Ever wondered what it’d be like if you mixed elements of Harry Potter, One-Punch Man, and Mob Psycho 100 for a story involving Magic, Fantasy, and Muscle? Well, then you’re in luck, Hajime Komoto’s Mashle: Magic and Muscles has what you’re looking for!
In this story, we learn that magic is used for everything (Wait, everything?) YES, EVERYTHING. But, deep in the forest there exists a young man who trains and is bulking up, while he cannot use magic he does enjoy a peaceful life with his father. One day, he ventured into the city against his father’s wishes, there he began to attract unwanted attention. People were baffled to see him not use magic, let alone do things that involved physical labor. After a run-in with the Magic Police, Mashle decided to go to Magic School where he would try to change how things are and if it doesn’t, then he’ll send it crashing down with his fists.
Before I begin this review I would like to thank Viz Media for the chance to review this volume.
As I mentioned before in the introduction, this had elements of other Manga like One-Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100, with a hint of Harry Potter and that is a pretty fascinating observation. It played on the strength that other stories have introduced (Black Clover, My Hero Academia). Mashle: Magic and Muscles Volume One brought great gags, comedy, and humor into the fold, something that was needed in this current environment due to COVID-19. Hajime Komoto’s greatest strength was balancing humor and action, his script was solid, to be honest, it includes a story of the work he had to endure while he was on his Manga Making Journey, very insightful and humorous.
The characters are well thought out, they offer great homages to Fantasy Films and it doesn’t take itself seriously in certain situations. With the way, it is going, Mashle: Magic and Muscles could become a big hit both in Weekly Shonen Jump and in the United States, there aren’t many stories of that caliber out there on the market currently. Another strength that this series has is the Artwork, some would remark that the art style is too plain or has a Webcomic style but it is good for what Hajime is trying to tell. If you’re looking for a light-hearted story that has action and good comedy then this is the perfect book for you, there are free chapters currently available on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump App and Shueisha Inc’s Manga Plus App. Mashle: Magic and Muscles Volume One is now available both in book stores and online digitally.
Final Grade:
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