Genjuu no Seiza
Genju no Seiza

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This is a really under-rated manga. It's by the same woman who does Petshop of Horrors, and the art style is very similar, but the story is completely different.

The main character seems to be your usual "boy with special powers" character, but it's actually quite a bit more complicated than that.

Basically, the same excellent writing from Petshop of Horrors is now actually telling a coherent, linear story, which is quite original and interesting.

The only downside is the artwork, which although excellent, is just not QUITE amazing enough to carry a story like this. It was fine in petshop, where everything was a ... bit otherworldly anyway, but somehow it just doesn't quite work as well here.
Still, this is just a small downside.

I'd recommend Genju no Seiza to enjoy who enjoys supernatural manga.

Genjuu no Seiza is good. Great, even. At least when it comes to the story; the characters, on the other hand… could use some more work.

As a backstory, the most notable aspect is probably its author, namely the same person that wrote & illustrated Petshop of Horrors. Just like in its predecessor, the art remains rich and consistent, yet not necessarily distinctive. Genjuu no Seiza even features the main character from Petshop of Horrors in some chapters (though as an episodic character), evoking a vague feeling of nostalgia.

Now for the story… Matsuri Akino did a great job on this one. The premise itself is intriguing, ... and, since this time the story is linear, it was the perfect occasion to showcase her story-telling skills. Which are quite amazing, you know? Though it feels like the last chapters I have read are mostly fillers. As for the tale itself, I feel like the synopsis doesn't make it justice. Don't get me wrong, it's accurate, but in actuality, it is much more complicated than that. And, let's be clear, it is NOT sure who the 'true' High Priest really is. In the synopsis it is said to be Fuuto - however, that's not exactly the case, as in chapter 41 it is still not certain who the 'fake' is between him and the current High Priest.

In any case, the mangaka's ideas are certainly interesting, the cultural & religious undertones helping with their originality. It was my first encounter with the Hindu religion, with their gods (celestial beasts, as they were called in the manga), and their beliefs, so it was not only an exciting read, but also an educational one.

And now we got to the 'bad' part of this work, namely the characters. There are a lot of people, celestial beasts, and even spirits, and it is pretty impressive how well the author handles each of them. Well, with an exception. Which wouldn't be that big of a problem, compared to the big number of successful characters, if it wasn't for the importance of this exact failure: the freaking main character. Yes, you heard that right: the annoyingly stupid-ass fictional character that makes you slap yourself is the one present in every chapter, in most of the panels of said chapter, and in pretty much everything that happens. What a shame, right? What a shame indeed. He is the reason I dropped this manga as well. The way he keeps getting everyone in BIG trouble by changing history and acting without thinking gets too much to bear with at some point, really. I understand there are reasons for his irresponsible actions, like his kindness and the feeling of obligation to need to help those in need, but aside from those, it is just about his personality. Which is that of a troublemaker kid, honestly. He shouts a lot, doesn't think much, and doesn't listen to those who know what's going on. I can somehow understand it, since he is 15 years old and has lived a normal life until this story took place; he doesn't even know the beliefs of this new religion, let alone how the High Priest of Darashaal should behave. However, the biggest problem is that there is ZERO character development. And that is after 41 chapters, with them being pretty long as well. It is pretty infuriating.

I could go on and on about my disappointment with this character, but I don't think I need to say more. It is a shame that this manga was ruined by one character, even though it has such a grand tale to tell and so many good parts. But well, I can't say it wasn't enjoyable until now. If you think you can handle the main character, I really suggest picking this up; even if you don't, you should try it out, since you may not find him as annoying as I did. Either way, I recommend this!

Ratings:
- story: 8
- art: 7
- character: 6
- enjoyment: 7
- overall: 7