Lucisz12

To be honest i understand both sides of the coin in the debates on Solo Levelling:

Yeah, it's a banger. You'll finish it in a day and re-read it the next. It's just that fun to read.

The originality and story, however, are lacking. I can see how some people don't agree with the "Hype" surrounding it. It's nothing new, and besides "grinding" the story doesn't seem to be going too far.

Character development is always good, (Spoilers for the next line) he gradually loses his humanity while he gets more powerful. It is a little forced however, as a timid and scared weakling becoming a heartless murderer within 10 chapters is more "character changing" as opposed to "character development"

Personally though, i just love the art style. Simplistic but not lacking, bada*s but not overdone. I was giving it an overall 7 until we met Igris and I fell in love at first sight.

I am now addicted to the hype of Solo Levelling and frequently refresh the page for updates. It's not perfect, people saying it it is aren't right, however it is one of the best, if not the best portrayal of the "Manhwa isekai/rebirth/returner" trope that I've seen. Even if you've read this type of manhwa 100 times Solo Levelling will still probably be your favourite.

I've been enjoying reading manga most of my life, but in the last few years, I've been trying to get a little more out of it than used to, trying to understand what makes great storytelling.

So, I bought volume one quite a while ago, after seeing Takehiko Inoue's art featured on pinterest and after researching him and seeing what many of you had to say about Vagabond, I had little to none doubt that it would be great. 20 volumes later, I must say that I was quite disappointed. It is a good book and I understand what people see in it but... Was this all it has to offer?

The art is pretty great, at least from a technical standpoint. So it troubles me to say that it seems to fail to understand how moment to moment action works, the world surrounding the characters doesn't have the effect it should portraying a battle in a tridimensional environment therefore the hits don't connect as they probably should. Obviously the author is really talented, and pulls off great stills, and his skill with the sumi brush is impressive.

It doesn't help that every single action has to be explained, this is somewhat a trope in shonen manga, but here you do not have an excuse, you are talking with adults (Show don't tell). I understand you need some reaction shots sometimes, but one per swing seems quite excessive.

It also, doesn't excel on its pacing and character progression, I would have said something more about it, but I don't think this was ever the focus.

The book is good, and there's great content to be found within its pages, but I would aim anyone akin to my tastes interested in the story of Miyamoto Musashi, towards the book "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa. Also if you want to know where I come from in this particular review, read "Blade of the Immortal" a book that might have some questionable content, but might be my favorite representation of action in sequential art.

Thank you for reading, and I hope I didn't trigger any negative feelings through my opinion.

What can be said about REAL, that hasn't been said yet?

It is masterfully written manga by Takehiko Inoue revolving around overcoming what life throws at you. Three main characters are trying to live their lifes and find their path.

You relate to them, because atleast once in your life you had similar thoughts. As manga progresses you progress with it. You want to join them in their fights with obstacles. You want to go out and start playing basketball. You want to start studying and live your life at the fullest possible way. You are inspired not by their victories, but by their transformation. Jorney is sometimes more important than the destination. And this is one of those times.

Favourite quote from the manga: "I just want to be a better person"

Thus far, there have only been two chapters of this. As I can see, there is nothing out of the ordinary about this manga: boy with unnatural strength leaves home, wants to save the world, ends up saving girl along the way. What really throws me off is the complete randomness that is thrown into this series. Mayors wearing Lakers uniforms, brothers being tied up, and bunny warriors dropping f-bombs. It sounds funny until you're reading it and utterly confused as to why the author bothered to include this failed attempt at humor. However, there is a little bit of hope for this manga, as it is just starting out. No doubt that the author has a few rough patches to fix, but I would reccomend sticking with this manga for a bit to see where it goes. It has the potential to be cute and perhaps semi-popular, but the rampant cursing and pointless "jokes" have got to go.

The art of this might be too cartoonish for most, but it reminds me of a game I used to play on my DS when I was younger; "Drawn to Life". The graphics are cute.

Overall, it's a manga worth reading and spending a little time following, as the story might progress a bit. It has the potential, but it is up to its author to make this story work.

*** Updates below for the finished work***

First Impressions Review:
I know, I know, there's only one chapter out yet and you're already writing a review??? Yes, because the reader needs to be informed, especially if you were a super big fan of the prequel, Ichigo 100% from 15 years ago. [Also, sarcasm ahead since I am fairly disappointed]

This is NOT a what-if, alternate route story back with Manaka in high school, if that was what you were looking for. Instead, it's a new story with a new male lead with the name Nakama. Red flag #1 (ever heard of "nomen est omen"? Names matter. A TON). Not only is the name Nakama a rearranged version of Manaka (Put "ma" in front: Ma-na-ka => Na-ka-ma), he looks and acts almost exactly like Manaka. Red flag #2 (although I guess this personality/look is a stereotypical high school male lead trait, but still did you really have to do it this explicitly). Nakama then proceeds to do some accidental ecchi stuff to Aya, including seeing her strawberry panties, which is a pretty significant motif in the previous work. This reminds Aya of Manaka, shouting his name then being surprised at herself, she runs away with tears in her eyes. The BIGGEST red flag.

The point is for Aya to move on. But not like this. This is farthest away from moving on. Why, why did the male lead had to be so similar to Aya's first love? That is so messed up. It was implied in the previous work that Aya has moved on and found her own happiness by going to a good college, not following Manaka, and writing professionally. This was one of the most commendable traits in the prequel. Other than the theme of Romance, Ecchi, and Harem, the readers (at least I) loved the work for the coming-of-age trait and the character's searching for their dreams and passionately pursuing them. Not just Aya, but also Tsukasa with her dream of becoming a patissier. That is what made the work more than just pretty drawings and the characters more attractive and relatable.

When this work was announced, I was so happy that I'll get to read the sequel to the work I've enjoyed so much back when I was the same age as the characters. But now I'm very worried about where this is going. I am not entirely sure a what-if story would have been better than this, but this current progress in East Side is definitely not right.

Yes, I've only read one chapter but this story is all too predictable. I can already see it. Nakama is a high school boy aspriring to be a writer. Aya is already a pretty accomplished writer in college. Wow, I am DYING to know what will happen between them! What will Manaka and Tsukasa (if they ever appear in East Side) think when they see Aya with a younger boy who looks and behaves EXACTLY like Manaka?

I'll be watching you, Kawashita-sensei, with fire in my eyes. Please do not ruin your amazing work of past (and our fond memories) with your own hands. Please prove me wrong and surprise us as you did with the ending of Ichigo 100%.

*I will update this review as the story progresses (I'll at least give it a try...)- I don't usually rate works until they're finished but I'm required to here- gave a 4 since I smell impending doom of this story...


*** UPDATE ***
So... after much fire and fury, this finishes after 4 chapters? I am intrigued. Warning: a bit of a spoiler from here on (because what can you work with when there're only 4 chapters to the entire thing???). First off, if you're a Satsuki fan, you should avoid this. Man, I thought Aya had it bad after the first chapter. Satsuki... I have only tears for your fans... What happened in chapter 2 is quite appalling to say the least and you will probably regret tarnishing your image of Satsuki after the reading.

The story showed some progress with the aspect of "moving on." In fact, it faced it in a quite straightforward way that it was realistic to the point of making you feel uncomfortable. It is hard to move on, especially if you meet someone who reminds you of your past relationship. The series acknowledges that and the characters (mostly Aya) struggle to grapple with their overflowing feelings. At chapter 3, there was some glimmer of hope, that maybe Aya can take this opportunity, through meeting someone like Manaka but is a different human being, to confront her deep-seated love that she was not willing to let go. She painfully faces her self-enchained heart. This is all great and have good potential. But then it ends. Aya and Nakama part their ways. Just like that. That's it. Which makes you wonder, then what was the point? Why was Ichigo 100% even re-serialized when there will only be 4 chapters? If you are going to delve into heavy themes, why end with just 4 chapters? The 4 chapters could have been used to explore Aya's adult life or other characters' or even just an alternate route. But then we got this. A nail in the coffin to Aya's story. Another textbook example of a terrible sequel that sullies the original work. A heavy-handed insult to the fans.

I would avoid this work with a passion if you were a fan of the original Ichigo 100% from 2002 and especially if you are a Satsuki or Aya fan.

This review may content spoilers

"A story that starts badly usually ends in carnage."
I'm not saying that, the author herself wrote this, word for word, or at least what the translation tried to make me understand on the back of the second volume (Because I bought them, like any human being ). I am impressed of how honest she was by writing this, seeing how disgusting this manga was. As her first manga, maybe she could put it forward, but nope: devalued, depressed, desperate, all what it sadly deserved. But why tho? How did I get to read this and falling in some kind of traps full of despair. Why did I disliked it?

What a stupid question to ask myself, because what was I expecting? One of the main reasons I wanted to read Children was for the charming, bloody art style on the cover and also because I saw Happy Sugar Life and U-12 in the recommendations, which mostly focused on HSL. It's the story of an adult named Toru Igarashi, looking for a place to make a lot of money. After a random recommendation, he goes to an orphanage where he will meet Sakurako Shimizu, the "mother" of the many orphans living here. Keep in mind I really want to quote "mother", she's actually a murderer, manipulating her orphans and teaching them to kill in the worst way possible, passing by passers-by to yakuza.

So yeah. Let's put HSL and U-12 in a blender. Was it seriously a good idea?! Clearly not! Unless you're one of these people liking to see other people being tortured and getting their limbs savagely cutted by an axe... Even then, I don't think we could find much enjoyement into that too. None of the character presented into this seemed outstanding, they mostly are developped trough flashback. The story goes way to fast for giving us time to admire and prefers stuffing us more and more of overused clichés to pack the whole thing up, making it a much more unpleasant experience. The drawings are fine, but also confusing to see who does which actions in what time and can sometimes makes the rest of story more obvious and unsurprising with the writing. Seeing a little girl despairly trying to get out of the orphanage despite knowing that she might get killed during the process, 'cause what kind of unlogical horror manga will it be if there wasn't some kind of dark side... Maybe I'd be terrorised if it was in the first manga that I've read, but when you know the clichés, we don't feel anything when these moments happen. We feel empty. Just like the protagonist.

There's not much to complain about Children because of how short it is, I just know that there's other manga that does well their jobs in their storytelling. Go read Happy Sugar Life if you want to live the story of a cute girl wanting to protect an other cute girl like a mom/wife, or go read U-12 if you want cute girls beating the shit out of buffed perverted grown men. You'd feel more accomplished by reading these instead of two volumes of that rushed story labelled "Children".

This review will primarily be focussed on why the ecchi scenes ruin it and will also have a spoiler for a later scene (and if rape makes you uncomfortable skip this review and manga)

The ecchi in this manga is horrendous, it infests and degrades the rest of the experience. The existance of the rampant amount of ecchi brings wih it tone problems, doubt about whether the author is just getting themselves off or not, inconsisent character writing and a host of other problems. For an example I am going to use the orc blackmail-drug-rape-mindbreak scene that is in one of the latest chapters. The scene is about the female mc (which I actually like, she seems like she has a lot of potential and I enjoy the plot direction shes going with "Im a princess who barely went to the outside world" to "im competent") getting cornered by a guy who she thought was her ally and being blackmailed into becoming his woman (couldnt think of any better wording, wife felt wrong and concubine also felt wrong for it) and then raped by him. Without going into detail basically she gets raped and then she gets drugged because orc semen is apperantly an aphrodesiac in this world. Problem no.1 this scene doesnt need to exist if you want a plotline like this all you need is for the orc to say is "become my woman and then we will reclaim the demon territory , without me you wont stand a chance" boom, I just fixed a stupid plot-point and cut down the needed artwork of 2 chapters for more important stuff. This also leads to another problem I have with this manga that being tonal whiplash. Because after this the hero comes in and chops off the guys dick, Because foccussed a lot of his magic energy into his dick (no I am not joking) he becomes weakend and then the female mc SAYS THAY HE'S NOT DEAD BUT HE'S WEAK. To start a tiny tangent why would you not restrain him or double tap his skull. But anyway this is played for laughs because his dick was just chopped off and he named it, despite the fact that second earlier the tone was that of seriousness (for obvious reasons). Anyway then he re-gains his power and a stupid scene plays out where I couldnt tell if it was supposed to be funny or not, where the guy breaks through metal traps and weapons using his dick as a blunt object (no I am not joking).

This isnt even the only rape scene too. Theres a femdom-yandere-neotari scene before this and if you include the "re-education panels then theres 3 in total.

Overall dont read this.

This is my first review so try to bear with it.

Story(6/10): From the beginning story doesn't sound very promising and it gets unnecessarily complicated toward the end. While ending sounds like it came out of nowhere it'll still please the reader.

Art(6/10): It has a nice clean art and characters look good. Backgrounds are drawn poorly on some panels.

Characters(5/10): There isn't much character development to anyone but the main characters. Side characters make story unbearable at times.

Enjoyment(5/10): If you are reading it for Shoujo Ai, there isn't much for you here. If you're reading for romance you'll be able to enjoy it more.

Overall(6/10): It's a nice story to read if you're looking for some romance that won't follow your classic storyline. But you might feel it's rushed and could've been better if there was more chapters.

Gekkoh deals with the story of a boy trying to figure out how to deal with his role as the son of a yakuza boss while helping his new-found sister uncover the story of her past. His other problem is the constant struggle with his own consciousness for being sexually attracted to his half-sibling, who tempts him at every opportunity.

At first, Gekkoh does not reveal anything that feels remotely engaging. The story seems cookie-cutter, the characters are flat and the pacing uneven. However, once you skip past the middle (around volume 5), things start looking for the better as more of the story is revealed and the author regains some control over the narrative. You can see the main character develop as a person as a result of his feelings for his sister and the situations he has to go through in order to help her. Later on, some characters revel unusual personality traits and there are even a few jokes thrown in here and there. Expect a few predictable plot twists as well.

The artwork is fair, erring on the side of 'generic' but it gets the job done. Characters could benefit from a more artistic depiction but the environments and some of the background images are done well. The sex scenes are depicted with relative frequency but the author somehow manages to avoid making them feel excessive.

The author uses direction no just to advance the narrative, but also to provide an excuse for depicting erotic parts and sex scenes in the story. While this may decrease the enjoyment for some, fans of the 'ecchi' genre will definitely be satisfied.

*Story - 6
*Art - 6.5
*Character - 7
*Enjoyment - 7

Final Score - 6 (Good)

Well, the only nice feature of this manga would be it's Art. The rest is quite a disappointment.

At first glance (first chapter) it seems decent. Later on you get to see how "cliche-ed" it really is, not only the story but the characters as well.

As it's a short manga (5 chapters) I don't have much to say without spoiling it. If you are a person who doesn't like overly "cliche" manga's then this one will surely disappoint you. For those who pick manga based on art and not story lines then you might actually like it to a certain extent.