Erementar Gerad

Elemental Gelade's manga is honestly one of the best, if not the absolute best, I've ever read. I've gone through quite a bit of manga like Tokyo Ghoul, Chainsaw Man, Bleach, and The Promised Neverland, but EG stands out remarkably.

The story for EG is simply outstanding. It starts off intriguingly and quickly evolves into a very compelling narrative. Every aspect of its plot feels thoroughly explored and well-explained, which made me deeply invested in reading it. Even after watching the anime version, I found myself drawn back to the manga.

The characters are incredibly fun and interesting as you delve deeper into their personalities through various interactions. The character development in this manga is amazing, with nearly every character being well-developed and showing significant growth over time. I became infatuated with them, particularly forming strong attachments to the main characters.

The art in Elemental Gelade is breathtaking, some of the finest I've seen. The character designs are almost always flawless, and there are numerous beautifully detailed and action-packed panels. It easily ranks as my second favorite art style and quality (with Tokyo Ghoul holding the top spot).

I watched the anime before deciding to read the manga, expecting more of the same. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how different and superior the manga turned out to be. There are many differences between the anime and manga, including original characters exclusive to each medium. I found the manga much better due to its richer storyline and character depth, making it a far more enjoyable experience overall, despite the anime not being bad.

The only downside was the cliffhanger ending, which left me disappointed since no sequel exists (to my dismay). I really wanted a proper conclusion to a manga I loved so much.

In conclusion, this manga is a must-read. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won't regret it!

Action, adventure, and romantic comedy best describe Elemental Gelade. Overall, the series (also known as Erementar Gerade for fans of "Engrish") is a mixed bag, combining popular genres into one cohesive story. Mixing comedy and romance with action-adventure can sometimes overwhelm a plot, but Elemental Gelade manages to hold its own quite well. However, just how well it stands up is what we'll examine now.

The most intriguing aspect of Elemental Gelade is undoubtedly its setting. It's set in a somewhat futuristic fantasy world filled with flying machines and advanced military hardware, yet featuring medieval-style towns and scenic landscapes. The standout element of the series is the introduction of Edel Raids—humanoids capable of transforming into weapons. While their premise might seem absurd (seriously, they evolved to be turned into weapons?), author Mayumi Azuma handles them adeptly. She doesn't delve too deeply into their mechanics but showcases their general behavior as a race (fairly human-like but with a fear of humans) and explains some attributes related to their abilities. They may appear a bit silly on the surface, but diving into the fantasy makes Edel Raids an interesting addition to the plot.

The plot itself stands the test of time. At its core, it's rather generic—a young boy helping a mysterious girl who becomes attached to him—but it improves significantly as it progresses. It tackles themes like oppression, belonging, and growing up. The theme of humans hunting Edel Raids for their powers drives much of these emotions and overall is quite solid. It's not perfect by any means, but it's definitely worth reading to the end.

The characters follow a similar trend. Protagonist Coud van Girut (shortened to Cou) starts as a fairly generic lead—a young boy with high ambitions but little patience or experience, sworn to protect a girl he barely knows. However, he grows nicely, becoming more human than most generic shounen leads. He never truly becomes powerful; he undergoes training and gradually improves but remains the weakest member of his group. Though he wins most battles, it's usually through luck and his possession of one of the most powerful weapons in the world—Ren, the Edel Raid. Another humanizing feature is the emphasis on his growth. He begins cold and impatient but learns much from his journey, always aiming to return to become a sky pirate, his lifelong dream.

This brings us to the lead female, Ren, who is somewhat eccentric. Initially, she seems shy and quiet, but as the story unfolds, she appears more relaxed than shy. Despite occasional anger or upset, Ren generally views the world with cool indifference. When she speaks, she's blunt and oblivious to social etiquette. Overall, she becomes quite likable and is probably the most memorable character in the manga.

Overall, the characters are interesting but a bit generic. Their companions—Cisqua, Rowen, and Kuia—are mainly comic relief, though each gets a backstory that helps define them. The villains are where the series falters, likely my biggest complaint against Elemental Gelade. The main villains don't seem human; they're evil "for the sake of being evil." Azuma tries to show man's possessive nature and need for power but goes overboard. She creates an organization purely evil, wanting to acquire every Edel Raid and force them to work under their reign of terrible evilness. They do other generic bad guy things, like killing henchmen who fail missions.

The anime handles this better than the manga. While evil people are still abundant, they're more spread out. Even the good corporation Arc Aile has a dark side in the anime, whereas in the manga, it's portrayed positively. In the anime, some Edel Raids are actual villains with solid reasons like gaining power and helping their race survive, making them seem more humane than in the manga.

Beyond the main points, Elemental Gelade has many wonderful aspects worth exploring. The art is fantastic and unique. The comedy-romance blend is well integrated into side scenes between epic action moments, although the action can get hard to follow at times. The romance focus is greater than most shounens and is well-played, never too overt and having a nice feel.

In conclusion, Elemental Gelade is a potent mix of genres, well worth checking out if you enjoy any of them. The plot, while not extensively deep, is fresh and engaging. The characters are decent, and if you can overlook some over-dramatization of evil and a few obscure fantasy facts, you'll find the series enjoyable. Personally, I doubt I'll ever find a series I could enjoy more than Elemental Gelade. Have fun!

This is a manga I'm closely following. After watching the anime, I felt something was lacking—a lot, in fact. It needed more character and plot development. The anime alone didn't satisfy me, so naturally, I hunted down the manga once I heard it was available in the US.

To my surprise, there were differences between the anime and the manga. The manga feels edgier. It has more freedom to do what it wants compared to the anime. So, you get more skin exposure and a bit more fanservice. (Just to clarify, this manga isn’t primarily about fanservice.)

Back to the main point. The story itself isn’t groundbreaking at its core—boy meets girl, girl has an important mission, boy and girl embark on an adventure meeting new friends and foes along the way. But the storytelling is quite engaging. If you're into adventure, romance, and comedy manga, give this one a try.

The art is exceptional. From action sequences to chibi comedy scenes, the artwork is superb. The characters are detailed wonderfully, as is the scenery. The quality of work within the pages is top-notch.

The characters are intriguing. We have your typical teenage male protagonist and cute female lead, alongside a unique cast of heroes and villains. Even minor characters are drawn with great detail. The main characters keep the story flowing smoothly.

I’m still enjoying the manga. If you've seen the anime, you must read the manga. If you're looking for something new, check out a few chapters first. This manga isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed it since I loved the anime. Overall, I give this manga a 10.