Would you believe me if I said Black Clover. The one Shounen that many has been avoiding and settling for beyond mediocrity and brain aching such as Demon Slayer and others is totally damn worth it? No, I am serious here. You don't know how much you're missing out on Black Clover, dismissing it as quickly as some of you do. It's a Shounen so expect it to have all the tropes you usually would, but does that make it bad? What if said it's all about execution and not the obvious? To cut the chase, Black Clover is one of the few Shounen I have come across that is written almost similar to One Piece. You know, how the ultimate treasure One Piece alone is linked to many other things and entangles itself in a colossal spider-web? Well, Black Clover is the same. The story is not what it seems at first. And the genius behind it—Yuki Tabata foreshadowed so much in just the first chapter in a subtler way. We are in such crazy and exciting places in the story right now. Still, there are clear hints of it there being even bigger and greater things at play even after all that has been going down. I don't know how I will get my point across, all the while avoiding spoilers and major topics, but I'll try my best to get you to see why Black Clover is so damn charming and even genius in some ways.

Don't expect it to be the same as One Piece, as it's tough to reach its level of writing and creativity. I don't want to give you the wrong impression here. Black Clover embodies everything that makes Shounen good or bad depending on your mindset but is littered at the same time with its own unique points. Our two protagonists are both stereotypical at first glance. Asta is not blessed with Mana and can not use magic. Hence he does physical training to make amends and reach his goal. Yuno is blessed with Mana and can use magic, and is genius at pretty much everything. Both wish two one day become the Wizard King. That sounds pretty familiar, right? They got a very friendly and wholesome rivalry with each other as they both push each other and work together to reach their goal. Even if both lives in two separate world, there is no animosity, greed, or jealousy between them. Two protagonists in one story are a double-edged sword. Thankfully Tabata knows what he is doing. Unlike most Shounen, there are segments of break down, reflection, and growing stronger both mentally and physically. We suffer losses and pain, and it's not smooth sailing all the time. Both Asta and Yuno are an example of good protagonists that I enjoy a lot.

It does have the power-ups that might seem random, but there are clearly plot threads showcasing those directions. Even if the execution might not hit all the right notes for you. It's clear Tabata is doing the best he can to satisfy as many people as possible. Black Clover uses flashbacks as a tool to enrichen the story further and deepen our bond with the characters. It's honestly crazy how many flashbacks we have had since the start, and the latest chapter, and yet none of it felt tedious at all. Only one other manga has made me enjoy backstory and be pumped about them as far as I can see. Don't expect Black Clover to be full-on Shounen without any weight or consequences. I have laughed, cried, raged, and even been terrified at some of the shit Tabata pulled out. That's not even counting the number of twists and turns my mind got blown apart by. Black Clover, at one point, got quite horrifying, and damn, the detailed depictions of the thing were gruesome and merely scary. It can be bloody when necessary and is not afraid to pull at your heartstrings.

I want to note that Black Clover has some of the best cast of characters I have come across. All so damn unique and colorful with their own distinct quirks and nice design. I can take many and pretty much any character and expend my thoughts on them. But to make things as short and sweet as possible. I'll do some of the ones who made the most impact on me. Noelle is a tsundere done right, and she's so damn adorable and a complex character. Don't expect Sakura from Naruto and Naruto Shippuuden, who can't do anything on her own and gets shafted to the side. Noelle starts out lacking the confidence and heart to do the things that matter, but that quickly changes, evolving her into one of the best female protagonists. She gets her own badass segments of kicking ass or savory and moving dialogue, and her growth is simply stunning. Noelle got the usual tsundere perks you see everywhere, but trust me, she is a lot more than meets the eye. Black Clover, don't do damsel in distress. It gives respect to females with an explosive or sweet personality on top of beauty and grace that can pack a punch and kick the daylights outta you. Honestly, the whole group of the endearing misfits of the Black Bulls brigade alone is so well-written and fleshed out. Yami, for one i is such a lovable badass, and his humor is quality and killed my sides too often. Don't even get me started on the other brigades and characters that don't fall short behind and get as much focus as possible. Tabata does not give all the priority to his lead roles as another certain author. Some chapters can have none of the main's insight, and yet it's intriguing and fun nonetheless.

There is no denying comedy is one of the few things that can show you how well the characters are working together, and Black Clover is top-notch at that. I don't remember the last time, actually having a hard time keeping in the laughter. Black Clover busted my guts more time than I can count with it's simple but effective and hilarious comedy timing and the execution. On that note, the art-style is so gorgeous and detailed and brimming with passion and flavor. Some of the panels are legit jaw-dropping and breathtaking and Tabata loves those double-spreads again like a certain other legendary author. Tabata also does add minor details to enrichen everything another notch, so I often find myself staring at the panels trying to take a glimpse of those. Suffices to say, Black Clover might offer even a more rewarding and enjoyable experience on a second reread. I doubt you didn't think about it already, but it got solid world-building, even if it does get really into that later down the road. Not to mention the history portion, politics, and the power system is quite complicated and well-defined as well. Black Clover even got a tinge of romance, which in my eyes is better than many long-running Shounen out there. There is progress. Even if it might not be the kind you like, it is there. I can only hope at this point my ship's sails by the end, and I got too many as there are many solid and lovable characters.

If there was one big issue I want to discuss, it would have to be the pacing, which can be both consistent and inconsistent at times. I only felt the latter a couple of times myself, and it was not a very big deal as I have seen way worse examples. In the end, Tabata can encapsulate what he wants without being forceful and tacky. Black Clover is long-running, so don't expect things to just click from the get-go as it takes a bit to get going. Patience is indeed a virtue. My recommendation would be to read up the fifth arc as that's where it really does turn into more than simple Shounen. It still got its shortcomings after that, as some arcs did feel a bit long-winded, while others went by so damn quickly. But surely it does keep improving as the scale gets bigger and the story keeps progressing. I forgot to mention, but Black Clover does not go for just the usual 1v1 route. But there are team efforts to take down the bad guys, and there are explanations. There are all kinds of villains and antagonists, and while some might feel poor, many are well-written too. No one is the same as their own ideals differ, as does the motivation and mindset. Black Clover is, no doubt, an example of solid shounen. It starts out simple and straightforward but quickly becomes its own thing entirely. If you want an example of modern Shounen, you should be praised to all hell that deserves to sell more and get all the love you can give and then some. Then I cannot see a better example than Black Clover at the moment.

We got an anime for Black Clover, but it got production issues, and the pacing might not be agreeable with you. Fillers are here but not as much compared to other long anime. Honestly, if you can look past the production not being consistent, you might have a good time, but probably after you've read the manga and you yearn for more. That being said, Black Clover anime got its share of good points, and when it counts, the production does get better. But if there is one thing we can agree wholeheartedly about, it's the fact that the anime got bangers after bangers. There is no bad OP or ED. And I often bang my head to the catchy and bopping tunes. ED is often beautiful and soothing, and none really missed the mark there either. Some are better than others, but not a single one falls flat right down on its face. Black Clover is an example of what Shounen could be if you thought a bit outside of the box, had the patience, and were in no real rush to get the real meat and potatoes. It's almost 300 chapters long, and it feels like it could easily go on for far longer than that. I hope it does as Tabata is a good author and artist and seems to have the head and heart in the right place. Please, don't sell Black Clover short and give it a chance it deserves as I am sure most that go in with the right mindset will come out pleasantly surprised.