Oct 12, 2014
When I first started reading Tokyo Ghoul, I was expecting just another typical action/battle manga with the typical tropes and cliches we've all seen before. Now that I've finished it, I can safely and gladly say that this manga has completely exceeded all my expectations.
Story - 9/10
Tokyo Ghoul has a very character-driven story, centred around the protagonist Kaneki Ken. However, as more events start unravelling in his life, the story starts to develop in several different directions and more mysteries are introduced. The plot is a bit slow at the start, but quickly builds up into a tense story of twists that will keep you
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on the edge of your seat. The general story progression also tends to play against the expected cliches, keeping the reader engaged.
Art - 8/10
The art of this manga is admittedly somewhat average and even inconsistent at the beginning, but as it progresses the art style improves, and we're treated to some very great double-page spreads and some nice fight scenes. And if you're reading the hardcopy, each volume also have some impressive cover art.
Characters - 9/10
For me, this is where Tokyo Ghoul really shines. Because a large part of the story is told from Kaneki's perspective, the reader gets a deep insight into his way of thinking and his personality, and we get to see how his character progresses and changes as the story continues. It's also because of this insight that the reader can sympathise with the protagonist, and over time you slowly become attached to him. The other characters, while they are not given the same amount of exposition, are also handled quite well, and are never handled as stereotypical archetypes. They all have a unique quality to them which keeps the dynamics of character relations interesting, and overall makes the reader care more about how the characters are affected by the events of the story. Another aspect of Tokyo Ghoul that makes it fascinating is the moral ambiguity of all the characters. Not a single character is ever portrayed as simply "good" or "bad"; each person's actions are justified by their motives and reasoning, and this keeps the reader paying attention to all the factions introduced in the story.
Enjoyment - 10/10
Often when I read manga, I'll reach a stage where I won't be motivated to continue because it's not gripping enough to keep me entertained. Sometimes a story might reach a rather dull and slow story arc that makes it hard for the reader to be engaged. Not once did I have a moment like this with Tokyo Ghoul. Every chapter makes you crave for the next, and all the events of the story make you want to know more about it. The author always gives the reader just the right amount of information and exposition needed without overloading the reader or slowing down the story's pace.
Overall - 9/10
Tokyo Ghoul is just a very entertaining ride from start to finish. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a manga with a diverse range of fleshed-out characters and a story with a nice touch of mystery. If I had to sum up this manga in one phrase, it would be "things are never as simple as they seem".
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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