Trapped By The Devils Heir

Gekkoh presents the tale of a boy navigating his role as the son of a yakuza boss while aiding his newly discovered sister in unraveling the mysteries of her past. Complicating matters is his internal conflict over being sexually attracted to his half-sibling, who continuously tempts him.

Initially, Gekkoh lacks engaging elements. The storyline appears clichéd, characters underdeveloped, and pacing inconsistent. However, after progressing beyond the midpoint (around volume 5), improvements emerge as more plot details unfold. The author regains narrative control, showcasing the protagonist's personal growth influenced by his feelings for his sister and the challenges he faces supporting her. Some characters exhibit unexpected traits, and humor occasionally surfaces. Predictable plot twists are still present.

The artwork is decent but leans towards 'generic,' effectively serving its purpose. Characters might warrant more artistic representation, yet environments and certain background images are commendably rendered. Sexual scenes occur relatively often, though the author adeptly prevents them from becoming overwhelming.

The author employs direction not only to drive the narrative but also to justify incorporating erotic segments and sexual encounters. While this approach may detract from enjoyment for some, enthusiasts of the 'ecchi' genre will find satisfaction.

*Story - 6  
*Art - 6.5  
*Character - 7  
*Enjoyment - 7  

Final Score - 6 (Good)

Gekkoh presents itself as a standard revenge tale, which might have been straightforward if it weren't burdened with unengaging subplots and gratuitous sexual content.  

Focused on the dark, corrupt world of the Japanese Yakuza, the story follows Kyoutarou Higawa, a high school student entangled in the conflicts between his family's clan and rival factions. One day, Kumiko Shizuki, a girl he's never met, enters his life claiming to be his half-sister, driven by a desire for vengeance. Thus, Gekkoh positions itself as a political drama centered around alliances and disputes within the Yakuza. Action and mystery propel Kumiko's quest for retribution, with a touch of romance added into the mix. However, despite its complex narrative, Gekkoh lacks depth. The mangaka opts for lazy handling of serious issues like prostitution and incestuous relationships, resulting in a convoluted storyline filled with poor dialogue and uninspired panel composition.  

This approach also undermines the characters' development. Neither protagonist is particularly appealing. Kyoutarou comes across as pitiful in his interactions with women and his frequent defeats. One would hope Kumiko serves as a strong, capable female lead—a type I usually appreciate—but she is incessantly degraded by the mangaka. Both characters have occasional redeeming moments, but these are too infrequent to make a lasting impression. Supporting characters are generic in design and motivation, existing merely to give the main characters more to do. Some side characters possess intriguing backstories, yet they remain underdeveloped.  

The artwork in Gekkoh suffers from inconsistency. While rough art can sometimes be forgiven for its unique style, Gekkoh fluctuates between acceptable and outright poor quality. Panels often fail to clearly convey actions or gestures, which may frustrate readers.  

Ultimately, Gekkoh leaves much to be desired. Despite my largely critical review, it isn't entirely without merit; I simply expected more. With over ten years of experience, Serika Hirumo's work here demonstrates little artistic or storytelling growth.

There are numerous instances where I've approached an anime or manga with low expectations, only to find myself thoroughly enjoying it. Conversely, there are works that, despite having a promising premise, ultimately fail to deliver. Gekkoh falls into the latter category.

For many, the Mafia, Yakuza, and other organized crime groups hold a certain allure. As unsettling as it may seem, individuals who disregard the law fascinate "us," making organized crime a potent marketing tool in the entertainment industry. Add another selling point—female nudity—and you have a formula almost guaranteed to attract attention.

Gekkoh capitalizes on this by placing its female protagonist, Shizuki Kumiko, in numerous risqué situations, often leaving her either topless or on the brink of assault. On the bright side, she frequently enters these predicaments willingly and escapes them thanks to her older brother, Kyotaru.

The central narrative revolves around Kyotaru assisting his newly introduced younger sister, Kumiko, in uncovering the person responsible for their parents' deaths. Along the way, they must grapple with their growing sexual attraction to one another and their shared heritage as children of a Yakuza boss.

Although much of the story is narrated from Kyotaru's perspective, Kumiko undoubtedly steals the spotlight. Initially, the concept of him confronting his family's involvement in the Yakuza seemed intriguing, yet it leads nowhere significant.

In fact, the manga is riddled with plot threads that remain unresolved. For instance, a subplot concerning another young man's ascent in the Yakuza abruptly halts at a certain point, which was disappointing given its potential as the most engaging aspect of the story.

Additionally, the conclusion feels like a classic case of the dreaded "sudden cancellation" curse that afflicts many manga. Whether this is true or not remains unclear.

That said, the artwork is commendable, especially the designs of the female characters, which are quite impressive. However, the frequent fan service can be problematic, often detracting from the narrative. To its credit, the mangaka attempts to justify the rampant sex and nudity in the latter half of the story through a plot device.

Overall, I found some enjoyment in this work, but don't expect another Sanctuary—a title that also featured random fan service and Yakuza elements but managed to tell its story effectively.

Story: 4  
A decent, albeit clichéd, setup involving a boy meeting his sister and embarking on a quest to find her parents' killer, set against the backdrop of the Yakuza and interspersed with random sex scenes. The organized crime elements are more compelling than the main storyline, but they too grind to a halt at a certain point.

Art: 8  
Exceptional illustrations, with the girls being particularly well-drawn and the character designs generally strong. While the excessive fan service might be unnecessary, it does add a mildly entertaining element.

Character: 4  
Kyotaru comes across as weak, though so does Shinji Ikari, one of my favorite characters. The difference here is that Kyotaru lacks depth or compelling reasons for his demeanor.

Kumiko and the other female characters are attractive, but that's about all they offer. Her desire for revenge over her parents' death is accompanied by a typical tragic childhood backstory that fails to evoke genuine emotion. She also spends a lot of time unclothed without clear justification.

The supporting cast is similarly uninspiring, though a few do receive some development. This manga isn't worth reading for its characters.

Enjoyment: 5  
It provides some mild entertainment, but those seeking a solid crime story should look elsewhere. The Yakuza backdrop feels like a mere lure to draw readers in. Ultimately, Gekkoh is disappointing.

Overall: 4  
Read it for the fan service—it excels in that regard. It lacks merit in other areas, remaining mildly entertaining but decidedly average. Flat, uninteresting characters coupled with a generic, underdeveloped story, despite good art, don't elevate this manga. Avoid it if possible.

As always, feedback is appreciated. Any comments are welcome. Thank you.

What brand of hypocrisy? The flavor matters, though I do thank you for the warning.

Edit: At just before 100 now, see what you are talking about, but still an enjoyable read so far.

well I haven't read very far but in my opinion the main character is a bull in a china house. in other words he's an *d**t with a lot of power that happens to be a geek when it comes to a few things. that said it's pretty comedic. might be good as a comedic-fantasy anime

Things not to do when escaping from an evil dimension.#1. Do not camp out in the gateway for a few months to learn a new skill.   This is a new rule because until I ran into this author this has never come up before.