Contains spoilers

I will start off by saying that this kind of series isn’t usually my cup of tea the kind of gritty atmosphere and tragic world I usually go for more lighthearted stuff but man am I glad that I chose this one it will be a manga that will stay with me for some time to come I’ll start with a little intro on what the series is about its about the lives of 7 young men in a very broken and abused Japan after WWII where lawlessness, rape, theft and other manner of crime is just normal the system is utterly broken the rich prey on the weak even more than current day but this is a story about brotherhood of how together with sheer determination, will and hardwork you can accomplish your dreams no matter how far away they might feel at the start of the manga all of the 7 guys get thrown into a reformatory prison where the guards treat them like garbage and disposable trash Rokurota Sakuragi has been in prison way longer than the other 6 and he takes them under his tutelege and this is a very pivotal point for the other 6 men as not only did he teach them how to fight and survive he taught them what it means to be a good human and its these teachings that we see play a part in every single decision the guys make even after they get out of prison and Sakuragi is shot dead.

Also at the beginning I said that I didnt think that was my kind of manga but familial relatipnships and bonds is one of my fav things to watch and read in animanga so the familial bond that these 7 men share is amazing to watch and kept me hooked the entire way through the first arc which is the prison arc is by far the most tragic and I would say hardest to get through just because of the how dark and hopeless feeling it is Joe, one of the 7 guys, is from the orphanage, and he finds out one day that his only sister, Megu, is being sold off to some old cunt who just wants to toy with her and use her, so the other 6 help him escape and see her one last time. What follows is probably one of the most gut-wrenching encounters and talks that I have seen. This type of thing always gets me. I wanted to put a fist through my phone and punch the adults, the owner of the orphanage, and the old cunt. There are many moments and arcs in the manga that made me want to do that at times, but this is a pretty big one for me. Also, I’d like to say that the art in Rainbow is fucking top-notch.

I always am surprised at how good some people are at art. I’ve read a ton of series by now that have insanely detailed and amazing art, but I’m always surprised to see how good it can be still. I don’t think I’m ever going to get numb to it. Some honorable mentions of series that have great art are Otoyomegatari and Veil. The first part of the manga is all about life in the reformatory and how fucked up all the guards are, preying on the inmates. The doctor there is just using the boys as his playthings whenever he likes, but even in the midst of all that, the manga shows you that there are good people left in the world. Setsuko, the nurse, is a very gentle and kindhearted soul and is the one that offers Sakuragi, Suppon and Mario a place to stay once they escape,Suppon, partly because she is in love with Sakuragi but also just out of the goodness of her heart. It shows us that while there may be evil overflowing in the world, it doesn't mean that there is no good left, and all hope is never lost.

The second half of Rainbow is after all of them are released and the troubles they all face, then new challenges. This manga, as much as it's about the message it wants to give you with its story, is ultimately carried by its characters. Like any great piece of media, the characters feel very much alive. You want this band of idiots to be happy and achieve their dreams. You can't help but root for them from the bottom of your heart. Rainbow is a story about hope, perseverance, and the bonds one shares with others—the kind of bond that cannot be broken no matter what the circumstances. The kind of bond that makes you not care about your own life if it means saving someone else who you consider to be family I do want to take this moment to talk about a gripe I had, which is very much just a nitpick, but still, lol, I really wish after that amazing final arc we got to see Mario and Setsuko together.

I understand why it didn't and couldn't happen. Mario had to follow his own dream, and Setsuko had her own life to live, but it would’ve felt perfect to me if it had happened. Still, in the end, I really loved this manga, its themes, its characters, and its art; everything was great.

Overall, this is one of those pieces of media that will stay with me for a very long time the mix of ruthless and tragic events but with an equally good payoff at the end are what make it so memorable and amazing plus of course the characters the last page of the manga has an eagle with the text “After all we are free” that brought a tear to my eye when I read it because I realized that this is the end and I won't be seeing this group of idiots again there was a page before this that summarizes my thoughts so well it goes like “I’ll never be able to forget this band of idiots” but yeah in the end I loved this series and I would suggest it to anyone that wants something raw and full of emotion and at the same time can stomach some of the more tragic and depressing aspects of the story.

Score: 9/10