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"To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak."

Where to begin... well, lets take a classic approach here. Wondance, it's a manga about, well, dancing. Right... dancing? Lets be real, how many of us are really even interested in dancing? Honestly, it wouldn't be wrong to think like this. After all, it's only natural to put your time into something that you're interested in. Very well, so ask yourself this, what is it that draws you to manga? Just what is it that allows you to call yourself a fan of the medium?

The story is obviously centered around dancing, but to leave it at ... that would be unfair. There's much more to this than just dancing. Throughout life, people often change. They change to fit in, to more closely resemble their ideal, or the ideal of their authority, or for any other reason. It's normal to live like this, it's human desire to fit in, to not be an outcast and have a place to belong, simply because companionship is something we naturally seek. But what about when one finds their passion? Do they devote everything to it in order to attain their dreams, or do they simply continue living as they have been in fear of losing a part of themselves? This story isn't complex, it's nothing pretentious, in fact it's very much on the simple side. However, this story is meaningful.

I want to keep discussion about the art here brief, as in the end it's all a matter of perspective, so I'll describe the art itself in just three words. Simple, yet beautiful. It does a fantastic job at capturing the emotion of characters, and conveying the feelings of those within the story. Countless times while reading this have I stared in awe at pages, and many times have I teared up, feeling a rush of emotion flow through. The art here is masterfully crafted, and I can not praise it enough, so I will leave it at that.

When reading a series, especially one focused on a sport, you want to see characters that are unique. Characters that make you feel some sort of emotion for them, whether it be the ability to relate deeply to them on some level, or a hatred fueled by distaste of their actions. Whatever it may be, the ability to make a reader deeply feel just anything about a character is something necessary for building a series. This, to me, is one of the core strengths of Wondance. I find myself being able to relate to situations in this series, deeply respecting certain characters, and continuously wanting to know more about them. The most important thing here is that the characters feel real.

I enjoyed this series to an unfathomable degree. Why do I consider it unfathomable? Simply because, never once in my life have I been interested in dancing. I've never thought about it before. But, that's why this medium, and Wondance in particular, is so fantastic. You do not have to be interested in something to enjoy a story focused on it. The core fundamentals of manga, this series is able to take them and stretch them to their utmost potential. If you find yourself doubting this series because you have never once had an interest in dancing, then you're not necessarily wrong for doing so. However, I believe the main reason this manga is so good is because of how purely enjoyable it is to read.

Wondance is wonderful. It's a series in which I've enjoyed every moment of my time reading, albeit only fourteen chapters in. It is able to do something that many manga attempt and fail it, and that is presenting something you have no interest in, and almost forcing you to become interested in it through its fantastic level of storytelling elements. I write this review to inspire you, as this series has done for me. If you are hesitant, I implore that you give this a chance.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― Oscar Wilde

Just what is a masterpiece? Perhaps it's something that greatly affects one's thought process, or maybe for some, it's a piece of work that mesmerises them to such a degree, that they are never able to forget said creation. Machida-kun no Sekai to me, is a masterpiece, in the truest sense of the word. Why is this the case? Well, it is very simple; this is a series that I have come away from with an evolved outlook on life. After reading this, I felt as though I had ... become truly enamoured of the world. A sense of rejuvenation, some may call it. This manga, to a degree, has changed the way I choose to live, for the better.

Story: 10/10

This story is one that flows very well. Each chapter, we face a new scenario. And yet with each new scenario, there is familiarity. Something fascinating about Machida-kun no Sekai is that it does not follow the usual construction of a manga. The characters do not live according to the story, but rather, the story progresses through the way the characters choose to live. As such, I became infatuated with the style of the series. With each new chapter, it feels as though you are watching a great story unfold, but a story you hold close to your heart because it is not so far off from what you may perceive to be reality. In essence, this story is a heart-warming tale of a young man's love for the world, and how that allows him to venture through the motions of life while helping others attain that same balance.

Art: 10/10

In my own opinion, art is a truly relative subject. Great art for a particular series may become not-so-great art if placed upon another series. However, the art for Machida-kun no Sekai is a superb match. It is apparent that each stroke of the brush that has been put into this work has been enacted with such fine detail. And yet, that fine detail is in its own sense an oxymoron in and of itself, as it is what divulges the simplicity of the story that has been laconically imbued throughout each chapter.

Character: 10/10

While most series' are driven by their deep, complex, thrilling or often simplistically pleasing stories, this is one that is truly propelled by the characters. Machida-kun no Sekai is not something that tries too hard to be what it is not, and that's why it succeeds. How does it succeed at this? Through constantly evolving, changing, self-aware and relatable characters. Generally, if a story depicting life in it's most natural and mortal state allows one to step into the mind of its characters, one would feel much more of a resonance with that particular story. This is why this manga succeeds. Machida-kun no Sekai does not tell of a far-away tale of youth that none may ever experience in the real world, but instead of a life very close to home that many of us have lived, or at least in some sense, experienced.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Enjoyment is subjective, as it should be. However, for anyone looking for something that allows you to experience joyful slice of life elements with a touch of wisdom, this manga is a great choice. If you come into this looking for a high school tale that follows the synopsis, then I have no doubt that this series will evoke a great deal of delight from you.

Overall: 10/10

Just what is a masterpiece? For a manga to be a masterpiece, must it tick the box of becoming a 10 in each category? Must it be something profound, pretentious or critically acclaimed? To be honest, who really knows for sure? If I had to give my own interpretation of the word, I would say... a masterpiece is something that you can look at as more than just a piece of work. Something that becomes an experience, perhaps even a treasured artifact to somebody. More than anything, it is something that takes the form of an inspiration. It is not just a fleeting moment in your life, but instead, something you often remark upon, and are always consciously aware of. As to why I have chosen to give this manga the mantle of a masterpiece, that is because overall, Machida-kun no Sekai has taken that form for me. With no use of hyperboles, it is a series that I have only just completed, and as a very cynical person, I feel that I have taken a more optimistic approach to things. A truly inspiring piece of work, that is how I feel about this manga. Very rarely will you come across a manga that reminds you just why you became a fan of the medium in the first place, for me, this is one of those very, very few series'.

And so now I don't ask you, but myself: 'Just what is a masterpiece?'. Well... this, is a masterpiece.

“People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.”
- James Baldwin

Shuumatsu no Walküre, or Record of Ragnarok, is a truly interesting manga. As the synopsis declares, we have a lone valkyrie whom initiates what is the record of ragnarok. Yet there is a fascinating twist on the way this is done. Within this manga, we see the inevitable price humanity must pay, and the mindset of Gods in this world, each as result of the lives they lead.

Story: 7/10
The story is a very ... simple one. Simply put, essentially we follow one big tournament arc in which 13 Gods face off against 13 Humans, in separate One vs One battles, as the synopsis entails. However, while being an extremely simple premise, it is portrayed in a superbly interesting manner using intriguing undertones that embellish what it is we have. There is fantastic lore behind this story, one of which elucidates the high stakes, from Gods of mythology that we ourselves may be interested in to human beings within our timeline that we may have taken note of. I believe this manga takes the idea of a simple action, tournament arc, and stretches it to its greatest lengths. The only flaw I can give here is the simplicity, however this simplicity is also one of this work's greatest strengths.

Art: 10/10
There's not much I can say here. The art is truly outstanding. Each panel is so intricately drawn and, while this manga is one that updates monthly, the art that we receive in return makes it more than worth it. Truly some of the greatest art in manga I can say I think I've ever seen, and the attention to detail here is extraordinary.

Character: 9/10
So, we have our lone valkyrie, and a few other recurring characters. However, what I really like about the way the characters are set up in this manga is that it's very difficult to establish a "main" character. We have many different characters, all amazing in their own right. Each character is fleshed out very well, and yet there are so many interesting characters with such fascinating lore that it's honestly a wonder. So while I can't say something along the lines of "I'm a fan of the main character because of...", I can say that I really enjoy every single character in this manga for what they are, and how they are presented. However, this lack of a fundemental "main" character is the reason I cannot give this category a 10. Even so, I am very fond of the characterisation done within this work.

Enjoyment: 9/10
I've enjoyed every chapter so far to a very high extent. I believe anyone looking for a good seinen action will truly enjoy this read. It's one that is easy to get into due to the simplicity of story, amazing to look at due to the intricacy and quality of the art, and wholly enjoyable all the way through due to the lack of uninteresting characters and lore that we are presented with along the way.

Overall: 8/10
While this isn't necessarily a masterpiece, it is far from being bad. In fact, it is one of the best works I've had the pleasure of reading. However, I believe that the manga being far from over factors into the overall score here. Down the line, this work could become one of the greatest in the history of manga, or perhaps it could be the opposite in which it loses traction. With that said, I truly believe this is worth reading. It is very good for any fan of the action genre, and is undoubtedly a diamond in the rough within this scope.

Ah, Revolt. What can I say? This is a manga that not many people have read, and there are reasons for that, one of which can definitely be the lack of availability and translation. This will be my first review on this site, and one for a series that I hope will garner more attention in the future. Without further ado, lets break it down.

Story: 5/10

The story for this manga is fairly good. As presented in the synopsis, we have our main character Naruse Akira who has the classic, tragic backstory. Naruse is, as stated in the synopsis, good at reading his opponents. So picture ... a chess player who has the ability to see three moves into the future of the game, essentially, that is what our main character does in order to make his way through his gaming life. Naruse, still a child, assumes the role of a military commander. In essence, we follow a story of revolution (hence the title of the manga) led by a kid through his acquired skills of gaming. Now, it's a very interesting concept and is executed in a decent manner. However, it lacks fluidity to some extent. This manga remains content heavy and from previous points it may feel like things are progressing in a manner of which they shouldn't. Moreover, it feels as though the reader is pushed straight into the heat of the story without any real world or character building beforehand.

Art: 9/10

The artstyle in this manga is one I absolutely adore. Each panel is drawn in a way where attention is drawn to where you would want it to be, while there is a lack of attention to detail to keep some roughness to part of the drawings. It honestly fits really well for the feel of the manga, and the only thing I can say is flawed about the art is that the scaling at time feels off.

Character: 5/10

I'm very 50/50 when it comes to the characters of the manga. Naruse, the main character, is a someone who can be on either end of the spectrum. For some, he can be very annoying, pretentious and hard to relate to. While others who may relate to him perfectly might find him to be an amazing and thoroughly right-minded character. However, the problem for me lies in the childhood friend, Houju. Her character feels entirely forced, doesn't fit into the story well enough for me and seems to be presented only as a catalyst of sorts.

Enjoyment: 6/10

What I've read of 'Revolt' I have enjoyed to a fair standard. Personally, I find the military and revolutionary aspects both to be enticing, with a great artstyle that I can't help but adore while looking upon each panel. However, I find the cast to be fairly subpar and it draws away from the story at times when each character seems to pefectly embody a particular trope yet has no substance to enhance.

Overall: 6/10

I believe 'Revolt' is worth giving a go. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I believe that if it is available to you, it is definitely worth giving a shot. If the genres and synopsis don't entice you, maybe the art-style will ease you in and you will eventually come to like the manga. I wouldn't say it's a must-read, however, I would recommend giving it a shot at some point.