Shaman King

Like Naruto, you cannot judge the manga by the age of its characters. Before I started reading Shaman King, I was skeptical because of the characters and the drawing didn't appeal to me. Then I started reading and the story unfolded before me. I was like....wow. The story isn't as great as Naruto but it appealed to me the same way it did. It's funny, fast-paced, interesting story development and introduces many characters!

Shaman King is about a boy who's a shaman in training. A shaman is a medium between the spiritual and the living world. He helps spirits find their peace by allowing the spirits to enter his body and use it. In order to be a great shaman, he must gather enough spirit partners to aid him. Together with him is his classmate, who can also see ghosts occasionally because of his decent heart. Although he's a bit of a nervous case, he's still decent enough.

Then the story evolves into something more. Besides him, there are other shamans as well. Some who tries to steal away his spirits and there are others who wants to compete to be the next Shaman King!

So far, that's how the story goes. Much like Dragon Ball come to think of it. ;) The characters are funny especially his classmate. The humour in the story can make you laugh occasionally especially this part about a local gangster who's trying to find his happy place (in other words, a base for his gang to hang out) but always ends up meeting shamans who humiliates him by cutting off his Elvis-style pompadour.

Drawing and art wise, it's nothing to shout about. Most of the time the pages are filled with very organised boxes. Only once of twice the artist draws the characters outside the box. Very cartoonish, none of those fine features. Expressions are okay and very exagerated for some.

I'd rate this mangas 3.5 out of 5. :)