Versus

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The first chapter of Versus is everything a first chapter of a manga shouldn't be. It's boring, stupid, convoluted, full of generic characters and constant plot twists that don't work. If you are expecting this to be as good as One Punch Man or Mob Psycho 100, you'll be disappointed. So let's give a quick run-down on why Versus is most likely set up for failure.

The synopsis itself already presents the series as typical and generic which would be fine if it took it's time fleshing out the characters but it doesn't. The first chapter introduces us with way too many characters who only exist ... to die, as a result creating deaths that the characters care about but not deaths the readers care about. Not much thought is put in to the characters that do stick around who only come off as the character archetypes they were based on and nothing more. An example of this is the protagonist who is basically the hero archetype and nothing more which is as 1 dimensional and boring you can get. There's also that ugly pig mascot who exists to be an ugly pig mascot and to make dumb jokes that have been used in many other manga. That's about all the effort ONE puts into characters writing for the first 80 page chapter. None of these characters are memorable in the way Saitama and Mob are and will never be.

The generic premise is constantly convoluted by random subversions of expectations that just don't work. After a while the unpredictable-ness becomes predictable. The pacing is terrible as ONE tries fitting way too much stuff in the first chapter instead of developing the setting and building the world which are crucial steps in creating a good fantasy manga. The powers in Versus are really generic and typical for a fantasy manga with magic being magic and swords being swords. How boring.

The art is average for a monthly manga. It's not unique or memorable and is no where as good as Yusuke Murata's art in One Punch Man. The character designs are generic fantasy character designs without much thought into making characters stand out. Unfortunately, the art can't carry this series.

That's chapter 1. A rushed, convoluted mess of a plot with a generic "heart of a hero" protagonist, too many side characters who only exist to die and a generic premise made worse with subversions of expectations. The series could get better but by comparing how much better the first 80 pages of ONE's other works are, it's not looking so good.

Final scorings:
Story: 2/10 (It's a mess. "Potential" doesn't matter)
Characters: 1/10 (Generic)
Art: 6/10 (It's fine but it doesn't stand out)
Enjoyment: 3/10 (Boring and bland)
Overall: 3/10 (Very Bad)

Synopsis seemed like a generic twist on the genre, but decided to give it a try anyway since ONE had a hand in the project. It definitely payed off as the twist at the end of the chapter got me hooked. I think this manga has a lot of potential and will be keeping a close eye on this series.

Story 8/10 (Unique story with lots of potential)
Art Style 8/10 (Aesthetically pleasing but not Vagabond)
Characters 7/10 (Somewhat generic but there hasn't been much to base them on yet)
Potential 9/10 (Very promising)

(This is my first review so sorry if it's a little bland, but I wrote this ... because I think more people should give this manga a try; with new chapter in a few days probably.)

WOAH! If I expected this when I read the first 3 chapters! It's really excellent, be it the chara-design, the drawing or the story. "One" launches a new work after 10 years and he definitely becomes one of my favorite authors (or scriptwriter for that matter). The emotions of the main character are really successful and the character makes me think of Guts probably inspiring, the double page too are really beautiful. the story has a lot of potential, it can be a really funny mess. Really ... check it out.

Story 8/10 (we are still at the beginning of the story but very promising)

Art style 8,5/10 (or even 9/10 really excellent drawing not as good as Murata but Murata is among the best manga artist we can't all be part of the best)

Character 7,5/10 (very good characters even if the manga seems to focus more on the story, for the first 3 chapters anyway, 80p + 80p + 37p is still 3 big chapters)

Chara-design 9/10 (it's "ONE" so of course good chara design and funny head with the fairy pig)