Betrayed by the Beta!

Amazing series!!! .........

So, this is one of those incredibly random and lesser-known mangas with surprisingly impressive art. Despite only having 29 chapters, it offers a fascinating journey through a rather unsettling, impending doom-type story. The beginning grabs you instantly, throwing you into a disorienting "what is going on" moment filled with distress and an unpleasant, horrifying sight that pulls you into its world.

The characters are well-developed and consistently engaging, each possessing a distinct personality that quickly draws you in. Even with its short length, the manga feels like a good movie, offering great moments. However, I can only describe it as "solid." It's not extraordinary or amazing, but it does everything competently without leaving a lasting impact.

This kind of story demonstrates a strong grasp of structure, motivation, and consistency. Yet, it could have benefited from a little more time. More exploration of the villain's plot, some additional planning, and more intense clashes would have enhanced the experience. There are numerous engaging moments that promise much more than what is delivered, but I don't feel anger—just a touch of disappointment. With a bit more time and better utilization of the latter tense moments, without stretching, it could have been even better.

What I admire most is the climax of the story. It concludes in the most logical manner for a tale like this. Many stories might have resorted to a monologue or unnecessarily prolonged the ending, but not this one. It finishes exactly as it should. While a different, longer route exploring more of the pandemic aspect—not just its prelude—could have been interesting, as mentioned earlier, it remains very solid. I truly respect this story for having the courage to end the way it did.

<p>Manhole is a fascinating manga that offers intriguing concepts and an emotionally resonant story. The two main characters are both likable and well-developed. Mizo embodies the classic seasoned detective archetype, and I particularly appreciate his dialogue and design. In contrast, Inoue is a kind-hearted and caring woman who brings warmth to the narrative. I cherished the numerous heartfelt moments shared among the cast. Each character is engaging and thoughtfully crafted, even if some may be less likable due to their archetypal roles. The emotional depth of various scenes dealing with human struggles truly stood out to me. The primary antagonist is also well-conceived and surprisingly likable. I found the concept of "infection" and its historical context captivating, with many compelling anthropological elements woven into the storyline. This tale could effortlessly translate into a film adaptation. Manhole captivates the reader from the start, maintaining intrigue as though one were witnessing the events unfold in real-time. As a straightforward thriller, it delivers a powerful and touching conclusion. I highly recommend Manhole to fans of the thriller genre.</p>

Well, this manga turned out to be not actually that bad in the horror department. While it doesn't deliver pure nightmare fuel, it does have its intense moments, especially when the scientists are trying to figure out who's behind the mosquito plague and why it's infecting people. The detective duo, Ken and Nao, were pretty solid. However, I must warn potential readers: this manga is definitely not for the faint of heart. You'll encounter some gross and potentially frightening images, so proceed with caution (and kids, please steer clear for your own good!).  

That said, I felt the story moved a bit too quickly across its 29 chapters. I really wanted to delve deeper into the main characters' backgrounds and motivations rather than just seeing them as detectives.  

It may not be perfect, but if you're into horror, mystery, and gore—especially all three combined—this one might be worth checking out!

For a manga that spans just 29 chapters, the pacing felt somewhat sluggish.  

The concept of this manga—a biocontamination crime thriller—felt particularly relevant amid the 2020-2021 pandemic, which initially drew me in and might intrigue you as well. I appreciated the characters, especially the two lead detectives. Their well-being mattered to me, and their personalities were convincingly multidimensional.  

However, the primary drawback for me was its tendency to linger too long on certain points. For instance, after the main antagonist committed a crime in one chapter, it seemed like the subsequent chapter was devoted solely to explaining what had happened. While there were intriguing elements, the story lacked the suspense needed to compel me to eagerly turn the page. If it weren’t for its brevity, I might have stopped reading altogether.  

I don’t intend to be overly critical; I genuinely enjoyed the manga, though I’d rate it as decent rather than exceptional. I’d suggest it to fans of crime narratives, provided they’re prepared for a more leisurely pace.  

<p>

This manga blends elements of detective, psychological, and horror genres. It features a well-structured storyline that unfolds at a steady pace, though it can occasionally feel somewhat predictable. The characters are gradually developed, albeit only to a limited degree; while I connected with them, I wasn't overly invested in their outcomes. The artwork is generally solid and can be striking at times, yet sometimes lacks detail. Being a fairly short manga, it's definitely worth reading if you have a few hours to spare. ^^<p>

----------------------- Manhole review ----------------------

This manga is a police/detective genre work, with not much horror or psychology involved.

Story:
Not the most original, but still decent enough.

Art:
Below average. Some pages lack shading entirely, while others feature photoshopped textures that appear quite cheap. The art improves slightly towards the end, but overall it's so mediocre that I can't give it a good score. Some main characters look pasty white and flat because the mangaka didn't add any shading to them.

The characters' faces are almost always crying, frowning, or suffering. What a variety!

The backgrounds are laughable—just traced over photographs. 4/10

Characters:
Shallow presentation, unexplored, and generic. In three volumes, there isn't enough time to focus on so many useless side characters. Too much time is wasted on some nobodies who barely advance the plot, while the main characters are overlooked. What about their families? Their routines? Their homes? They feel like props because nothing is explored.

Instead, we're shown some of the bad guys/victims and their backgrounds only to move on to something else right away. The whole plot can't be crammed into three tiny volumes. Either the writer should have made more volumes or decreased the scale, reducing the number of characters.

Enjoyment:
It took me four days to get through three volumes. They were just half-baked. It felt like the magnitude of the plot needed more volumes to develop properly. It felt very impersonal, as we spend more time on random people than the main protagonists. The pacing is another problem: slow at first, then everything is resolved in two chapters way too easily.

The conclusion almost felt like a parody. The writer tried to keep things scientific and grounded in realism but ended up creating a half-baked, mediocre piece.

5/10 would not recommend

I don't want to rate the book yet, I am not far enough in. I wanted to say I think chapter 4 is completely out of place which makes chapter 5 confusing.