<p>I recall purchasing one of the manga volumes after spotting it in a store and being intrigued by its cover. Initially, I couldn't dive into it because I couldn't locate the first book. Years later, I revisited it and found the concept quite engaging. The narrative about two childhood friends reuniting after years apart is sweet and captivating. However, I felt that Misao was a rather typical female protagonist—seemingly fragile and overly reliant on Kyou for comfort. I had hoped for more depth to her character. That said, I did enjoy the overall storyline, and the art was undeniably unique and stunning. Still, I believe there could have been more substance to Misao's development. In summary, it's worth reading due to the compelling storyline and strong supporting characters, but it's not something I'd revisit in the future.</p>
Looking at the other reviews, I felt inspired to share my own. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this manga!!!!!! I dedicate most of my free time to reading, and with the vast array of manga available online, I've never felt compelled to reread any—until now. Black Bird is my exception.
The artwork is stunningly crafted. I judge a manga's appeal by its art initially, and this one captured my attention right away.
The storyline is exceptional. The love between Misao and Kyo resonates deeply—it tugs at your heartstrings. This isn't just another superficial "girl falls for hot guy" shoujo tale. The characters are incredibly complex and intricately developed. A major plus for me is that the story concludes neatly, and Black Bird certainly fulfills that criterion. I wholeheartedly recommend this manga, as well as other works by Kanoko Sakurakouji.
It was truly enjoyable to read this story, but I struggled to reconcile several issues with the main character. She comes off as outright foolish, with very little character development throughout the narrative. Repeatedly placing herself in peril, she exhibits blatant selfishness and disregards the feelings and desires of those around her. The author had the potential to craft a strong, independent female lead, yet by the conclusion, it seemed like she still depended on the male lead just as much as she did at the start. Despite these flaws, I would still reread this because the storyline was original, and the love between the two protagonists was evident. My primary wish for improvement would be a more well-rounded female lead, and I would have enjoyed seeing an extended ending.
<p>I really wanted to enjoy this manga; I truly did. My expectations were sky-high, and as a result, I found it difficult to put down. Kyo did have some genuinely sweet moments, but his abusive, controlling, and downright creepy behavior utterly ruined this manga for me.</p>
Well, if you're searching for a manga that blends Twilight (yes, the vampire novel series) with Kamisama Hajimemashita, your search ends here. The narrative revolves around a human girl who isn't as human as one might assume (divine fruit, an irresistible allure to demons—Stephanie Meyer would approve) and a boy, a demon perpetually enticed. They fall in love and navigate numerous challenges. The story is genuinely entertaining, featuring various arcs that are both clever and original.
However, much like Twilight, the main female protagonist consistently fails to safeguard or care for herself and is perpetually in need of the male lead's assistance. This never changes. She remains the quintessential pretty, tempting, and helpless damsel in distress from start to finish. Her sole ambition is to become the bride of the male lead. She often struggles to make decisions independently. There aren't many female characters in the story, and those that do appear are either romantically involved with friends of the male lead, enamored with him (with the exception of the heroine's mother), and invariably helpless and reliant on men. In contrast, the male characters are more multidimensional. This makes the story feel overly unrealistic, chauvinistic, and significantly diminishes what is otherwise a good plot in a manga with a fascinating world.
Gonna keep this review brief and straightforward. The artwork is fantastic, and the basic premise is certainly captivating. There's Misao, a high school girl capable of seeing spirits, who finds herself pursued by demons because she is the "Senka." Consuming her flesh or engaging in sexual relations with her grants a demon immense power, bringing prosperity and strength to his clan. Enter Kyo, her childhood friend and first crush, a demon tengu who reappears after a decade to safeguard her. So far, so good. However, the actual narrative falls flat, and the two primary characters leave much to be desired.
Kyo epitomizes the worst kind of guy—possessive, manipulative, demanding, jealous, and violent. He acts on impulse, imposing his will on Misao at every turn, while conveniently blaming her for his actions. On the other hand, Misao is weak, needy, indecisive, and perpetually whining. Her love for Kyo knows no bounds; regardless of how he treats her or others, she remains steadfastly devoted, believing she cannot survive without him.
Without divulging too many spoilers (everything mentioned thus far can be gleaned from the synopsis and early chapters), the entire story revolves around testing the love between Kyo and Misao. Every event, every supporting character, every twist, every act of violence and emotional turmoil—all serve to demonstrate that true love endures forever. Personally, I felt nothing but disdain and revulsion toward their relationship.
If you're into dark, twisted romances filled with violence, bloodshed, and a domineering male lead, this might be your cup of tea. But if you're searching for a genuine romance that warms the heart, look elsewhere.
<p>
A rather typical shoujo setup - a helpless girl wielding magic powers she barely grasps, continually rescued by the male protagonist, with dashes of fantasy and demons. Yet, I genuinely adore this manga.
Misao is endearing and likable, despite her dependency on others. She attempts to handle situations independently and possesses a unique personality—she isn't so fixated on Kyo that she disregards others entirely until later in the series. Kyo remains an enigma—does he truly love her, or is it due to his role within the Tengu family? The Tengu family's customs and traditions are intricate and captivating.
This manga is undeniably propelled more by character development and romance than plot, but the storyline is present. The romance strikes an ecchi tone without becoming overly explicit. You may find yourself impressed with this manga contrary to your expectations. The artwork is exquisite—though something about the boys' eyes always seems odd to me—but overall, it's stunning. There are certainly scenes and moments in this manga that will leave you breathless.
One of my (many) guilty pleasures is shojo manga, especially those featuring playful demons. I'm aware that it's primarily aimed at 14-year-old schoolgirls developing crushes on the protagonists, but I hope there are fellow British twentysomethings out there who have a soft spot for cocky raven-man hybrids. If this doesn't resonate with you, feel free to cringe and look away now. But if it does, read on.
What this manga excels at is indulging its readers in the allure of forbidden love. Kyo is depicted as a perverted yet occasionally romantic demon, but he also has a very human protective side. We see him through Misao's perspective; she's captivated by the Tengu world but still longs for her innocent schoolgirl days. While one scene might show them clashing over their vast differences, the next will feature a passionate embrace that could rival VK's Yuuki and Zero.
However, the main drawback of Black Bird is its lack of originality. It follows the standard supernatural shojo plot: a fragile, cute girl succumbing to the manipulative charm of a handsome, wicked man, sprinkled with magic potions and battle scenes. The comedic moments, while offering a welcome break from the dramatic love story, can feel somewhat clichéd, and the drawings of these expressions seem a bit lackluster. Misao's character comes across as weak and underdeveloped, as do the supporting characters, but fortunately, Kyo's charisma compensates for this.
That said, I'm thoroughly hooked on Black Bird. I recommend checking out Volume 1, whether it's for the collectible appeal of Kanoko's stunning cover artwork or for a quick escape into a shojo manga that delivers a satisfying mix of forbidden romance, cheesy humor, and mischievous demons.
Personally, I'm eagerly anticipating the UK release of Volume 13 on March 15th!
Black Bird is one of my favorite mangas. The art features very clean and minimalist expressions that complement the storyline effectively. It gives the story a slightly naive and innocent feel, which suits the manga perfectly without allowing the art to overshadow the narrative.
Black Bird is a supernatural shōjo manga written and illustrated by Kanoko Sakurakoji. The story follows a typical dramatic plot and is ideal if you're looking for something romantic, involving attractive men with supernatural abilities.
I'm a big fan of shoujo and josei manga, so when I stumbled upon this title, I was really thrilled. Initially, while reading the first 30 chapters, I was thoroughly enjoying it. However, as the story progressed, there were certain scenes that I found somewhat unsettling. The buildup to the climax was beautifully done, but the ending left me with numerous questions and a strong dislike for Kyo. There was one scene where he made me cringe because he overreacted to a child's ignorance. Despite that, I still enjoyed the series overall. It's packed with attractive characters, the progression of various romantic relationships among different characters, and the redemption arc of a vengeful tengu. I recommend this series to anyone who loves this genre.
Story (6):
The supernatural elements were the most appealing part of this manga. Beyond that, there isn’t much to commend. It follows a girl with special powers who is in danger and a guy protecting her, sprinkled with some unsettling scenes. One thing I particularly disliked about Black Bird is its erratic pacing. In each new chapter, out of nowhere, new characters are introduced without proper buildup. Some parts feel disjointed and unrelated to the main plot, while others feel either rushed or completely unnecessary.
Art (8):
The artwork is quite nice and distinctive—neither overly sparkly nor too dull. The characters are well-drawn, and the male characters are exceptionally attractive. (Not much else to add here.)
Character (4):
The heroine is undoubtedly the weakest aspect of the manga. Typically, I can endure this type of character, but this girl is genuinely annoying and foolish. She cries over everything—happiness, sadness, even lust. She’s excessively insecure and constantly doubts whether Kyou truly loves her or if marrying him is the right decision. Not only is she ungrateful, but she also refuses to listen to Kyou because of her stubbornness, which repeatedly puts herself and those around her in danger. Honestly, she’s the root cause of every problem in this manga. Thankfully, Kyou and the other characters make up for it, being cool, intriguing, and not as irritating as a certain someone. This is pretty much why I continued reading.
Enjoyment (5):
Did I enjoy it? I’d say this manga was somewhat enjoyable if you can overlook all its flaws. It’s one of those lighthearted reads you pick up when you don’t have anything better to do and just want to pass the time. Whether you can successfully finish all the chapters is another matter entirely.
Overall (5):
Do I recommend Black Bird?
Uh, maybe? It didn’t surpass my expectations, but it’s not outright terrible either. If you’re curious, I think you should give Black Bird a try.
Personally, I didn't enjoy this manga all that much... yet I kept reading it.
The storyline is as original as it gets for a typical shoujo/supernatural manga, but at times I felt it lacked depth and left me confused about what was happening (though that might just be me...).
The protagonist, Misao, is your average teenage girl—except for her ability to see 'monsters.' While yearning for a boyfriend, she unexpectedly finds love with a non-human man.
She discovers that he was her dear friend from the past and has returned for her, intending to marry her...
I don't want to spoil too much in case you decide to read it, but I found the pacing of the story rushed from the very first chapter. Normally, I appreciate stories that don't take the first five chapters to get started, but with "Black Bird," I felt there were too many events happening too quickly, and much of the plot was revealed early on. It could have eased into the storyline more gradually.
The characters themselves irritated me somewhat. Misao would have been tolerable if she weren't constantly crying, blushing, or obsessing over the man she loves (Kyo).
Additionally, I couldn't understand why she fell for Kyo in the first place. He's often harsh and abusive, and this isn't limited to Kyo alone—throughout the manga, Misao is mistreated by several men and objectified. As someone strongly opposed to such themes, this significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
I don't mean to come across as entirely negative—I did find myself hooked at times—but I grew tired of the main couple constantly kissing on nearly every page. The art was decent, and the story was passable, but it had its share of letdowns. I would recommend it only to those who don't mind excessive sappiness and can overlook all the crying and sexist elements; otherwise, I wouldn't bother.
Popular Reviews
The artwork is stunningly crafted. I judge a manga's appeal by its art initially, and this one captured my attention right away.
The storyline is exceptional. The love between Misao and Kyo resonates deeply—it tugs at your heartstrings. This isn't just another superficial "girl falls for hot guy" shoujo tale. The characters are incredibly complex and intricately developed. A major plus for me is that the story concludes neatly, and Black Bird certainly fulfills that criterion. I wholeheartedly recommend this manga, as well as other works by Kanoko Sakurakouji.
<p>
However, much like Twilight, the main female protagonist consistently fails to safeguard or care for herself and is perpetually in need of the male lead's assistance. This never changes. She remains the quintessential pretty, tempting, and helpless damsel in distress from start to finish. Her sole ambition is to become the bride of the male lead. She often struggles to make decisions independently. There aren't many female characters in the story, and those that do appear are either romantically involved with friends of the male lead, enamored with him (with the exception of the heroine's mother), and invariably helpless and reliant on men. In contrast, the male characters are more multidimensional. This makes the story feel overly unrealistic, chauvinistic, and significantly diminishes what is otherwise a good plot in a manga with a fascinating world.
<p>
Kyo epitomizes the worst kind of guy—possessive, manipulative, demanding, jealous, and violent. He acts on impulse, imposing his will on Misao at every turn, while conveniently blaming her for his actions. On the other hand, Misao is weak, needy, indecisive, and perpetually whining. Her love for Kyo knows no bounds; regardless of how he treats her or others, she remains steadfastly devoted, believing she cannot survive without him.
Without divulging too many spoilers (everything mentioned thus far can be gleaned from the synopsis and early chapters), the entire story revolves around testing the love between Kyo and Misao. Every event, every supporting character, every twist, every act of violence and emotional turmoil—all serve to demonstrate that true love endures forever. Personally, I felt nothing but disdain and revulsion toward their relationship.
If you're into dark, twisted romances filled with violence, bloodshed, and a domineering male lead, this might be your cup of tea. But if you're searching for a genuine romance that warms the heart, look elsewhere.
<p>
Misao is endearing and likable, despite her dependency on others. She attempts to handle situations independently and possesses a unique personality—she isn't so fixated on Kyo that she disregards others entirely until later in the series. Kyo remains an enigma—does he truly love her, or is it due to his role within the Tengu family? The Tengu family's customs and traditions are intricate and captivating.
This manga is undeniably propelled more by character development and romance than plot, but the storyline is present. The romance strikes an ecchi tone without becoming overly explicit. You may find yourself impressed with this manga contrary to your expectations. The artwork is exquisite—though something about the boys' eyes always seems odd to me—but overall, it's stunning. There are certainly scenes and moments in this manga that will leave you breathless.
What this manga excels at is indulging its readers in the allure of forbidden love. Kyo is depicted as a perverted yet occasionally romantic demon, but he also has a very human protective side. We see him through Misao's perspective; she's captivated by the Tengu world but still longs for her innocent schoolgirl days. While one scene might show them clashing over their vast differences, the next will feature a passionate embrace that could rival VK's Yuuki and Zero.
However, the main drawback of Black Bird is its lack of originality. It follows the standard supernatural shojo plot: a fragile, cute girl succumbing to the manipulative charm of a handsome, wicked man, sprinkled with magic potions and battle scenes. The comedic moments, while offering a welcome break from the dramatic love story, can feel somewhat clichéd, and the drawings of these expressions seem a bit lackluster. Misao's character comes across as weak and underdeveloped, as do the supporting characters, but fortunately, Kyo's charisma compensates for this.
That said, I'm thoroughly hooked on Black Bird. I recommend checking out Volume 1, whether it's for the collectible appeal of Kanoko's stunning cover artwork or for a quick escape into a shojo manga that delivers a satisfying mix of forbidden romance, cheesy humor, and mischievous demons.
Personally, I'm eagerly anticipating the UK release of Volume 13 on March 15th!
Black Bird is a supernatural shōjo manga written and illustrated by Kanoko Sakurakoji. The story follows a typical dramatic plot and is ideal if you're looking for something romantic, involving attractive men with supernatural abilities.
<p>
Story (6):
The supernatural elements were the most appealing part of this manga. Beyond that, there isn’t much to commend. It follows a girl with special powers who is in danger and a guy protecting her, sprinkled with some unsettling scenes. One thing I particularly disliked about Black Bird is its erratic pacing. In each new chapter, out of nowhere, new characters are introduced without proper buildup. Some parts feel disjointed and unrelated to the main plot, while others feel either rushed or completely unnecessary.
Art (8):
The artwork is quite nice and distinctive—neither overly sparkly nor too dull. The characters are well-drawn, and the male characters are exceptionally attractive. (Not much else to add here.)
Character (4):
The heroine is undoubtedly the weakest aspect of the manga. Typically, I can endure this type of character, but this girl is genuinely annoying and foolish. She cries over everything—happiness, sadness, even lust. She’s excessively insecure and constantly doubts whether Kyou truly loves her or if marrying him is the right decision. Not only is she ungrateful, but she also refuses to listen to Kyou because of her stubbornness, which repeatedly puts herself and those around her in danger. Honestly, she’s the root cause of every problem in this manga. Thankfully, Kyou and the other characters make up for it, being cool, intriguing, and not as irritating as a certain someone. This is pretty much why I continued reading.
Enjoyment (5):
Did I enjoy it? I’d say this manga was somewhat enjoyable if you can overlook all its flaws. It’s one of those lighthearted reads you pick up when you don’t have anything better to do and just want to pass the time. Whether you can successfully finish all the chapters is another matter entirely.
Overall (5):
Do I recommend Black Bird?
Uh, maybe? It didn’t surpass my expectations, but it’s not outright terrible either. If you’re curious, I think you should give Black Bird a try.
The storyline is as original as it gets for a typical shoujo/supernatural manga, but at times I felt it lacked depth and left me confused about what was happening (though that might just be me...).
The protagonist, Misao, is your average teenage girl—except for her ability to see 'monsters.' While yearning for a boyfriend, she unexpectedly finds love with a non-human man.
She discovers that he was her dear friend from the past and has returned for her, intending to marry her...
I don't want to spoil too much in case you decide to read it, but I found the pacing of the story rushed from the very first chapter. Normally, I appreciate stories that don't take the first five chapters to get started, but with "Black Bird," I felt there were too many events happening too quickly, and much of the plot was revealed early on. It could have eased into the storyline more gradually.
The characters themselves irritated me somewhat. Misao would have been tolerable if she weren't constantly crying, blushing, or obsessing over the man she loves (Kyo).
Additionally, I couldn't understand why she fell for Kyo in the first place. He's often harsh and abusive, and this isn't limited to Kyo alone—throughout the manga, Misao is mistreated by several men and objectified. As someone strongly opposed to such themes, this significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
I don't mean to come across as entirely negative—I did find myself hooked at times—but I grew tired of the main couple constantly kissing on nearly every page. The art was decent, and the story was passable, but it had its share of letdowns. I would recommend it only to those who don't mind excessive sappiness and can overlook all the crying and sexist elements; otherwise, I wouldn't bother.
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