I just finished this manga and I had to write this review to say how much I loved it. It's without a doubt the best manga I’ve read so far with constant entertainment and is, I’m pretty sure, the only manga I’ve read where there have been no points where I’ve felt the urge to walk away and I had trouble doing so when I’ve tried.
I’d say the overall story of the weak victim finding the strength and drive to change is a theme that will have been used a lot in all forms of fiction but the way it was done was brilliant so the following of Yuu’s story as he battles himself as well as his adversaries is something I will never regret as it was time well spent! The fact that during the story we are periodically given basic information, in the form of the author’s narration, on fighting in general and in specific forms of martial arts that have actual practical use is a bonus added to this already great read.
In terms of art I gave this a nine as though I found the art amazing and a great way to depict the changes in the characters throughout the story and during fights; I found it took a while to appreciate as I was unsure about it as I started. This will probably be due to the realism of the drawings that, though some people may find a positive, some people may think that it detracts slightly from the aesthetics of the work.
The characters have definitely been a major factor in my enjoyment of this manga. The characters are portrayed, not always positively, with weaknesses and problems and issues that add to the realism of the story showing they’re not just the perfect images some may view them as but have problems just like anyone else that they have to work passed. Watching these characters struggle with the their problems individually and together has only made them more endearing allowing the readers to empathise with them and feel more connected with them, especially if they’ve experienced some of the problems themselves which is highly likely.
The overall enjoyment of the story has been a definite ten out of ten. The moments when Yuu manages to overcome challenges and pass his limits really feel like you’ve achieved something too when you’re there right alongside him. In general, the fights of this series are brutally realistic showing you what can really happen on these streets but at the same time knowing that Yuu will always get back up despite everything because, that’s just the kind of guy he is, is just a great feeling. To be honest the series seems to have just gone by so quickly but I’ve been left feeling utterly satisfied with what I’ve read, from the epic fight scenes, to the heart-warming friendships and even some romance. This may be because I’ve just finished the manga and still feeling the aftereffects of its brilliance but to me, at this moment in time, this story is outstanding and definitely deserves its ten out of ten!