Minetaro Mochizuki is a very interesting author, with a number of works that I found equally interesting as I discovered them. He had the opportunity to work in different registers: horror, slice of life or even drama. Nevertheless, with Maiwai, he arrives on a ground where we do not expect him: the adventure, and more particularly ... the piracy.
And yes! Maiwai is above all a story of modern piracy, in which the main character finds himself embarked with characters as strange as varied in a rocky adventure. However, the manga offers much more than that. There are really interesting elements, not least the dynamics between the characters and the way they solve the problems they face, which is not always emphasized in classic adventure manga. The manga touches on themes such as loyalty, friendship, courage and family, and as it progresses, the series also takes a darker and more mature turn, offering an additional level of reading and deeper exploration of these themes.
What captivated me in Mawai and what makes the manga interesting is the way the author skillfully blends elements of classic piracy with modern and contemporary themes. The story is a real trick, combining exciting action scenes with a deep and moving ex- ploration of friendship, responsibility and the pursuit of one's dreams.
The characters in Maiwai are well developed and become endearing as the story progresses. Funako, the main character, is a thunderous character who is determined to pursue her dream, even if it means defying authority and social conventions. . The other characters also have interesting personalities and moving personal stories, which are explored throughout the series.
But what really convinces me of the quality of Maiwai is the way the author manages to create an incredibly rich and detailed world. From the seascapes to the cruise ships, every detail is carefully crafted to create an immersive and striking experience. Mochizuki's drawing is quite detailed, rather in a western style; like Atsushi Kaneko for example, with exciting action scenes and effective use of light and shadow. The illustrations are also full of intense emotions that add to the impact of the story.
Maiwai is an exciting and moving manga series, with well-developed characters, a detailed world and a plot that is more complex than it seems. Although I found the first few volumes laborious and I wasn't really excited at first, the more the story progresses the more captivating it becomes. Dramatic tension, exciting action scenes, the more the author progresses the story the more it makes sense. If you are looking for an exciting and moving adventure story, with memorable characters and a detailed universe, or you simply want to discover the author: then you should check out Maiwai!
