The Heroic Legend of Arslan is set in a fictional version of the Middle East. This is a refreshing change. Arslan is sensitive and wants his parent's affections, he’s kind but also can’t turn his eyes away from the war. He’s not a typical hot-blooded hero. He’s not overly strong or confident but not horrible weak either, and that’s what makes his journey appealing. Arakawa’s artwork is clearly laid-out and easy to follow. She uses a mix of small and large panels to add visual variety. Lots of greytones are used, making this look more like a black, white, and grey manga rather than a black andwhite manga. The shading is pretty impressive.

I started reading it because I'm a big fan of Full metal alchemist and I'm really loving it.