So this is nothingness the culmination of order. Its an order imposed on all living things On everything. It is death. Death the Kid Chapter 73 When I was thinking about Soul Eater there were a number of things that sprung to mind about this series that leave me with a conflicted feeling. Perhaps the most apparent element is the treatment of the younger female characters. I will address this here partly to get it out of the way and partly so that if this is something you dont like then you can skip this review. Earlier parts of the series and some later chapters sexualise them quite a bit and this could ruin this manga for some. At best it is an annoying and overused trope that distracts from the plot and at worst it is grossly uncomfortable to read. So with that out of the way on with the review. Soul Eater is a manga that has a lot of interesting ideas crammed into it inevitably getting a little bit confused as to what it is wanting to say. However when it manages to find its voice it tells an intriguing story of madness order and death that offers a unique perspective on a world of Shinigami Witches and one very annoying sword. The central themes of Soul Eater are inherently interesting leaving a lot of avenues to explore. Many narratives with this scope tend to leave a lot to the imagination however by keeping a majority of its early story tied to a school setting the reader gains a fairly comprehensive understanding of the core mechanics that drive this series. At times possibly due to the affordances that being a fantasy series plot developments can be forced. This is especially noticeable when new mechanics are introduced that havent previously been mentioned making them feel like instances of Deus ex Machina. It gets the characters where they need to be but it can make Soul Eater feel disjointed and unplanned at times. This is reflected in the pacing as it can definitely be a mixed bag at times. Most of the arcs are well structured and further the plot however a couple can be quite volatile to read jumping between scenes and plot points. This can sometimes make the narrative difficult to follow even when rereading the series and knowing what will happen. For Soul Eater the intricacies of the plot arent the focus the narrative focuses more on how characters cope with what happens to them. This makes the cast the most important element and for the most part they are handled well. The main cast balances each other out to offer the reader different perspectives on events. Their relationships become tangible and are built on throughout the series to make the struggles and successes feel earned rather than merely being a part of the plot. The characters are also the base for some of the betterexecuted comedy moments as it takes what has already been established and utilises it with some strong comedic timing which matches the tone of the series well. There are however a couple of times where characters have been reduced to tropes which is a shame since it especially affects the side characters who have some of the most potential. This doesnt take away from their better moments and the amount of thought put into their characters and their respective abilities but it can be noticeable. Soul Eaters villains and more morally ambiguous characters also have intriguing designs and abilities that match well with the themes. The witches all follow a similar tone but each is executed in a slightly different manner which makes them feel unique and interesting. Asura makes for a great main antagonist and with his slowly unravelling past he creates enough tension throughout the series to make fight scenes feel more important. Unfortunately a couple of the minor villains can fall a little flat becoming quickly forgotten as they are swept away by the pace of Soul Eaters narrative. Ookubos artistic style easily stands out especially further on in the series where there is more experimentation used. This can be seen in the inversion of black and white or including detailed imagery to convey the tones of madness and dread. The disturbing imagery allows the reader to understand how the characters are feeling without needing to rely on internal monologues as much. This is reflected in the fight scenes which for the most part are easy to follow and entertaining. The large variety of weapons is definitely an advantage as it stops the fights from becoming repetitive. There are also some weapons that you wouldnt expect to see and these are utilised well creating some of the more interesting fights its just a shame that we dont see more of them. The art can also fall into some stereotypical patterns and with the originality of Soul Eater these moments stand out which is a shame as while it doesnt ruin the experience there could have been a more unique approach taken. Despite this the character designs are really good easily capturing the mood and style of each character while making them stand out. The settings are also visually interesting and distinct aiding in the more dramatic moments. For me the weakest element of Soul Eater is its final chapter. The plot beforehand had a clear enough direction and the characters are consistent with what we saw before. There was also a wellhandled balance between focusing on the cast and action. However this is cast aside in the final chapter and that leaves it feeling a little bit out of sync with the rest of the series. Some characters feel like they have been shoved in while others act in out of character ways which may be an attempt to make the ending feel complete but this makes it less satisfying. It isnt bad but more along the lines of disappointing. It does have a couple of good moments in it but it left a slightly sour taste in my mouth. Especially since it doesnt develop in any tangible way from the outcome of the series main plot lines. Overall Soul Eater is a conflicted series that tackles some grand ideas and gets a little bit lost on the way. There is an inherent uniqueness that makes it an enjoyable experience and it manages to overcome some of its earlier stumbling points. Unfortunately it struggles to shake free from a lingering disharmony left over from the earlier chapters and that comes back full force during the final chapters. However Soul Eater is a fun read that contains a number of really great moments and if you would like to read a solid action series with some interesting characters give it a try.