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When his clan is destroyed by a beautiful demon, young Taikobo suddenly finds himself responsible for the enigmatic Houshin Project. The mission: locate all immortals residing in the human world and seal them away forever. But whom can you trust—and whose side are you truly on—when your demon-hunting training was guided by a demon?
(Source: VIZ Media)
Houshin Engi was released in English by VIZ Media in physical format from June 5, 2007, to June 7, 2011, and in digital format from April 3, 2018, to September 4, 2018.
Hoshin Engi is one of those manga series that you either love or hate. It features a decent storyline, but it can drag at times. The narrative oscillates frequently; one volume might be engaging, while the next feels lackluster. The artwork is adequate but not outstanding. Like the story, it doesn't offer anything particularly special. One of the major drawbacks of this manga is its tendency to disappoint. Just when you anticipate an epic fight or scene, it gets undermined by an unexpected comedic moment. The characters are somewhat bland, with the exception of the main antagonist. As you progress through the series, the plot becomes increasingly predictable, which was the primary reason I decided to stop reading it.
Overall, Hoshin Engi comes across as an average manga. Despite its flaws, I would still recommend giving it a try. You might find something appealing in it.
I had to get out of bed and grab my laptop just to write this review because this manga truly deserves more recognition. To begin with, it has a unique style that is both cinematic and intricate, yet somewhat quirky. I have always found it incredibly beautiful and captivating. The story is excellent; I've never come across anything else based on Chinese mythology and historical China so closely. It makes for an utterly fascinating read.
I haven't watched the anime yet as I was concerned it might spoil the manga experience, which in itself speaks volumes: the manga is fantastic. Just thinking about Dakki's Banquet still gives me chills. Ryu Fujisaki really excels at creating eerie atmospheres, which is no easy feat. Please, do yourself a favor and read it.
This is actually my first review on MAL, so go easy on me. The manga I'm reviewing is Houshin Engi, which is amazing and one of my favorite manga.
Story: The story revolves around a man (who looks 15 but is actually about 78) given the task of the Houshin list, which involves destroying all evil Sennin (powerful humans with special powers) and trapping them in the Houshindai. He then travels the world to assemble an army to defeat a Sennin army aiming to destroy the world. It seems pretty basic at first, but there's a lot more happening behind the scenes. The story brilliantly blends action and comedy, featuring many shocking plot twists.
Art: There's not much to say except that it's absolutely amazing. Every panel is incredibly detailed and visually appealing. So yeah, the art is amazing.
Characters: Some of my favorite manga characters come from this series, like the main character Taikoubou. He perfectly balances seriousness and comedy and is extremely intelligent. Despite his seemingly weak appearance, he is very powerful. Other characters are great too, such as the equally intelligent Youzen or the war-like robot Nataku, among many others. All characters are important to the story, even when they seem otherwise. Some characters I could do without, but most are incredible.
Enjoyment: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this manga, from its intriguing story to the amazing characters and unique art style, along with some of the best battles I've seen. The only things I didn't enjoy were the joke chapters and mini-chapters at the end of each volume, but they don't detract from the overall experience.
Overall: I love this manga and definitely recommend you read it. If you're looking for a shounen battle manga with smart battles and a very interesting story, I say read Houshin Engi. You'll definitely love it.