Jul 17, 2022
Ayashimon is a tribute to battle manga.
As you can see, this one’s a short read. The content is jam-packed and showcases some pretty gnarly artwork.
The gore — almost Berserk-esque — hyped me up to see the main character keep on getting up to throw another punch. I was in awe of how much artistic work it may have taken to concretize representations of traditional yokai in addition to the badass combat.
The story partly talks about how people cope differently with grief and the extreme ways some vent these pent-up feelings. Central themes that come up would be how it should become more common for people
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to look out and ask for help when they need it, as the protagonist is able to beat up these characterizations of fear with more and more ease in every battle.
However, the conversations/dialogue can get a bit stale or corny, while the ‘lessons of the story’ are sometimes cliche. These lessons the author tries to convey to the reader aren’t too deep or philosophical, but it does serve as a reminder for those who happen to have some spare time to read this. You could tell that there is an appreciation for the shonen manga that most people may have picked up as kids, with not-so-subtle references to them here and there.
The chapters leading up to the ending, although short-lived at least provided me reassurance in the main character's abilities. Stories like this don’t always need closure when the reader has built this wall of trust and belief with the characters, especially through just less than 500 pages.
All these things about it still never failed to keep me hooked; as I finished this manga within the course of a free stay-at-home weekend!
“This isn’t loyalty. It’s gratitude.”
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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