Review: Kimetsu no Yaiba

I’ve meaning to write reviews about the series I like/follow, but I was either trapped in the manhwa hell or just didn’t feel like it.

Well, that’s over.

Recently, and by that I mean this week, I decided to binge-read Kimetsu no Yaiba. I haven’t feel like to watch anime in a while, hence why I didn’t see the anime when it premiered (and still haven’t, which is weird since I worship Ufotable, and I’m a LiSA’s fan that goes back to her debut in Angel Beats). However, I felt like reading manga, and gave KnY an opportunity.

Without noticing, I had caught on with the current arc.

If you want to get straight to the point: I like it very much. However, and I feel I must say this before I go further, Kimetsu no Yaiba is no masterpiece.

Before ya’ll pull a Haganezuka on me, allow me to elaborate. Yes, the manga is good. It has an interesting premise, nice pace and the comedy bits always crack me up; I too appreciate how the author doesn’t make that obvious what’s going to happen next (and the Demon Moons are an actual pain in the ass to beat).

The thing is, KnY’s premise offers nothing new. Protagonist joins a secret organization that kills off demons, seeking vengeance after losing a (ll) family member(ers)? Protagonist has a (young) sibling they’d die in order to protect? Big bad guy is literally the father of all demons? I’m sorry, but doesn’t that sound awfully similar to Ao no Exorcist?

But stop right there, I’m not comparing these two or implying one is a copy of the other. Kimetsu no Yaiba is not a copy, what I’m trying to point out is that both series follow the same formula, like many others manga did/do. And because it has the same formula, you can’t say it’s ‘fresh’ or ‘new.’

It’s the same damn formula, but unlike many other manga that used it before, these two mangas work and shine on their own right. Why is that? Easy: the person doing the storytelling changes. What makes Kimetsu no Yaiba special is the author; even though the formula is something we’ve seen before, the way they tell the story and make the characters react to the plot, is what makes Kimetsu no Yaiba different from other mangas.

First up: refreshing MC that lives up to his character.

In a sea of spineless, oblivious and that are borderline (if not downright) stupid MCs, who never think twice about their enemies once the battle is over or have the slightest amount of self-awareness, I can say with utmost confidence that what most fans think of Kamado Tanjirou is: “I try my best to hate this dude, but I CAN’T.”

Our protagonist stays true to his pure and warm nature, without falling in the ‘unbelievably stupid and annoying’ territory commonly associated to the ‘charming protagonist’ tag. Tanjirou is optimistic, gentle and lighthearted but also smart and serious in his own right; neither a genius, nor a total dumbass.

Even though Tanjirou says it himself: it’s only due to a streak of good timing from third parties that he has been able to make ‘the right choices’ thus far, he still deserves recognition as an amazing MC.

Tanjirou is down-to-earth and self-aware. Humble, but doesn’t put himself below others. He’s patient, but his patience has its limits. He thinks there’s always room from improvement, and because he knows this, Tanjirou doesn’t give up easily whenever he fails. He’s aware of his own weakness. Also, he absolutely calls assholes out, ranks be damned.

Another important trait of Tanjirou is that he’s merciful toward his enemies; if a demon offers their neck, he ensures they pass away painlessly. Most of the time, he also gives them closure. Does your average manga do that once an antagonist turns a new leaf? I think the fuck not. At least, not in the 90% of the cases, these just live on to aid the protagonist in future arcs, some even get endlessly killed and revived for no apparent reason (yes, I’m talking about Fairy Tail). Just let ‘em find pace, plz.

But I’m getting sidetracked. Long-story short: the MC is refreshing and is a big part of the appeal this manga has; however, the same can be say about the rest of the cast. We get explanations, backstories, character development (Muichiro’s was quite random in a ‘from 0 to 100’ fashion, but I quite like his current personality, so I’m willing to pretend I didn’t see anything).

The ‘Everyone Lives’ troupe? IT’S A FUCKING LIE. Author-san ain’t afraid of killing off characters or people close to them, you fool! Someone is gonna die at some point ant you can’t stop it! We can only sit tight, watch and cry like newborns. I can’t be at ease whenever a fight’s going on, cuz I’m always: “WHO IS GONNA DIE NEXT, HUH?! HAVEN’T YOU TAKEN ENOUHG CHILDREN FROM ME?!” There are death flags all over the place, and you can’t even be sure who’s going down next.

I HATE THIS FEELING, but I can appreciate a well-done job.

We get to see the motivation behind the villains, ALL of them, too. From minor cannon fodder to the Big Twelve Bitches, there’s a moment in which we can see through their eyes. We aren’t left wondering about them.

Also, I love the mangaka takes time to show the protagonist’s training progression– does Tanjirou still get weird power ups? Yeah, from time to time, you can actually count them with one hand. Breathe of the Sun aside tho, we readers see him go through most of it, therefore we can understand how/why he’s grown so much (also, author-san makes sure to emphasize how many days/months Tanjirou spends training, which makes it more realistic).

Honestly, 80% of the Bullshit Power™ in this manga (you know, that mysterious force in shonen that allows the protagonist to pull a badass move, usually through the power of friendship, that either beats the villain or does ultimately nothing) is actually due to Zennitsu’s and Nezuko’s existences, rather than Tanjirou’s, lol.

I repeat: Kimetsu no Yaiba is no masterpiece. It is, however, a good manga and you’ll have a good time reading it thanks to the MC and other characters, actual uncertainty delivered by the author’s storytelling skills and unexpected funny moments thanks to the characters’ shenanigans.