Kengan Ashura

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If KENGA ASHURA were a fighting game I would like to play as Cosmo. (Tell me your choice)

All the fighters are distinct and fun to watch , they each have personality and a common goal , which makes the fights unpredictable.
There are a lot of characters that I can't say anything meaningful about their characterization , being nothing more than shonen stereotypes , Ohma falling in the same category.
The art is a bit rough in the beginning but it improves , becoming quite unique.
The story is similar to Baki's , in that it's about fighting for the sake of fighting. The story it's inconsistent at ... best becoming clear that it was probably written around the fights , which is not a bad thing because those are the best parts of the series. Baki get's away with it easily because of it's focus on the philosophy of fighting , Kengan Ashura isn't entirely lacking this aspect but it's mild. Kengan's characters fight for victory. Baki's characters are fighting for the pleasure of it to put it simply.
Really fun if you are into martial arts , even if this one becomes science fiction at some points ( like Baki in an enjoyable way)

I'm sorry I kept comparing the two series . I just felt it has to be this way.

Kengan Asura is a bloody bare-knuckled slugfest from beginning to end, and while it may lack a bit in the story department, it makes up for it with unique and detailed artwork, expertly crafted fight scenes, and a level of intensity that barely slows down at all in over 200 chapters. Occasional comedy and tragedy elements also come up for better or worse, but if you're into a good old-fashioned fighting manga then Kengan Asura should be on your must-read list.

The story of Kengan Asura is probably the weakest element, and it's still fairly interesting and original. The majority of the manga takes place ... during the "Kengan Annihilation Tournament" which consists of a series of one-on-one hand-to-hand fights where weapons are prohibited but killing is not. The winner will be able to select a new leader for the Kengan Association, and our MC Tokita Ohma is seeking revenge against one of these fighters, as well as answers to some questions that you may or may not care about by the time you actually get them.

The art is one of the strongest elements of the series. The facial expressions are very animated compared to most mangas' tendency towards stiff unmoving faces, usually done to add a comedic element or excitement to a scene. The muscle and skeleton structures of the fighters are very detailed as well, making each fight feel painful to watch as we see every small bit of bone and flesh as it gets torn apart.

The characters are pretty great as well, as with any fighting series you will need to have a strong supporting cast to keep things interesting, and this manga does that almost perfectly. My only complaint would be that there are so many good characters it starts to feel like none of them get enough screentime to make them worthwhile. They all get to have a little moment towards the end but at that point does it even matter?

As far as the ending goes you will just have to decide for yourself if it works for you. I didn't particularly like it so much, but I definitely enjoyed the ride getting there.

Kengen Ashura is a manga series that revolves around underground gladiator fights, where powerful fighters compete for the sponsorship of wealthy corporations. The manga has a lot of action scenes, but also a lot of commentary from the spectators, the announcers, and the fighters themselves. The commentary often explains the techniques, the strategies, and the backgrounds of the fighters, as well as their motivations and emotions.

The manga tries to balance the action and the commentary, but sometimes it feels like the commentary is too much and slows down the pace of the story. The commentary can also be repetitive or unnecessary, especially when it states ... the obvious or contradicts what is shown in the panels. The manga could have been more engaging and exciting if it focused more on the action and less on the commentary.

The manga also suffers from a lack of character development and depth. The fighters are mostly stereotypes or clichés, with little personality or growth. They are either good or evil, with no shades of gray or complexity. The manga does not explore their motivations or backgrounds in a meaningful way, and they do not change or learn from their fights. The manga relies too much on shock value and violence, rather than on character-driven drama or suspense.

The manga is not bad, but it is not very good either. It is average at best, and disappointing at worst. It has some good moments and some interesting concepts, but it also has many flaws and weaknesses. It is a manga that could have been much better, but it failed to live up to its potential.