more sucker. aren't there another ways to developed characters without overused death of character?

Goes down the drain as the MC becomes increasingly douchey over time.

Actually I am starting to hate Isekai manga with lots of loli and harem and ecchi. I think Only Pervert Guy readers is Addicted and think this is truly wonderful manga with Also pervert male lead and lolis

Don't read those stupid comments about "modern morality" in a medieval fantasy world.
The manga is not perfect, but it present well the story of the LN.
The art is also pretty good, the gag is funny, character development is unique.

... Last updated on April 15th, 2020, 9:36am