Review of a Good Manga “Yuusha no Kuzu (Scum of the Brave)”

Overview

• Author: Manga by Nakashima723 Sensei (X(twitter))/ Original Story by Rocket Shoukai Sensei (X(twitter))
• A manga originating from the novel “Yusha Kigyo” posted on the novel submission site “pixiv Novels”
• A manga in the supernatural battle genre
• A wonderful work passionately created by the manga artist, who was so captivated by the original novel that he pushed forward with its manga adaptation

Check out the review on ComicAddict

Impressions

From pixiv Novel to Kakuyomu Award, Leading to Self-Publishing by the Manga Artist

The story of commercializing a favorite novel through manga adaptation (1/2)　#YushaNoKuzu pic.twitter.com/MgUKHyky5a

— Nakashima723 (@nakashima723) June 25, 2022

Moved by a work posted on pixiv Novels, Nakashima723 Sensei took the initiative to adapt it into a manga.
Not only did he volunteer to be in charge of the manga, but after the manga project initially fell through, he went on to self-publish it. Impressive.
During the self-publishing era, without relying on a publisher, he sold 5,000 copies and was even nominated for the “Next Manga Award.” Truly impressive.

Attractive Characters! So Cute!

For me, the charm of a character lies in how well they are defined and whether their actions and emotional changes feel natural.
In this manga, the characters are incredibly charming.
Their emotional changes and actions are portrayed naturally.
In short, the characters are well-developed. Just look at the image above; you can tell each girl’s personality from their gaze, posture, and attitude.

Supernatural Battle Setting That’s Not Prone to Power Creep is Just Right

Supernatural battle manga, like Dragon Ball, tend to suffer from power inflation.
However, the protagonist of this manga, an old man, seems to have reached his peak, and the story isn’t about “training to defeat enemies.”
Therefore, there’s less narrative inconsistency when looking back at previous chapters, allowing readers to enjoy the world-building.

Cute Artwork

So cute.

The protagonist is a jaded hero (ability user), surrounded by similarly world-weary hero companions.
Their expert-like interactions are well depicted.

The characters drawn by Nakashima723 Sensei, who volunteered for the manga adaptation and pushed forward with self-publishing, seem to be crafted with a different level of love.
Each character appears to be drawn with great affection.

Especially, the way the old men characters are drawn strikes a perfect balance.
Not too rugged, not too cute.

A Manga That Lets You Enjoy the Background of Choosing and Completing One’s Work

Nakashima723 Sensei has shared the costs involved in self-publishing on X(twitter).

Since the topic of manuscript fees came up, I’ll share the costs involved in producing the first volume of the indie work “Yusha no Kuzu”　https://t.co/ycIdH26PU3　It cost 756,000 yen excluding the manga artist’s living expenses for the Japanese version only. pic.twitter.com/QQfpXF9zvM

— Nakashima723 (@nakashima723) October 18, 2018

Roughly 10,000 yen per page. A significant investment.
In such a scenario, to make a calculated guess and actually achieve sales is incredible.
What an amazing era we live in.
Creators are often perceived as being naive about the business side of things, but nowadays, various tools and services have become available, making it possible to complete projects solo (though it’s still challenging).
Knowing the background of this manga makes it even more enjoyable and inspiring to support.