This is the kind of concept typically used by larger manga, but this one does it in only 25 chapters and, boy, does it do it really well! I have nearly nothing but compliments for this manga. So much so that I’ll have to review by building up from the weakest compliment I have to the strongest.
First, the weakest compliment is the great art. It is attractive and, more importantly, it makes fight scenes clear and easy to understand. This is not something action manga always gets right, so it’s good the author does it here.
Second, the next compliment I can give is that the fight scenes incline towards the realistic sides. Fighters in this manga fight by using tactics, good form, and actual real skills. In the beginning, the MC succeeds due to aggression, ability to read moves, and because his opponents are utterly untrained.
It uses this realism to great effect. There’s no easy wins without getting a single scratch. The MC would often get bloody and everyone gets injured. Every fight is a street fight too. Weapons and dirty tactics are used. The MC would maim guys by biting then smashing their face in with a bottle. That aggression is also real. In one case, a guy tries to mug him and he immediately responds with a punch. He didn’t even bother to try to de-escalate and sometimes doesn’t even say a word.
Can you believe this guy originally tried to kill himself after being bullied too much?
Lastly, perhaps the biggest compliment I can give this manga is the pacing. The pacing is the absolute best I have ever seen for an action manga.
We learn about the MC and his goals, then we see his progression (which is logical) in a straightforward manner. His training is also simple and straight forward and goes at a steady pace.
The author keeps the story straight and simple with only a few minor subplots (that are all quickly resolved) and permanent characters. This keeps the plotline free of clutter and distraction and the author doesn’t bother with unnecessary dramatic backstories. For once, there’s also no love interest to get in the way.
It seems like such a silly compliment, especially one to call the ‘biggest’, but it’s such a rare thing in manga, especially action manga. Action manga would often grow to 80+ chapters (if not double, triple that). From beginning to end, the story would progress up and down, back and forth. There would be numerous subplots and some of those will take 30+ chapters to resolve.
Nothing is ever simple either. The MC trains through the most Rube Goldberesque methods to learn the simplest thing. There would be two dozen characters and readers have to learn the dramatic backstories of every single one of them. There will be a love interest if not two or three which will then become an arc/subplot of its own at some point.
All this and so much more. The things above can make a dramatic and complex manga; plus, they are also needed to keep the plot going. However, the problem is that it destroys pacing and drags the main plot down. Sometimes, I just want to see a simple dispute get resolved in a single chapter instead of 10+.
Gekiryuuchi avoids all this and, with skill, the author keeps the pacing and progression and story tight. Everything moves forward logically, quickly, and simply. The suspension and action is built up with no downturn at any point. This is why I considering the pacing to be this manga’s biggest compliment.
Ultimately, if there is any flaw in this manga, it is that I didn’t think the ending was too great, but considering the journey there is so fantastic, I’m willing to forgive it. I’d definitely give this manga my recommendation.
