Story: 9/10
Cadis Etrama di Raizel (i.e. Rai), a powerful vampire who was in hibernation for 820 years, wakes up abruptly to find himself in a completely foreign world, so he decides to learn about the current state of affairs by attending a school that his servant, Frankenstein, created for him while he was in his slumber. Little does he know that human society has advanced far beyond his imagination, while vampire society has made little progression at all, much to his dismay. Because of his delicate position in both societies, he runs into conflict wherever he goes.
One thing that I find particularly fascinating about this manhwa, is that it throws in all of the supernatural (vampires, werewolves, and all), yet tries to mix it with science (genetically modified humans). Much like in Bram Stoker's Dracula, this ends up being a rather successful mix. With the development of human society, mankind has found a way to retaliate against the vampires which they both feared and respected. I totally did not see that coming. Aren't vampires supposed to be all-powerful creatures? Apparently not always true in Noblesse.
Art: 8/10
I must say, I found it rather difficult to adapt to the author's style because I'm used to reading Japanese manga, and the author of this manhwa is Korean. The style of art is completely different, it's read from left to right, and it's in colour!!! (You get used to it after a while.) At first, I was very disappointed with the artwork, but it does improve significantly throughout the series. What I mean to say is, the art is no longer hindering my enjoyment of the series, in fact, I'm actually quite fond of the author's style now.
Character: 9/10
In Noblesse, you get exposed to a diverse array of characters - all unique in their own right. You have Rai, your typically "silent and strong" protagonist, who probably holds some dark secrets that you aren't aware of. Then you have his servant, Frankenstein - a curious man who acts in ways that always seem to raise suspicion, yet he still displays an unwavering loyalty towards his master. You also meet a group of genetically enhanced humans and some noble vampires, who you can't help but pity and admire simultaneously. The characters are, for the most part, well explored. Every now and then, you are taken on a side story which gives you a glimpse of a major character's background: you really learn to empathize with them and you even find yourself cheering them on sometimes.
Enjoyment: 10/10
This is likely one of the most enjoyable manhwa I have stumbled upon recently. I must say, the author's humour totally blew me away. You can't help but laugh when Rai beats up bad guys with no problem, but can't play first-person shooter (FPS) games for his life. The reoccurring gag with his strange attachment to ramen (instant noodles) is also hilarious. By the end of the first 20 chapters or so, I already knew that I could expect a bad joke at the end of the chapter, but the author still managed to make me laugh with every single one of them.
Overall: 9/10
I think this is one of the better ones I've read recently. I don't think it's for everyone, but it's definitely worth a try at the very least. For those who are technologically illiterate and require an instruction manual for everything, Rai is your best friend.
