The CEO's Redemption

But Ahas had told Ling not to worry. Although the forest was affecting his senses, since it hadn't really hurt Ling, he could find the way out eventually. Just that, it was easier if he asked for help from the natives instead of wandering alone in this forest.

This is a great story so far! Has lots of laughs! Can’t wait to keep reading it!

Turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable manga that could have easily scored an 8/10 or higher with a few adjustments.  

The standout feature here is the art. While it's dated and clearly shows its age, it often does so in ways that are charming. The designs are distinctive, characters are easily distinguishable from one another, and it boasts a fun aesthetic. The paneling is particularly impressive, and there are some truly well-executed scenes (especially in Volume 2). For the most part, the action sequences are straightforward and easy to follow, though I did find that during the second half of the story, as things began to wrap up, there was more jumping around during fights, making it harder to grasp exactly what was happening.  

Improving the flow of combat would have been one way to enhance the story. There were numerous instances where I had to revisit the previous page just to ensure I was keeping up with the events. There are at least 2-3 panels that I still *can't quite figure out*, usually involving some explosion whose role in the scene remains unclear.  

In terms of design, I wish the mangaka hadn't relied so heavily on old tank designs. For a story set 500 years in the future, featuring WWII-era tanks feels out of place. As the narrative becomes more sci-fi towards the middle and end, the world-building improves, but the presence of these tanks disrupts the immersion. A fictionalized wheeled vehicle that better fits the setting would have been less jarring (the same goes for the peculiar baseball helmets throughout). This might seem like a minor complaint, but it significantly detracts from the overall atmosphere.  

The plot ranged from decent to good. It could have benefited from a less episodic beginning, but overall, it wasn't bad. The theme of man and machine is intriguing and thought-provoking, though it isn't explored as deeply here as in other works. The protagonist doesn't undergo much character development, but given the length of the story, that's forgivable. One aspect I truly appreciated about the narrative is its willingness to tackle tough subjects—there's death, and it unfolds in ways that defy expectations.  

In conclusion, I recommend this manga if you're aware of what to expect. The art has an aged quality (both a pro and a con), the story is concise and direct (another double-edged sword), and certain design choices are both unsettling and original (yet again, a mixed bag). Ultimately, I enjoyed it, but it only just crossed the threshold into the 7/10 rating I assigned it.

Grey is a manga set in a post-apocalyptic world, following the life of the protagonist, Grey, after he enlists in the military. The manga loosely outlines the caste system that the surviving world is built upon, but primarily focuses on Grey's missions alongside his fellow soldiers.

The story presents intriguing concepts, and the dystopian future depicted is both thrilling and unsettling, offering thought-provoking ideas. However, world-building isn't the primary focus; instead, it's the actions that captivate the reader. The soldiers' missions are packed with action and detailed gunfights, yet a strategic element persists, lending the conflicts a grounded and serious tone. The mangaka portrays military life in this world as depressingly bleak, devoid of meaning, and filled with sorrow.

The art style is highly appealing, though it may depend on your preference for older manga or anime. It distinctly hails from the '80s but remains crisp and refined. Notable attention to detail is given to vehicles, tanks, and expressive character designs.

In this manga, characters are few, with some having more episodic roles. The main character is driven, and most of his motivations are explained, making him an engaging figure to follow. However, there's little depth to him or the supporting cast, which is disappointing given the well-conceived world and its inhabitants.

Overall, this manga is quite entertaining, reminiscent of gritty, realistic '80s sci-fi mecha series like Votoms and Southern Cross. It features a concise, well-executed plot and thrilling military engagements.

Review is based on the adaptation by Viz from the 80s.  

2/10.  
A special 0/10 specifically for volume 2.  

This has to be one of the most useless and mind-numbingly boring manga I've ever forced myself through.  

The action scenes are utterly pointless and lack creativity, particularly in volume 2. It's explosion after explosion after explosion—so many that even Michael Bay would lose interest. The characters are bland and uninspired, their dialogue stilted and robotic. No one talks like this, not even in the most exaggerated tropes of chauvinistic media. While the content may lean into some dated gender dynamics, my issue isn't with its tone but with how unnatural and wooden the conversations feel.  

To make matters worse, Gerard Jones, the English adaptor, included translator notes where he himself admitted the characters were dull. So it's not just a poor translation—it seems Tagami genuinely struggles to write engaging or relatable people. Instead, we get a cast of interchangeable "robots" with different names, showing up repeatedly without contributing much to the story. The main antagonist doesn't pose much of a challenge since our protagonist handily defeats them every time. Somehow, despite being only two volumes long, the plot remains convoluted and ends with zero resolution.  

This is absolutely abysmal, and I sincerely hope whatever deity exists forgives me for subjecting myself to this. I wouldn't call it "worm food" because even worms deserve better than this garbage. This belongs in a deeper circle of literary hell reserved for works so bad they defy comprehension. I could easily list another two pages detailing all the ways this series fails, but it doesn't warrant that much attention.  

At least the artwork had some nice anatomy... if you're into that sort of thing.  

https://imgur.com/a/tNch54E

Try museum of deadly beast