8.2/10 I seriously hate war mangas with a passion… but this is something else. But first, let me justify my hatred a bit. War mangas tend to be so … boring. There isn't a plot, besides showing suffering and the battlefield. Rinse and repeat. There are throw-away characters that cause a “tear-jerker,” and then there’s usually your overpowered protagonist killing everyone in sight. This concept gets old relatively quickly, but this is different. This manga incorporates jokes, delves into the main character’s psyche, and includes numerous “healing” moments that help you forget about the violence. Of course, this violence then comes later in the story, butit’s a nice balance.

There are some forcefully antagonistic characters, but they aren’t horrible solely because they… change. I know, ground-breaking idea, right? Having a side character that isn’t a pain in the ass for the next 10 chapters.

This manga’s plot is a lot more refreshing due to the usual executions of cliches. It finds the right balance between everything to make an engaging but still emotional read. If there was one flaw, which happens for every war mangas, it would be the info-dumps occasionally, but it doesn’t hinder the story too much.

If even a certified war manga hater like me can enjoy this, then go ahead and enjoy this.

Reading Rankings (Portnoy inspired + A Huang-Teizan Original)
10 - God’s penmanship
9 - Must-read. Drop everything else.
8 - Instant bookmark
7 - Entertaining
6 - Good to pass time
5 - Why are you reading this?
4 - Bad.
3 - Typical garbage.
2 - My head hurts.
1 - Retirement is a thought.
0 - “Did they even give you a story?!”