Up to chapter 145, I believe that I have seen a number of plot twists and mini arcs that Claymore has to offer. And I must say, the art has significantly improved since Angel Densetsu.
The series by Yagi Norihiro, Angel Densetsu, was vastly different in mood and premise compared to this manga, especially after a certain arc. I was quite surprised when the gore and tragedy became more prevalent later on.
From what I can see, Claymore is categorized as shounen, drama, tragedy, adventure, supernatural (or fantasy later on), and action.
[Story:8/10]
Let's dive into the storyline. The narrative has been fairly consistent, with good transitions between mini-arcs and some larger plot lines connected with earlier chapters' plots, particularly for characters who didn't appear frequently. However, some transitions were not smooth, making them feel awkward or hard to swallow.
The story's progression is interesting and deep. Nevertheless, some potential plot points seem too vague or underdeveloped even after 20 to 30 chapters from their introduction (refer to Mirai’s research and deductions). Overall, the storyline was mostly easy to follow and intriguing.
A flaw is that some scenes were not well explained or confusing (e.g., a pair of legs walking at chapter 100+ had a miraculous change).
Another issue is the warrior numbering, particularly Clare. Additionally, the offensive and defensive type concept feels vague at times, especially regarding how claymores are classified and the influence of types on techniques.
[Art:8/10]
The art is an important factor to consider before reading Claymore. If you've read Angel Densetsu, the artwork in the beginning chapters should look familiar.
The initial chapters resemble AD in terms of character designs. Almost every village head looks like the principal in AD, and Clare resembles Ikuno from AD. Early chapters get a 6-7 for art quality, especially in character design, which felt worse than the final chapters of AD due to overuse.
However, the art progressively improves. Background art was one of the first aspects to improve. Character design for warriors, initially poor, made it difficult to differentiate characters early on. Later, the art improved significantly, making it easier to distinguish characters instantly, even with new additions.
At chapter 145, I would rate the art a 9. It's refreshing to see this style. But considering early chapters, the overall rating is 8/10.
[Character: 8/10]
There are many main characters by chapter 145. They have been mostly consistent, but some could use more development, given their frequent appearances as a group.
By development, I mean their history and behaviors. While prominent characters had detailed pasts and consistent behaviors, those introduced later mostly only had behaviors and skill development explored, without much background information.
[Enjoyment:9/10]
Despite the middle to heavy mood, not my preferred type (I prefer lighter moods), there isn't excessive bloodshed. This makes it interesting.
Miraculously, I enjoyed this manga, which seems to reference real-life socio-political issues. You'll understand if you read beyond 100 chapters.
[Overall:8/10]
A good read, especially for those who don’t mind gore or tragedy. It's not as bad as other manga (Chaosic Rune comes to mind), especially concerning gore (less blood spraying than Gamaran), and it has intriguing plot twists.
Honestly, I was taken aback by this manga. It wasn't the storyline that surprised me but how meticulously balanced it was. The narrative constantly teetered on the edge of becoming just another "I will avenge this person" tale and turning into a gory spectacle with numerous deaths. Initially, I was tempted to abandon reading it, but something kept pulling me back. The author did an outstanding job maintaining the reader's interest and concluded the story remarkably well. The final chapters were mind-blowing, particularly in how intricately the plot was woven and how fascinating the characters were—in a positive sense. Nearly every element of the story was kept in perfect equilibrium, a feat only a highly skilled author could achieve. Despite moments where I found myself thinking, "Really? Really? Okay?" the overall experience was enjoyable. In summary, I genuinely relished this manga despite its odd moments and minor unresolved issues. I firmly believe most readers would appreciate this manga, especially if they pay attention to the details.
This... This is the best story that I've ever experienced...
Story: 10/10
This manga has kept me at the edge of my seat, and the more I read, the more intense it became. There's no shortage of epic twists and jaw-dropping moments where I found myself with my mouth agape, completely unaware, due to the sheer impact of the scenes in this manga.
Art: 7/10
I usually follow this rule: "An anime or manga must have an amazing story and great art for me to give it a 10." I don't hand out 10s easily, but... this story deserves nothing less. I simply couldn't rate it anything below a 10 overall because of how much I enjoyed this manga. However, I did have some issues with certain scenes and frames. In some frames, the backgrounds were so detailed that I lost track of what was happening visually, making it unpleasant to look at.
Even though I didn't think the art was particularly good, the story and overall presentation of the entire concept were fantastic. I'd even go as far as to call this a masterpiece by my own standards, a designation I reserve for very few pieces of art, whether they are illustrations, anime, manga, concept art, or movies.
At the end of the day, if you enjoy Berserk and Attack on Titan, then here's your next fix.
Wow, this manga is truly incredible and incredibly underrated. It's quite clear that Shingeki no Kyojin drew a lot of inspiration from here. There are also similarities with Berserk. Despite the dark and serious tone of the story, it remains highly action-packed, shocking, and captivating.
I recommend everyone to give it a try. It hooked me right from the beginning, which doesn't happen often. I had so much fun trying to predict where the plot was headed. Try to avoid spoilers as some character deaths are genuinely unexpected and shocking.
Additionally, Claire is a fantastic main character. Her relationships with Raki and the other Claymores are really charming.
Had I written this review a year ago, I would have given it a 7 or an 8. But unfortunately, time has not been kind to this silver-eyed warrior. Initially, I was deeply in love with this manga when I first started reading it. However, due to an unimaginative storyline and dreadful translations, my enthusiasm for it has waned significantly. Although I still pick it up occasionally, it no longer holds a spot among my must-reads.
This is one of those rare cases where the anime ended prematurely while the manga continues its run to this day. At first, I was enraged by the broadcasters' decision to cut the series short. Now, looking back, I can see that it was perhaps for the best. The storyline has become so convoluted and far-fetched that very little remains of its original charm and essence.
Wow, I definitely had my doubts in the first few chapters. Initially, I questioned whether the author possessed any real talent. The male characters all seemed uniformly unappealing, and the story appeared clichéd. However, as you progress through a few volumes, the narrative begins to build, gradually introducing various twists and turns that keep you guessing.
Story: 7.5/10
The plot follows a dark medieval theme, which is unusual for a shounen manga, making it quite interesting. The world-building is basic, offering minimal extra context about the world around the characters. This can be both a positive and a negative depending on your perspective. The story has excellent pacing and is an action-packed page-turner. My favorite aspect of this manga was how it exceeded my low expectations with numerous unique twists and turns.
Characters: 8.5/10
Sometimes quantity trumps quality. In this manga, we meet what feels like a hundred different variations of claymores, each with their own unique trademarks. This ties in intriguingly with our protagonists and antagonists, who are not particularly special but rather draw from other characters' identities to become complete. A large female lead cast is refreshing for a shounen manga, and the male characters are also enjoyable.
Art: 7.5/10
The beginning of this manga features some of the poorest drawings I’ve ever seen; characters are drawn lazily with very unrealistic proportions. After a few volumes, the art improves drastically, and appreciation for the unique style grows. The backgrounds and beasts become highly detailed. I think having all the claymores look similar ties into the overall theme of one identity in many persons. I’m not a big fan of the sound effects in the English panels.
Overall: 8/10
I believe the manga reached its peak in the middle of the series, and the overall plot wasn’t anything extraordinary. To me, this was definitely worth reading—not a masterpiece, but something to experience.
Claymore, I believe, is not a manga you would read unless you were into shounen or somewhat unaffected by gore. The manga revolves around a fictional country where there are monsters known as "yoma," which are part human. To combat these monsters and save the people, a mysterious organization has created soldiers known as "claymores" (they fight with claymores too, which are a type of sword, FYI). These claymores are half-human and half-yoma. Towns that need yoma exterminated call upon the organization for help and pay them in gold coins. Towns that cannot pay are—let's say—destroyed and vanish off the face of the universe. Claymores are all female (males who were claymores lost control of their yoma nature and, in a process known as "awakening," become yoma). These females have silver eyes and unbelievable strength. Some have developed special abilities too.
The story's main protagonist is Clare, the "weakest" claymore, ranked #47 in the organization at the time of the present storyline. It details her adventure with a boy named Raki tagging along. She met Raki after saving his town from yoma.
My analysis of the manga:
The manga's story is somewhat unusual in that the plot remains vague and unclear throughout the series. The characters have pasts that are not always touched upon, and the reader sees little of the inner workings of the organization. The adventure, however, is utter heaven for shounen genre fans. There is gore, so be warned. But in defense, it is light and in black and white. The art is quite well drawn and is really quite detailed. From judging based on the story and the art, you can see the mangaka has put effort in, and some details are left out on purpose, so don't be worried when you don't see everything. For me, the art was difficult to get used to at first, but once you read more and you are immersed into its interesting storyline, the art is more than tolerable and quite "nice."
The characters, which are mostly female, do look rather similar although they still are able to retain their personalities, and this is what makes them distinguishable. Their names are quite well thought out, and if you take a look, there are many deeper meanings. The characters are bearable. Personally, because this manga is quite "dark," the characters do need more oomph to give the series a little comedic relief. The battles and fights are great, and the action just makes the series a great favorite of mine.
All in all, Claymore is a good manga, and I would recommend anyone browsing for a new, non-ecchi manga to try reading this manga. I finished the series (100+ chapters at the time) in a day. This is just further proof of the enjoyment-level of the manga series! :D
Started off impressively, but the follow-through was lacking, ultimately blending elements of Sailor Moon with Inuyasha while attempting to mimic Berserk.
The narrative adheres to a conventional formula, abruptly revealing the protagonist's objectives through her backstory. Despite this, the initial plots are engaging, and I might have rated the manga higher had the latter half and conclusion been more innovative and profound.
***Spoiler Warning***
Post-time skip, the storyline became exceedingly repetitive, with multiple plots rehashing themselves among different characters. The continuous introduction of female characters rendered the second half reminiscent of a mix between Sailor Moon and Inuyasha striving to emulate Berserk.
The manga's redeeming quality is its consistently beautiful artwork. Although no spectacular techniques were employed to accentuate the plots and characters, it remained an enjoyable visual experience.
The ending left me particularly frustrated. Using Teresa to battle Priscilla felt like a cop-out. I expected Clare to harness Teresa's power within herself to triumph over her adversary. Even as a fan of Teresa, I found myself deeply disappointed. Consequently, Claymore suffers from subpar storytelling and narrative flow.
This uniquely simple yet high-caliber story unfolds progressively with well-paced narrative. However, the art, often lauded in certain manga circles, strikes me as somewhat dated and unrealistic, lacking refinement and appearing rather plain. Despite this, it still adequately serves its purpose of conveying the excellent storyline. The characters are well-rounded, each possessing a mix of flaws and strengths. Though, the 'Arm' storyline felt a bit far-fetched when compared to their established character traits.
The characters, particularly the main ones, are highly relatable and show significant growth throughout the series, an impressive feat given the unusual scenarios they face. There were some compelling villains, but the story could have achieved perfection with even more formidable antagonists. I believe anyone with discerning taste who can overlook the art style will thoroughly enjoy this series and all it offers, including non-manga readers. I anticipate re-reading this entire collection in the future due to its decent level of re-readability.
It is certainly worth reading, worth owning, and deserves its place in the hearts of many manga fans, including myself. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
You love dark fantasy moons and magic? Lots of fierce, bloody battles? Insane world-building with maps and globes?
Very good story?
Then I recommend the Claymore manga.
Chapters: 159
Volumes: 27
Story: It revolves around an organization in a world filled with Yoma (a type of humans that became monsters). This organization creates half-human, half-monsters by transplanting monster flesh into humans to gain strength, speed, and more to fight the Yoma. Here we are introduced to Clare, the main protagonist. She is calm, thoughtful, and smart but can be pretty crazy sometimes, lol.
The story is kinda wacky at first, but trust me, it branches out to amazing heights and is pretty good.
Rating: 8.5/10
Characters: Mostly above average. Being a nitpicker, I'd say that characters look the same and it confuses me for the most part. Nonetheless, there are some excellently written characters like Teresa, whom I love, obviously our MC Clare, and Miria. For characters, I give it 7/10.
Art: What can I say other than I'm speechless? The art is mesmerizing, a blessing to look at. It's a solid 9/10.
And finally,
Enjoyment: I blazed through 3 volumes without even noticing. The continual consecutive hype will blow your mind. And if this had a better adaptation than the crappie one it got, it would blow up and become an amazing well-known anime.
Rating: 9/10
Overall: 8.4/10 (very good)
This was my first recommendation/review to you all. Hope you liked it.
This is my first review, correct me if I'm wrong, and sorry for any grammar mistakes. :)
Dark fantasy manga with a bunch of ladies hunting monsters? Why not? Since I’m a fan of manga in the dark fantasy genre (though not a huge one), I thought this manga would be a great fit, and it did deliver.
Claymore is about Clare, who seeks revenge for someone she loved deeply, Teresa, who was killed by her own comrade. By joining an organization, she hunts for creatures called "youma," monsters that feast on human guts. From village to village, she wanders, killing these terrifying beings. One day, in one particular village where she's hunting a youma, she meets a boy named Raki. His parents were killed by a youma disguised as his brother. Now with nowhere to go, Raki decides to join Clare on her journey.
Thus begins the story of their journey together.
I would recommend this manga to those who enjoy reading fantasy stories with a dark, underlying theme.
Claymore was always recommended to me as a "post-Berserk" read, and initially, I wasn't impressed. After finishing Berserk and craving more of the same intensity, diving into Claymore seemed like a daunting task. I promised myself I'd give it another try later, knowing there was something special about it, but at that moment, I couldn’t handle the inevitable comparisons that would never live up to my expectations. (I must admit, expecting any work to overshadow Kentaro Miura’s masterpiece was a mistake.)
The uniformed all-female Claymore warriors didn't resonate with me at first. With difficulty in remembering names and faces, how could I keep track of characters wearing the same outfit with slightly different hairstyles? The initial encounters with weaker Yoma felt lackluster compared to the monstrous world of demons I missed from Berserk. Sure, there were big swords—everyone had one—but it wasn't enough to satisfy me.
But eventually, I learned my lesson.
After saving a few double-page spreads for later, I realized I was hooked. It took witnessing the first "Awakening" for me to stop comparing and just enjoy the story. I began to appreciate the dark fantasy appeal. This world is almost a spectacle of death, where every battle feels like a choreographed movie. Enemies became more integral to the plot, growing more impactful and larger, making battles far more satisfying than fighting weak humanoid demons. Take a closer look at the monsters in Claymore; no effort is spared to make them grotesquely fascinating.
Blood splatters everywhere, claymores embedded into body parts before you can blink—"finally some action," I thought. The Claymore warriors fight each battle like it's their last, and I started feeling it through my phone screen. While emotionally programmed swordswomen may not be the best for character attachment, this book isn't about that. Following Clare's brutal life story, depicted so vividly by Norihiro Yagi, is an intense experience. Read it to believe it, but be prepared for a gripping and intense journey.
…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
(if anyone has some dark fantasy recommendations, please share)
Popular Reviews
Up to chapter 145, I believe that I have seen a number of plot twists and mini arcs that Claymore has to offer. And I must say, the art has significantly improved since Angel Densetsu.
The series by Yagi Norihiro, Angel Densetsu, was vastly different in mood and premise compared to this manga, especially after a certain arc. I was quite surprised when the gore and tragedy became more prevalent later on.
From what I can see, Claymore is categorized as shounen, drama, tragedy, adventure, supernatural (or fantasy later on), and action.
[Story:8/10]
Let's dive into the storyline. The narrative has been fairly consistent, with good transitions between mini-arcs and some larger plot lines connected with earlier chapters' plots, particularly for characters who didn't appear frequently. However, some transitions were not smooth, making them feel awkward or hard to swallow.
The story's progression is interesting and deep. Nevertheless, some potential plot points seem too vague or underdeveloped even after 20 to 30 chapters from their introduction (refer to Mirai’s research and deductions). Overall, the storyline was mostly easy to follow and intriguing.
A flaw is that some scenes were not well explained or confusing (e.g., a pair of legs walking at chapter 100+ had a miraculous change).
Another issue is the warrior numbering, particularly Clare. Additionally, the offensive and defensive type concept feels vague at times, especially regarding how claymores are classified and the influence of types on techniques.
[Art:8/10]
The art is an important factor to consider before reading Claymore. If you've read Angel Densetsu, the artwork in the beginning chapters should look familiar.
The initial chapters resemble AD in terms of character designs. Almost every village head looks like the principal in AD, and Clare resembles Ikuno from AD. Early chapters get a 6-7 for art quality, especially in character design, which felt worse than the final chapters of AD due to overuse.
However, the art progressively improves. Background art was one of the first aspects to improve. Character design for warriors, initially poor, made it difficult to differentiate characters early on. Later, the art improved significantly, making it easier to distinguish characters instantly, even with new additions.
At chapter 145, I would rate the art a 9. It's refreshing to see this style. But considering early chapters, the overall rating is 8/10.
[Character: 8/10]
There are many main characters by chapter 145. They have been mostly consistent, but some could use more development, given their frequent appearances as a group.
By development, I mean their history and behaviors. While prominent characters had detailed pasts and consistent behaviors, those introduced later mostly only had behaviors and skill development explored, without much background information.
[Enjoyment:9/10]
Despite the middle to heavy mood, not my preferred type (I prefer lighter moods), there isn't excessive bloodshed. This makes it interesting.
Miraculously, I enjoyed this manga, which seems to reference real-life socio-political issues. You'll understand if you read beyond 100 chapters.
[Overall:8/10]
A good read, especially for those who don’t mind gore or tragedy. It's not as bad as other manga (Chaosic Rune comes to mind), especially concerning gore (less blood spraying than Gamaran), and it has intriguing plot twists.
Honestly, I was taken aback by this manga. It wasn't the storyline that surprised me but how meticulously balanced it was. The narrative constantly teetered on the edge of becoming just another "I will avenge this person" tale and turning into a gory spectacle with numerous deaths. Initially, I was tempted to abandon reading it, but something kept pulling me back. The author did an outstanding job maintaining the reader's interest and concluded the story remarkably well. The final chapters were mind-blowing, particularly in how intricately the plot was woven and how fascinating the characters were—in a positive sense. Nearly every element of the story was kept in perfect equilibrium, a feat only a highly skilled author could achieve. Despite moments where I found myself thinking, "Really? Really? Okay?" the overall experience was enjoyable. In summary, I genuinely relished this manga despite its odd moments and minor unresolved issues. I firmly believe most readers would appreciate this manga, especially if they pay attention to the details.
This... This is the best story that I've ever experienced...
Story: 10/10
This manga has kept me at the edge of my seat, and the more I read, the more intense it became. There's no shortage of epic twists and jaw-dropping moments where I found myself with my mouth agape, completely unaware, due to the sheer impact of the scenes in this manga.
Art: 7/10
I usually follow this rule: "An anime or manga must have an amazing story and great art for me to give it a 10." I don't hand out 10s easily, but... this story deserves nothing less. I simply couldn't rate it anything below a 10 overall because of how much I enjoyed this manga. However, I did have some issues with certain scenes and frames. In some frames, the backgrounds were so detailed that I lost track of what was happening visually, making it unpleasant to look at.
Even though I didn't think the art was particularly good, the story and overall presentation of the entire concept were fantastic. I'd even go as far as to call this a masterpiece by my own standards, a designation I reserve for very few pieces of art, whether they are illustrations, anime, manga, concept art, or movies.
At the end of the day, if you enjoy Berserk and Attack on Titan, then here's your next fix.
Over out
Wow, this manga is truly incredible and incredibly underrated. It's quite clear that Shingeki no Kyojin drew a lot of inspiration from here. There are also similarities with Berserk. Despite the dark and serious tone of the story, it remains highly action-packed, shocking, and captivating.
I recommend everyone to give it a try. It hooked me right from the beginning, which doesn't happen often. I had so much fun trying to predict where the plot was headed. Try to avoid spoilers as some character deaths are genuinely unexpected and shocking.
Additionally, Claire is a fantastic main character. Her relationships with Raki and the other Claymores are really charming.
Had I written this review a year ago, I would have given it a 7 or an 8. But unfortunately, time has not been kind to this silver-eyed warrior. Initially, I was deeply in love with this manga when I first started reading it. However, due to an unimaginative storyline and dreadful translations, my enthusiasm for it has waned significantly. Although I still pick it up occasionally, it no longer holds a spot among my must-reads.
This is one of those rare cases where the anime ended prematurely while the manga continues its run to this day. At first, I was enraged by the broadcasters' decision to cut the series short. Now, looking back, I can see that it was perhaps for the best. The storyline has become so convoluted and far-fetched that very little remains of its original charm and essence.
Wow, I definitely had my doubts in the first few chapters. Initially, I questioned whether the author possessed any real talent. The male characters all seemed uniformly unappealing, and the story appeared clichéd. However, as you progress through a few volumes, the narrative begins to build, gradually introducing various twists and turns that keep you guessing.
Story: 7.5/10
The plot follows a dark medieval theme, which is unusual for a shounen manga, making it quite interesting. The world-building is basic, offering minimal extra context about the world around the characters. This can be both a positive and a negative depending on your perspective. The story has excellent pacing and is an action-packed page-turner. My favorite aspect of this manga was how it exceeded my low expectations with numerous unique twists and turns.
Characters: 8.5/10
Sometimes quantity trumps quality. In this manga, we meet what feels like a hundred different variations of claymores, each with their own unique trademarks. This ties in intriguingly with our protagonists and antagonists, who are not particularly special but rather draw from other characters' identities to become complete. A large female lead cast is refreshing for a shounen manga, and the male characters are also enjoyable.
Art: 7.5/10
The beginning of this manga features some of the poorest drawings I’ve ever seen; characters are drawn lazily with very unrealistic proportions. After a few volumes, the art improves drastically, and appreciation for the unique style grows. The backgrounds and beasts become highly detailed. I think having all the claymores look similar ties into the overall theme of one identity in many persons. I’m not a big fan of the sound effects in the English panels.
Overall: 8/10
I believe the manga reached its peak in the middle of the series, and the overall plot wasn’t anything extraordinary. To me, this was definitely worth reading—not a masterpiece, but something to experience.
Claymore, I believe, is not a manga you would read unless you were into shounen or somewhat unaffected by gore. The manga revolves around a fictional country where there are monsters known as "yoma," which are part human. To combat these monsters and save the people, a mysterious organization has created soldiers known as "claymores" (they fight with claymores too, which are a type of sword, FYI). These claymores are half-human and half-yoma. Towns that need yoma exterminated call upon the organization for help and pay them in gold coins. Towns that cannot pay are—let's say—destroyed and vanish off the face of the universe. Claymores are all female (males who were claymores lost control of their yoma nature and, in a process known as "awakening," become yoma). These females have silver eyes and unbelievable strength. Some have developed special abilities too.
The story's main protagonist is Clare, the "weakest" claymore, ranked #47 in the organization at the time of the present storyline. It details her adventure with a boy named Raki tagging along. She met Raki after saving his town from yoma.
My analysis of the manga:
The manga's story is somewhat unusual in that the plot remains vague and unclear throughout the series. The characters have pasts that are not always touched upon, and the reader sees little of the inner workings of the organization. The adventure, however, is utter heaven for shounen genre fans. There is gore, so be warned. But in defense, it is light and in black and white. The art is quite well drawn and is really quite detailed. From judging based on the story and the art, you can see the mangaka has put effort in, and some details are left out on purpose, so don't be worried when you don't see everything. For me, the art was difficult to get used to at first, but once you read more and you are immersed into its interesting storyline, the art is more than tolerable and quite "nice."
The characters, which are mostly female, do look rather similar although they still are able to retain their personalities, and this is what makes them distinguishable. Their names are quite well thought out, and if you take a look, there are many deeper meanings. The characters are bearable. Personally, because this manga is quite "dark," the characters do need more oomph to give the series a little comedic relief. The battles and fights are great, and the action just makes the series a great favorite of mine.
All in all, Claymore is a good manga, and I would recommend anyone browsing for a new, non-ecchi manga to try reading this manga. I finished the series (100+ chapters at the time) in a day. This is just further proof of the enjoyment-level of the manga series! :D
Rating: 8/10 OVERALL
Started off impressively, but the follow-through was lacking, ultimately blending elements of Sailor Moon with Inuyasha while attempting to mimic Berserk.
The narrative adheres to a conventional formula, abruptly revealing the protagonist's objectives through her backstory. Despite this, the initial plots are engaging, and I might have rated the manga higher had the latter half and conclusion been more innovative and profound.
***Spoiler Warning***
Post-time skip, the storyline became exceedingly repetitive, with multiple plots rehashing themselves among different characters. The continuous introduction of female characters rendered the second half reminiscent of a mix between Sailor Moon and Inuyasha striving to emulate Berserk.
The manga's redeeming quality is its consistently beautiful artwork. Although no spectacular techniques were employed to accentuate the plots and characters, it remained an enjoyable visual experience.
The ending left me particularly frustrated. Using Teresa to battle Priscilla felt like a cop-out. I expected Clare to harness Teresa's power within herself to triumph over her adversary. Even as a fan of Teresa, I found myself deeply disappointed. Consequently, Claymore suffers from subpar storytelling and narrative flow.
This uniquely simple yet high-caliber story unfolds progressively with well-paced narrative. However, the art, often lauded in certain manga circles, strikes me as somewhat dated and unrealistic, lacking refinement and appearing rather plain. Despite this, it still adequately serves its purpose of conveying the excellent storyline. The characters are well-rounded, each possessing a mix of flaws and strengths. Though, the 'Arm' storyline felt a bit far-fetched when compared to their established character traits.
The characters, particularly the main ones, are highly relatable and show significant growth throughout the series, an impressive feat given the unusual scenarios they face. There were some compelling villains, but the story could have achieved perfection with even more formidable antagonists. I believe anyone with discerning taste who can overlook the art style will thoroughly enjoy this series and all it offers, including non-manga readers. I anticipate re-reading this entire collection in the future due to its decent level of re-readability.
It is certainly worth reading, worth owning, and deserves its place in the hearts of many manga fans, including myself. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
You love dark fantasy moons and magic? Lots of fierce, bloody battles? Insane world-building with maps and globes?
Very good story?
Then I recommend the Claymore manga.
Chapters: 159
Volumes: 27
Story: It revolves around an organization in a world filled with Yoma (a type of humans that became monsters). This organization creates half-human, half-monsters by transplanting monster flesh into humans to gain strength, speed, and more to fight the Yoma. Here we are introduced to Clare, the main protagonist. She is calm, thoughtful, and smart but can be pretty crazy sometimes, lol.
The story is kinda wacky at first, but trust me, it branches out to amazing heights and is pretty good.
Rating: 8.5/10
Characters: Mostly above average. Being a nitpicker, I'd say that characters look the same and it confuses me for the most part. Nonetheless, there are some excellently written characters like Teresa, whom I love, obviously our MC Clare, and Miria. For characters, I give it 7/10.
Art: What can I say other than I'm speechless? The art is mesmerizing, a blessing to look at. It's a solid 9/10.
And finally,
Enjoyment: I blazed through 3 volumes without even noticing. The continual consecutive hype will blow your mind. And if this had a better adaptation than the crappie one it got, it would blow up and become an amazing well-known anime.
Rating: 9/10
Overall: 8.4/10 (very good)
This was my first recommendation/review to you all. Hope you liked it.
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