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REVIEW: My Hero Academia GN 1


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Shippoyasha



Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 459
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:56 am Reply with quote
Recent chapters have been building up the story to a point it can really go beyond the genre though. Problem with even top class fighting shonen manga is that the buildup in first few arcs are great but it falls apart or becomes something entirely different later on. I think the steadier pacing of this manga might serve it well in the future.
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DontmesswithKarma



Joined: 07 May 2015
Posts: 491
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:16 am Reply with quote
The latest chapters have been quite incredible. The build up to the war, the scary similarities between Izuku and a certain character, this "true nature" of One for All. Things are getting interesting very fast.

And the artwork gets unbelievably better. Quite fantastic
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Thatguy3331



Joined: 18 Feb 2012
Posts: 1790
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:14 pm Reply with quote
I won't talk much about recent chapters since that's not what's being reviewed here, but I will say this review hits the right marks in what makes the series readable. When I first read chapter 1 I nearly dismissed it, art be damned, because I've seen this set up so many times before. It eventually warmed itself up to me from chapter 2 on wards because it's so forward and not that cynical about itself. To me it's a huge difference to something like Fairy Tail, which also has polished art and is by the books, but that series never managed to take away my cynicism towards it causing me to have much more hostility towards it. This series so far is doing the whole popcorn entertainment thing right, and as someone who likes GOOD material from the shonen demographic (calling it the shonen jump genere sounds dumb and only pisses me off) that's a HUGE relief.

Though TO talk about recent chapters:
spoiler[While it's still by the book, I think fans are going a little overboard, it's really going out of it's way to establish and grow it's characters in a way that feels right for them, regardless of what standard plot beats would dictate. I don't think this is some special thing but that fact that Horikoshi is doing so is gaining him alot of respect from a lot of people. Even though the characters are as trope-y as you see in volume one the get properly fleshed out and you no longer really care about how tropey it is, but smoothly get caught up in it's pace in wanting to know what happens next.]and as the reviewer said, that is sheer skill of someone who knows the craft of serialized manga making. which I think is also great considering that this manga would pretty much be his last chance to make a name for himself beyond his cult following through Barrage and that Zoo manga.
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leafy sea dragon



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:36 pm Reply with quote
When I first heard of this story, I thought it'd be that Izuku doesn't have an ability but can go toe to toe with people who do by being that much craftier than the others...which I guess would be a power in and of itself. Nevertheless, most of what he does is not about using One for All as a power, but more as a tool. His abilities to lead, coordinate, motivate, inspire, and raise morale, which are his real forte, do not need any powers. It's what makes Izuku interesting among the Shonen Jump protagonists: He is a strategist first and a fighter as a distant second.

Shippoyasha wrote:
Recent chapters have been building up the story to a point it can really go beyond the genre though. Problem with even top class fighting shonen manga is that the buildup in first few arcs are great but it falls apart or becomes something entirely different later on. I think the steadier pacing of this manga might serve it well in the future.


Kouhei Horikoshi's other works feel like they had a pretty grand scope and were meant to go on for much longer than they did. This series seems to be his first big chance to do just that.

Thatguy3331 wrote:
Which I think is also great considering that this manga would pretty much be his last chance to make a name for himself beyond his cult following through Barrage and that Zoo manga.


Last chance? If this didn't work out, I'm sure he could still keep trying. Or is he getting old?
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MajinAkuma



Joined: 15 Aug 2014
Posts: 1199
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:51 pm Reply with quote
Midoriya is my favorite Boku no Hero Academia character.
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Hawkmonger



Joined: 30 May 2014
Posts: 440
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:02 pm Reply with quote
Actualy i've always found MHA biggst strength is in the characters, each one fundamentally tacking a tright archatype from shonen cliche 101 and redefining their potential. The series has been gold since day one and 12 months on has laid the ground works to be a classic.
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Levitz9



Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 1022
Location: Puerto Rico
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 5:09 pm Reply with quote
Okay, but most importantly... frog-girl Tsuyu Asui.

She's a girl. With Frog powers.

Best. Heroine. Ever.
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Ali07



Joined: 01 Jun 2014
Posts: 3333
Location: Victoria, Australia
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:10 pm Reply with quote
Being a superhero comic book reader for a number of years, and not a massive fan of shonen tropes, the start to this series does not sound like something that interests me.

But, I am one that can still enjoy tropes when done right, which seems to be the case. Add in the mention of the art, and I'm pretty much sold on this one.

I'll wait for a review of volume 2 to appear, before I decide to collect it. But, sounds good so far.
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Thatguy3331



Joined: 18 Feb 2012
Posts: 1790
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:05 pm Reply with quote
leafy sea dragon wrote:


Last chance? If this didn't work out, I'm sure he could still keep trying. Or is he getting old?


I guess I should have said last chance in Jump. I am incredibly guilty in using Bakuman as something of a measuring stick but from what I hear new authors generally have three tries to make a successful work in the magazine otherwise they'd just have to go someplace else. He probably could go to a different magazine but it would probably be his last chance to, y'know not have to go job hunting again.
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Monster Hunter



Joined: 29 Jan 2014
Posts: 335
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:30 pm Reply with quote
My Hero Academia is one of my favorite manga's running right now and part of my top 3 have to read each week with One Piece and Kingdom. I love the characters, the artwork, the story especially how the story is progressing and where we are going, and how most chapters end. Kohei Horikoshi knows how to end a chapter at the right moment to get you pumped for the next chapter. A gallant entrance at the last minute, a heroic declaration, or a villainous twist especially the last 5 or so chapters endings have all been amazing along with the arc. I love this series and I can't wait to see where it goes.
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Monster Hunter



Joined: 29 Jan 2014
Posts: 335
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:36 pm Reply with quote
I know it is cliche but the ending to chapter 1 speaks volumes to Midoriya's character. His entire life wanting to be a hero but born without powers and ridiculed for it but never becoming hardened by that. He wants to be a hero for the right reason not for power, money, or glory but to help people in need. To have his hero tell him what he always wanted to hear "You can become a hero" and him breaking down because of it was an amazing moment.
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Whis-pur



Joined: 26 Jul 2015
Posts: 131
PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:37 pm Reply with quote
Bit surprised how positive the review was, I'd have given this at most a C+

From volume one we see everything that we would see in every shonen ever created, but it doesn't bring anything interesting to the table for me. Tons of cliches and stuff that just makes me roll my eyes. The only thing positive I could say is the artwork.
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zztop



Joined: 28 Aug 2014
Posts: 646
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 2:57 am Reply with quote
Is there enough manga material for an anime, or do we still have to wait?
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leafy sea dragon



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 7163
Location: Another Kingdom
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 3:52 am Reply with quote
I think an anime is guaranteed for My Hero Academia, but since it started a year after Assassination Classroom, I'd predict you'd need about a year after Assassination Classroom's anime premiere.
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Darkmagick
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Joined: 24 Nov 2011
Posts: 463
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 7:30 am Reply with quote
leafy sea dragon wrote:
I think an anime is guaranteed for My Hero Academia, but since it started a year after Assassination Classroom, I'd predict you'd need about a year after Assassination Classroom's anime premiere.

Actually, it started two years after Assassination Classroom (nearly exactly). So I think we have at least a year or two wait on an anime.
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