Rekka no Honoo

-- [ Flame of Recca Manga - 33 volumes / 329 chapters ] --

One line: "Good art. Good story. Ok characters. What more to ask?"

Flame of Recca (FoR) is a manga where you can clearly observe the evolution of an artist's style. It features a compelling plot, engaging characters, and a touch of ecchi elements. It certainly makes for an enjoyable read.

- [ Art - 9/10 ] -

In the early volumes, the artwork was not impressive. The eyes and various body parts were exaggerated, typical of old-style manga drawings. However, as the series progresses, the mangaka's style evolves significantly. The illustrations, toning, shading, and everything else improve remarkably. The level of detail increases from minimal to highly intricate scenes. Nobuyuki Anzai's style has become one of my favorites. Even at the end, it remains somewhat exaggerated (especially hairstyles!), but the drawings are excellent, particularly in their level of detail.

- [ Story - 8/10 ] -

FoR boasts a solid plot with a smooth flow. The story revolves around a boy named Recca who can produce flames from his arm. He is a ninja in the modern world and has sworn to protect Yanagi, his "hime" (princess). There are also Recca's friends and rivals in fights, Domon and Fuuko.

On the other side, we have Kurei and his Uruha gang of antagonists, led by Mori Kouran, the head villain. As expected, there will be a clash between the two groups, centered around weapons named Madogou, each possessing unique powers. For instance, there is a wind-controlling Madogou.

The narrative flows well with almost no plot holes. Details are conveniently explained to the reader, requiring little mental effort. There are some unexpected twists and revelations that make you appreciate the characters and keep you hooked. Some complaints include insufficient explanations for why certain fights occur and lack of background information for some characters, which is understandable given the large cast, but even a couple of lines would have sufficed. For example, Fuuko's background is never mentioned.

The story is divided into two parts: the ura butou satsujin tournament and the "Recca saves the world" segment. Themes from one arc tend to recur in the other, creating a sense of déjà vu, hence the story rating of 8 instead of 9.

- [ Characters - 8/10 ] -

The characters are likeable and often humorous, sometimes making you laugh. Character development is slow but well-executed. I noticed a lack of elaboration on some characters, especially the main ones. More details about Domon, Fuuko, Mikagami, and some villains would have been appreciated. Unfortunately, they are not present or not enough.

Each character has distinct traits and behaviors, making them interesting to discover. From the muscular tough guy to the cute tomboy, from the pretty boy to the anti-hero, they are all represented. Each character plays a significant role throughout the plot, none of whom should be underestimated.

The Flame Dragons appearing later are even more intriguing, particularly their backstories. Kurei's story is impressively detailed too.

A downside is that the villains are somewhat generic and tend to be defeated similarly, becoming repetitive after a while. Additionally, recurring minor characters can be annoying at times.

- [ Enjoyment - 9/10 ] -

If I had to name what I enjoyed most, it would be the exaggerated expressions and unexpected humor. During fights, you might see exaggerated reactions like bulging eyes and jaw-dropping moments. BIG jaw-droppings. Or teeth depicted as very sharp. I liked this exaggeration, especially with the character Joker.

The artwork in later volumes is great, and I enjoyed that. I prefer detailed scenes, and although Recca doesn't match Berserk's level of detail, it's still excellent.

The fights were well illustrated but sometimes too brief.

- [ Conclusions ] -

FoR makes a good read, featuring well-crafted art and a diverse cast of characters. If you're interested in adventure, epic, or fighting genres, you might want to check it out. It's an older series, but it still holds value.

The 1990s witnessed the emergence of numerous anime series that fans often categorize as "tournament" shounen. These typically feature a group of young fighters, usually in their mid-teens, who gain supernatural abilities and participate in tournaments to save someone dear, defeat evil, or even save humanity. This genre was predominantly represented by the Dragon Ball series, with Yu Yu Hakusho following closely behind. While several lesser-known animes adopted this format, they failed to achieve similar popularity. Flame of Recca is one such example, albeit less popular than its predecessors. It can be considered a second-tier choice when discussing '90s tournament-style anime.

Though not groundbreaking, Flame of Recca brought originality to the table when it debuted in 1995. The plot could be divided into two main arcs: the tournament and the world-saving mission. The story revolves around Recca, a boy dreaming of becoming a ninja. He saves Yanagi Sakoshita, whom he swears allegiance to and calls "hime," meaning princess. Unbeknownst to him, Recca descends from a 400-year-old ninja clan, leading to conflicts with enemies like Kurei and his adoptive father. Their goal? To attain immortality using Yanagi's healing powers.

The art in Flame of Recca is commendable, with detailed fight scenes and environments. While some later battles in the second arc become complex, overall, it remains easy to follow. Character-wise, the manga-ka introduces many characters but spends minimal time developing each, resulting in some repetition. Despite this, key characters are well-developed and complement the protagonists, enhancing the story's depth.

The manga-ka frequently reuses villains, which can get repetitive. However, the author balances seriousness with comedy, making the story enjoyable. Characters like Yanagi and Recca are endearing, while unique powers add intrigue. The second arc leans heavily on the supernatural, introducing bizarre creatures created through genetic manipulation.

In conclusion, Flame of Recca is an old-school manga completed in 2002. Its straightforward plot lacks complexity but compensates with character development and variety. If you're seeking a tournament-style shounen anime coupled with saving-the-world themes, along with humor and romance, Flame of Recca is worth exploring.

I just posted a comment on the final chapter, but I believe it fits better as a review. This is also my first time writing one.
I focus more on the aspects I didn't appreciate because:
1. I want you to explore the manga yourself and discover why I value the positive elements I mentioned.
2. I don't want you to read the manga due to the frustrations caused by its negatives.

In my opinion, it was a commendable manga for its era.
By today's standards, it rates a 5/10.
I won't score it on MAL since I hesitate to lower the overall rating for potential readers seeking quality manga. Plus, I genuinely wish for more people to connect with three specific characters.

Characters I enjoyed: Kurei, Domon, Fuuko.
No explanations needed; they are all treasures.
Kurei: (10/10)
Domon: (8.5/10)
Fuuko: (8/10)
(These characters kept me engaged till the end) Thank you, Nobuyuki-sensei!

Aspects I found lacking:
Storytelling. (4.5/10)
I debated lowering this score. While the manga is dated and aimed at a younger audience, numerous older manga exhibit superior storytelling, even within the shounen genre.

Elements that repulsed me:
Rekka: First off! Domon is vastly more developed than Rekka.
Regarding idiocy, he can't even revert to being a monkey since he already is one.
(1/10)

Yanagi: Her sole redeeming feature is her healing ability.
She's an uninspiring character. Even after finishing the series, I feel she barely existed in the cast. The "we fight for Yanagi, the vegetable" rationale was a weak plot device.
Yanagi: (-10/10)
Healing power: (8/10)

Mokuren: Honestly, he isn't terrible compared to Rekka and Yanagi. (3.5/10)

Lastly, regarding the Art: It’s (7.5/10).
To reiterate, although the manga is old, its art holds up well by today's standards.

My first encounter with this series was a long time ago when I watched its anime version. Although I greatly enjoyed the anime, it was evident that it only scratched the surface of a much larger narrative. At that time, I sought out a manga translation but found none. Fast forward several years, and during my quest for complete manga collections, I stumbled upon the promising sight of "31 Volumes - Complete." I must admit, I was more than satisfied with what I discovered.

At its core, Flame of Recca is a tournament-style story, akin to Yu Yu Hakusho (which is fantastic, by the way, but watch the anime). Some folks aren't fans of tournament-style shonen manga/anime, but those people clearly have something wrong with them. I find few things as mindlessly entertaining as watching or reading about groups of people with bizarre and unlikely powers battling other groups with equally strange abilities. If you're not into this genre, then you should definitely steer clear of Flame of Recca. However, if you do enjoy such content, then Flame of Recca has plenty to offer. Most of the characters possess fairly unique power sets and abilities, almost all stemming from the same source, providing a cohesive and well-rounded storyline.

The main plot is also enjoyable and captivating, even though it may not break new ground. It is executed exceptionally well. That's the real charm of this series: it's a very "typical" shonen action/adventure story done extremely well. The quality of the artwork is truly remarkable, especially in the large spreads. It far surpasses the quality of its anime adaptation. So yeah, Flame of Recca, give it a read.

I can't remember exactly when I finished this...but here goes.

Hmm, well, I'm now such a fan of Joker, and I'm so frustrated at the anime for not showing more of him...damn you, animators! *shakes fist threateningly* But let's face it, what anime has ever translated everything from its manga source with 100% fidelity? It's all about the differences between manga and anime mediums...staff (often, the manga author has little to no say in the anime...)

But enough about me comparing apples to oranges (even if the oranges are genetically modified to resemble the apples :P) haha!

Well, what I first noticed is that the manga's drawing style slowly evolves (not a complaint, just observing), and although Recca is, like many characters in shonen genres, idiotic and bullheaded, I can forgive his character traits.

As for Kurei, I'm just thankful he wasn't depicted as purely "black"= evil because he was born that way. The anime painted him as the bad guy without explaining why or how he became the antagonist who made Recca & co.'s lives a series of bloody battles...

In the end, I felt really sorry for him, especially with the whole Kurenai situation...(go read why). Overall, I'd say it's more or less a typical shonen? One of the archetypes for recent shonen works, anyway.

I like it because of the concept of Madogu (those Hokage weapons), plus also the deeper story behind why Recca is the bearer of a "special type of flame...

tl;dr: A very generic yet solid old-school battle shounen.

Flame of Recca is a manga that ran from 1995 to 2002, embodying many shounen tropes and structures from that era. It’s a typical shounen but enjoyable nonetheless. The core revolves around ancient objects called Madogu, which grant supernatural powers to their wielders, often leading to battles. The overarching plot includes ninjas, time travel, reincarnation, and an evil organization seeking immortality for its leader. However, these elements primarily serve as structure for the battles and character moments, which are the true focus. As such, the manga is incredibly simplistic with little variety or major twists in its plot, making it charming in its straightforwardness. It's a manga you can enjoy without much thought.

The introductory arc sees protagonist Recca engaging in smaller fights with other core fighters, eventually beating them and uniting them against a common threat. Yanagi, a healer who cannot fight, serves mainly as a damsel in distress needing protection. The cast’s motivations are simple: they just want to save their friend. While each character has some background and arcs, they feel underdeveloped, resulting in a somewhat flat ensemble. Nonetheless, their amusing interactions keep readers invested enough for emotional beats to land.

There are numerous side characters, most of whom have minimal presence beyond their initial roles. They occasionally reappear, adding continuity. Kurei stands out as the first major villain, later becoming a secondary antagonist. His actions don't always make sense, but his cool demeanor and strong presence make him interesting. He’s also the most developed character, though not by much. This is a shounen battle manga full of karma houdinis, so villainy is easy to overlook.

The action is excellent. The diverse power sets create exciting match-ups, leading to great battles. Though characters lack depth generally, their moment-to-moment interactions during fights are compelling due to good match-ups. Plot contrivances sometimes force these encounters, especially in the final arc where many battles felt pointless overall. Still, the growth of the main cast, the flow and framing of battles, the brisk pacing, and the impactful hits made the battles satisfying and fun.

The art excels in showcasing action but falls short elsewhere. Character designs are dull, and outside of action sequences, the framing is weak. Art quality is high for action scenes but lower otherwise. Even the cover art was mostly disappointing.

Flame of Recca is what I'd call a comfort food of shonen combat manga, with the closest comparison being Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho. There's nothing particularly original in it, but it's still well-executed enough to potentially be really enjoyable.

Every shonen combat manga needs a cool conceit, and for Recca, it's ninja. The titular main character, Recca Hanabishi, is a ninja superfan to the extent that he's trying to live the ninja lifestyle in the modern era, which in his mind necessitates looking for a master to serve. Said master ends up being Yanagi Sakoshita, a timid girl he bonded with over their mutual secret power; Recca can conjure flame from his hand, and Yanagi can heal wounds. There's also an extinct ninja clan that played an important role in the backstory, but don't expect anything resembling an authentic ninja experience from FoR. Instead of kunai, shuriken, and stealth, you'll see a lot more superpowered people, superpowered weapons (made by the aforementioned ninja clan), underground assassin groups, underground tournaments, genetic abominations, time travel antics, etc. You know, the good old tropes that I and (presumably) you love.

FoR pretty much nailed the characters. I like Nobuyuki Anzai's design, as he is equally capable in drawing appealing characters who are easy on the eyes, cute chibi-fied effects, AND things that literally looked like they just crawled out from Hell itself (the latter would be increasingly prominent toward the end of the series, as Anzai's art gets darker and more detailed). Personality-wise, the main cast is based on types you've probably seen before; Recca is the hot-blooded leader, Yanagi is the pure-hearted girl and designated damsel in distress, Tokiya is the icy rival, Fuuko is the tomboyish action girl, and Domon is the boneheaded brawler. Thing is, this group has genuinely strong dynamics, and even if their character arcs might be very predictable, they're well-fleshed enough to invoke some emotional investment whether they're struggling against an opponent, trying to master their weapon/skill, or simply bantering with each other. The same thing applies to the antagonists and supporting characters, to the extent that even a high number of one-and-done mooks have decent amounts of personality and backstory. Impressively, while the cast of allies, enemies, and enemies turned allies (if you enjoy this particular trope, you're definitely in for a treat) steadily grows, it never gets out of control, and neither does the main spotlight stray too much from the core group of characters; something that other combat series with bloated casts often don't get to say (*coughbleachcough*).

The plot structure is very straightforward: more or less, it consists of an obligatory introduction arc, a tournament arc, and three dungeon arcs (one before the tournament, two afterward). By 'dungeon arc,' I mostly refer to a particular set-up where our heroes have to advance through a series of one-on-one and occasional tag fights before they reach the big bad guy waiting at the end of a certain labyrinthine structure. Again, there's nothing imaginative or realistic about those (*you have to think the bad guys would've had way more success by just ganging up on our heroes from the start instead of going through all the trouble of setting up a video game-y set of challenges), but they're ultimately just an excuse to showcase the individual battles. It's a good thing then that Anzai's battle scenes are arguably where the series shines the most, as they're well-paced, easy to follow, and feature cool & varied abilities, weapons, and resolutions. The tournament arc (*an aspect most similar to Yu Yu Hakusho due to the team-based nature), which takes up slightly more than one-third of the entire story, deserves particular mention for being one of the most exciting tournament arcs I've ever read.

I may have nostalgic bias considering it was one of my favorites during my formative years, but I strongly recommend Flame of Recca to those looking for a fun, balanced combat series that doesn't take an eternity to finish. Consider the final grade to be more like an 8 if you're a genre fan who doesn't mind familiar character archetypes and plotting, or a 6 if you're not.