Now, I am still working my way through this Manga with an Anime on the horizon, but I’ve read enough to give you an idea if Mashle might be for you. This isn’t my normal isekai that I tend to gravitate towards. Mashle is simply a fantasy story. But it is one that tells a different story with a different hero than most.

Mashle – Synopsis

The basics are that Mash lives in a world where magic is everything and those without are seen as abominations. And of course Mash doesn’t have magic, but he’s been trained up and worked so hard that he is all muscle.

And, to go with that, Mash goes to a magic school. As part of the training of the world, everyone gets trained in magic. So the big question for the manga is how is Mash going to survive as a non-magic user? And how will Mash survive in a magic school?

Other Notes

I like to toss in this section mainly to call out fan service in the shows. It isn’t really part of the plot, but it is something that shows up a lot. So in this one, there really isn’t any. It is a very clean manga that way and that makes sense.

I think it is worth noting here, and I’ll talk about it more later, Mash is a little slow. Meaning he isn’t always catching onto everything that is going on. This, I believe, is an attempt to make him more of a meathead character. Whether or not that works, we’ll find out.

What Doesn’t Work?

Let’s just start out with Mash and how he is portrayed in this. It’s a little clunky. Now, I call out how he is thought of as slow or comes across that way in the book. That is the part that is clunky about it. I think that a lot of his focus and drive work well, but the slowness is clunky. The writer gives him good things to care about and reason for doing things. But at the same time writes him simply.

The manga also does fall into some things I’d consider more standard. Again, not a major knock on it. But the school idea, it works well. However, a magic school, that is an idea that is done a lot. It works well because it is relatable for everyone. Not because we go to magic schools, but because the concept of school and going to school is common. So the setting is familiar.

What Works?

Now, I just said that Mash isn’t always written the best. He is also a highlight for the humor of the manga. There is an earnestness to him that comes through. And I believe it because of how the world is set-up. He might be a meathead or slow, but his convictions are true. And while other characters are snobby and elite, Mash truly cares about everyone in his own way. Which now that I’m thinking about it might be backwoods or redneck in the writing attempt.

I also like the use of humor in this. The author, Hajime Komoto, does a very good job of blending in humor. And this is where some of the tropes come in, but also the interactions with Mash. No one understands Mash, which is something that makes sense. Mash is an outcast in the world, he can’t do magic. With that handicap, he is still exceedingly powerful. Of times he is more powerful than magic users because of the training and rigors he goes through.

Who Is It For?

This one is tougher to place. I do think that the writing isn’t up to the level I’d expect for some. However, Mashle is a manga that also has me laughing sometimes while reading it. So there is an element of humor that works well. I think it is best put as it’s a lighter, goofier manga. It is still very shonen in it’s style, so know that before you check it out.

Final Thoughts on Mashle

I enjoy Mashle a lot. I understand it’s flaws, but Mashle is like a good comfort food. Grabbing a book and reading it is like grabbing a bowl of popcorn and sitting down for a light movie. I expect that it is what the anime will be like as well. And when you get to laugh reading a book, I am enjoying it.

And also like I said, I think it might be a bit simple for some. I find it to balance that shonen background with some slice of life. Where yes, there is a storyline going through, but it is also feels like vignettes thrown in as well. So know that going in, if you check it out. The story is there, the story is fun, but it isn’t an amazing manga compared to other stories which run with more depth.

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