"King of Wolves," also known as "Ourou" in Japanese, is a manga created by Buronson, renowned for "Hokuto no Ken," and Kentaro Miura, famous for "Berserk." As a fan of both authors, I couldn't resist reading this manga and decided to write a brief review. Keep in mind that this review reflects the perspective of someone who admires both Buronson and Miura.
Story - 6/10
Given its brevity, it's unrealistic to expect an elaborate storyline. The narrative follows Iba, Japan's top kendo master (the Japanese form of fencing), as he journeys back to the 13th century. There, he must rely on his swordsmanship to survive within the Mongol Empire. This manga effectively blends history with fiction, and the action scenes are impressive, as one would anticipate from two masters of action manga. Additionally, there are a few minor twists that prevent the story from becoming monotonous.
Art - 8/10
With Kentaro Miura as the illustrator, the art style naturally mirrors that of the early "Berserk" chapters. The level of detail is commendable, particularly during the action sequences.
Character - 6/10
Due to the manga's concise nature, significant character development isn't feasible. The characters are fairly typical, but the limited development they do undergo is competently managed by the authors.
Enjoyment - 7/10
In summary, this was an entertaining manga. Despite its short length, it was enjoyable, albeit inferior to some of the more celebrated works by these two creators. I recommend not setting your expectations too high.
If you're any fan of Kentarou Miura, known for Berserk, or Buronson, from Fist of the North Star, or like me, a fan of both, you'll undoubtedly be so thrilled to read this that you can barely contain your excitement. Like me >_>.
Pairing them up for a story/art collaboration is essentially setting the stage for a manga filled with huuuuge, muscular, manly men beating each other to death. And it was. Every male character in this manga is big, well-built, and sometimes even a little ugly, just like real men.
Since it was so short, you can't expect much complexity in the story, and you won't get much either. But there are a few plot twists near the end that are fairly intriguing, especially if you're into history.
Popular Reviews
Story - 6/10
Given its brevity, it's unrealistic to expect an elaborate storyline. The narrative follows Iba, Japan's top kendo master (the Japanese form of fencing), as he journeys back to the 13th century. There, he must rely on his swordsmanship to survive within the Mongol Empire. This manga effectively blends history with fiction, and the action scenes are impressive, as one would anticipate from two masters of action manga. Additionally, there are a few minor twists that prevent the story from becoming monotonous.
Art - 8/10
With Kentaro Miura as the illustrator, the art style naturally mirrors that of the early "Berserk" chapters. The level of detail is commendable, particularly during the action sequences.
Character - 6/10
Due to the manga's concise nature, significant character development isn't feasible. The characters are fairly typical, but the limited development they do undergo is competently managed by the authors.
Enjoyment - 7/10
In summary, this was an entertaining manga. Despite its short length, it was enjoyable, albeit inferior to some of the more celebrated works by these two creators. I recommend not setting your expectations too high.
Pairing them up for a story/art collaboration is essentially setting the stage for a manga filled with huuuuge, muscular, manly men beating each other to death. And it was. Every male character in this manga is big, well-built, and sometimes even a little ugly, just like real men.
Since it was so short, you can't expect much complexity in the story, and you won't get much either. But there are a few plot twists near the end that are fairly intriguing, especially if you're into history.