Shi ni Aruki

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I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a detached and estranged MC. The vibe of the manga is largely something like Final Destination meets Criminal Minds. In the beginning, it is a very strange environment that seems to move very fast, ultimately slowing to a bit of a heavy slog when discussing things like occult and death. That luckily does not take away from the overall story, which can feel a bit disjointed. I found it overall charming, as the MC kept things kind of fresh for me. I didn't feel sad for anything, which I think might be a great achievement for a manga revolving ... around death and seeing it in a different way.

NO SPOILERS

The way Shi ni Aruki views and treats death is very intriguing. It challenges the conventional view of death and how one might react to it or simply not react at all. The art is good and helps to express the mangas feel but I think maybe a more abstract art style would help to convey some of the feelings and concepts explored. The ending may be a bit of a cop out to some people but I tend to look at is as more of a "make up your own mind" kinda ending.

Overall I really enjoyed this manga and I especially enjoyed getting ... to know and understand our main.

"If you don't trust me, that's fine too."

Shi ni Aruki takes the murder mystery genre and spins many of its elements on their heads. The work provides unique insights, questions, and quotes; beautifully woven together into a narrative about death and life, as well as other topics like trust, innocence, and family. It is no small feat to force the reader to ponder their own death with an engaging and ultimately realistic approach. For that alone, Shi ni Aruki should be worth reading.

Plot- 9/10. The early chapters seem to be quite disconnected and strangely paced at times, but everything gets tied together well and the ... story remains engaging until the finish. Nearly every point feels intentioned and helps with the story in some way. Certain scenes are dialogue heavy, but they are often important parts of the plot and presented in a way that maintains intrigue.

Art- 8/10. While our main protagonist has a unique and well-executed design, few other characters stand out, perhaps intentionally so. As for the expressions, the use of dramatic shading to greatly increase or relieve tension works well. There was a surprising amount of technical detail put into certain panels and scenes. Ultimately, although the art has few flaws, it does not stand out too exceptionally either.