When I continued to confess my love to the high and unapproachable beauty known as the Ice Queen every morning, she fell ill.

I read the first chapter and I laughed so hard. The FL's father remarks and comebacks is so good.

i love this story so far. it's sad but I'm already liking Mr Dmitry

Finally. Excited for this story. I hope this is good.

This is a bit of a conflicting review. I'm a fan of the Saint Seiya franchise in general, but I have to be honest. The story isn't overly complicated like the original series, but here it's all one big saga: The Holy War. The war starts in the first or second volume, with only Tenma, Alone, and Sasha (the latter not so much) having decent backstories. Supporting characters are introduced as the story progresses, which could work, but it doesn't.

The issue is that characters like Yato and Yuzuriha are presented as principal supporting characters but don't act as such. They only appear at the beginning and are forgotten midway through, leaving Tenma as the sole focus. The Gold Saints show up just in time to save Tenma and defeat the enemies who are about to kill him and his companions.

The story tries to make us believe Tenma is incredibly strong, but he never proves it! It's the Gold Saints who defeat most of the enemies, yet they keep saying Tenma is the one who should defeat Hades, despite him not proving his strength!

Additionally, the mangaka attempts to evoke empathy for both the Gold Saints and the villains (sometimes), in every battle. However, this doesn't feel right; it's just flashbacks of their pasts, explaining why they're fighting, and then justifying their victories even though they don't seem capable of beating the villains.

The battles are good, but sometimes you get tired of the same formula and style. Occasionally, they can be very good. The art is good, but the character designs aren't great, especially with some Specters being hard to distinguish from each other. The narrative is mediocre, and it's common to have to re-read chapters or pages because they're difficult to follow.

In conclusion, the story is lackluster, the characters are boring and clichéd, and the design is good but inconsistent. The battles are enjoyable if you like the original Saint Seiya, surpassing the original work in this aspect, but the characters are definitely the worst part of the story. While there are many flaws, it's still an enjoyable read if you're a fan of the original work. However, if you haven't read or watched the original, I can't recommend it to you.

<p>Manga authored by Shiori Teshirogi narrates the earlier holy war against Hades, set 243 years before the classic events. It's an outstanding manga, arguably the finest among the spin-offs (though Okada is also talented), and if you cherished the original series, you'll relish this one too. However, due to Next Dimension, penned by the original creator Masami Kurumada, which recounts the holy war in the same era, the series is deemed an alternate universe. This fact doesn't detract from its quality, especially since in the Saint Seiya universe, what is "canon" with the original manga might practically be non-existent, aside from ND (although Kurumada isn't a paragon of coherence).</p>

<p>STORY: 10</p>

<p>The standout feature of this manga is its dedication of an entire series, spanning 25 volumes and over 220 chapters, to a war with Hades. This allows for well-developed battles and characterizations of saints and adversaries. In contrast, the original series, divided into three primary arcs, had limited space, leading to poor management of the classic Hades arc.</p>

<p>Here, we finally have something that can genuinely be called WAR! Not just 2-3 isolated skirmishes, but a real war.</p>

<p>Other merits include:</p>

<p>- The central narrative involving the trio of FRIENDS and protagonists, Tenma, Sasha, and Alone, destined to become Pegasus, Athena, and Hades, respectively, and their inevitable clash. It's truly well-crafted.</p>

<p>- The GOLD SAINTS, all charismatic characters, distinct from each other (despite the author borrowing the classic designs), active and heroic. Rightfully so, as the 12 Gold Saints are Athena's elite army, and their participation in combat is logical. But they aren't the only ones.</p>

<p>- The SPECTERS (& co), where the author not only enhances Hades' army in terms of power by introducing various challenging foes but also manages to present many of them with compelling backstories. Even minor characters find their place.</p>

<p>- The FIGHTS, generally epic and mostly logical.</p>

<p>- The DEATHS, many of which are both epic and heart-wrenching.</p>

<p>And consistency with the original work. Yes, despite being an alternate universe, Teshirogi does an admirable job respecting the foundational elements provided by the original manga regarding the past.</p>

<p>ART: 10</p>

<p>The initial art style is simple, perhaps overly so, but good. It progressively improves, and by the midpoint of the story, the author develops a fantastic design, truly beautiful.</p>

<p>After the main series, he crafted 16 additional volumes as side stories, which are graphic gems.</p>

<p>CHARACTERS: 10</p>

<p>As mentioned earlier, the story introduces a large number of charismatic characters, generally well-developed (or those with limited screen time receive attention in the LC gaidens, 16 volumes dedicated to each Gold Saint).</p>

<p>All Gold Saints shine; they are exceptional and offer redemption for certain signs that had unfortunate fates (like Fish or Cancer) in the original manga. Shion, Hasgard, Asmita, Manigoldo, Albafica, El Cid, Defteros, Sisyphus, Kardia, etc... and others, veterans like Sage and Hakurei, two remarkable master strategists.</p>

<p>Specters, powerful and charismatic. The three judges, Minos, Rhadamanthys, Aiacos. Others like Kagaho, Yoma, Lune, Violate, Valentine, and other lesser-known ones. Not forgetting Pandora, and the twin gods.</p>

<p>Tenma is the quintessential protagonist, Sasha is the best goddess Athena in SS, and Alone is an exceptional antagonist.</p>

<p>ENJOYMENT: 10</p>

<p>I don't think it's necessary to elaborate further on what has already been stated above.</p>

<p>History, characters, development, battles, art... everything is found at good/excellent levels. And also a satisfying conclusion (which is rare in shonen).</p>

<p>And if that's not enough, there's practically another manga, another 16 volumes, with individual tales dedicated to each Gold Saint in the series.</p>

<p>Of course, it's not perfect; some aspects towards the end could undoubtedly be improved.</p>

So, what makes Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas a decent shounen manga? Perhaps not its plot, or the manly tears streaming down the cheeks of its male characters. What makes it a decent shounen manga is the feeling that many newer ones seem to have lost, maybe.

Story

The Lost Canvas, as a prequel to the original manga, follows Tenma and his vow as a Saint of Athena to fight against Hades—once his childhood friend Alone—alongside the Gold Saints to protect humanity. At the same time, he wants to honor the promise they made as children, so one day he can be together again with Sasha and Alone; even if that means facing his friend in the end.

Perhaps 'The Lost Canvas' isn't very original when it comes to plot. Of course, the trope of two friends clashing isn't something a casual manga or anime fan doesn't encounter frequently. Power-ups are still present, along with the classic theme of accepting fate or defying it, which always appeals to readers.

However, through the heartfelt speeches, bromance, and battles for humanity, readers can genuinely empathize with and root for the characters they like. This is because almost every character has a background, a personal reason to fight. The theme "fight for your family, your friends, and the future" remains central—it is a shonen manga after all. But, characters actually die in this manga. Not all of them, but many do; that's what makes their reasons special. How can you protect your family, your friends, and the whole world without people dying on the battlefield? And since when is it satisfying to see characters making miraculous recoveries after fatal blows every single time? Saint Seiya, despite its shonen genre, can be realistic through its unrealistic nature in this regard.

Characters

Though their development isn't always smooth and some characters may seem quite typical, especially Tenma, the bonds between characters are given significant attention. Whether through flashbacks or fighting alongside each other, or their relationships with the opponents they face, the mangaka tries to portray the characters' feelings and thought processes. Backstories are added when necessary to bring readers closer to the characters, which is one of the best elements of this story, whether the character is a protagonist or a villain.

Art

Definitely not something groundbreaking. Some character designs may look too similar, but I must commend the work on the Surplices. They are very detailed.

Enjoyment

If you're a fan of shounen manga, you have no reason to dislike The Lost Canvas. You'll enjoy plenty of fights and heartfelt speeches about friendship, accompanied by a story with enough twists to keep you engaged.

That thing you are reading right now? Stop and read this instead.  
I'm joking...or maybe I'm not.  

I was always familiar with Saint Seiya, but I had no idea about The Lost Canvas (or any Saint Seiya spin-offs). Honestly, I don't recall how I stumbled upon this manga or what made me want to dive into it, but looking back, I'm incredibly glad I did.  

Side note: No, you don't have to read the original before diving into this, but at the same time, if you do, you'll appreciate The Lost Canvas so much more.  

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**STORY/PLOT: 9/10**  
The plot is straightforward, almost cliché. It's your typical Saint Seiya storyline where a young kid gets possessed by a god—nothing groundbreaking here. However, unlike other Saint Seiya works, this one is far better written, deeper, and more philosophical. Additionally, the battles were spectacular, elevating the story to epic heights.  

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**ART: 10/10**  
The artwork? Oh my goodness, it's breathtaking. Probably the best art style I've ever encountered. Seriously, if only more shonen series had shojo-style art, the world would be a far better place—that's for sure. The art improves even further in the later chapters.  

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**CHARACTERS: 10/10**  
The characters are undoubtedly the highlight of this manga. They're all delightful, especially the Gold Saints. These versions of the Gold Saints are clearly inspired by their counterparts from the original series but are significantly better developed and richer in depth (keep in mind, this leans heavily toward Gold Saint focus, so they get more attention than the main characters). The same applies to the antagonists, the Specters.  

The protagonist, Tenma, isn't bad. He fits the mold of a standard shonen hero, but at least he doesn't hog all the glory like most do. Alone, as the villain, is fantastic—he's my favorite character in this story. And Sasha? She's the best Athena in the entire Saint Seiya universe.  

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**ENJOYMENT: 10/10**  
The Lost Canvas is both charming and profoundly tragic, leaving an overwhelming impression. My heart burned with anticipation with every page I turned, always curious about what would happen next. The deeper you delve, the better it gets.  

I didn't anticipate this beautiful tale affecting me so emotionally. Reading it was a rewarding journey.  

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**OVERALL:**  
I know some Saint Seiya fans might disagree with me, but in my opinion, this surpasses any other Saint Seiya work (yes, even the original).  

Of course, it's not flawless—it's far from being a masterpiece. There were moments I wasn't entirely fond of, things I'd personally alter. Despite that, it remains an excellent manga, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.  

What did I take away from this? That fate can indeed be cruel. It illustrates that life can sometimes be destined for tragedy, yet there's room for grandeur and noble heroism along the way. Even in death, all hope isn't lost.  

But what if it's not that deep, and it's all just in my head? Oh well, sorry for tricking you into reading this far.  

So yeah, that's it. This manga is a hidden gem, and I wish more people would give it a chance. I could go on about it forever, but I'll leave it here. Hope you enjoyed my review!  

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Tfw still crying over anime getting canceled

Do you have a thing for handsome guys? And are you into watching them brutally harm themselves and each other? If so, this manga is right up your alley!  

Lost Canvas serves as a prequel to the original Saint Seiya manga. If you're familiar with the original Saint Seiya series, you pretty much know the entire plot and outcome of Lost Canvas. Let me put this gently... steer clear if you can't handle frequent character deaths! The mortality rate is sky-high!! Aside from that, I imagine the brainstorming session for Lost Canvas went something like this:  

Person A: So, what should we focus on here?  
Person B: Well, people really seem to love watching the Gold Saints battle it out.  
Person C: Yes!!  

And just like that, Lost Canvas came to life! Approximately 90% of it revolves around nonstop combat. Relentless, brutal combat, primarily among the Gold Saints. For me, it's pure bliss, but if you crave a more intricate storyline alongside the action, you might feel let down. There is a plot, sure, but it's so linear that it might as well be negligible. You're essentially thrown into the midst of a Holy War, with the narrative advancing through clashes between Hades' Specters and Athena's Saints. It's beautifully chaotic and exhilarating fun!!  

The artwork in Lost Canvas surpasses the original Saint Seiya manga in terms of beauty. Tenma and Sasha are far less irritating than Seiya and Saori. Some Gold Saints are better developed in Lost Canvas, while others receive more attention in the original, making it somewhat of a tie there. However, overall, character development feels stronger in the original. Lost Canvas lacks the cohesive, balanced team dynamic present among Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, and Ikki in the original.