I was quite surprised to find that the same guy who wrote Onani Master Kurosawa wrote this, just because of how different these two genres are. While his latest work does not live up to his previous title in terms of boldness, it is not any less entertaining.
STORY (8)
Subete no Jinrui wo Hakai suru. Sorera wa Saisei Dekinai. is about Magic: The Gathering, and is set in the late 20th century. Although younger readers (like me, lol) may not really understand what the hype is all about, there's no need to worry as the mechanics of the game usually take backstage in the face of cute moments and interactions. Sometimes, cardfights are lengthy psychological battles; other times, entire matches are skipped over entirely. Knowing how the game works makes the matches easier to understand, but it is written such that you can usually figure out the gist of what is happening, and why.
Compared to his classmate Sawatari, Hajime has always been second in grades. His narcissistic attitude and geeky hobbies clash with Sawatari's uptight and proper attitude, until one day he discovers her at a cafe, playing a card game he loves (and she beats him at that, too.) After losing to her, he begins to frequent the cafe with her as his punishment, and they grow close.
This manga is a good combination of light comedy, intense card battles and a sprinkle of romance in every chapter. Cliffhangers keep you invested but don't purposefully cut into the middle of the story in order to torture you. There aren't any overdramatic misunderstandings, and the cliches are kept to a minimum.
ART (9)
It does look a little rough but is good at drawing distinct side characters, higlighting certain emotions or people, and displaying the emotion it wants to show.
CHARACTER (8)
It's hard to judge this section due to the lack of chapters, but so far, the manga has focused mostly on the relationship between the two main characters, Hajime and Sawatari. It's been progressing at a steady pace, and constantly keeps me invested to see what happens next without rushing ahead too much.
My issue is usually the side characters, who have mostly one-dimensional personalities and often exist solely to fill a role or position. But the creators clearly have a very good idea of how to deal with this. Side characters in manga fill the role of a backdrop in a set. They serve to bring out the main focus, and should not divert attention in any way. Despite a few irks, I would say that this is accomplished well.
ENJOYMENT (9)
I blitzed through all ten chapters available for the reading of this manga fairly quickly. It is a rather casual manga so far and I am glad to say that another romcom has been added to the list. However, if you're not a fan of the genre, there isn't really a reason (besides the card game matches) to read it.
