I used to be a really big fan of this duo in high school I know theyve always wrote such similarly themed stories in the past and I actually really like their other works but after reading this I just think Ive either grown out of these styles of seinen or theyve just lost their touch I genuinely dont know. The art is still premium dont get me wrong but everything in this manga is so extra and ham fisted. I love GAR manga I love manly men being bad ass and doing manly men things and the nostalgic 80s action hero vibes that come with it. Even when it comes off so strong so cheesy and so absurd that it unintentionally becomes a parody of its self. But heres the thing series like this with the manly fist of justice normally have this air of self awareness about them that plays into these tropes light heartedly and only furthers the charm of the work. Its endearing and very much on the nose. This series goes all the way in the cheese factor its hammed up and ridiculous to heights that just dont work for two reasons. One this is a seinen based in a realistic world with real world limits which just in turn makes it hard to read when the MC or side characters do something out of pocket. It makes you roll your eyes and sigh and I know this word is overused to death in this day and age but its cringe. Its just not enjoyable. Why you might ask? Point two it takes itself too seriously and plays off what I can only describe as Japanese boomer logic. The main leads have insane hate boners for America and are constantly jerking off Japan and touches on themes of revolution and political uprising of niche extremist beliefs all while slandering the united states for its occupation of Japan which just makes me laugh. It seems borderline revisionist and likes to ignore the whole part where Japan were ya know nazis. And commited war crimes? Lmao. This series is very political and yes I am an American so if you want to write me off as biased I understand thats valid but Im a fan of their previous works which have the same pro Japan nationalism themes but my God man having some old ass boomer use his OCs as a mouthpiece and pretend ww2 Japan did nothing wrong like a lot of ancient Japanese War crime deniers do its just in poor taste. It leaves a bitter after taste in my mouth. Not fan. One of the lesser things I take issue with is that it goes so hard at trying to be so mainly and bad ass it actually comes across as homoerotic at times and Im bisexual this is by no means a jab at the lbtq community and I want to put that out there because Im not being hateful when I say this. I just found it extremely funny that these dudes will have such sexually tense scenes with one another that are carrying such gay undertones that the author even sees it and cuts to them in bed having sex with a woman to even it out. Which is even more funny because they always just do not care either they are disinterested and having entire inner monologues about one another and their plans mid stroke. It has me dying lmao I dont recommend this one to anyone that has half a brain and knows of the atrocities Japan commited in the past itll just boil your blood American or not.
30 /100
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