Popcorn Avatar

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STORY: The general feel for the manga felt like Law of Ueki or Shaman King. The simplicity of the plot, coupled with a consistent pacing of events, allowed little room for confusion. Few events seemed incongruous or sudden, and I found its emphasis on the action and its consequential development on the characters very appropriate. My only real complaint is the rushed ending; the final chapter could and should have been longer to adequately conclude the relationship between the main pair.

ART: Characters and backgrounds were light in color and the fight scenes, coupled with the use of super powers, were entertaining to look at. Character ... design matched the personalities of its corresponding character well, with the blonde cheerleader portrayed as supportive and energetic while the gloomy protagonist pessimistic and misanthropic. The exception would be Kai, as his muscular depiction contradicts his gentle temperament but that was intentional because he's often teased for that inconsistency, turning Kai into a comic relief character. To employ a darker mood, the mangaka distorts the expression of the characters and bolds their text panel, evoking a heavy and ominous atmosphere. In short, The aesthetics added to the experience and felt proper as a super power manga.

ENJOYMENT/CHARACTERS: To capitalize on enjoyment, one needs to employ a certain perspective before anything else. If you're going in there hoping for epic battles between good and evil Gods shaking the foundation of the Earth, then you're going to be disappointed. Rather, focus on the individual battles of the main pair and how that fight affects their relationship. The highlight of Popcorn Avatar is not the grand scale of battle but what kind of development every confrontation brings to the pairs. The manga begins with the protagonist contemplating suicide because of a past traumatic event. His cynical thoughts and parochial worldviews are exposed, and it was at this time his first battle occurs. With every fight, he encounters new enemies with differing motives; his outlook is enlarged and soon comes to encompass the views of others. His progression and growth from his isolationist principles were stressed, and that's where the reader should focus his or her attention.

CHARACTER: Another character I was very pleased with was Lisa the cheerleader. She wasn't a Damsel in distress nor a shallow, sexualized character. She was everything I wanted the protagonist to be. Strong, resolute, and wise she is the catalyst for the gradual change of her male counterpart. Her girly moments add to her appeal and just make her more likable.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Popcorn Avatar was a solid read. It was "Good" hence the 7. 29 chapters with an average of 35 pages per chapter, I read everything from start to finish in a day, and found myself pleasantly surprised by the manga overall.