Cursed Love: A Haunting Tale of Two Cursed Souls

It's truly disappointing that this story got canceled years ago. This is my favorite Masakazu Katsura creation and, aside from Sailor Moon, my top magical girl series. It boasts fantastic visuals, engaging action, some classic shounen humor, and Shadow Lady is an incredibly fun read that was unfortunately cut far too short.  

[STORY 7] Imagine Saint Tail but with a darker narrative and replace the cheerful, bubbly Haneoka with the curvaceous, energetic Aimee. I've always seen this story and its protagonist as a kind of female Batman—lurking in the shadows (no pun intended) within a dark, Gotham City-like setting (Gray City looks incredible). It remains one of the more intriguing anti-heroine/hero stories I've encountered in the manga world. Although the story was shortened, leaving the plot rushed, it's still highly entertaining. I could easily envision this saga extending beyond 100 chapters and still hold out hope that Masakazu might have the chance to fully complete it someday.  

[ART 10] The visuals here are outstanding. Gray City exudes a cool gothic, medieval vibe on the outside while maintaining the essence of a late 20th-century metropolis. The penciling and inking are superb; despite most events occurring at night, the shadows never obscure the action, and every panel is sharp and clear. The clever use of various shades of gray and black effectively brings Gray City to life. The characters look fantastic, adhering to Masakazu's signature style across all his works. I particularly adore Shadow Lady's design and her alternate outfits. Next to Hime in Princess Resurrection, Shadow Lady is the sexiest female character in gothic attire. Bright's wacky array of inventions for fighting crime also adds a fun touch. There's plenty of fan service, which feels more like a cherry on top rather than intrusive. It's remarkable how inoffensively perverted Shadow Lady manages to be despite showcasing a lot of skin—a hallmark of the author's style since works like Video Girl Ai and DNA2, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.  

[CHARACTER 7] At first glance, it almost reads as a superhero parody, even to the extent that Shadow Lady becomes something of a celebrity. Like many magically altered personas, SL serves as Aimee's yang to her yin. I loved the police chief and the utterly inept cops who try to thwart SL only to get trounced every time. Ironically, while I view the titular character through a Batman lens, Bright Honda is the one with the quirky gadgets. I enjoy this character, who embodies the archetype of awesome yet epic-fail male characters I appreciate today. And Spark Girl? She's just plain hot and didn't appear nearly enough.  

[ENJOYMENT 8] It's lighthearted fun centered around a girl with mysterious powers that gets pretty intense toward the end. Shadow Lady holds a high reread value in my collection. It features an entertaining lead character, a captivating setting, enjoyable supporting characters, and despite the rushed conclusion, offers a bit of satisfaction. Still, there remain some crucial unanswered questions.  

[OVERALL 8] This series has been a classic for me for quite some time, and fans of the author will surely enjoy it. While it lacks certain elements of plot development and character depth, it compensates with a solid overall plot, good comedy, and exceptional artwork.  

PROS: Outstanding art, compelling atmosphere, strong characters, well-crafted story  
CONS: Too brief

is this shi really good? TvT

There is no progression in romance until the end, he already fifty lol.