Wonderland

This manga is a hidden gem. I think it deserves more attention, but maybe because the scanlations stopped, people didn't continue and gave it low ratings based off just the first few chapters. However, it is worth is to buy the rest, and here is why. Story: 7.5 The story takes place in a bleak world where shrunken humans are fighting to survive when everything is a threat. At first, this premise is already pretty interesting, but later on, stakes get higher, and it gets even more interesting as things slowly change and evolve, giving you a reason to reread the earlier chapters as you find outmore, so you can view things in a new light. The plot twists are well-done and subtly hinted at, and the first and last are probably the most shocking. The story involves themes like the gray definitions of good and evil, innocence (and the loss thereof), human corruption, forgiveness, loneliness, sacrifice, what it means to be human, atonement, and friendship. By the end, you realize that a lot of things have been done before, but the execution is key. Namely, the story explores its many themes from a unique angle and POV which are enabled by its setting and characters. Also, the story has a nice amount of humor peppered in, which works well as comic relief. My only complaint is that certain parts towards the end could have used more exploration, and that felt like a waste with how good the characters and setting were. Art: 7.5 Not much to say here. It's a unique art style that I like, but it may not be for everyone. It's a nice balance between anime and realistic, imo. It's bold and dark and reflects the mood of the story. The art gives the characters nice facial expressions during serious moments and also their own unique recurring facial expressions during comedic moments, which is charming. I think the art is well done. It's nothing amazing, but it's above average and quite good. The bloody scenes are also not too gory, which I appreciate. Characters: 8 The story is quite good already, but I think the characters are the strongest part of this manga. The characters have lovable personalities and meaningful interactions. You can really feel the emotions behind their words and it comes through in the art, as well. They behave realistically, and when some don't, there is a good reason behind it. The story also takes you from hating to loving or pitying certain characters, and we question their choices along with them, we feel their intense emotions along with them. Right until the end of the story, you will be wanting to yell at them or hug them. Of course, not all characters are developed the same amount, but even most of the more minor characters have compelling motivations and growth that make you invested in their ability to achieve their goals, and possibly devastated when they can't. And some of their goals change or you find out their true goals are different than what you believed. They don't feel like "anime characters", they just feel... human. Like the story's world itself, however, some characters would have benefited from more backstory or chances to grow. Also, the story gets bonus points from me for the way it actually portrays realistic language barriers instead of having everyone magically speak the same language. Enjoyment: 8 Not sure what this section means, but I enjoyed the manga a lot. I would gladly reread it. And there is a possibility that it gets a continuation, so I am also waiting for that, because the ending left me with a lot to think about. But it's also great as a standalone story even without a sequel, of course. Overall: 8