The story is the most attractive part of the manga. Its fictitous but it's totally realistic. Because the Mangaka (author) went through similar stages as the protagonist which he revealed in the ending volume of the manga.
The story involves so much around street fighting that at some point I wondered why didn't the mangaka just titled it as "street fighting"? But, in the last volumes I understood that these fights were just part of a bigger picture, the "Holyland", the land where the protagonist discovered his meaning for life, found friends, rivals and found his path in life.
The mangaka is a martial artist himeslf and as it appears from his writings in the manga itself, he is a former street fighter himself. If not so, then at least he got to fight with different types of martial artist: Boxing, Karate, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Judo, Kenpo, Kendo. He gives so much detail about different moves and techniques which is in itself a great attraction point of manga.
Yes, the title "Holyland" and the cover picture given in the MAL made me thinking that this might be a mediocre manga at first. But hell was I wrong!
The art is just beautiful. This is a martial art manga and it is everything about good art. Otherwise you can't bring out the feeling in a fighting. The mangaka did an excellent job with the art.
The characters are the most interesting part. There are so many of them and each one has an intersting and thrilling part to play in the story. Specially the opponents in the street fights.
I enjoyed this manga so much and the more the manga advanced the more enjoyable it became. And the finishing was just great. Although I was getting gloomy for such a good manga to end but the end was satisfying and definitely unique. The mangaka made the manga unpredictable till the very last chapter. It was damn a happy ending, but not your cliche happy ending. It was the real deal. The last chapter really brings out the significance of the title "Holyland". Oh! It was just awsome.
I am a very picky reader. I dropped more mangas than I finished. So, for me to go on and on about this manga made myself realize how great the manga was!
Thank you, Mori Kouji sensei for this great work! It was a real honor to be part of the holyland. Although I was in my room staring at my laptop, but my conscience was definitely roaming the night streets. I was with Kamishiro Yuu! I, definitely, was there!
