Ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail. Most Ouroboros i've seen are depicted as a single snake, but perhaps in Japanese derpology there are two. And this series uses the twin Ouroboros to spin a fine yarn and it masters the use of duality throughout its pages.

This manga, like my score and review, is squarely aimed at readers who enjoy detective stories. If you don't like the catch and repeat, episodic nature of some of this, then you may as well hop of the paddy wagon. Ouroboros is a little different than many of the detective stories i've read before, it uses a very clever but surprisingly refreshing hook. Two main characters, essentially (although it largely revolves around the detective), one is ofc a detective, the other is yakuza. Together they seek to find clues to solve a murder of their sensei 15 years ago.

But that's not where the duality ends, the manga swings from extremely cruel and dark to lighthearted and fun. They don't censor much, nor do they pull punches on the crimes. It can get quite disturbing, but the realism is appreciated and fuels the ability to engage with the story, characters and setting.

As i mentioned earlier, the story is largely episodic but its always going in the right direction towards the main story and it does so at a slow but steady pace, which i really like. They don't give much away too early and give you just enough for it to stay relevant and fresh while keeping you engaged.

The art is very good but not amazing. It's got a nice consistency that you expect and hasn't dropped in quality yet. It's not stark and empty but also not too busy. The character designs are not typical shounen tropes, but goes for a mix of manga/realism that i dig.

The two main characters are the best part imo, both are extremely badass but not Gary Stu's. Going for the realiism angle creates limitations, and these can be seen when things don't always go according to plan. Ryuzaki, the Detective, is a goofball one minute, and ultra violent badass who won't hesitate for a second to pull the trigger and blow some scumbag's head clean off. Danno Tatsuya aka tat-chan, is the Yakuza who's far more calm cool and collected. His character is quite cold and distant, and ofc he's not afraid to pull the trigger either. You would probably expect the characters, at some level, to be better fitted to the other's occupation, but this yin yang harmony just plays out even more interestingly the way it is.

Overall, this is by far one of the most engaging manga i've read that doesn't stoop to ridiculous tropes or powerups. There fantastical elements within it, but they are scattered amongst the cold hard reality of crime and the grittiness of the underworld these characters play in. I don't think it's fair to say it does everything perfectly, but I think it excels in sheer enjoyment because it delivers what you want, when you want it. Some human scum gets caught doing some form of evil, he's getting raped by the legal system or getting put in a body bag. The correct and proper response. They aren't making friends with trash.