Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail is a typical battle shonen series. The issue with it is that it becomes painfully monotonous after a while. Every arc follows the same pattern:
1) New overpowered enemies emerge
2) The main characters are initially unable to defeat them
3) A sudden solution arrives, be it a deus ex machina, an old enemy turned ally, or a power-up fueled by the power of friendship
4) Victory ensues, until the next identical arc begins.

I understand this formula is common in battle shonen manga, but Hiro Mashima doesn't do much to disguise it or maintain high interest levels.
Regarding the characters, their initial designs are intriguing, but there's virtually no evolution or growth for the main cast. Even when you think there has been some change, you see the very same character reverting to their original behavior.
Overall, as a mindless action piece, it serves its purpose but falls short compared to other manga.

I advise everyone: do not bother with this series. I spent three weeks reading it on and off, managing to get through 200 chapters. I've earned the right to judge this series.

It was recommended by several friends who said things like:

1) "You like One Piece, right? You'll love this manga then."

2) "This might be the best shonen of the past five years."

3) "Erza is the best female role I've ever seen."

4) "Possibly one of the greatest starting arcs."

All their statements were wrong. During Gray's development arc, I quickly developed a hatred for the main characters. Within 40 chapters, I lost count of how many times Lucy was used for fan service, and nothing else (besides getting beaten and crying). Her legitimate reason for being written into the story is to be fan service. Hiro Mashima himself admits this through various characters' comments.

Natsu is by far the worst male protagonist I've seen to date. His first victory in the series involves bullying a grunt that even Lucy could defeat (note that Lucy is PATHETIC). His second victory is won via anime physics, which leads to his formula for securing every kill afterwards—the infamous 'Nakama-punch.' This punch is full of the love he holds for his friends. It always comes directly after some deus ex power-up. His goal since childhood is to find the dragon he calls father—a goal he has done nothing about for over 10 years of his life, and more than 140 chapters into the series. He literally doesn't even look. He waits to be told a lead. Not only is that lazy, but it makes him a horrible son. The only thing I liked about Natsu was his ignorant weakness, which I won't spoil. It got me to laugh a couple of times.

Erza Overrated Scarlet is an amazing missed opportunity for Hiro Mashima's first good female role. "We don't die for our friends; we live for them." That is Erza's quote before her character arc—not just once, but several times she tries to sacrifice her own life for her friends. Hiro Mashima has written a female role as ignorant and reliant on deus ex machina as Natsu. She's basically Natsu...but smarter...

I've only written about three characters and am already mad again, so I'll leave it at this. Hiro Mashima doesn't respect women at all. He hasn't written a woman as anything more than chattel. Overall, this series is a 4/10. It isn't worth the read or the three weeks spent on it. The only characters I ended up caring for are Gray, Gajeel, and Laxus... that's it.

When I first began reading Fairy Tail, I initially thought it was too similar to One Piece. However, as I continued, I found myself enjoying the story and art much more.

What I appreciate is how the narrative centers around a female protagonist and showcases the characters' growth in strength. In contrast to One Piece, which I felt dragged on without significant progression for some time, Fairy Tail consistently offers mysteries, plot development, and intriguing characters.

The standout feature is the vast array of characters that receive attention. It's refreshing not to be limited to focusing on just a small group for an extended period. Additionally, witnessing their diverse powers is fascinating and highly creative.

Despite seeming somewhat cliché with its "been there, done that" vibe, Fairy Tail stands out as unique. Its generally light-hearted tone adds to its charm.

My first shōnen but not the best

Fairy Tail was my introduction to manga... I was captivated by its magical medieval world, and then I discovered other shōnens like Hunter X Hunter, which made me more discerning.

Fairy Tail has all the elements to be appealing: a well-constructed universe, nice artwork (even if the breasts become increasingly exaggerated, but that's how it goes), unique characters, diverse powers with classics we all love (fire, water, lightning) and yet...

The power of nakama is not enough!

The beginning may be a bit too childish, but the story, centered on friendship, grows more intense. However, this is not enough for me; the power of nakama no longer suffices.

The same mechanics over and over again

So why is Fairy Tail so disappointing? It's because of the mechanics. Hiro Mashima, with all due respect, you've locked yourself into the same pattern: villains often devoted to Zeref appear, looking mean, dreadful, badass! You managed to build palpable tension, making us eagerly await the next chapter, only to be disappointed by short fights often reduced to a last-minute power-up of Natsu or Erza (except her fight against Midnight).

The main character Natsu Dragneel

He is generous, funny (sometimes), and possesses great power: fire combined with dragon slayer magic. We could expect exceptional and breathtaking battles, but instead, we see the same attacks with minor variations. A grandiose power wasted by pointless power-ups intended to show the villain that the power of nakama is stronger than anything... Well, after ALL THIS TIME, it became boring. Remember, the manga started in 2006 and ended in 2017. Published for 11 years, we expected something different, Mashima-sensei. And I say "we" because I followed Fairy Tail for years, chapter after chapter, week after week, checking reviews and theories. I have never seen such hope turn into such disappointment among fans. The manga does well in France, but when comparing the fights to those in Hunter X Hunter, Jojo, and even Naruto at its peak... One can't help but wonder about Fairy Tail's high popularity.

The tension

Yes, there is tension and interesting twists, but they are so poorly exploited. Every week, fans and I had the constant hope that the mangaka wouldn't spoil all the tension built up over weeks, months, and even years. Hiro Mashima thought out his story, working on it year after year. But by repeating the same mechanics, promoting the power of nakama, and refusing to kill ANY character:

(yes, Simon was killed, but we all know it was also to delay the inevitable: I'm talking about JERZA, of course).

If Hiro Mashima doesn't want to kill any characters unlike his previous work "Rave," that's his choice. One Piece doesn't generate as much frustration despite having only one "significant" death. The problem is that Hiro Mashima builds tension leading us to believe a character will die. All the elements are there: the character has no escape. The last arc was C.A.T.A.S.T.R.O.P.H.I.C., and we believed it, oh, we believed it... Halalala, I think Fairy Tail is by far the most frustrating manga I've read. So much potential wasted repeatedly.

What about the love stories?

The love stories develop throughout the story, unlike Bleach or Naruto. We thought the ending would be similar to other shōnen friends', and yet... If there was a manga where we would have accepted such an ending, it was Fairy Tail, and in the end... No... What can I say?

In summary

I think the majority share this frustration. I hope his next manga – Edens Zero - will be different...

First of all, one should clarify that although the art at the outset bears a resemblance to Eiichiro Oda's work in One Piece, it becomes evident that this similarity is quite superficial. Hiro Mashima's art deserves special mention for its remarkable evolution and improvement as he grew more accustomed to his character designs. Notably, Mashima illustrates clothing with the flair of a fashion designer (at least within the story), making it delightful to observe changes in characters' attire, especially those who would naturally care about such details.

Setting that aside, it's crucial to recall that Fairy Tail came after Rave Master, another significant manga by Mashima which was notably darker. This earlier work pushed Mashima to explore a lighter, more cheerful narrative, resulting in Fairy Tail—a tale centered around bonds, friendship, and the warmth of a family forged through shared experiences. The story unfolds from the perspective of 17-year-old celestial mage Lucy Heartfilia, a novice who progresses realistically over the course of the narrative. Throughout her journey, Mashima introduces a myriad of characters, each with their unique traits, including our main protagonists: the destructive fire mage Natsu, who literally sweeps Lucy off her feet into the Fairy Tail guild; his partner, Happy, the talking cat; the exhibitionist ice mage Gray Fullbuster; and the stoic beauty Erza Scarlet.

Their adventures deepen these connections and delve into uncovering the mystery surrounding the day Natsu's 'special' father disappeared, leaving only a scarf as a token of his departure. Will Natsu find him? Only Lucy can tell us!

When you first dive into Fairy Tail, you might anticipate that Hiro Mashima will build upon the fascinating world he's created, introduce intriguing characters, blend in some enjoyable comedy and battles, and craft a solid One Piece-like experience. However, that’s not quite what happens.

What started as a manga with immense potential has devolved into one of the most frustrating series to follow today, and I can't figure out why I still bother.

Let’s break it down. Mashima introduces us to Natsu, a fire mage on a quest to reunite with his dragon father, Dragneel. The major issue is that this goal never propels the plot forward. The protagonist’s dream is ABSOLUTELY IRRELEVANT! Unlike in One Piece or Naruto, where the main character's ambitions drive the story, here they do nothing. Moreover, Mashima pads the story with countless unnecessary chapters intended to evoke emotion but end up having no impact on anything. The plot development in Fairy Tail is pathetically inadequate.

Mashima's art is decent enough but lacks distinction and feels rather generic.

The characters penned by Mashima are painfully shallow, with Erza being the only one who shows any semblance of development. The rest remain static. Natsu has become my most despised protagonist ever—he's irritating, absurd, and simply awful. Lucy exists purely as fan service, as does Gray. Wendy seems like an afterthought tossed into the narrative for no reason. Poorly conceived antagonists lacking motivation further detract from the story.

Last but not least, despite these glaring flaws, Fairy Tail used to be somewhat enjoyable. Over time, however, the humor grew stale, the battles became predictable and nonsensical—“I win because I’m the hero, even though you’re vastly stronger”—and it ceased to be fun at all.

Fairy Tail is unequivocally not worth reading. If you're considering picking it up, stop right now and read One Piece or something else instead. Avoid this manga.

Fairy Tail is the quintessential example of every shounen cliché rolled into one. It's a chaotic mix of incoherent shounen tropes that make you feel like you're reading a fairy tale. Having experienced Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, and others, I can confidently say none come close to Fairy Tail's extreme reliance on clichés.

In many shounen manga or action stories, "the power of friendship" often triumphs over everything else. This trope, while overused, isn't inherently bad. One Piece, for instance, does a decent job balancing this trope. However, many shounen series, including One Piece, use it merely as a plot device for the heroes to win. In my opinion, Fairy Tail takes this trope to an absurd level. If asked how many fights were won using "the power of friendship" in the later arcs, I'd estimate it's around 9 out of 10 or even more. Your initial power level becomes almost irrelevant because some ridiculous plot device empowers you, making you incredibly strong. Consequently, we see supposedly powerful villains being defeated by weaker dragon slayers. It's very convenient. Many fights are predictable since you know a reversal will happen. This applies to large-scale battles too. Despite facing numerous powerful antagonists and entire countries, Magnolia's few guilds always emerge victorious thanks to "the power of friendship." Even climactic battles end up being about Natsu feeling friendship vibes and defeating formidable villains with invincible armor and unlimited mana. Really? The most egregious part is when Natsu and other relatively weak characters defeat powerful villains effortlessly, whereas stronger Fairy Tail members like Gildarts and the First contribute little to nothing. It's amusing to see Gildarts overpowering Natsu in earlier chapters, only for Natsu to later beat opponents far beyond Gildarts' capabilities. Meanwhile, the First, who should be one of the strongest mages, does absolutely nothing throughout the story.

Another significant issue with Fairy Tail is how conveniently things work out for the Fairy Tail guildmates. The villains are unusually compliant. Given their immense power, they could easily take hostages or kill weaker members, but instead, they engage in one-on-one battles despite having numerical superiority. They love separating for no reason, allowing Fairy Tail to divide and conquer. There's no strategic reasoning; it feels more like a queue for individual duels where the villains willingly fight at a disadvantage. Moreover, most villains turn out to be misunderstood good guys who reform or get defeated willingly. Amazing.

You might think becoming strong comes at a price. Sometimes, a character becomes extremely powerful by using forbidden techniques that leave them crippled or dead. But more often than not, these consequences are negated somehow. Some characters do become crippled, but it's not significant. If someone dies or gets crippled, don't worry; some plot device will revive them. The power of friendship trumps all!

Characters... Individual story arcs and characters can elevate cliche-ridden shounen manga to decent levels. Nanatsu no Taizai is an example. Unfortunately, unlike Nanatsu no Taizai, Fairy Tail offers little in terms of character development. While there's a variety of characters, most have flat personalities. The arcs meant to characterize them aren't interesting, usually involving tragic pasts. Only a few characters, like Erza and Gray, stand out. It's shocking how little I care about many characters due to their lack of depth. Lucy could have been great, but her personality and usefulness diminish as the story progresses, becoming mere emotional baggage for Natsu. She lacks combat prowess and mainly serves as utility and fan service. Fairy Tail's excessive fanservice is quite notable too.

The ending is classic shounen: Natsu and his gang defeat the villains. The evil guy reforms, lives happily ever after. Overall, Fairy Tail is a lackluster and poorly crafted manga. The excessive "friendship beats all," inconsistent power progression, villains placing themselves in terrible positions, poorly developed characters (especially Lucy), cliché-ridden story with convenient plot devices, and 99% of villains reforming or having tragic backstories that I don't care about. There's really nothing praiseworthy here.

It's amusing to discuss Fairy Tail because, what started as one of the most captivating and enjoyable shonen series (even with its monstrous fan service), later transformed into one of the most clichéd and exaggerated manga out there. I mean, today, it has embraced, if not all, most of the clichés that exist.

I believe everyone is generally aware of the plot, so I'll jump straight to the main points of my review:

Story:

Hiro Mashima knows how to establish a good plot, with various mysteries to ponder over, etc. The issue lies in the development of it. Most end up with silly explanations or overly logical conclusions that leave you wondering, "So, that was all this was?" I won't lie; the plot still holds many interesting points. But I don't know what to expect from here on out.

Art:

Very good. At least in this aspect, Mashima excels, with nice and well-done drawings reminiscent of a higher-quality One Piece.

Character:

Oh my God, this is where he really messes things up. Let's start with the protagonist, Natsu.

He feels like a copy of Luffy but more arrogant and cocky. He remains immature throughout the series, showing no psychological growth. Mashima gives him some valuable lessons from wiser characters, but Natsu ignores everything, reverting to his old cocky, innocent self who believes pressing forward will defeat the boss. And the worst part: HE DOES IT! Mashima uses absurd Deus Ex Machina and THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP to ensure the heroes' victories. Oh, come on, who does he think we are? Five-year-old kids? What impresses me more is that some people find these explanations solid.

And that's just the beginning. There's Lucy, the cute and dumb female lead, who is a contradiction herself: she's regarded as one of the smartest members of Fairy Tail guild, yet acts foolishly in almost every battle, always needing help from others (mainly Natsu).

Then there's Erza, the tsundere of the main team and Mashima's muse. She's the second most protected character behind Natsu, capable of equally absurd victories through THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP.

There's also Gray, Natsu's rival who coincidentally uses ice magic. However, he becomes almost a random character as Mashima tends to focus more on the three mentioned above. Lastly, tons of secondary characters end up being more interesting than the main ones. But Mashima barely develops them, giving major actions to Erza and Natsu.

Some might think I'm overreacting. I won't lie; there are nice moments and battles with secondary characters, but that's all you'll get from them.

Enjoyment:

In the beginning, you'll have fun with Natsu and company's dumb adventures. When it reaches a certain arc, you'll feel their pain and vengeance against adversaries (what I consider the best part of the manga so far). But after this, if you dislike Deus Ex Machina and friendship excuses for the heroes' victories, you'll start feeling indifferent, angry at every impossible win, and may even cheer for the villains.

But as I said, if you read it without expecting anything serious or plausible, you won't be as frustrated as I am.

Overall:

What began as a promising series had a great arc that raised expectations but then entered what I call the "Shyalaman effect" (which film lovers might understand): slowly declining story quality, focusing more on brainless battles and exaggerated plot devices. I don't know how it will end, but I feel quite displeased imagining it.

It's 3 AM, but I have a lot of thoughts on Fairy Tail.

I'll make this as simple as I can.

The plot can be incredibly cheesy, and the writing is sometimes a bit messy. The quality does drop after a few hundred chapters, but it's still a really enjoyable read!

The positive aspect is definitely the characters. While not all are equally well-written, they're incredibly charming. Lucy, the main character, is my number one favorite character of all time. The powers are interesting too, and overall, the universe is fascinating. I was even part of the Tumblr FT fandom for about a year.

The plot is intriguing and easy to follow. It takes a darker turn at one point, which makes it more interesting for a while, adding to the dynamic story.

Now, here's the bad part. When the writing decreases in quality, it drops significantly. Suddenly, Natsu becomes overpowered, there are demons, and while there's plenty of romance in the series, much of it is poorly written (looking specifically at Gray and Juvia, but there's another couple I won't mention). By the end of Fairy Tail, it has basically turned into pure garbage, leaving you with wasted potential due to a lazy writer.

Oh, and there's a lot of unnecessary sexualization of women, even kids! Thankfully, it's only prominent during the last arc or so, but it's still there.

Overall, it's enjoyable, but the end of this manga is just a mess. I didn't even finish it because I was tired of the stuff Mashima pulled. The good outweighs the bad despite all my complaints, but by God, is the last arc terrible.

Okay, first of all, I just wanna say...

Bruh, what the heck were those last two supposed "boss fights" lol

Fairy Tail was such a good series, yeah, it was (sorry but this had to be said). The fanservice is always too much for me, but I can still manage through. The major problem that I have with FT is the last few arcs, like:

Mashima (the author) dropped the bomb on us that August is the real son of Mavis and Zeref. Like, that was a really surprising plot twist, and I was even excited to know what will happen later BUT after a few chapters Mashima just dissolved August like damn, outstanding move. (Zeref & Mavis didn't even know he existed, press F to pay respect bruh, rip)

Another thing would be Lucy rewriting the book of END, which caused her to slowly succumb to darkness since she wasn't supposed to tamper with the book and had to pay the price. I kind of expected losing an arm or leg because she was really struggling, but nope, Gray (who had been there all along) just came swooping in at the last minute like: "Oh, I have Ice Devil Slayer magic, I forgot. Here, Lucy, let me help." Yeah, and that's it. Might as well not include all the dramatic build-up if Mashima is just gonna brush it off like that, I guess???

Honestly, these had so much potential, but nooo, Mashima just brushed those off like it was nothing. It made me feel that he was kind of rushing the story (or maybe it's just me, idk).

And don't even get me started with the last two boss fights lol. I mean, at least I can understand the Zeref vs. Natsu one; Natsu won. Technically, he was the only one there, fair enough.

But Everyone vs. Acnologia? I'm sorry, I cannot with that one. Natsu, with the power of friendship, single-handedly defeated Acnologia. I was like, bruh, isn't he overpowered at this point? Nope, in the 100 Year Quest, he lost to one of the Dragon Eaters (human). Does that mean the dragon eaters were stronger than Acnologia?? Because they're dragon eaters?? Mashima, I am confused lol.

But then again, I enjoyed the art a lot. Definitely preferred Mashima's new art style more, and the way he draws the scenery in FT is as beautiful as always. So, kudos to that.

All in all, I'm just confused with the last few arcs; it just felt like the hype was building so well but was later (in the last minute) being brushed away like nothing.

But at least the story still flows, so all in all, a 7/10. (Kinda miss FT though, believe it or not, this was actually the first anime series I followed, so yeah)

The narrative is likely one of the finest within the manga realm, primarily due to its well-crafted conclusion and consistent storytelling. However, the fanservice is abysmal; it seems the editors relinquished control after the manga's success, allowing the author free rein. Initially, the fanservice appears somewhat justifiable given the target demographic but rapidly deteriorates into unnecessary nonsense that defies reality for no good reason.

Despite this, the storyline remains engaging and intriguing enough to justify spending a week reading it. It’s evident which plot points received more thought and polish than others. Nevertheless, give the story a chance. There's a reason it reached 540 chapters—it didn’t get there without merit.