Taming the billionaire wolf prince

It is so f***ing good. I couldn't put it down.

So... what to say about "Loose Senki: Oldboy"?  

First of all, I want to mention that I started reading this manga after watching both movies with the same name (the Korean one and the American one).  

The manga itself is beautifully crafted; the artwork is fantastic. Just by looking at it, you can already feel the atmosphere of nighttime Tokyo, etc. The characters are well-developed, even though not all backstories are fully explored or explained. The plot from the very beginning makes you question the situation the protagonist finds himself in, creating a massive intrigue that leads to a nearly satisfying conclusion.  

I strongly recommend this manga to anyone who wants to enjoy some quality reading material during their free time.

The Korean movie Oldboy, which is based on this manga, is millions of times better. I mean, the manga has a great premise: a man is locked away for 10 years for reasons unknown to him and then suddenly released without explanation. The story follows his quest to uncover who was behind it so he can exact revenge. But it doesn't really go anywhere significant.

The start of the series is fantastic. It has atmosphere, it's really gritty and film noir. It's intriguing to see the mystery unfold and witness how Gotou handles the situations he's in. Some of the early plot points are really clever and original.

One of the manga's biggest flaws is that the series is about 2 or 3 volumes too long. The story is stretched out so much that it loses its edge. I get the feeling that Tsuchiya Garon had kind of written himself into a corner without really planning out the ending. Another thing that really let me down was the ending. It was such a huge disappointment. I felt cheated. There is no real payoff after all the buildup.

The antagonist of the series, the person who locked Gotou away, seems really weak to me. When you find out the reason why he locked him away, he gets even weaker. He has little motivation for what he does, and most of the time it seems he's not really that driven about it. Gotou himself is your average stoic hero. I didn't really feel he had much character and was just a vessel for the story to revolve around. I did like Eri though. I thought she was really interesting, especially in the beginning. She seemed kind of gutsy and independent.

I think Oldboy is still worth reading, and if you're a hardcore manga fan, I don't think you can really go without giving it a look. As I said, the beginning really is fantastic and well-written; it just fizzles out at the end.

I had no clue that the modern cinematic masterpiece Old Boy was actually adapted from a manga, so when I discovered this fact yesterday, I just had to dive into it right away—and (old) boy, am I glad I did!

Old Boy is an enigmatic, brilliant thriller; its narrative unfolds slowly but grips and captivates the reader at every twist. The plot and characters are outstanding—both relatable and formidable. I especially admired Goto, the protagonist, along with his intricate relationships with Dojima and the other key players in their twisted "game." The artwork is excellent, exuding a timeless, mature quality. However, I do wish there was a bit more poetic flair to it (it remains largely realistic, though punctuated by a few stunning surreal scenes).

I couldn't tear myself away from this series—I devoured the first four volumes yesterday and finished the rest today. I truly want to purchase it and place it proudly on my bookshelf. In conclusion, Old Boy has swiftly become one of my all-time favorite manga series, and I’m certain it will frequently reappear on my rereading list.

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I really wanted to love this old-school manga since I'd been searching for the movie everywhere and couldn't find it on Netflix. A few anime YouTubers had mentioned it, which piqued my interest. The beginning was intriguing, with a man trying to figure out why he was locked up by the mafia in some strange room and why he was suddenly released. Plus, they treated him decently, even giving him 1000 yen. He then meets a girl from a noodle shop, and they quickly hit it off. That's when I started losing interest; personally, I'd rather the romance not be so rushed because I noticed some plot holes. Sure, we understand Goto, the main character, is trying to uncover his identity, but the author didn't spend much time developing the other characters, especially the love interest, who shows up in one scene and then disappears, only to reappear later. It just became boring for me after reading 30 chapters.

Sorry, Old Boy fan club, but this one isn't for me.

Just to say: the Korean version of the movie is absolutely superior.  

"Old Boy" originated as a manga with an exceptional premise: a man is imprisoned for ten years by an unknown individual. Then, he's released and must uncover who did this to him and the reason why.  

The story began incredibly well. The methods he employed to trace the steps of the mysterious person were genuinely inventive and captivating. However, as I progressed through it, it felt like the author started the narrative without any clear idea of how to conclude it, thus dragging it out unnecessarily. It took eight volumes to complete the manga, but it could have been wrapped up in half the length—or even less. This is why I rated it a 4 for "Enjoyment": at a certain point, I simply couldn't endure reading it anymore. I was just waiting for it to end.  

And the ending is atrocious. The explanation for why everything occurred is just awful. This is why I'm confident that the creator didn't have a clear concept of the motives behind the "villain," resulting in a poor conclusion to hastily tie things up.  

It had the potential to become a remarkable story, but ultimately, it was frustrating. If the author had approached it the same way as the Korean film adaptation, it would have been fantastic.  

This manga is one of the few instances where the adaptation surpasses the original.

You lock a man away for 10 years, then suddenly release him, and proceed to play mind games with him as he struggles to comprehend why this happened to him—this pretty much sums up Old Boy.  

Boy, this manga was quite the ride. I had watched the critically acclaimed Korean live-action adaptation about a year before diving into it. Where the manga truly shines is in its character development, the dark and intricate artwork, and the gradual buildup of suspense (which felt somewhat reminiscent of Naoki Urasawa's storytelling style).  

However, the manga fell short when it came to its conclusion. The reasons behind the antagonist's motivations seemed too feeble to fully justify his actions. This is where the movie outdoes the manga.  

For me, the movie was superior to the manga, but even so, I would still recommend this series to those who enjoy a gripping thriller, action-packed scenes, psychological twists, and stunning art.

A man wakes up one day to find himself imprisoned for reasons unknown to him, spending a decade in captivity before being suddenly released. During this time, he maintains his sanity by clinging to one simple fact: he is still alive. With his past now behind him and nothing left to lose, his sole objective becomes uncovering the identity of the person who kept him imprisoned all these years.  

The world of manga, unlike its counterpart in Western culture (comics), often suffers from stories that are overly conventional, featuring predictable characters and art that, while polished, lacks reflection of the real world. However, "Oldboy" breaks free from such conventions. At first glance, there's nothing particularly captivating about this manga. The characters are ordinary people dressed in everyday clothes, with subdued expressions on their faces. There's minimal action relative to the overall narrative, and most of the story unfolds in Tokyo—nothing out of the ordinary.  

What sets "Oldboy" apart right from its opening chapter is the concept driving the entire story. The idea of imprisoning someone for ten years—feeding them well, providing a room with a full bathroom, TV, and even monthly haircuts—as part of an elaborate act of vengeance is truly extraordinary. Moreover, this was done at a staggering cost of 300 million yen (approximately $3 million USD), all paid by the perpetrator. Couldn't the antagonist have simply sent an assailant to murder or torture the protagonist instead? Why go through the trouble of imprisoning him at such great expense, especially when planning to release him eventually?  

One drawback of the manga is its length. The premise is undeniably captivating and intriguing, but despite the fascinating characters and their development, it takes far too long for the truth to be revealed. Nevertheless, the numerous events leading up to the final revelation serve a purpose. They heighten the impact of the antagonist's ultimate motive. Beneath the surface lies a thought-provoking and melancholic theme. What drives us forward in a world filled with superficial individuals, unfair circumstances, and the inevitable end that awaits us all? No one is immune to the imperfections of our world, and Kakinuma—the antagonist—has a surprisingly heartfelt tale to share. At the heart of it all is Gotou, a man whose honesty and empathy become flaws in his character.  

Where "Oldboy" truly excels is in its nuanced portrayal of characters and the relationships they form throughout the story. Unlike the clear-cut heroes and villains of many traditional mangas, the characters here embody the very flaws of humanity: greed and carelessness driven by self-preservation; vulnerability in forming meaningful connections; and, perhaps most damaging, the capacity and perceived duty to care. These characters mirror the people we encounter in life—equally respectable, flawed, and despicable.  

"Oldboy" is a manga populated by highly realistic characters caught in the grip of an unbeatable adversary to humanity. It is frustrating, dark, and depressing, yet touching and surprisingly sympathetic. The pervasive atmosphere of melancholy is hauntingly conveyed not only through the story but also through the understated, unexaggerated depiction of characters and settings. This work stands as a triumph in both the realm of manga and literature. 9/10.