Warning: there may be slight general setting spoilers for the first 16 chapters.
If this manga keeps going on its current path, it could be a truly great piece of work, one that I have waiting for years to finally happen. The setup is extremely promising, and has my extremely excited to see where it goes.
I'm going to start by saying that this seems to be rather shallowly tagged and summarized. It's about as Shounen as Ajin and Tokyo Ghoul are, which is to say, not at all. They are not shy about the bloodshed as well. If you are familiar with Ajin, the setup is very similar: a seemingly normal boy is suddenly not so human anymore, and they have to struggle through the psychological turmoil and run away from home. In this sense, it is only "school-life" for the first couple chapters. At this point, I do not expect it to go back to the school setting.
There's also the thing about the MC being a closet pervert. What? The closest thing that comes to it is when his best friend points out a cute girl, and the MC just gives him a thumbs up. Otherwise, the MC is rather mature and down to earth. I mean, he faps once, but he's a high school boy. Waddaya expect? Honestly, it just makes it even more down to earth.
Let's get on to the actual review now.
Story: 8/10
As you may notice, the setup is rather run of the mill, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. This specific setup is right up my personal alley, and I think it lays a great groundwork for a good, mature plot line, and some great character development. Because there are not many chapters, we only have a taste of what's to come. Is there an organization chasing them? What are the laws among the vampires that we're getting glimpses of? What's going to happen to the MC's friend? What about the MC's family? There's a lot to explore, and I hope to see the world continue to grow.
Art: 9/10
I think the art is perfect for the series. It's no frills, and beautiful at the same time. It's decently realistic, and never awkward looking. The characters' emotions are very easy to perceive, and the characters are easy to distinguish. The way the artist paints the skies through "vampire vision" (for lack of a better phrase) reminds me of Van Gogh's Starry Nights. This creates an abstract beauty that really brings the world to life. The art is slightly sketchy, and has a lot of personality. It's just really nice to look at overall.
Characters: 9/10
As I stated before, the groundwork for the characters is VERY solid. The characters feel exceedingly real, and you can really feel their emotions through their interaction and the art. I expect this to be a very psychological manga, with a LOT of character development. From what we've seen so far, the main character isn't some puny kid, but very normal. He is confused and terrified of himself, trying to understand what his life is going through. He is torn between staying home and running away. He is trying to juggle his humanity with this terrible beast within him. It's an absolute joy to watch him struggle. The other characters are also very vivid as well, and I expect to see more background on them, especially a certain someone who may or may not be the antagonist (sorry, my lips are sealed!). The development of the characters and how their psychological state shifts is what is currently keeping the plot going, while government(?) institutions are brewing in the background.
Enjoyment: 10/10
If you're like me, seeing a character be psychologically torn apart while becoming something inhuman is an absolute pleasure to read. I love how they're setting up vampires as being decently traditional, with a strong thirst for blood. The way the creator depicts these urges as well as any instabilities is very original, and great to read. It's a primal pleasure to watch the MC squirm in agony, confusion and thirst. One that is far too often left out in vampire manga. It's gruesome and intriguing. Paired with a blooming plot, this could easily be a manga that I'll be on the tips of my toes for.
Overall: 9/10
If this manga keeps going like it is, it's going to be one of my all time faves. I just hope and pray the manga-ka doesn't mess it up *cough*tokyoghoul*cough*
If you like Ajin, Tokyo Ghoul and/or Parasyte, this manga is sure to please. If you're looking for a vampire manga with actual vampires, you'll surely love this.
I'm extremely excited to see where this manga takes us!
