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A review by j_kupp33
キングダム 1 [Kingudamu 1] by Yasuhisa Hara
5.0
(Review for chapters 1 - 653 as its still ongoing.)
One of the best historical fictions I have read in any medium.
The art is gorgeous, the story unpredictable, and the battles, hoooooooooo the battles, they are epic in every sense.
Kingdom is one of those series that transcends its medium, its more than just a manga, its just a damned good story. It has one of the best battle sequences I have seen in any piece of entertainment with real tactics and constant unpredictable events one after the other. Plus how the author Hara is able to hype these legendary mythical icons of the warring states period up is so talented. Hara is able to introduce a character in one page, give a quick flashback on how epic he is in the other, and by the fourth page he is already a believable (key word) threat against the main character.
Speaking of characters, the villain Riboku, is one of the smartest and well written antagonists out there. His motivations are relatable, his actions are justifiable, and he is just so fucking badass as well. It's hard to put in words how good of a character he is, to the point where I can't even think of one villain out there in literature/entertainment that is as smart and believable as he is.
Also, Kingdom's take on the theme of war is also perfectly done. The way violence is portrayed in gruesome detail as body parts fly all over the pages. And how the main goal of the series can only be achieved through more violence; the war to end all wars, you could say, shows how brilliant Hara really is.
Kingdom is a classic and should be read by anyone that's into historical fiction or fantasy, even if you''re not a manga fan give this one a chance cause its mature themes and believable characters will win you over.
One of the best historical fictions I have read in any medium.
The art is gorgeous, the story unpredictable, and the battles, hoooooooooo the battles, they are epic in every sense.
Kingdom is one of those series that transcends its medium, its more than just a manga, its just a damned good story. It has one of the best battle sequences I have seen in any piece of entertainment with real tactics and constant unpredictable events one after the other. Plus how the author Hara is able to hype these legendary mythical icons of the warring states period up is so talented. Hara is able to introduce a character in one page, give a quick flashback on how epic he is in the other, and by the fourth page he is already a believable (key word) threat against the main character.
Speaking of characters, the villain Riboku, is one of the smartest and well written antagonists out there. His motivations are relatable, his actions are justifiable, and he is just so fucking badass as well. It's hard to put in words how good of a character he is, to the point where I can't even think of one villain out there in literature/entertainment that is as smart and believable as he is.
Also, Kingdom's take on the theme of war is also perfectly done. The way violence is portrayed in gruesome detail as body parts fly all over the pages. And how the main goal of the series can only be achieved through more violence; the war to end all wars, you could say, shows how brilliant Hara really is.
Kingdom is a classic and should be read by anyone that's into historical fiction or fantasy, even if you''re not a manga fan give this one a chance cause its mature themes and believable characters will win you over.