Kurozuka

When genetic manipulation, technology, military, utopia, high-tech weapons, immortality, myths and legends, samurais, vampires, and sex blend in just the right amounts, you might end up with Kurozuka. As I mentioned, the storyline isn't extraordinarily unique but rather a perfect mix of familiar scenarios. The graphics are pure perfection, with such attention to detail and an abundance of scenery that is simply amazing. Admittedly, I haven't read many manga, but this is certainly the best artwork I've seen. The fights are very well depicted, allowing you to easily get a clear vision of what's happening.

The characters are "standard," with a few icons of great power and a whole hierarchy underneath, neatly grouped into sides based on their goals. And yes, there's a lot of sex, albeit censored, but it gives the characters "a human touch" :). The length is just perfect; you don't get the feeling that some parts are too drawn out or that some story elements are cut short. It's all woven together nicely with an above-average pace of development.

I strongly recommend it.

I picked this up after craving some extreme violence following my read of Gantz. While the violence is certainly present, I thoroughly enjoyed the first volume. The Tarantino-esque storytelling can be somewhat jarring, and I found some characters less likable as the story progressed. Although I'm a fan of Tarantino, it became confusing trying to determine the era I was reading about. By the second volume, the time jumps became too overwhelming for me. I'll return to it eventually, but not just yet. I found the artwork beautiful, but the story felt a bit too out there for me at the time.

I watched the anime adaptation of this manga and found myself somewhat confused about the ending and other elements of the plot. So, I decided to read it hoping to clarify things, only to end up even more puzzled than before.
I'll keep this spoiler-free, so I won't delve too deeply into specifics.

-Story-
The narrative doesn't follow a conventional chronological order. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, in this case, the time jumps and flashbacks tend to confuse readers. Eventually, it settles on one timeframe and sticks to it, but it doesn't significantly improve comprehension. The story tries hard to be unique and unpredictable, but it ultimately boils down to an endless search by an immortal man for an immortal woman who appears unwilling to be found but secretly desires to be discovered. Are you following? Oh, but it gets even more perplexing as you dive deeper...
It excels at depicting violence and nudity, but beyond that, there isn't much substance. In my opinion, the ending was worse and even more baffling than the anime's. Unfortunately, I can't elaborate without spoiling it.

-Art-
The art style is realistic and highly detailed. The backgrounds are excellent, and the gore and nudity are well-executed. However, there's a significant drawback for me: the character faces. Females seem to suffer from this issue more often, as they all have the same large eyes and thick lips. But aside from Kuromitsu, none of them are particularly relevant, which might explain it. Males have a bit more variation, but Kurou and some other young males inexplicably share the same face (there's a plot reason for this, but still). Additionally, there's the contrast between the realistic body style and the somewhat childish facial features. Credit to the anime for addressing this issue.

-Characters-
Apart from Kurou and Kuromitsu, most characters that appear aren't very significant and may be killed off within a few chapters or even the same chapter they debut. Kurou is immortal, incredibly strong, and seems to be the sole object of desire for all the females in the manga (a male Mary Sue, perhaps?). He undergoes an extreme personality shift, transforming from a modest young man into a jerk, which has a plot explanation but feels poorly executed. Kuromitsu is a mysterious immortal woman who mysteriously vanishes for most of the story and causes many men she encounters to lust after her. Then there's another female character who mainly serves as fanservice, along with various villains/allies who don't serve much purpose beyond being present. Essentially, the characters are flat and somewhat unlikable.

-Enjoyment-
Despite its flaws, there's still some enjoyment to be had. It's an unusual story, and piecing together its elements might appeal to some readers. The fights, gore, nudity, and sex are engaging enough to distract from the fact that the plot doesn't make much sense. I wouldn't re-read it, but I encourage those intrigued by solving puzzles to give it a try. It's certainly memorable; I haven't felt this confused in a long time.

-Overall-
If you're looking for a good plot with interesting characters, then avoid this manga. If you're content with blood, violence, oddity, some nudity, and don't mind a nonsensical plot, then by all means, go ahead.

When I first stumbled upon Kurozuka, I thought I had discovered a rare gem. However, after reading it, I realized how mistaken I was.

The initial chapters were fantastic—the characters felt genuine, and the anticipated relationship development between the hero and heroine left you craving more. The art evoked a sense of mystery and suspense that perfectly complemented the story.

Fast forward a few chapters, and I guarantee you will be utterly confused. In fact, I'd even wager my secret stash of adult content that confusion will persist until the end. The time skips, random character introductions, and flashbacks ensure that navigating through them without difficulty is nearly impossible on a first read.

Setting that aside, the characterization has much to be desired. What irked me most was the radical shift in our hero's personality. Even if intended as part of the plot, it still feels like a betrayal to the reader. Part of why I picked up this manga was because of the authentic emotions the characters conveyed at the start. Truly, the only character or relationship development occurred right at the beginning.

Ironically, the only aspect that improved as the story progressed was the art; every other element of the manga deteriorated significantly.

I acknowledge that the story is complex and underpinned with great themes, but I believe this is no excuse for confusing the audience to such an extent.

Honestly, it's quite disappointing to see a manga with so much potential at the start end up this way. If only the storytelling had been executed better and the drastic personality changes avoided, this could have been a GREAT manga.