# Overview I always preach - especially within the shonen demographic - that the manga is always superior to an anime adaptation, and that is for good reason. Because the manga is specifically controlled by the mangaka, we are in their world and taken through it, understanding it in the way they want it to be understood and it allows for a story to be more thoroughly explained and detailed then in an anime. Whether it's good or bad though is a different question and Nurarihyon no Mago falls into the category of a far superior manga... and being good.

The cries of "shonen", "friendship" and "powerful twelve year-old" I can hear being questioned in your minds as you read this review. Fair that is and in truth you are right to question before you partake, but this is not a pure-breed which was read by the young and abhorred by those who are older or want something different. This manga is a mix, you can find traces of what is a "shonen" manga as you read along but that's all there is to it - traces. Is there a twelve year-old - yes. Are there friends - yes. But that's all there is to it, and those two tropes are not followed in the traditional sense.

Nurarihyon no Mago is a fantastic example of allowing a mangaka to explore, expand and mature the tropes found in a demographic - and in this case a shonen.

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Rating: 86

When you start reading this piece, you will definitely have a sense of; "here we go again" shonen-esque thinking - however that is short lived. True, the strong DNA of shonen remain throughout the whole manga but it is by no means overly dominant or the base formula for continuing the story. Rather it is the connecting piece in twining together the story, the "grounding" piece of what is an action packed play.

I will admit, at times it can feel slightly dragged out - not to the point of wanting to drop the piece but rather a slightly longer break and carefully coordinated segue into the next volume, arc or action-pack set of chapters. Let that not distract you from what is a great story which is continuous, where even in the odd chapter where heavy shonen comes back into play or where things seem to slow down - there is always an underlying point to it. At times it may seem predictable, but it is never executed in a manner that you would stereotypically think - nor is a climax done in the famed "friendship is power" trope.

That leads me onto the characters. Brilliant. Thorough and in-depth, with several twists to the tale throughout the whole course of the manga. The story is built on folklore and with it the development of majority of the side characters. Of course this means many backstories, however rather then overwhelming amounts all at once it is well placed - although it can be a tad much at times. I would never suggest pointless filler, rather it's a case of the mangaka explaining the lore to us readers and pinpointing the characters exactly where they stand in this universe. As an added bonus, every character seems to tie the story together and even if minor, have a contribution and influence on where the story leads - rather then a one-hit-wonder.

The absolute peak of this manga though is the artwork. The fight scenes and holy crap moments are reminiscent of what old shonen was famed off of. There are on several occasions where the detail is quite honestly extraordinary and the artwork of the scenes makes you forget that you are reading a 'shonen' piece. The raw emotions, storyline and scenes are emphasized to a fantastic degree and that is one of the main reasons for my rating to be as high as an 86.

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I believe an 86 rating accurately reflects what is a hidden gem of the shonen genre which is looked down upon by its anime adaption. The artwork and scenes compliment the story and elevate this manga to a level above many others. After 218 chapters, I do not feel that you will be disappointed - even if the shonen type is not your cup of tea.