Well, the story is relatively straightforward yet captivating. The main character begins as a weak boy bullied at school to such an extent that his life is in danger. He meets a girl whose grandfather runs a dojo where history's greatest masters gather, and eventually, they take him on as a disciple.
This isn't your typical manga where the hero battles enemies and suddenly goes berserk due to past memories, destroying foes in seconds. In fact, one of the lessons he learns is never to lose control. He's not the stereotypical "gifted kid" who doesn't need training; instead, he puts immense effort into learning techniques. You can closely follow his progress as the story unfolds.
In general, there are excellent fight scenes, comedic elements even during deadly matches, strong character development (with numerous characters introduced and expanding with each arc), strategic depth that makes this kind of story more engaging, and good artwork that improves as the narrative advances.
The only reason I rate the story a 9 out of 10 is its simplicity, though it's filled with unexpected scenarios and remains original. It may seem simple, but it avoids the repetitive cycle found in many "standard" shounen manga stories (defeat some enemies, find the mastermind, fight them, have the hero go berserk with friendship power, defeat the boss, filler chapters, new villain, repeat).
Unlike most fighting series that start with normal fights and end with Dragon Ball Z-like battles involving energy beams and city-destroying attacks, this series reveals the real secrets behind techniques. While fighters possess superhuman abilities, the truly remarkable ones are the master-class fighters, and even they have limits... I guess XD
To wrap up, you'll likely enjoy this manga. It offers a nice blend of nearly everything you'd expect from a story. I'm halfway through (having read 260 chapters out of 450) and can confidently say this is one of the best series of its kind. Highly recommended.
This manga serves as a prime example of why it's unwise to write a review before finishing the entire series. To me, this manga is great overall, but I do have one significant issue with it: while it starts off very good and interesting, it becomes mediocre and boring towards the end.
This is a martial arts manga that incorporates a bit of romance and comedy. The story revolves around Kenichi Shirahama, a teenage boy who learns martial arts and is inspired by Miu Furinji to become stronger and protect her. The plot is excellent initially, but as the series progresses, it transforms from a solid martial arts manga into a rather dull battle manga, characterized by flashy fights and overly dramatic speeches that make little sense. The same problem applies to the characters. There are many memorable and intriguing characters at first, but later on, the author introduces numerous new characters who only appear in a few frames, making them seem unnecessary to the story.
Don't get me wrong; I think this is a genuinely good manga. It's just somewhat disappointing how the series changed over its long publication period. I would still recommend reading it, but don't expect too much from it.
The only thing I can say about this manga is that I read 500 chapters in less than a week because it's so good that I couldn't stop reading. So yes, just grab it and read it! You won't regret it at all! The art is incredibly cool and mature. All the characters are great and have an important role in the story.
This is an "old" manga, 15 years old this year. I believe the story has held up remarkably well. Similar to Breaker, which came five years later, it features a young boy who gets bullied and grows stronger to defeat most of his enemies—a very typical shonen-style manga. Now for some spoilers.
~SPOILERS~
Besides his crazy training regimen that made me giggle like a little girl, his encounters with people who could have easily defeated him but chose not to left me frustrated more than almost anything else. The final battle(s) felt ridiculous and somewhat contrived. However, the true ending did leave me a bit happy, albeit annoyed at a resolution that wasn't well executed or clearly pointed out but rather inferred through pictures. That's probably why there's a continuation series, but it seems lame; something that might have taken around 100 chapters to wrap up nicely without being too long or too short.
The manga left many questions unanswered, and it did feel rushed toward the end as if the creator wanted to finish it for some reason. But credit where it's due, it managed to avoid both "One Piece-itis" (never-ending story) and "HunterXHunter-itis" (hiatus hell). However, you can't cram most of what you wanted to say into just ~20(25) chapters.
Okay. If you're into the classic underdog story where the loser gets bullied but learns martial arts to protect his loved ones, this manga is perfect for you. The artwork is excellent, and the characters introduced—especially Kenichi Sensei's—are superb, each with their own backstory gradually revealed over several chapters. Ironically, what never really took off was the main character Kenichi's personal development. I mean, he grows stronger and more confident, and his martial arts skills do improve, but as a character, he remains somewhat underdeveloped.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the art and found it very enjoyable, but the ending felt a bit rushed. It was disheartening to learn that the author's interest in Kenichi waned, which explains why the conclusion was hurried and, frankly, quite disappointing.
Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi could have easily been a 9/10 for me, but sadly I had to give it only 7/10. We follow the story of Kenichi, who starts off as a weakling but wants to become stronger in order to protect those around him. Consequently, his life is filled with intense training. His masters make his training extremely challenging yet enjoyable for readers. Kenichi finds himself in perilous situations where he must face increasingly powerful opponents. Essentially, Kenichi's journey is a typical shounen manga with a touch of humor. But what makes it stand out?
Characters:
Kenichi is an untalented martial artist, which is unusual for this genre. The people around him all possess interesting personalities and well-crafted backstories. Each character has something they are striving for. For Kenichi, it's protecting Miu; for others, it's becoming the strongest or making overweight people proud. They relentlessly pursue their goals. What I particularly enjoyed were the masters. They represent some of the best mentors I've encountered, pushing Kenichi to his limits because they genuinely care about him. Each master trains Kenichi uniquely, not just physically but mentally too. Even readers can learn from their philosophies. Kenichi's friends are also well-written, many of whom were former enemies, adding depth and making the story more compelling.
Art:
The artwork isn't extraordinary or the best I've seen, but it's decent. The fight scenes deserve special praise. They are meticulously drawn and easy to follow, with plenty of detail. Injuries sustained during fights are depicted vividly, and you can see Kenichi's physical development throughout the manga. He gradually becomes more muscular. For comedic effect, characters are sometimes illustrated in a minimalist, humorous style, effectively capturing the lightheartedness of certain moments.
Humor:
Most jokes stem from Kenichi's lack of talent, but there are numerous small, funny gags scattered throughout. While primarily a fighting manga, it still contains a good amount of humor that made me laugh on several occasions.
So, what was wrong with Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi?
My biggest issues were the excessive fanservice and the contrived storyline.
Fanservice:
To clarify, I don't mind fanservice, a bit of nudity here and there is fine, but this manga went overboard. Initially, there was little to none, but midway through the story, it became almost 60% fanservice. There were entire chapters where female characters fought completely naked. By the end, if a female character was involved in a fight, you knew she'd be stripped by its conclusion. It wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't forced. Instead of focusing on a good story, the author relied heavily on fanservice to keep readers engaged.
The second half of the Story:
Similar to the fanservice issue, the first half of the manga was engaging. Kenichi was developing, growing stronger, and facing more dangerous challenges. Fights were intriguing, and new, unique characters kept appearing. However, somewhere between chapters 200 and 300, things took a turn for the worse. The latter arcs were riddled with plot conveniences, making it almost unpleasant to read. Despite having its good moments, the poor writing and excessive fanservice detracted significantly. It felt like the author prioritized fanservice over crafting a solid story, leaving Kenichi's potential unfulfilled.
Ending:
While it does have an ending, making it officially complete, it felt rushed, leaving some questions unanswered.
+1 (minor spoiler): I won't consider it a flaw specific to this manga, as it's a common issue, but the romance is unsatisfying. After nearly 600 chapters of Kenichi pursuing a girl, we get very little payoff. We know they have feelings for each other, but there's minimal development. A few good moments exist, but that's all.
Overall:
Despite its flaws, Kenichi remains a worthwhile read, especially the first half. If you want to stop while it's still good, finish after the D of D arc.
Mightiest Disciple Kenichi is one of those exceptional manga series that hooks you from the start and keeps you reading. The story revolves around the protagonist, a weakling named Kenichi Shirahama (nicknamed "weak legs"), who aspires to become strong after meeting a girl he admires and wanting to protect her, along with embracing his own ideals—which are surprisingly masculine for someone as timid as him.
What really stands out is Kenichi's development under the guidance of incredibly powerful masters who sadistically push him to his limits, nearly killing him daily in their quest to make him strong. His greatest talent seems to be his ability to endure severe beatings.
The humor in this series is fantastic, and despite the somewhat slow pace, the romance has gradually evolved and deepened throughout the story.
All the characters are unique and engaging, ensuring there’s something appealing for everyone. You’ll find yourself loving each one of them.
If you enjoyed The Breaker, then you’re sure to love Mightiest Disciple Kenichi.
I'll cut straight to the chase: THIS MANGA IS INCREDIBLE!!! Truly outstanding, and honestly, I find it far superior to other lengthy series like Naruto and Bleach. You might be taken aback by this, but that's my take, and I'm here to back it up with reasons.
First off, the storyline isn't mind-blowingly fantastic, but its beginning was simultaneously simple and unique. What nudged me to rate it a 7/10 were the comedy moments during battles and the ending, which left many mysteries unsolved: What became of Shinpaku? What's Akisame's backstory? Could Kenchi outmatch Fuurinji Hayato? What about Miu's father? How did Shigure encounter Tochumaru? The list goes on.
Moving on to "Art," I doubt anyone would argue against the magnificent illustrations Matsuena Syun has gifted us — so straightforwardly a 10/10.
Now, let's discuss the characters:
Apachai
Akisame
Shio
Hayato
Kensei
Niijima
Tanimoto
...and a plethora of other AMAZING characters. Isn't it evident?! Just their presence warrants a solid 7/10 for this anime alone! No further explanation needed; thus, an easy 10/10.
Popular Reviews
Well, the story is relatively straightforward yet captivating. The main character begins as a weak boy bullied at school to such an extent that his life is in danger. He meets a girl whose grandfather runs a dojo where history's greatest masters gather, and eventually, they take him on as a disciple.
This isn't your typical manga where the hero battles enemies and suddenly goes berserk due to past memories, destroying foes in seconds. In fact, one of the lessons he learns is never to lose control. He's not the stereotypical "gifted kid" who doesn't need training; instead, he puts immense effort into learning techniques. You can closely follow his progress as the story unfolds.
In general, there are excellent fight scenes, comedic elements even during deadly matches, strong character development (with numerous characters introduced and expanding with each arc), strategic depth that makes this kind of story more engaging, and good artwork that improves as the narrative advances.
The only reason I rate the story a 9 out of 10 is its simplicity, though it's filled with unexpected scenarios and remains original. It may seem simple, but it avoids the repetitive cycle found in many "standard" shounen manga stories (defeat some enemies, find the mastermind, fight them, have the hero go berserk with friendship power, defeat the boss, filler chapters, new villain, repeat).
Unlike most fighting series that start with normal fights and end with Dragon Ball Z-like battles involving energy beams and city-destroying attacks, this series reveals the real secrets behind techniques. While fighters possess superhuman abilities, the truly remarkable ones are the master-class fighters, and even they have limits... I guess XD
To wrap up, you'll likely enjoy this manga. It offers a nice blend of nearly everything you'd expect from a story. I'm halfway through (having read 260 chapters out of 450) and can confidently say this is one of the best series of its kind. Highly recommended.
This manga serves as a prime example of why it's unwise to write a review before finishing the entire series. To me, this manga is great overall, but I do have one significant issue with it: while it starts off very good and interesting, it becomes mediocre and boring towards the end.
This is a martial arts manga that incorporates a bit of romance and comedy. The story revolves around Kenichi Shirahama, a teenage boy who learns martial arts and is inspired by Miu Furinji to become stronger and protect her. The plot is excellent initially, but as the series progresses, it transforms from a solid martial arts manga into a rather dull battle manga, characterized by flashy fights and overly dramatic speeches that make little sense. The same problem applies to the characters. There are many memorable and intriguing characters at first, but later on, the author introduces numerous new characters who only appear in a few frames, making them seem unnecessary to the story.
Don't get me wrong; I think this is a genuinely good manga. It's just somewhat disappointing how the series changed over its long publication period. I would still recommend reading it, but don't expect too much from it.
The only thing I can say about this manga is that I read 500 chapters in less than a week because it's so good that I couldn't stop reading. So yes, just grab it and read it! You won't regret it at all! The art is incredibly cool and mature. All the characters are great and have an important role in the story.
This is an "old" manga, 15 years old this year. I believe the story has held up remarkably well. Similar to Breaker, which came five years later, it features a young boy who gets bullied and grows stronger to defeat most of his enemies—a very typical shonen-style manga. Now for some spoilers.
~SPOILERS~
Besides his crazy training regimen that made me giggle like a little girl, his encounters with people who could have easily defeated him but chose not to left me frustrated more than almost anything else. The final battle(s) felt ridiculous and somewhat contrived. However, the true ending did leave me a bit happy, albeit annoyed at a resolution that wasn't well executed or clearly pointed out but rather inferred through pictures. That's probably why there's a continuation series, but it seems lame; something that might have taken around 100 chapters to wrap up nicely without being too long or too short.
The manga left many questions unanswered, and it did feel rushed toward the end as if the creator wanted to finish it for some reason. But credit where it's due, it managed to avoid both "One Piece-itis" (never-ending story) and "HunterXHunter-itis" (hiatus hell). However, you can't cram most of what you wanted to say into just ~20(25) chapters.
Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi could have easily been a 9/10 for me, but sadly I had to give it only 7/10. We follow the story of Kenichi, who starts off as a weakling but wants to become stronger in order to protect those around him. Consequently, his life is filled with intense training. His masters make his training extremely challenging yet enjoyable for readers. Kenichi finds himself in perilous situations where he must face increasingly powerful opponents. Essentially, Kenichi's journey is a typical shounen manga with a touch of humor. But what makes it stand out?
Characters:
Kenichi is an untalented martial artist, which is unusual for this genre. The people around him all possess interesting personalities and well-crafted backstories. Each character has something they are striving for. For Kenichi, it's protecting Miu; for others, it's becoming the strongest or making overweight people proud. They relentlessly pursue their goals. What I particularly enjoyed were the masters. They represent some of the best mentors I've encountered, pushing Kenichi to his limits because they genuinely care about him. Each master trains Kenichi uniquely, not just physically but mentally too. Even readers can learn from their philosophies. Kenichi's friends are also well-written, many of whom were former enemies, adding depth and making the story more compelling.
Art:
The artwork isn't extraordinary or the best I've seen, but it's decent. The fight scenes deserve special praise. They are meticulously drawn and easy to follow, with plenty of detail. Injuries sustained during fights are depicted vividly, and you can see Kenichi's physical development throughout the manga. He gradually becomes more muscular. For comedic effect, characters are sometimes illustrated in a minimalist, humorous style, effectively capturing the lightheartedness of certain moments.
Humor:
Most jokes stem from Kenichi's lack of talent, but there are numerous small, funny gags scattered throughout. While primarily a fighting manga, it still contains a good amount of humor that made me laugh on several occasions.
So, what was wrong with Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi?
My biggest issues were the excessive fanservice and the contrived storyline.
Fanservice:
To clarify, I don't mind fanservice, a bit of nudity here and there is fine, but this manga went overboard. Initially, there was little to none, but midway through the story, it became almost 60% fanservice. There were entire chapters where female characters fought completely naked. By the end, if a female character was involved in a fight, you knew she'd be stripped by its conclusion. It wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't forced. Instead of focusing on a good story, the author relied heavily on fanservice to keep readers engaged.
The second half of the Story:
Similar to the fanservice issue, the first half of the manga was engaging. Kenichi was developing, growing stronger, and facing more dangerous challenges. Fights were intriguing, and new, unique characters kept appearing. However, somewhere between chapters 200 and 300, things took a turn for the worse. The latter arcs were riddled with plot conveniences, making it almost unpleasant to read. Despite having its good moments, the poor writing and excessive fanservice detracted significantly. It felt like the author prioritized fanservice over crafting a solid story, leaving Kenichi's potential unfulfilled.
Ending:
While it does have an ending, making it officially complete, it felt rushed, leaving some questions unanswered.
+1 (minor spoiler): I won't consider it a flaw specific to this manga, as it's a common issue, but the romance is unsatisfying. After nearly 600 chapters of Kenichi pursuing a girl, we get very little payoff. We know they have feelings for each other, but there's minimal development. A few good moments exist, but that's all.
Overall:
Despite its flaws, Kenichi remains a worthwhile read, especially the first half. If you want to stop while it's still good, finish after the D of D arc.
Mightiest Disciple Kenichi is one of those exceptional manga series that hooks you from the start and keeps you reading. The story revolves around the protagonist, a weakling named Kenichi Shirahama (nicknamed "weak legs"), who aspires to become strong after meeting a girl he admires and wanting to protect her, along with embracing his own ideals—which are surprisingly masculine for someone as timid as him.
What really stands out is Kenichi's development under the guidance of incredibly powerful masters who sadistically push him to his limits, nearly killing him daily in their quest to make him strong. His greatest talent seems to be his ability to endure severe beatings.
The humor in this series is fantastic, and despite the somewhat slow pace, the romance has gradually evolved and deepened throughout the story.
All the characters are unique and engaging, ensuring there’s something appealing for everyone. You’ll find yourself loving each one of them.
If you enjoyed The Breaker, then you’re sure to love Mightiest Disciple Kenichi.
Overall grade = 9
I'll cut straight to the chase: THIS MANGA IS INCREDIBLE!!! Truly outstanding, and honestly, I find it far superior to other lengthy series like Naruto and Bleach. You might be taken aback by this, but that's my take, and I'm here to back it up with reasons.
First off, the storyline isn't mind-blowingly fantastic, but its beginning was simultaneously simple and unique. What nudged me to rate it a 7/10 were the comedy moments during battles and the ending, which left many mysteries unsolved: What became of Shinpaku? What's Akisame's backstory? Could Kenchi outmatch Fuurinji Hayato? What about Miu's father? How did Shigure encounter Tochumaru? The list goes on.
Moving on to "Art," I doubt anyone would argue against the magnificent illustrations Matsuena Syun has gifted us — so straightforwardly a 10/10.
Now, let's discuss the characters:
Apachai
Akisame
Shio
Hayato
Kensei
Niijima
Tanimoto
...and a plethora of other AMAZING characters. Isn't it evident?! Just their presence warrants a solid 7/10 for this anime alone! No further explanation needed; thus, an easy 10/10.
Enjoyment: 10/10
So, it's pretty straightforward: (10 + 10 + 7 + 10) / 4 = 9.25.