I already gave my impressions on the D.Gray-Man anime a while back, but I never watched more than the first episode. I just finished reading the first volume of the manga. But was it any better than the anime?
Story:
Allen Walker is a young exorcist whose job is to destroy the “akuma” threat to humanity. Akuma is the Japanese word for “demon,” but in this context they’re like half machine half soul killing machines. Apparently there’s a stupid looking fat guy named The Earl of Millennium who is trying to destroy humankind with these akuma.
In this volume, he saves a few people from Akuka (there seem to be a whole lot just running around) and enters the Exorcist’s “Black Order.” Doesn’t the Black Order sound like something malevolent rather than good?
Analysis:
After watching only one episode of the anime, I thought the story was really stupid. My readers told me I should try and understand the plot a bit more. After reading the first volume (which should be enough), I still think the plot is really, really stupid.
It’s not only the plot, I guess. It’s also the way that the story is presented. It’s just way too easy to create an Akuma from one sad person. There was one scene where the evil fat dude had like 1,000 Akuma just come out of nowhere. It makes sense if anyone with the case of the “blahs” can turn into an Akuma on command.
Also, the “Millennium Earl” is the dumbest looking villain. In the history of the universe. I can’t really take the guy seriously when he looks like some kind of jovial, fat elf.
Character Designs and Art:
Okay, so you know how I feel about the Earl’s character design. The rest are actually really good. I love the hot Billy (Meganekko British Cop FTW) in the first chapter, but I have a feeling we’ll never see her again. Linali Li is also super hawt.
In general, the art is great. It made reading the manga a lot easier since the plot made my head hurt. I’m happy that the manga at least has that going for it.
Conclusion:
Despite the great art, I can’t really take the story of D.Gray-Man very seriously. Maybe I shouldn’t be trying to take it “seriously,” but I really can’t enjoy this manga on the low level. I guess the reason is that the manga tries to take itself seriously, and expects the reader to as well. And yet, we have the Earl…
Many thanks to Viz Media for sending me a review copy of D.Gray-Man Volume 1!
I really like the art in this one, too, but, although I didn’t hate the plot as much as you, after watching 20-some-odd episodes of the anime and deciding it was going nowhere, I won’t be bothering with the manga anymore, either. I guess that’s a good thing, because my must-buy manga list is longer than my budget is deep. ^_^
i read some of the manga and is not that bad… i mean despite of the stupid and not convinsing plot. i like the part when Allen tells about his past. But the funny parts are really stupid, and it feels like they are just there to keep the genre in balance.
i also agree that The Earl of Millennium looks more like an evil stupid clown than a devil or whatever its supposed to be.
Also i hate that its like a one day advanture, like in the first chapters they only talk about the girl’s story and it ends right there and then another story from another victim transormed into a Akuma.
But isnot the wrost manga i’ve read
Are we critical?
I dislike this.
Because story is ONLY FIGHT.
This manga’s base “Yomikiri” was good.
but I like sennen hakusyaku.
Actually, you need to read a good bit into the manga before it becomes really interesting.
SPOILER ALERT!!!! (Do not read on unless you want spoilers.)
Further into the manga, you find that by the time Allen has entered the order, the Millenium Earl already has tons and tons of Akuma about: They weren’t all created at once when Allen came along. Not to mention, the Earl, as you read on, has ALL of Japan under his control, pretty much. So, of course there would be tons of Akuma. It does have typical shounen manga feeling, and yes, the Earl is quite…um…stupid looking. O.o;
You have to consider other aspects of it, though. It gets better, trust me.
(At least it doesn’t have a retarded arena fight like every other freaking shounen manga out there. -.-; )
U know what? the story gets better after getting in to vol. 10….
plus, that umbrella that earl is using brings all akumas….
kinda related to noah’s ark….
eventhough the rummers say that this is a copy of Full metal alchemist, i think this is waaaaaaaaaaay better!!!!!
and even though earl looks little dumb, he is very evil!! (?)
this is my favorite manga ever!!!
Overall I didn’t find the story nearly as stupid as you did, but upon analysis, I think I understand why: the main character, Allen Walker, is ridiculously reminiscent of Edward Elric (the arm, the face, the fact that he tried to resurrect a parent, he’s called a bean…), whom I love to pieces. So I think I like Allen because of that, which made the whole manga a lot more tolerable.
The art is pretty, and I find the story a lot less pointless and dragging than, say, Naruto’s plot. It’s rather generic, and not terribly deep as of volume 6, though I’d rate it as something worth reading if you have the time, and someone to borrow it from.
nah the story’s good, but way too fragmented over the volumes :S For your case, I think reading the 1st volume doesn’t reveal the full story.
And yea the Earl looks stupid rather than scary, but people also thought the Joker in Batman looked stupid too xD The only thing scary about the earl is his eyes behind his glasses…
Artwork’s great, so are the characters