Sakamoto Days is part of the new trend of Shonen where it’s more comedic in nature. Similar to Spy x Family which is a parody of the espionage genre and doesn’t pretend to follow the laws of physics. In the case of Sakamoto Days, it’s more focused on Assassins and Conspiracy with an evident Family Life and Found Family theme to it. I don’t think it’s as well executed as its influences like Gintama, Spy x Family or even The Way of the Househusband, however, it’s an entertaining ride. I would say the tone in the latter half of the series (102 chapters in) can be a tad inconsistent. The storyline does become a tad too serious at moments, but it’s not too big of a deal. It ultimately isn’t so significant, as the action becomes more prominent and outrageous. Furthermore, the author knows when it's becoming too serious, so he will have more fun with it.

The cast is very fun with Shin, Sakamoto, Lu, Akira, Shishiba, Osaragi and others. They don’t have an immense amount of depth, but it isn’t necessary for this type of series. It’s enough to be interested in what’s on screen. The characters are likable, and you want them to succeed in whatever ordeal they have stumbled upon. I think Sakamoto as a character is generally very good, his interactions with the other cast often emphasise messages that are staples of the medium. The basics such as friendship, family, found family themes and so forth. Finding purpose in the little things in life.

The main highlight of the series would be the art style. It’s stylish, slick, dynamic and extremely varied. There are even scenes that remind me of Hiroaki Samura which is a high compliment. The character designs are very varied, which serves as a good contrast to the simplicity of Sakamoto's design. Furthermore, the use of colour in spreads and volume covers is fantastic. You can immediately tell the author had a lot of fun drawing them. It's not dull and muted colours, but colours that pop and catch your attention.

The action is pretty incredible across the board, and it shocks me that this is a weekly manga. The manga artist is incredible at depicting momentum, and the choreography of close-quarters combat is brilliant. Battles often have that sense of weight as you see in old-school Hong Kong flicks where a punch is impactful. It’s unlike some modern Hollywood action flicks where it can look good but doesn’t contain that sense of weight. The backgrounds are very nicely drawn, which complements the action quite immensely.

In Conclusion, I’ve been mixed about this new wave of Shounen, but Sakamoto Days manages to stand out from the crowd. It's entertaining, contains a nice message and has a likable cast who kicks ass. If you are looking for some light-hearted entertainment that has a lot of heart this is for you!