Shaman King: Flowers

I don't really know how to start this.... Having loved SK I was quite excited about it, but since the very first chapter, I could feel it wouldn't be as good as its predecessors. And I was right. But I was a fan and because of it, I read it all. I shall say it right here, I only advice this for huge Shaman King fans ; the others would probably give up after a few chapters, even though the manga isn't long. But let's see this now :

Story - 6 :

The protagonist is the son of Yoh and Anna, having issues to be the child of such figures ; he has turned to a lazy and brutal boy. With Amidamaru at his side, he soon meets several young shamans, some related to characters of Shaman King, with whom he's supposed to accomplish....something, but one issue is....the magazine in which it was published ended, forcing the manga to get an end (+ an extra volume released later on), ironically like Shaman King, it finishes in a rather brutal (sudden/out of nowhere, however word you want) manner. It is not a proper ending. It isn't even a proper story as barely anything is accomplished ; the first chapters seem to build up something related to him, the young shamans and Hao, but you shall never know what it was as the rushed last arc kicks everything to try giving an ending....and rather fails.


Art - 7 : As good as the one of Shaman King, not much to say about it. I play the card that if you are interested in Shaman King Flowers it is because you know the original manga.


Character - 6 :

The shortness of the story doesn't give you enough time or situations to feel linked to the new cast. However, they give the impression to be less interesting than their elders ; they are the descendants before being themselves. They are traits instead of being characters, that's what I remember above all ; maybe they were supposed to turn to viable personalities we shall never know. The irony wants the most interesting characters are the now older characters of the original manga. However, don't get it too wrong, one quality of this manga is that it doesn't fall too much in fanservices ; if it has its fair share it never goes overboard and tries to keep focused on the new cast.


Enjoyment - 6 :

I cannot exactly say I enjoyed it....but I wasn't bored. I admit it, it is curiosity that drove me instead of enjoyment. Once again, I think the most enjoyable parts are the fanservices ; the new story and cast lacking enough interest to be enjoyable.


Overall - 6 :

In the end the sequel fails at living up to its predecessor and is highly forgettable, luckily for itself, it isn't bad, bad mangas have the disadvantage to be remembered. Maybe if the magazine hadn't been cancelled, we would have had a decent story, maybe....but it isn't what we got, it is the only thing I can rate.

What killed this series for me, is the early demise.


STORY: 6
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The story started off pretty well done. However, it did not have room to finish out it's planned story, due to the early demise of Jump X, the magazine it was serialized in. Therefore, it has tons of holes, and things are left unresolved.

ART: 7
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I've always loved Hiroyuki Takei's art, even in the beginning of Shaman King. However, sometimes the faces are a bit weird, and proportions are off.

CHARACTERS: 8
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The characters, for the 29-chapter-span of the series, were pretty well done. You could tell that each had a decent backstory planned, but were not given enough time to explain them.

ENJOYMENT: 9
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I awaited each chapter, every month, with a watering mouth. The cliffhangers were amazing, and kept you on the edge of your seat throughout all 29. Plus, getting to see an important returning figure (not ruining who), was a major plus to that, as well.

OVERALL: 8
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As I said, everything about the series was good, but it's early death killed it's popularity, bad. All in all, despite the score I am giving it, I would not recommend it, since it is an incomplete work. If you're looking for a continuation of SK, I would read the Funbari Hotsprings side-story, that is centered around Ryu and Hana searching for the "legendary warriors," and end it there.

Shaman King Flowers is a really nice manga. I really like the son of Yoh and Anna and how different he is from he's father. I like his personality and I like how the author really tells the reason to why he acts that way. The fighters in the Shaman Fight last season really grew up well as adults. I like how we can see the kids grow up as adults.
I really like this manga because it brings back memories of watching shaman king and remember yoh's adventures. To those who watch and read Shaman King should read this as well :)