Top Five Disappointing Manga Series
This article is intended for the readers who have already read the titles I’m going to review, so I won’t get into details concerning the plots and some specific minuses. I’d like to share my general impression and feelings. I’ll give you my own opinion and, of course, you can agree or disagree with me. However, I didn’t pick these titles at random. I spent a lot of time reading them, that’s why my disappointment was so strong.
Here is the list of the most disappointing manga series.
5. Fairy Tail. Genre: shonen
Fairy Tail, a manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima, bears similarity to Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece. It is said that Mashima used to be Oda’s assistant and that could have an impact on his work.
The girls from Fairy Tail
At first sight, Fairy Tail looks like a typical shonen. The beginning is full of pep and quite gripping. The plot is rather simple and ordinary: we see a kind of “wizarding school” with ordinary Japanese students ordinary wizard students. Among these students, there are some protagonists who get themselves into various adventures. One would think it’s difficult to spoil anything in such a standard shonen: there are clichés, the artwork is great, and the storyline is logical. What else do we need? The author produces new arcs and we are happy with what we have. However, it doesn’t work that way.
Actually, everything turned out to be worse and it’s not clear why. Is mangaka working half-heartedly? He is certainly not. Mashima manages to release two chapters a week. Maybe, the editors are clipping his wings because another Mashima’s piece, Rave Master, showcases his talent at its best. Or, maybe, I’m just tired of trivial stories. I can only guess.
Nevertheless, when you have seen good and bad arcs and have read a considerable number of chapters, you understand that you’ve already seen all of it somewhere. Yeah, you’ve seen it all in this very manga. It means that the plot doesn’t move at all! There are simply the same arcs with different bosses. That’s really too much. Personally, I have nothing against fan service but enough is enough. In the beginning, the author knew when to stop but now he can produce the whole chapters demonstrating the “curves”. Therefore, you become lost and can’t remember the plot.
The author thought through the balance of powers and it was good. But then, a single phrase like “the power of friendship makes me stronger” cancels it out. According to the rules and laws in the world of the manga, the protagonist can’t win. But who cares? “NAKAMA PUNCH!” will fix any problem. It makes me sick.
The intrigue was completely destroyed. We know the results of every fight. Moreover, all the opponents are just copies of themselves and the situations are always the same. Undoubtedly, the protagonists always win.
Too bad! It could have been a great manga…
The illustration from Fairy Tail
4. History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi. Genre: shonen
Kenichi
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi was written and illustrated by Syun Matsuena. As opposed to Fairy Tail, the mangaka initially conceived his work as a fan-service manga with a great deal of ecchi elements, so I have no questions concerning this part. However, there are other problems and controversial points.
Ecchi elements in History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi
As usual, the beginning is good. Although we see the same old ordinary Japanese students and clichés, the plot moves swiftly, the characters keep us in suspense, and the artwork delights the eye. Besides, there are spectacular action scenes with tough men splashing their testosterone on each and all, brilliant humor, and well-developed characters. Obviously, the author knows the subject in all its minutest details. Everything seems so perfect, except the cluttered-up ending…
The personages’ personalities are so attractive that you are getting used to them. You want to know their lives, their past and future. Nonetheless, it happens that some mangakas can get tired of their own works (and you’ll see them in this list). But it’s not fair! Why did Matsuena cut it short? He simply left many plot threads where they were and didn’t develop lots of characters. Besides, some arcs just turned out to be purposeless. As a result, we have nothing but disappointed expectations.
3. Gantz. Genre: seinen
Gantz, a dark manga series by Oku Hiroya, is another bittersweet piece.
Concerning the artwork, it’s a masterpiece. Since the backgrounds were taken from the real pictures, the illustrations delight the eye. Then, as for the plot, it’s intriguing, offbeat, and unique. The story is dynamic with interesting twists and rich guro. It’s so thrilling that you can’t put it down.
Gantz: O poster
Talking about the characters, although the protagonist is a typical OJS, all the rest are quite attractive. In general, the personages are classic and yet suited for every fancy. What is important, the author develops their personalities.
The manga is a real page-turner. It’s pleasure to read it. Additionally, the narrative organization is at high level: all actions are logical and meet the laws in the world of the manga.
However, if it were so perfect, I wouldn’t include it in this list.
The thing is the contents of the manga suddenly suffer sweeping changes for some unknown reason. We get some trivial low-grade stuff (for example, the alien invasion for the purpose of enslavement) that clutters up the whole series. Unfortunately, the mangaka didn’t manage to fulfil his great idea. I felt bitter disappointment.
The illustration from Gantz
2. Naruto. Genre: shonen
Masashi Kishimoto, the author of Naruto, has always wanted to draw a manga about gangsters but then it turned out to be about shinobi. Perhaps, due to that decision the manga series Naruto sank into ordinariness.
Naruto
What happened?
Again, the beginning is excellent. Naruto is an example of ideal balance and keeping the laws inviolable. The author gives us a very detailed depiction of almost every character’s moves and techniques so that I can’t help but applaud him.
I remember there were heated discussions in forums. Every new chapter abounded with new events and twists, the plot was moving swiftly, the arcs were different every time. If you wanted drama, you got it. If you wanted humor, it was there. And also you got exciting adventures and action in addition.
But then Kishimoto lost interest in his work. Moreover, he announced himself that if it hadn’t been because of his contract with editorial staff, he would have finished the project.
After that, (I think the turning point was the arc with Pain) the narrative organization collapsed. All theories suggested by the members of the fandom were falling to pieces one after another.
Naruto is crying
Everybody understood that we were fooled. The passion for the manga was fading out. Obviously, the mangaka wanted to wind it down quickly.
We love different titles for many reasons. What do we love Naruto for? For well-developed abilities and unique contents. But the author’s enthusiasm slowed down and he produced a predictable banal ending. As a result, the epic piece was doomed to fail.
Although Naruto deserves to be at the top of the list for vanished hopes, it at least HAS the ending. The same can’t be said for the title taken number 1 in the list of the Top Five Disappointing Manga Series.
1. Bleach. Genre: shonen
Bleach, written and illustrated by Tite Kubo, suffered the same fate as Gantz and Naruto did. All the expectations were “removed” as if they were stains:
Bleach liquid
At first the world order, style and general atmosphere of the manga were at high level. Although there were the same old OJSs and clichés, the plot was dynamic, the author produced diverse characters (from tough musclemen to haughty bishonens), and the drawings pleased the eye. All of it lived up to readers’ expectations. The fandom was growing, and Bleach quickly became a fan favorite.
Eventually, the story approached to its logical end – the final fight with the archenemy. It was really great and epic; the villain was defeated and the protagonist lost his power. Apparently the series was over.
Nevertheless, somebody wanted to scoop a profit. I’m not sure who was responsible, Kubo or the publishers, but they continued releasing new chapters, and that was the beginning of the end.
Surprisingly, the final arc was impressive in the beginning. Everybody’s favorite characters were killed fighting against the third party and the new villain. That moment was so brutal and so bloody that I felt all the tension and the Quincy seemed to be very powerful. That’s why the disappointment was so strong…
FAIL!
Then, all the dead returned to life. The personages, whose experience was reckoned in hundreds of years, managed to build up new abilities as well as new power levels. Just look at this! Those, who used to be weak, could get a hundred times stronger in days! Moreover, the mangaka continued creating abilities and unreasonable level-ups for well-developed characters out of nothing whereas he wasn’t developing the high-level ones that he introduced as rather powerful fighters. What for? They were left out anyway. Due to Kubo’s strange moves, the battles turned into circus: he produced the characters that were impossible to defeat and then he dumped them in some way which looked silly and not interesting at all. Every new chapter was worse than the previous one.
Of course, the publishers didn’t like such a situation and Kubo had to pack up in the shortest time possible. That was the reason for one of the most disastrous finales in the history of all manga series (at least among the works I’ve read). What were the characters’ goals, motivations, personalities, and even the protagonists’ fighting skills? We will NEVER know!
P.S.: There was that moment with Aizen that could have been a good ending. There was… But money makes the world go around.
So, I’ve shared my opinion and it can be the same as yours or different. Do you agree with my list? Which titles disappointed YOU the most? I’d love you to share your thoughts with me.
Why is Hunter x Hunter not on this list?
Thanks for your comment. I haven’t read Hunter x Hunter. Actually, I think it’s late to read it since I’ve read Naruto which copies Hunter x Hunter in many aspects. I won’t be able to stand another silly main character and avenger.
I’ve heard that Hunter is a great manga. The only bad thing is that it comes out once in six months. And yet the artwork is quite specific.
Why did Bleach or Naruto dissapoint? I have read both, they were quite amazing manga series, both with very intriguing plots, with some plot-twists that made it even more interesting, epic battles and different characters. The only thing that could be considered dissapointed is the way they ended Bleach, it really came out of the blue…and it doesn’t seem that we will see a sequel to make things right.
And about Naruto it is mostly the sequel, Boruto that didn’t manage to capture fans like Naruto did, it is not bad, but nothing special either.
Unfortunately, Naruto and Bleach do disappoint. You can see the arguments in the article and also read a detailed review of Naruto here. I would recommend not to get stuck on these series and to read another pieces.
i am reading a lot of manga, both bleach and naruto belong to the past right now but i won’t forget them, especially bleach which i have watched many times and read the parts that haven’t been animated (yet). I still think they worth the time for new readers, they will always be a nodal point for the world of manga and able to inspire many people
Thanks a lot that you’ve shared your opinion. I see what you mean, we’re imbued with the deepest feelings to our first manga.
This is a bit late reply but i have to defend the mangaka. I believe none of them have any choice in this matter as the full authority over the series reside with the publisher. This is normal in Japan as a company will alway trump over an individual( a nail that stick out get hammer down-this is their herd mentality ). Mangakas either go with the flow or risk being frozen by all publisher. It a cartel but instead of drug they sell manga. If a series is a successful they will milked it till it bone dry. They will kept it alive as long as there are buyer to it. Naruto was kept alive like a walking dead zombie who wss crawling on the ground as its legs was rotten to the stump. Only now they just changed the name now to Boruto, the mangaka must have fought to the nail to end it. So be fair to the mangakas, they are mangaka by choice and by shear love of the art. They create stories for us, in the end the publishers greed fucked it up.
Your point totally makes sense. I feel you there. It is not only in manga publishing business, it’s all over the place: music, cinema (Marvel movies is a great example of this), western comics. Everything is treasured because it could be sold many times but not for its artistic values or revolutionary ideas. There are always authorities who mess up with the artist; they could have censored the mangaka, too. In this case, of course, they want more and more manga for selling. What can you do if shonen manga sells so well? I totally agree that the author is not to blame. But the fact is the manga turned out not to be that great in the end.
Finally someone addresses kenichi. I thought people forgot about it. I was shocked when the final chapter came out. They left a lot of loose threads.
I was surprised either that the ending was cut short, even though the manga was quite popular. It’s strange that the fandom paid no attention to that, that’s why I decided to include it in the list.
There’s going to be a sequel tho…
To be honest, every Shōnen is cliche…. no logic story whatever even though many are also fantasy type such as One Piece, but dragging story for long and repeating same thing over and over kinda makes me judge Mangaka capability and same thing Namaka thing power over and over and win the fight which was already lost. In my opinion One Piece should top 1 here. It doesn’t matter whether it’s has many chapter and popular, but people who had read or watch anime at some point will get bored with it. Same type arc with different boss and dragging to long, typically money grabbing manga system with horrible plot.
It’s true that Shonen can be cliched. However, all the bad, boring and stereotypical manga makes us appreciate talented authors with their unique ideas, plot twists, characters and worlds even more!
wow just wow
I have to agree that bleach should’ve ended when he lost his powers when he fought aizen. The follow up arcs were just mediocre at best. And I also thing mightiest disciple got rushed into ending things the were plot holes, naruto was okay but I think they prolonged it too much. I lost interest in fairy tail felt repetitive for a while it was good while it lasted
I completely agree with you for Bleach, and Kenichi. Nonetheless, I believe Naruto should not be here, I believe you should have included Death Note because it was the same as Bleach.
Thank you! Agree about Death Note, the second part definitely loses its’ pace. I’ll need to write a second part for this article and cover DN in it.
Thank you for writing this article.
There is one thing where I strongly disagree and this contains Kenichi.
I agree with it being disappointig concerning the plot holes, especially the masters -although one could claim it to be intenionally, showing them as beings on a god-like level to their students (I know this doesn’t work out sinced it showed two backgrounds).
Nevertheless it didn’t deserve to be on that list, since its far better (or less disappointing) than Fairy Tail.
What do you think about Toriko and Magi? For me, Magi would take the place on this list for Kenichi.
Remember that this is more or less a subjective view on the manga listed above. For me it is disappointing because I was into it, despite it’s cliches and some other unpleasant stuff. It is the ending that got me really sad. I did not include Toriko and Magi because I considered the most popular and familiar mangas and anime series in this list. Toriko is not so much in the air, especially nowadays. I always appreciate you guys commenting and adding manga to our lists and articles, but please remember we all have our understanding of certain titles and taste in comics.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi was one of my faves when i was younger. I totally loved it and the plot had so much potential! The ending isn’t bad, but it is indeed dispointing. Everything was perfectly built for that ending and then they rushed things.
1. All masters going on an all out battle together with few scenes and no real fight at all.
2. Same for the disciples.
3. Wtf the long waited Miu x Dad scene finally comes and it’s meaningless
4. Last page “I gave up on becoming a master” or something like that was the same as saying that Matsuena gave up on writing that sht. I mean, knowing Kenichi and Miu personalities, there is no freakin way they would give up on the martial arts way of life, even if they had other professions and goals.
Trully sad. If it was still going on, i would still be reading it. For sure.
Just wanted to say anyone who thinks these manga are bad at all are stupid and you should just never read or watch anime again. No matter what you say you’re just wrong.