Given the high intensity, originality and dynamic energy of the anime, I had high hopes for the manga version of Kill La Kill. Turns out I was sorely disappointed, but not completely let down either.

The art style is indeed different, but not at all unpleasant, and it has that dynamism and over the top character that largely defines the anime's esthetic. I definitely think they could have done a better job in this regard, but it's original in its own right without departing from the anime, which is totally fine by me.

Much more negative, however, is that numerous smaller elements of the plot have been completely omitted, the story is very obviously rushed, and, o sin of sins, they didn't even bother to finish the story. I mean, no epic fight of fights at the closing climax of the series? No Mako wearing Senketsu? It's criminal.

I've given it some thought and I figure that they comissioned this manga as a sort of promotional money-maker, riding of the anime's success - after all, they certainly do that with slouchy 12-episode animes that barely skim a popular original manga's surface. You can feel it's a rush job, and the plot seems to move even faster than in the anime. But to completely omit the end of the anime's plot and some of the best fight scenes in the story is just too much.

Anyhow, I'm still happy to have gotten the actual manga, if only for the pretty pictures and as a collector's keepsake, but boy would I not recommend it as a standalone nor accompanying read to the anime.