Hatenkou Yuugi

I loved this series! It is the epitome of a great manga. for the first time after a long time we come across a heroine who is sassy,funny and is able to take situations into her own hands. The relationships she shares with the other main chracters are hilarious and heartwarming. The plot is spactacular with little fillers, every single manga volume leaves me hanging on to read the next one. it is a pity that the series is not completed yet. i cannot wait for the 10th volume to be released.
spectacular.

The story of "Dazzle" as i came to know this amazing manga is very entertaining. From the very first few pages we are aware that the main character, Rhazel is not your typical shy, innocent, weak, cliche fourteen year old anime girl. Her dad kicks her out of the house in hopes that she will mature and become stronger using her magic in a trip without a clear destination until she meets Alzeid. A 24 year old with a dark past. As the story progresses, they meet new people and discover mysteries about themselves.
The art is beautifully drawn and very creative. All the characters wear outstanding outfits that are constantly changed, instead of them wearing the same thing. Moreover, their wardrobe is never repeated.
The manga has a variety of characters, each with their own personality. For example, the main characters: Rhazel is stubborn, strong-willed, and kind. Alzeid is mysterious, unsocial, and very moody (specially in the mornings). And as for Baroqueheat who joins them later in the story, he is humorous, perverted, and carefree. They develop together throught the story they become inseperable.
This is the first manga that i actually had to wait for the new realeases. I read three volumes and from then on had to anxiously wait for the next. The 9 volume currently got published and i immediatly went to buy it. The reason for my loyalty to this captivating manga, is because it not only makes me laugh hysterically, but also because you somehow connect to the characters and the moment you start reading, you become their a traveling companion and will therefore share their deep moments, and heart warming ones.
Overall I really recommend this manga to all manga readers. Boys/girls, if you are looking for action, light romance, or just a funny story, this is the manga for you.

One thing about Hatenkou Yugi is that there is major character development. For example, at the start of the story you have the klutzy, annoying main character 'coincidentally' meet an awesome, hardcore character and for some reason I wish someone would clarify for me, they become partners. Now, as time passes, you see that the awesome, hardcore character becomes a flimsy, coward, the kind that just sits there and wallows in self-pity, it's just depressing; WHILE the main character gets an edge and becomes all heroic.
WHY!?
Why couldn't the stupid main character get an edge WITHOUT sacrificing such an awesome character?!

You see my dilemma here?

As well as the awful amount of magic and hexagrams being used in the plot, which flushes down any hope of improvement.

The characters, scratch that, the whole plot is a bit sci-fi-ish which you know, is okay. But I could already see what will happen as the story progresses and well, it isn't boring, it's... Ummm...

You know when a car sputters and sputters and then gives its last echoing sputter, that makes you go "Oh DAMN! No gas!".
Well, I felt like the car, there was no putting fuel to the flame (of SUSPENSE) or ANY gas for that matter; maybe a couple of yawns here and there but no gas.

The art was pretty mediocre, with the overly used vague features and blah, blah, blah. You've heard it before.

I wonder if I have to go: "Hey illustrator dude, you know that there are other characters other than the main character, right? Yeah? I just wanted to make sure, you know, because what little effort you put on the main character; you put even a SMALLER effort on the rest of the characters, which many had thought impossible. Honestly, I wouldn't complain so much if I didn't know that you put more effort in 'letting wind', more commonly referred to as FARTING, than in illustrating. How do I know, you say? Well, you actually put effort in screwing up your face when you fart, that's it. That is the only difference in effort than when you draw and when the after effects of that burrito you ate for lunch kicks in."
Yes, yes, I maybe overdoing it, Lord knows how hard it is to illustrate and yes, (again) I've seen worse illustrations but this goes out to all of 'em. All the illustrators, who think the readers are suckas who don't notice that they are slacking.

Overall, the story isn't good and it isn't THAT bad but it's forgettable, really forgettable.
It's not even boring and it's not exciting, it's just forgettable.

Overall, it's not the worst, definitely not the worst but so far; I've read much, much...

MUCH

Better.

Story:


This... is a quirky tale about a girl's adventure in the world that goes a lot darker than it might seem at first glance. It's filled with paradoxes, mysteries, secret pasts, guns, quips, ghosts, spoiler stuff I won't disclose, fashion, blood, and magic. It's a story about trust, and the bonds we have that can overcome whatever obstacles we come across- be it memory, or time, or death.

To be honest, the authoress seems to be dabbling in a few genres; action, adventure, sci-fi, etc. And, at least for me, it's hard to find a plot as intricate as this one without straying from the 'shounen' genre.. There are a ton of little things in the first half of the story that seem unconnected and pointless, but they all come together (and are still in the process of coming together as we speak). The new developments are something I did NOT see coming at all, and I honestly cannot say what will happen next.

Which brings me to my next point- the authoress is scary-good at leaving us on cliffhangers in her arc chapters. (It is for this reason why I get so very angry at the side stories) She has a tendency to leave a little thing at the end of or in the middle of a chapter (she skips point of views quite frequently) that leaves you unable to stop reading until she unveils the resolution.
One complaint though- there are a lot of side stories, and sometimes it interrupts the flow of the story in ways you don't want it to. Though this is more a personal gripe than anything else.



Art:


Frankly, the art in the beginning sucks. A lot.

Okay, that's an exaggeration; but it wasn't really all that great. Looking back from chapter 92 to chapter 1, it's like a whole new artist. This, of course, has to do with the great amount of time that has actually passed since it began, as well as the hiatus between chapters 89 or 90 and the current two, when the author took a break with HK to focus on Maria+Holic. (Blasphemy, I know!)

ANYWAYS, long story short, if you hang in there, you get used to it, and eventually you come to appreciate the art (as well as Rahzel's fabulous outfits).

... That's right.

THE MAIN CHARACTER CHANGES CLOTHING.

... FREQUENTLY.

Chew on that.



Characters:


To be honest, I have a weak spot for dry humor, and this manga has it in spades. I don't find myself tiring of the jokes, because they're not the typical gag jokes that most mangas utilize these days. Also, the characters themselves are pretty unique- for the most part, they are each distiguishable from each other- from Sera's insane father complex to Branowen's robot fetish, each character is likeable in their own way. After all, if I still find my second favorite character to be who he is even after he does what he does to the main character in the 68th or so chapter, that have to mean something.

This is not to say that I like ALL of the characters- some of them are annoying in that they hog up screentime, and others are just kind of background-ish to me. But when the authoress goes all out for a character, you can really feel it.

ALSO! One big point- there is quite a lot of character development, but for the most part that character development is centered around the main cast: Rahzel, Baroqueheat (where the hell did she get that name?), Second&Alzeidsx2, Serateed, Kiara, and Branowen. That's not to say the other characters are ignored- it's just that they get less development. Which isn't necessarily bad; there's no need to bog down the reader with unnecessary information, after all.



Enjoyment:


I really enjoyed reading this manga (if it hasn't been obvious up to this point). The only thing I would be cautious of is that it can get quite a bit wordy at times. And also, the cast grows to be quite sizeable, and sometimes you wish the author wouldn't be so even in sharing the screentime. And those GODDAMN sidestories (plus, the school arc... I mean, wow was it important but it seemed anachronistic to the rest of the story).



Overall:


Read it. Despite my gripes, I think this is a wonderful manga- a real 'diamond in the rough.' I only wish that there were more manga like this out there. And that the anime adaption hadn't screwed up so magnificently.

[Because, seriously. I read the manga and I still could not tell you the plot of the anime.]
[And just LOOK at the rating differences!]

Just give it till the Angel Text arc- if you truly do not like it after that point, then I suppose you won't ever.


~cas-karas :3

Honestly, I believe this deserves a ten in everything.

The manga is excellently developed, plot focused and the insecurities and interpersonal relationships of all the characters is executed in a simply beautiful manner.

If you're put off by the art--mind you that the picture here is from one of the earlier volumes. This manga has been going on for years and Minari Endoh's style has changed and developed to something incredibly unique.

Her humor is gold. There's dark comedy, slapstick, puns and everything else you can think of. The plot is full of twists and the characters are all incredibly human... even if they're not exactly human.

Must of the narration (in the serious parts) is filled with things that we would never be able to admit to ourselves that the characters are struggling to admit to themselves.

The twists are unexpected and it leaves you truly pondering all your questions with no idea of what to expect.

This manga is a gem and a masterpiece. You just have to read it to find out.

Personally, this series is absolutly amazing. It has the action, the drama, the comedy, just about everything to keep you entertained.
The way Minari Endou leaves you wanting more at the end of every volume, even at the end of chapters is fantastic. You never really get bored reading this. The characters are absolutly hilarious and always entertaining. While you read, your constantly wondering about the characters mysterious backgrounds and the secrets that lay in the future of the story's plot.There are always questions that you want answers to and Minari Endou makes sure that she only gives you bits and pieces throughout the series, leaving you thirsty for results.
The characters are very well developed, not to mention well drawn. Though the art in the beginning of the series can not be compared to the way Minari draws now, the story has always been very wonderful. Every character has his or her own good qualitys, and personal flaw. You almost feel as though these characters could really exsist, minus the inhuman powers and abilities.
The reality shown in this story is great. It is based in a fantasy world, but Minari Endou keepsyou in touch with reality through her characters lives. Death, jealousy, lust, ignorance, love, all show in this wonderful series and never strays too far from the reality of the world. You can become very connected to this amazing series called, Hatenkou Yuugi.

Most of us associate the genre ‘josei’ with either some sort of slice-of-life story, major character development, or those harlequin stories. Hatenkou Yuugi is the perfect example of a manga that completely disregards the above three stereotypes, and instead, creates it’s own respective place as a josei (and yes, it is a josei).

Though first few volumes lead you to believe it’s a very sloppy/ugly example of a episodic josei, it’s just the foundation for an even greater story. This is a manga where you have to read the entire thing before you understand it. The faint connections between Rahzel, Alzeid, and Baroqueheat run much deeper than they really appear to be. Could fate have brought the three together? Or even scarier than that: could this fate could be planned, or predetermined? If that’s true, then who is really pulling the strings? And for what reason? The gears of time are steadily moving to an uncertain future.

From the first few pages of the manga, we’re introduced to a very animated girl, Rahzel, who was just kicked out of her house. Seemingly normal, right? Soon after, she meets an aloof, albino man on a quest for revenge, and a strong casanova who just likes to fool around. The characters are superb, all with a very interesting non-static personality. And just like us, the characters actually change their clothes, something I find so refreshing. And most of them aren’t really that forgettable; I mean, who can forget Rahzel’s ‘macho-fetish?' They all have their dark backstories/agendas, including the most unexpected of characters. Not to mention the way everyone interacts with one another is believable. How many mangas show you friends comforting each other, or reassuring each other? Not many, especially nowadays. Something I think is necessary to point out: this manga is mostly friendship, so if you think two guys with one girl on a journey may entail a lot of romance, you’d completely wrong.

The setting is a very interesting trope: “days of a future past”. Though it appears to be a ruined, medieval Europe (especially through how Rahzel dresses sometimes), their technology is just about on par with modern day society. Rahzel’s hammerspace bag could be an example, seeing as no one really brings it up as weird, or unnatural. The narration flows nicely, and the pacing never misses a beat. The backgrounds are very pretty and detailed, but it doesn’t really enhance the overall reading experience. It does prove to be, however, a tool to know where characters are situated. Which isn’t entirely bad since most joseis/shoujos completely ignore this.

I’d like to call it a much lighter version of Pandora Hearts or Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles (especially because of the clones). You have to make theories as to who is who, and try to find the answer to what I’d like to call the ultimate mystery. It definitely contains some mind-boggling insanity later on, something you wouldn't ever expect just by reading the first volume. The overall atmosphere is a comedy, but the dark secrets lying in the subplot are unsettling, making you feel a little nervous and insecure... almost as if you’re being watched by something (or someone). And yes, I must say this: the art and plot does improve, so bear with it for a little while to get to the good stuff.

In fact, this manga is so good, it should be the testament towards all the prejudices of joseis. Which then brings me to the final rating: a 9.0 /10.0. And as I’ve said, you need to read it all before you truly understand it.

★★★★★★★★★☆
RECOMMENDED.

this manga is simply amazing. Its one of my all time favorites. Minarhi Endoh did an amazing job. there is so much in each book its pack full of excitement and comedy. each character is awesome the main character Rahzel is so different from any manga character i know and she is also very wonderful. i hope my review convinces you to read this manga! its spectacular!

Story: The story for Dazzle or Hatenkou Yuugi (I use Dazzle because it is WAY shorter), is pretty unique and I liked it from the start. Rahzel is so annoyingly awesome you can't help but love how obnoxious she is. And I particularly liked Alzeid's character. Not to mention he's pretty sexy, but that's for the females who read this. For the 9 volumes that I've read, the stories quick and charming and all around fun. It has its serious moments, which are usually ended with something witty either by Rahzel or Alzeid. But you can see its steady development into a good story.

Art: I like the art. I absolutely love it. I believe it's something that hurts your eyes to read at first, but after you start reading it's just unique and rough and beautiful. Rahzel usually has an abundant amount of cute and adorable clothes for a girl on the move but hey. It's manga.

Character: The character's are pretty interesting in that there's nothing I could really hate about any of them. I found Alzeid highly cold and ruthless and I really just wanted him for himself. I think I enjoyed this manga more so for the art which is why my enjoyment of it dropped so much.

Enjoyment: And my enjoyment of this manga is very high. Until we get to volume 8. Let us try a demonstration. If you have the volumes yourself put volume 7 next to volume 8. Take in the covers for a moment here.

See the difference in artwork? From this moment on in the manga I feel like we have a completely new author. I mean the personality of Alzeid does a complete 180 and the artwork is suddenly soft and cute and Rahzel, Alzeid and Baroqueheat look like little kids. Where are the rough edges? Where is tough, cold, silent Alzeid? Why does Rahzel suddenly look like a 7 year old girl to me? Seriously? I mean I loved the manga until I read 8 and 9 and I have yet to read 10 or 11 because I don't want to read it anymore!

I feel like someone gave me a cookie and then took away the last half I was going to eat. That's what it was like going from volume 7 of Dazzle to volume 8.

I liked volumes 1-7. They get a score of 8. Volume 8 and 9 get a 6.