Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 1 (1)

It was a great story and in great English also don’t forget the fun pages in between chapters. It also shows stuff that they cut out of the anime and I really recommend reading it if you like the anime. I’m 14 and never got bored of it I even read it in a day, that’s just how good the volume one is.

Tanjiro is the compassionate and brave elder brother to his younger sister, Nezuko. My kids like Tanjiro's character very much. My kids are in high school and middle school. They enjoy reading about Tanjiro's experience training with Mr. Urokodaki. My kids admire Tanjiro's selfless acts of determination to help Nezuko and those in need. They also enjoy the parts of the story when Tanjiro receives help from those who came before them. My kids like how the author, Mr. Gotouge, gives the characters back stories to help the reader learn about the cruel aspects of life. They sympathized with the characters when they felt hope, sorrow, and happiness.

I read a lot of manga... to the point where you would think I'm Japanese/in Japan if you saw my bookshelf. Out of every series I've ever read Demon Slayer is my favorite. It just nails every possible checkmark for an action/shounen series. Absolutely spectacular.

I picked this up because I'd heard the anime based on this source material was taking the world by storm, and generally if an anime is based on a manga I opt to read it first before delving into the series. Perhaps I expected too much from this based on the hype, but I came out of it pretty disappointed. The story, while admittedly intriguing and dark, is also very generic, copy-paste-with-different-characters type of manga. To be certain, you have seen or read this before. That isn't always a deal breaker for me, as I actually like seeing how the familiar story we know and love might differ in another person's hands. However, in this case as it turns out, not all that well. (Very minor spoilers ahead, but not much that isn't already on the back cover or in the item description.) The story takes place in Taisho-era Japan (1912 - 1926) and our young protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, is heading off down the cold and dangerous path from his mountain home into the town below to sell some coal so that he can help feed and clothe his family. He's greeted well by the townsfolk who seem to love him, and it's quickly revealed that Tanjiro seems to have an almost supernatural ability the rest of us do not (because of course he would), and the townspeople ask him to use it to aid in their squabbles, as well as requesting his assistance with other little things around the village. Before he knows it, it's getting very late, and the path home is even much more treacherous at night, as a kindly gentleman reveals to the reader that demons roam in the shadows of the woods. He insists Tanjiro stay the night with him, and return home in the morning, to which our little hero reluctantly agrees. The next morning he sets off back home, but to his horror, arrives there to find his family slaughtered. All perished with the exception of his little sister, who seems to have become a demon herself. Cue gag-worthy, cookie-cutter "mysterious" demon slaying stranger who's cold-hearted yet righteous (and much too young-looking to be so cynical), who decides he sees something special in our young Tanjiro and his fang-y little sister, and sends them to meet an even more mystifying sensei who will train Tanjiro to become the thing demons have nightmares about. Cue the Rocky theme song and really corny (and again oh-so generic) training montage that only takes up half a chapter, but is meant to span about two years time, in which Tanjiro doesn't seem to have aged at all other than some hair growth. There is also a suuuper, I'm talking extra large nacho cheese-y reveal at this point that actually made me snort and roll my eyes. Oh, and during all this training, Tanjiro’s sister has been (temporarily I’m sure) basically written out of the story for mere convenience sake, it would appear, due to some silly, lackluster excuse that happens off-page and barely e...

I got this because I saw the anime getting popular and idk paying for and reading the manga is easier than hunting down a free site for English subbed episodes. Anyways!! This definitely seems like an introduction book BUT ITS SO GOOD wow I literally cant wait to get the next one and maybe watch the anime?? Idk but I'm already in love with the main character so I'm hooked whoops