Anywut?

Title: Kurosagi, The Black Swindler
Original Title: クロサギ, The Black Swindler
Author: Takeshi NATSUHARA (story), Kuromaru (art)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen
Original Publication: Complete (20 volumes)
Scanlation: On-Going (stalled)
Rating: 4.5/5
Link: Baka-Updates Manga; Wikipedia
Summary: White swindlers (shirosagi) are those that cheat people to take their money, red swindlers (akasagi) are those that swindle the opposite sex, and black swindlers (kurosagi) are those that cheat the white and red swindlers. After his family is swindled by white swindlers, Kurosagi sets out to avenge them by becoming a black swindler.

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This is one of the rare cases where I read it when it was published in Vietnamese (entitled Con Diệc Đen, the publication is complete). I first read this series a long time ago back when entropy still scanlated it. Then the scanlation stopped and I didn’t bother to look for more. Not until recently when it was published in Vietnam that I had a chance to continue and it quickly became one of my top favourite series. The reason for the long story is to show that the series doesn’t have a strong start. In fact, the whole spacing stays like that thorough the series. It does go up and down here and there but the impact is not that big. You have a very stable feeling when reading it.

Now, why did I get enchanted by something like this? There’s a couple of reason as to why. First, the story is fresh. At least I don’t remember having read another manga that revolve around swindling theme. I got to know about a lot of new things. Second, it feels easy and comfortable reading it. Kurosagi is the type of senein that doesn’t make use of graphical depiction of violence and sex. In short, nothing is overboard. Third, the characters are likable. They grow on me slowly but stably as we get to know more about them and their relationship.

The art is what you call “standard”. A bit unmemorable but not quite boring. It fits well with the pacing and the “non-extreme” way of portrayal. It got better as the series progress but overall everything looks consistent.

The series end in an open-ending fashion and there’s a sequel called Shin Kurosagi currently running. I love Kurosagi but I don’t think it hits the spot of people who can’t stand regular spacing. It also has a lot of word to read and think for the story to make sense so it’s not suitable for light-entertaining either. Whether to try it or not is up to you. Unfortunately the scalation went on hiatus at volume 2 and there’s no sign of any group picking it up (I think it’s due to the fact that it uses too many “technical words” about economics). And it hasn’t been licensed in English yet. So, your only bet is either the original Japanese release or the Vietnamese release or whatever release (but not English).