Name: Art is amazing, story is repetitive but engaging. Secondary characters are very good.
Item: Jagaaan
Rating: 75
Author: jerojero

Waifra

Art is amazing, story is repetitive but engaging. Secondary characters are very good. · Waifora

This series contains a lot of sex and violence.

The themes are interesting, the frenzied frogs are an interesting twist and the way people's desires shape their powers gives rise to unique characters.

You're often wondering "what sort of desire does this person have to get such powers" or alternatively "how does this type of desire will shape the character".

Overall, pretty much all the main enemies are very interesting characters; they're well fleshed out and they all have unique motivators.

The enemies that I enjoyed the most were

Spoiler, click to view

the caterpillar friends, they had an easy to root for story that was actually pretty emotional.

If I separate the series in 5 parts I'd say it's strongest on parts 3 and 4. I really enjoyed some of the characters introduced in the latter half.

Part 1: Introduction of the story

Spoiler, click to view

Starting from the beginning, the story feels like it jumps straight into action which is good; Jagasaki is not the most likeable character but that's part of what makes the series interesting. He will go through a lot of character development through out the story and that's good. The beginning is good and kinda hooks you in. We are also introduced to the first of the in-depth anti-hero characters with Robahata.

Part 2: Middle section - Heroes arc (fractured human warriors)

Spoiler, click to view

I'd consider the middle of the story to be split into kinda 2 parts, with the heroes arc first. I liked some of the heroes and anti-heroes that are introduced here. But they don't get a ton of development, the most interesting characters are definitely the scissors-hand girl and the leader. The girl gets to interact with the first of the anti-hero side characters, Robahata whose story develops through out this arc.

When it comes to Robahata, we never really see him properly develop as a person, although he still retains a consciousness as he is only half-fractured he lets his desires consume him. But honestly, his character doesn't develop sufficiently. But being a side-character I didn't really mind not to have him reach a happy ending.

Ultimately the heroes arc ends with Misogi fully fracturing and having Jagasaki get a power up to defeat him. It develops the world in a significant way and sets up for a strong next arc.

Part 3-4: Middle section - Half-fractured humans arc

Spoiler, click to view

I liked this section of the story the most, possibly because I found the story of Yadori/Aisa quite engaging. I think she/he is developed much better than Robahata was in that although she's a half-fractured human and has killed someone, she's still pretty interesting and imo easy to empathize with character. And she does get a redemption on the ending.

We are also introduced to Mikazuchi who is a pretty interesting character that fills the role of mentor for Jagasaki. Later on Mikazuchi switches bands in a really satisfying contrast with Jagasaki.

The first half of this part is about the new state of the world after the previous events changed everything. And then in the second part we are introduced to some new characters that will play the role of final enemies.

The battles in the amusement park are alright, but we don't really get to learn much about the enemies. The problem is that at this point the kind of battle-loop has grown a bit tired; Jagasaki is overwhelmed and then as he understands his desires a bit better he gets a power-up that allows him to defeat the enemy. I guess my problem is that this doesn't really seem to happen very much for the enemies he's fighting or his friends with them either fully fracturing or simply not evolving very much.

However, the ending itself did not feel very satisfying.

Parts 5: Ending

Spoiler, click to view

Although the battles were cool, the whole thing felt a bit rushed in a way where the story takes a turn making one of the enemies we were introduced on part 4 the final boss. And it didn't feel super satisfying.

I kind of wish we had seen Nomen through out the story like we did Chiharu. Although yeah, he is a product of Chiharu he seemed to be a pretty interesting character as a human as well.

I loved what they did with Mikazuchi though and I enjoyed the team up with Chiharu; but it would have been nice if he was the actual final boss. Though, I guess, the manga doesn't really feel finished and it sets up for a kind of part 2 but I'm not sure if that will ever happen.

The formula of showing the fractured human backstory right before they are about to be killed has grows tiring. I wish the structure of the manga had been shifted around a bit with the author showing the humans right to the point where they're about to be fractured in the earlier sections of the manga for them to be introduced as fractured humans later on with their battles.

Instead, every enemy has a sort of self-contained episodic arc that makes the story feel pretty repetitive.

As it stands though, it was an entertaining read. And the art itself is some of the best I've seen in a while. The characters all feel pretty solid overall.