Jormungand · review
Spoiler warning
This review may discuss plot details.
Jormungand is a story that will definitely stay with you. It's unique as it does not deal with your usual themes. For those who are tired of the recycled plots, tropes and stories that is definitely a good thing. The story revolves is about the weapon dealer Koko and her crew which includes the child soldier Jonah. They travel around the world for all kinds of deals and encounter various hurdles they have to overcome. From trouble with other weapon dealers to the CIA and various security authorities. Honestly at the very beginning it was a struggle to get through the chapters. The story was all overthe place and there was no clear image of the plot to the point where I had to take breaks or the story would be completely lost . It picks up when the story covers the background of the crew and becomes messy again at the very end.
The manga introduces all sorts of characters which keeps the story fresh. Scarecrow for example is a total piece of shit with a horrible personality, but he is flexible, when he has to work with his enemies for aligning goals, he will do that.
If there is one thing that bothered me, how most of the story gives me the impression that Koko is hollow as a character and while yes that she is, in many forms, but her personality doesn't change. I see no growth in her, through the whole story she her setbacks were easily overcome and the only actual one was the death of one of her armsdealers who turned out to be a spy but even that had little influence on Koko. Same with how Jonah's decision which happened a few chapters before the story's ending only for him the turn back.
While Koko does have a dream, one understandable considering her family and upbringing, but to story glosses over her persoanlity and instead of using that to keep the reader curious they just continue on until the very end of the story when the readers are already tired and just want to finish it.
The story itself is not bad, its actually a great theme that's rarely seen in this kind of media, but the flaws or the lack of flaws in the characters and story is what makes it feel more lackluster. I would have given it a higher rating otherwise. This is a story that people could like, love or hate.
Would personally give it a 6.5 but it's not an option so I am giving it a 6.