The Reincarnation of an Ordinary Person With Unparalleled Effort ~If You Work Hard From the Time You Are a Baby, Before You Know It, You Will Be Carrying the Future of Japan on Your Shoulders~

Story (8/10):  
"Kuroshitsuji takes place in Victorian-era London, beginning at the manor of Ciel Phantomhive, the twelve-year-old head of a prestigious noble English family. Assisting this young prodigy is Sebastian Michaelis, the epitome of an ideal butler dedicated to fulfilling his master's every need. You might wonder—what kind of reader am I, marveling at the tale of an aristocrat and a mere butler? However, it’s important to note that Sebastian is far from ordinary. As the story unfolds, we discover there's more to the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian. This exceptional butler isn't serving out of kindness or for wealth; instead, he's bound to Ciel by a dark contract, gradually revealed as the chapters progress. The narrative is fantastic, though some chapters may feel slower and less impactful than others—they remain crucial and enjoyable. The story is unique and captivating, offering laughter and enthusiasm despite occasional lulls."  

Art (10/10):  
"The artwork in Kuroshitsuji is breathtakingly beautiful. From the start, you'll likely be impressed. The backgrounds are stunning, vividly capturing the Victorian era. The intricate details in clothing designs, 19th-century tea sets, and the interior of the Phantomhive manor highlight the artistry. Character designs are exceptional—Sebastian exudes sophistication, complexity, and style, while Ciel radiates superiority, cleverness, and class. The art is undoubtedly one of the manga's strongest aspects."  

Character (10/10):  
"The characters are a standout feature of Kuroshitsuji. Ciel Phantomhive, a twelve-year-old business genius, leads the noble Phantomhive family. He prides himself on maturity, calmness, and a love for winning, whether in deals or games. Ciel views Sebastian as both a pawn and someone willing to endure anything for the Phantomhive name. Then there's Sebastian Michaelis, the unparalleled butler capable of cooking professionally, cleaning immaculately, maintaining gardens, and even fending off enemies with utensils. His perfection is undeniable, yet his true nature becomes increasingly clear as the story advances. Every character, including supporting ones, has a distinct backstory and personality. While the tone can be dark, many characters provide comic relief. Each individual contributes significantly to the overall story."  

Enjoyment (9/10):  
"I'm thoroughly enjoying Kuroshitsuji. Questions naturally arise given it's an ongoing series, but each chapter answers some while raising new ones, fueling my curiosity. It strikes a perfect balance of supernatural action, mystery, and comedy, making it an incredible manga. Additionally, it appeals to female readers with its "hot bishies/shotas."  

Overall (9/10):  
"In conclusion, I highly recommend Kuroshitsuji to anyone seeking a manga with a unique, twisting plot, diverse and compelling characters, and stunning art. I'm deeply engaged, and I hope others will come to love it too."  

I hope this review was helpful! If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing more Kuroshitsuji fans!

Longtime reader, volumes 1-31 review: 4/5  
Black Butler has been one of my guilty pleasures for years. The story begins with Ciel, a young boy in the Victorian era, who suffers unimaginable tragedy—kidnapped, tortured, his family murdered, and his estate destroyed. In a twisted turn of events, when his captors attempt to summon a demon, the demon instead forms a lifelong contract with Ciel. Bound by this pact, the demon agrees to serve Ciel in any way he desires, as long as Ciel remains focused on his path of vengeance. Once Ciel exacts his revenge, his soul will be claimed. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?  

Over the years, the series has explored numerous arcs, ranging from comedic to deeply serious, with some... questionable content choices sprinkled in (a boy band arc? really? in Victorian England???). But let's face it, many fans stuck around simply because they wanted to see attractive characters doing exciting things. And that promise has consistently been delivered. Moreover, Toboso's art style has evolved significantly, becoming less stylized and more refined, with intricate details in clothing and breathtaking backgrounds that rival the allure of everyone's favorite demon butler.  

Recently, the narrative has taken on a more somber tone and grown increasingly complex (which I absolutely adore!). There may even be an end in sight, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I recently finished the anime and thought, "OMG, this is actually a really good anime, but I don't really get the thing with seasons 1, 2, and 3." So, I did a bit of research and understood that it's in a similar situation as Blue Exorcist. The anime had an anime-only ending, then had a completely filler season 2 with a not-so-great ending. But even so, I still fell in love with the series despite its flaws, and I felt bad that it became this extremely underrated series in my opinion. Then, I found out that the manga was still ongoing, and many dedicated fans were praising the manga very highly.  

So, I decided to read it because it seemed as good, if not better than the anime. I read the entire thing so far in one night, and HOLY SHOT, it was worth it!  

The manga has stunning art and provides much more information about the characters than the anime. The arcs are very interesting to follow, and you can't help but root for Ciel in whatever he's doing. It is truly beautiful, and the story is getting deeper and more complicated. The latest arc left me with so many questions, and I just can't stop! I've reread the entire manga so far three times, and all the anime seasons twice. It is truly an amazing story, and I think if it were to come out now, it would absolutely break the internet.  

I recommend it 100%!

This series is celebrated in its anime adaptation, whereas the manga tends to receive less acknowledgment. But why? Is the anime truly superior to the original work? Does it genuinely deserve all the attention it has garnered? I aim to unravel this "mystery." What am I saying? Let's cut straight to the review, shall we?

Kuroshitsuji, or Black Butler as it is popularly known among fans, is a shonen manga with elements of seinen and shojo. But what exactly does that mean? It's challenging to categorize the genre of this series, not only in terms of its narrative structure but also its art style. The manga incorporates numerous clichés, absurd comedy (which can occasionally be amusing), and constant action, classifying it primarily as shonen. However, the concept is dark, filled with grim references, gothic symbolism, and the persistently melancholic aura brought by the main character, which are classic seinen traits. The design of some characters, particularly the males, appears quite gothic, often sporting sadistic expressions and smirks, but let's delve into that later. Additionally, the "female yaoi-loving" background of the author influences the work, making it seem more shojo-like with all its irritating tendencies. However, remember, this isn't necessarily bad; as a heterosexual male, I don't particularly appreciate the yaoi inclinations presented in the manga.

After this extensive explanation about the genre, I will now proceed to discuss the story. Frankly, the plot development in Kuroshitsuji is rather disappointing. It had the potential to be the best story I've ever read, but it was ruined by significant simple flaws that could have been easily fixed. There are inconsistencies in many points across various arcs, ultimately detracting from much of the story. The narrative follows different arcs, mainly involving different crime cases investigated by the protagonist, Ciel Phantomhive, his butler Sebastian Michaelis, and usually more supporting characters who will be mentioned later. The cases are quite inventive for the most part, and one even has historical references. It would be a shame if a manga set in the Victorian Era with a crime-investigation theme didn't include its own version of the infamous Jack the Ripper case. This is one of the best arcs in the manga, with the absolute best "conclusion," delivering a profound message that left me shaken.

The messages are undoubtedly the best aspect of the story. Kuroshitsuji is pessimistic in every way. The treatment of tragic events is remarkable, especially considering it's a shonen manga series. The main character emerges as one of the cruelest protagonists I've encountered in a manga series, and Sebastian only amplifies this cruelty with his demonic nature. It's unfortunate I can't discuss spoilers here. If I could, I would elaborate on the messages and philosophical meanings behind certain arcs, such as the Jack the Ripper and the circus ones, which are, by far, the best.

However, these messages are somewhat overshadowed by other aspects. The story is riddled with stupid and unnecessary "comic relief" characters who suddenly become serious and perverted without warning. This is irksome and annoyed me multiple times. And, of course, this is a shonen manga, so the power of friendship couldn't be absent. Fortunately, due to the protagonist's cold and cruel personality, the messages are easily forgotten, and it's actually entertaining to see how people around Ciel consider him a friend while he merely views them as chess pieces. Still, I wonder if Ciel feels anything for some of the characters.

As we delve deeper into the characters, let's discuss them further. Since I've already commented extensively on the protagonist, Ciel Phantomhive, there's no need to repeat everything. Sebastian, whom I haven't discussed much yet, is one of the finest characters I've encountered in any story. He's well-known among fangirls for his looks, and fans often overlook his true nature and personality. We understand his motives, his true self, and that he isn't playing games. Many people forget just how cruel Sebastian is, but then again, isn't he a demon? Isn't he pure evil? But... aren't humans inherently evil too? Hey, what defines good and evil anyway? This is one of the many questions the manga seems to provoke thought about.

While Ciel and Sebastian form a strong, realistic, and solid duo, the rest of the characters aren't as compelling. Most are created solely for comic relief after fulfilling their primary function in an arc (a prime example being Prince Soma and Agni, the Indian prince and his servant). Some others aren't interesting at all, a few are slightly amusing and charismatic, but they don't significantly impact the story (like Grell Sutcliff, the gay/bi shinigami, and Meylin, Finny, and Bard, the other servants of the Phantomhive Manor). Yet, there are intriguing and well-developed characters who influence the story, such as Ciel's aunt, Madam Red, a very solid and realistic character, and the Undertaker, one of the most fascinating supporting characters, who likely has a greater role in the future as the story expands with numerous events unfolding.

There are also genuinely funny characters like Lau, the Chinese manager of a trading company, and peculiar ones with bizarre charisma, such as Mr. Tanaka, the former butler of the Phantomhive family who knew Ciel from long ago, and Snake, a servant who appears later but possesses an interesting personality and approach to situations.

Kuroshitsuji features some supporting minor characters who appear with equally minor roles in various arcs, and there are those who do nothing from the start. A prime example is Ciel's fiancée, Elizabeth Midford, or Lizzy. She is the most clichéd and unrealistic character for reasons that would be spoilers. But Lizzy is entirely unnecessary for the plot and storyline, making her the most useless major supporting character overall.

Since the series is still ongoing, I hope for more background development for the servants of the Phantomhive Manor, which hasn't happened yet. And, of course, I hope the useless Lizzy accomplishes something that changes the story.

To conclude, the story is good, really good. However, the narrative has flaws, and the author isn't particularly skilled at storytelling. She needs to decide whether her manga should focus on shonen or seinen audiences. And please, drop the yaoi tendencies to appeal to a broader male audience, which I believe should be her target by publishing in a shonen action magazine.

Nevertheless, there are many mysteries left to solve in the plot.

The art in Kuroshitsuji isn't great. I'm baffled by the number of people praising it as perfect and beautiful. It doesn't come close to that. Here's why: The covers and full-color illustrations are stunning and highly detailed. The artist's technique for coloring and composition on these covers and special pages is impressive, and I'm awestruck by each new colored page or double page she creates. However, the actual comic pages are... Well... Blank. The manga aims to immerse readers in the Victorian world, where architecture and fashion were paramount. There's almost no setting in the manga, and they are extremely poor and lack "dirt." For those unfamiliar, "dirt" in drawing refers to the different tones used for various elements or even smaller details like cracks on walls or wall stamps, etc. Kuroshitsuji uses few gray tones and even fewer for such purposes. When I see a building, I want to cry seeing such wasted talent from the artist in poorly drawn structures. Then I encounter a double-page spread. Beautiful drawings and beautiful use of perspective.

I don't know, but in a monthly manga, I expected much more from a series that sometimes spans twenty pages. Especially from an artist who CAN draw beautifully.

The setting is subpar, but how about the characters? Are they well-drawn? Yes, they are. The character design is excellent and suits most of them well. Using examples: we see Ciel, a cold kid. His appearance, often dark with grey tones resembling blue, emphasizes that aspect of his personality. Sebastian; an almost perfect butler. Always impeccably dressed in fancy clothing. But he's also cruel and a demon. His usual smirk and grim eyes alongside his "gothic-ish" hair add to the feeling of darkness. There are varied character designs, but many adult male characters look similar. Sometimes you feel surrounded by Sebastians in the story. Thankfully, hairstyles are distinct and help identify the characters since the clothing of many is uniform.

Though anatomically realistic, there are minor mistakes that can irritate someone who analyzes art strictly like me. For instance, hats that don't match the actual size of the head, and so forth. However, I don't complain much because I like the character design, though they don't fully align with the Victorian Era theme. As most men wear long and elegant hair with long bangs, some reaching their eyes and even extending to the bottom of the chin. Despite this, I enjoy this kind of design and don't feel the need to criticize. It's a stylized manga after all, not a historical movie.

In summary, Kuroshitsuji is a great manga with considerable flaws in art and story. A review of it is somewhat incomplete without spoilers, but I've tried my best to cover everything. I enjoyed the manga thoroughly and have no regrets reading it through. Even though I'm eager to discover what happens next in the story, I'm always wary the author might ruin it. I sense the manga has several arcs before reaching its conclusion, and I anticipate the mystery surrounding Ciel's parents' death to be more intriguing than I initially expected, with revelations from various characters.

I recommend Kuroshitsuji to anyone who can tolerate yaoi tendencies (which DO NOT occur; if they did, I wouldn't have continued reading) and enjoys a bit of philosophy and darker themes. If you're excessively preoccupied with story flaws and art, give it a try, but I assure you it won't be a flawless experience.

Oh! Please avoid watching the anime. Don't subject yourself to that torture.

__________________________

My score: 7.9

To start off, this manga is definitely worth reading, regardless of whether you watch the anime or not. In fact, the anime doesn't even come close to matching the manga.  

Story - This story is incredible and one of a kind. It primarily revolves around mystery and the supernatural, with a hint of romance and humor, all brilliantly woven together. Once you start, you won't be able to put the book down.  

Art - The artwork in the manga is extraordinary. The characters are beautifully illustrated, and the backgrounds are stunning. Yana Toboso perfectly captures the essence of 19th century London on every page. Additionally, the action scenes feel as though they leap right off the page.  

Characters - The characters are fantastic. From their striking appearances to their remarkable personalities, they are truly works of art. You'll instantly fall in love with Ciel, his dashing butler, quirky servants, and charming fiancée.  

Enjoyment - This manga is undoubtedly enjoyable. You'll find yourself wanting to re-read the books over and over again. The story is exceptional, and the humor is side-splitting. Your eyes will be glued to the pages from start to finish.

As a boy, I didn't have a great first impression of Black Butler. Watching fangirls go crazy over Sebastian or other characters, I assumed it was just another visually appealing manga with flawless male characters designed to make fangirls squeal.

I was partially right—it is indeed a visually stunning manga with attractive guys. However, it’s far from boring or monotonous; in fact, it's one of the most thrilling reads I've experienced in years!

Story: 9  
The official description does a good job summarizing the plot, so I won’t rehash it here. I knew it took place during the Victorian era and referenced famous historical events like Jack the Ripper and the Titanic. What surprised me was how well these elements were integrated! The story unfolds in arcs, each leading seamlessly into the next. While it might seem like a series of disconnected adventures, there's much more depth than that. Every arc ties back to Ciel's past, revealing small clues about what truly happened and hinting at future developments. There are incredible twists—unexpected yet meticulously planned throughout. Occasionally, I flip back a few pages to ensure I didn’t miss anything. This manga has an almost gravitational pull, drawing you deeper with every page.

Art: 10/10  
PERFECT. No other word fits the art style of Black Butler. Every detail is breathtaking—the teacups, clothing, furniture, and characters all exude astonishing precision. All those intricate decorations are rendered flawlessly, and the characters' facial expressions clearly convey their emotions. The dresses, hats, stockings, and accessories look impeccable, with no errors in proportion or design. If only I could draw half as well—I’d gladly trade my soul to a demon for such skill!

Characters: 10/10  
Despite its sophisticated setting, this manga doesn't shy away from eccentricity. From Ciel, the epitome of seriousness, to Grell, the flamboyant queen of drama, the cast spans every imaginable personality type. Sebastian, the ever-confident butler, remains steadfast in serving his master, unless distracted by cats. Then there's the enigmatic Undertaker, who provides valuable information if entertained with a good laugh. The quirky traits and peculiar fetishes of this delightful group never fail to elicit laughter. I could write an entire book praising these characters, but that would be a waste of time.

Enjoyment: 9/10  
Classy, gory, tragic, hilarious, addictive, brimming with action, humor, stunning twists, and emotionally charged moments—this manga checks all the boxes for greatness. Not a single chapter felt dull; it's consistently engaging from start to finish, which is rare in my experience. My only complaint? The monthly wait between chapters can be frustrating, especially when cliffhangers interrupt ongoing battles. Still, it's entirely worth the wait.

Overall: 10  
I’ve said everything I wanted to say. Although Black Butler tends to attract more female fans, I believe boys can enjoy it just as much—I certainly did! ;)

If you're a fan of mysteries, I highly recommend this to everyone. While it might be challenging to follow at certain parts of the chapters, it's exceptionally well-written and meticulously thought out. Among all the novel books I've read, this one comes remarkably close to giving you the feeling of reading a novel—just with pictures.  

There are only two drawbacks that I can think of regarding this manga. First, it's not yet complete. Although I usually prefer finished series, I'm willing to wait for this one. Second, some characters, like Elizabeth, can be quite annoying and frustrating, but that's precisely what makes this a true manga experience.  

Overall, I'd give it a rating of 9/10. I would make it a 10, but since it's still ongoing, I'll wait until it's finished. Once it's done, I'll reassess and see if I change my mind.  

Until then, this is Usa-chan man (BunnyMafia) saying goodbye.

I admit, before I started reading it, I was a bit curious after spotting it on Anime-Planet. So, I dipped into a few fanfictions and became hooked on the characters' nuances. Eventually, I headed over to OneManga, and you can imagine my joy at finding it there instead of having to scour Yahoo for it.

The Story deserves a 9/10.
The plot is genuinely engaging. It had me hooked by the second chapter. The first chapter was a tad dull but laced with some good humor. Things really picked up in the second chapter. Once I began reading, I couldn't stop, and whenever I returned online, I eagerly picked up where I left off. This manga's narrative is superb—a gothic blend with a historical vibe and dashes of humor sprinkled throughout.

The Art deserves a 10/10.
I adore Toboso Yana's work. Honestly, after seeing such remarkable art, I wish I could draw like her. The artwork is fantastic, showcasing meticulous details of Victorian attire and life during that era. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've always been fond of the Victorian period, but I hadn't come across a manga that captures it as well as this one. Yana clearly put in a lot of effort, especially when it came to depicting food.

The Characters: 10/10.
Once again, I must say I truly admire her character designs. Ciel and Sebastian stand out particularly. Sebastian is the epitome of a butler, fully devoted to his master. He exudes professionalism while maintaining an air of mischief, and his love for cats adds another layer to his charm. Ciel, a cold, brilliant, somewhat spoiled child earl, is utterly adorable. His icy stare is captivating.

Enjoyment...
Unlike many other manga, I genuinely relish reading this one. It offers a refreshing narrative style that suits my taste perfectly.

Overall.
This story merits a 10 out of 10 rating. I highly recommend it to those who appreciate a compelling plot, a novel storytelling approach, and perhaps a few recipes to try.