Black Torch

Black Torch is one of those mangas that draws you in almost instantly, only to leave you with a mixed bag of emotions by the time you finish it. With just 19 chapters, it’s a short, digestible read that doesn’t demand a huge time investment—which, in some ways, is both a blessing and a curse. For readers looking for something quick with cool action and flashy designs, it certainly delivers. But for those hoping to witness a rich narrative unfold, the series can feel like an unfinished sketch of what could have been a masterpiece. The Hook: Concept and Art From the very first chapter, Black Torchgives off the vibe of something promising. The concept itself isn’t revolutionary, but it’s presented with a certain energy that catches your attention. It blends traditional elements of ninja lore with supernatural creatures known as “mononoke,” which are spiritual beings or demons that exist in a shadowy parallel layer of the world. The protagonist, Jiro Azuma, can communicate with animals and ends up fusing with a mononoke named Rago, setting off a journey of action, betrayal, and uncovering hidden truths. The art style is one of the manga’s strongest points. Tsuyoshi Takaki’s clean lines, dynamic paneling, and well-executed action sequences give the story an adrenaline-fueled edge. Character designs are stylish and memorable—each main cast member has a distinct look and visual personality. It’s the kind of manga where you can imagine the characters moving in full animated glory, which is perhaps one reason why an anime adaptation has been announced. The Problem: Rushed Storytelling While Black Torch starts off strong, it quickly becomes apparent that the pacing is off. By the time you’re halfway through, major plot developments feel like they’re being crammed into too few pages. Events that should take time to build are resolved too quickly. Character arcs feel clipped, as if they’re being pushed forward on a deadline rather than allowed to evolve organically. This fast pacing severely affects the impact of emotional scenes and makes many of the battles and revelations feel unearned. It's as though the manga was initially planned for a longer run but had to be wrapped up prematurely. Whether that decision came from the editorial side or the creator himself is unclear, but the result is a story that feels rushed and underdeveloped. The Letdown: Lack of Heart What left me truly disappointed was the emotional void I felt at the end. Despite liking the characters and being intrigued by the world, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the author didn’t fully put his heart into the story. Or perhaps, more fairly, he was never given the time or space to do so. Either way, the depth and passion one usually hopes to find in a manga—especially one that begins with so much promise—was missing by the final chapter. It’s not that Black Torch is a bad manga. It’s competently made, visually engaging, and easy to read. But it ends up being forgettable precisely because it seems to rush past all the moments that would’ve made it memorable. There are sparks of good ideas and engaging character interactions, but none of them are given room to grow. Everything is on fast-forward. A Surprising Anime Adaptation The announcement of an anime adaptation came as a surprise. Given the manga’s short run and lukewarm conclusion, it wasn’t exactly the most obvious candidate for a full-fledged anime. However, the adaptation might have a shot at winning over a broader audience—especially those who prioritize animation, character design, and action over deep storytelling. With the right studio and some thoughtful script revisions, the anime could flesh out areas the manga left underdeveloped. It might even give Black Torch the second chance it deserves. Character design will no doubt be a major selling point for the anime. Even in the manga, the characters look stylish and cool enough to carry promotional posters and merchandise. If the animation team leans into that, adds fluid action sequences, and paces the story better, then Black Torch could do well on the screen in a way it never quite managed on the page. Final Thoughts Black Torch is a classic example of "potential not fully realized." It had all the ingredients to be a standout shonen series—an intriguing concept, solid art, likable characters—but it lacked the storytelling time and emotional investment needed to become great. For a short read, it's enjoyable enough and might serve as a gateway to other, more fleshed-out series. But if you're someone who reads manga for deep character arcs, well-paced plot progression, and emotional payoff, Black Torch might leave you wanting more. In the end, what stings is not just what Black Torch is, but what it could have been. And that’s the kind of disappointment that lingers.

A story cut short, but for obvious reasons once you take the time to notice, Black Torch is an action fantasy about a boy named Jiro and his encounter with the mononoke that secretly roam this world. The modern setting helps the story out a bit since the premise isn't all too unique, but what really sells the story is the art. Unfortunately, the overall look of the manga from page to page is rather lifeless with the bare backgrounds and sparse scenery. The backgrounds are generally sparse and most times barren to really highlight the character art, which is quite good, but not uniqueand eye-catching enough to stand on its own. Maybe if given more time it could have gotten there since the overall designs of the characters and powers were quite good at the end. It's just not an artistic angle that appeals to me. The characters are somewhat likable but overall, pretty flat especially since we never get to dive deeply into any of them. Ibuki ends up being in my opinion the only side character I actually want to see more of, and they're present for only a few chapters in the story. Our MC Jiro stays headstrong and simple-minded throughout with minor influences here and there. The story itself could have been interesting with some overarching philosophies of life that get mentioned at the end. Overall, I understand why this one didn't make the cut. It's a good effort but just doesn't go deep enough in any direction.

So i just finished the last vol. today (at work lol) and i have to say i enjoyed it ,but for different reasons that i had originally thought. I was expecting this to be a long running shonen ,like bleach or naruto and found out after reading the first 3 vol. that it wasn't going to go that route. If this manga is better off for it , is left for discussion ,but for what we got i have to say it was very enjoyable and compressed ( which makes it easier to share with friends). Our protagonist is very likeable and since the lengthof this manga , learns rather fast and isn't heading down the usual cliches , like having 4 different girls hovering over him or learning something only to ignore it in the next chapter. The side characters are also well fleshed out and have a good and memorable design (especially Ichika :). I found the story to be well structured ,but you could have done at least twice as much with it. All in all i can recommend it to almost anybody with love for the medium but especially to anyone who liked bleach a lot but thought it should have been shorter.