Beniiro Hero

Overall: Crimson Hero is a sports manga that revolves around a young girl named Nobara. Alongside the volleyball-focused plot, the story also features a love story—or more accurately, a love triangle. I am fond of a good romance, and I felt this one complemented the overarching narrative well. It isn't your typical mushy love story; in my view, volleyball holds greater importance for the protagonist, Nobara, than romance does, although both are significant to her.

Story: I thoroughly enjoyed the story. There were a few areas where I wished for more elaboration, but overall, I found it to be a solid manga with minimal plot holes. Admittedly, some events were predictable, yet others caught me off guard.

Art: I appreciate the artwork significantly. The characters are all beautifully illustrated. However, I had a minor issue with some of the facial expressions—the characters seemed to have a limited range of emotions.

Character: Honestly, I like Nobara. She's tough but also has her flaws. She is a well-rounded character rather than a flat one, and I found her easy to relate to.

Alright, I've shared my review, but now I'm curious about what happens next. I can't seem to locate any volumes beyond 13. If anyone out there knows where I can read them, you'd have my gratitude.

I enjoy this manga because it revolves around sports, especially since I'm not very familiar with volleyball. It's fascinating to see how the story combines both volleyball and romance. Nobara experiences a lot and grows significantly as the narrative progresses. You can clearly observe the passion that both the boys and girls have for volleyball throughout the manga.

Put simply, Nobara is a tomboy whose family owns an establishment that she, as the eldest daughter, does not wish to take over. Her only passion is volleyball, but despite her dreams of pursuing it, she is held back by her family. Enrolling herself in a high school renowned for its volleyball team, the only way she can stay is by working as a dorm mother at an all-boys dormitory, where five freshman volleyball players reside. Initially under the false impression that a girls' volleyball team existed, she soon discovers that her mother had paid the school to disband the team, which was already struggling. Determined, she resolves to gather members for a new team and, through tremendous effort, Nobara manages to form a six-member squad. Her parents still want her to return home, given that she essentially ran away, but they eventually agree to let her stay and pursue her dreams until her high school years end, giving her three years to play volleyball. Now, Nobara finds herself developing feelings for Yushin, one of the volleyball boys in her dorm. However, he already has a girlfriend and is deeply committed to her. She later discovers that Keisuke Haibuki, a sweet but ill boy she knew from her childhood, is also among the volleyball players in the dorm. Having admired her for her determination and skills in volleyball since he was young, he breaks up with his girlfriend—who had quit volleyball after an accident, although she fully recovered and was later convinced by Nobara to resume playing—because he realizes he is falling for Nobara. Nobara will face numerous challenges with her team and several on her own.

This manga offers a fantastic blend of sports, friendship, and romance. If you're not into reading chapters about training and matches, you might want to pass on this one.

One of the standout aspects of this manga is the portrayal of friendships, particularly among the girls on the volleyball team. The cast is relatively small for a sports team, allowing each character to have their own story arc and moment in the spotlight, making it easy to grow fond of all of them. The girls face challenges, showcasing their passion for the sport and for one another. While some are more talented than others, we see everyone working hard.

The romance within this manga is intricately tied to the sport, with characters supporting and respecting each other. You can truly feel the main character's determination as she fights for her dreams.

I've read this manga around three times now, and every time it manages to bring tears to my eyes. Although that's probably because I'm sentimental and love seeing girls get along, I would absolutely recommend this manga.

I truly enjoyed this, which caught me off guard a bit. Sports have never been my thing; my involvement has always been strictly from a managerial perspective. Sure, this manga centers around volleyball, but more significantly, it's about a girl who sacrifices everything to chase her dream. That’s the kind of narrative that resonates with me.

Do not fear; this review contains NO spoilers. This manga is far from ordinary. The characters exhibit remarkable maturity, making the story exceptionally realistic. If you're tired of cliché plots and cheesy romances, this manga will surely add excitement to your life.

Nobara, the main protagonist, is deeply committed to volleyball but isn't a cold-hearted warrior. She's an average high school student striving to become stronger and more independent. Unlike typical shoujo manga where romance dominates the plot, this manga takes a different approach.

Nobara evolves as a character through various challenges in volleyball and also while dealing with her romantic feelings towards others. If the entire manga were centered around volleyball, it might get somewhat monotonous. However, Nobara experiences love and learns how to navigate these emotions. The plot remains strong even without the romance, thanks to Nobara's deep character development which keeps readers engaged. Yet, the added romance makes the story even more FANTASTIC!

The art deserves a perfect 10. There are no annoying blushing fits that often feel unrealistic. Characters do blush, but just enough to be believable. The artwork is stunning overall, with each character displaying a wide range of expressions (I'm quite picky about art).

However, this manga isn't flawless. Despite the refreshing maturity of the characters, they are still high school teenagers who don't always know how to handle life perfectly. I would have loved it even more if the main characters had tackled their problems together, using their romance as a foundation for growth, showcasing more scenes of them developing side by side. Nobara is stubborn and makes very independent decisions (which can be admired too). While there are plenty of heartwarming moments in the romance, I wished for more scenes depicting the main couple's high school life together.

This manga was utterly compelling. I finished it within two days and stayed up all night to complete it. Anyone who enjoyed Chihayafuru will undoubtedly love this one as well!

Crimson Hero is a manga that blends romance, sports, drama, and school life. What makes it unique? Not much, honestly. You can dissect the plot and characters, and they won't seem original at all. So what's good about it? Everything. The story is charming, and the characters are funny and creative. This manga energizes you and might even make you want to take up a sport. It’s driven in a way only sports or arts can be.

Nobusa’s parents suffer from the “I Want My Daughter To Hate Me So I Will Force Her To Be Who I Want Her To Be” syndrome. They run a top restaurant in Japan, and she is the eldest daughter expected to take over. The problem? She loves volleyball and dreams of playing. When she enters high school, she discovers her mom forced the school to disband the girls' volleyball team. Cornered, she does something typical for a shoujo lead: she runs away and ends up as a dorm mother for a group of guys. Well, not exactly like that, but close enough. Now, she must fulfill her dream while cleaning up after four guys.

Let’s face it, this NEVER happens in real life, so I’m COMPLETELY disappointed. If you aren’t too, then maybe you’re reading the wrong manga...

The author got things right from the start with the dialogue. Nobusa’s thoughts and emotions stand out, making it easy for many to relate. She’s confident even when she doesn’t feel it. She’s a great leader and a good friend. There are characters you’ll love instantly, and you can guess their roles right away—like the friend-zoned guy, the mean girl, the loyal friend. Add some old history between characters, and you know drama is guaranteed.

The art doesn’t really stand out, especially considering it was drawn in 2003. That leaves a big gap for "fresher" material artistically speaking. The characters’ hairstyles do stand out initially, but it’s nothing major. The lead looks and sometimes acts like the main girl from High School Debut, which isn’t bad but noticeable. Though technically, Crimson Hero came first, barely. Another issue is that the movements look stiff. Even though they’re not actually moving, the drawings during volleyball scenes can appear too serious instead of relaxed.

The ending? Don’t worry, I can’t spoil it since it’s not fully scanlated. If I had known that before starting, I probably wouldn’t have begun…

I’ll keep my fingers crossed hoping it stays good. I’ll let you know!