Hiroyuki Takei (武井宏之 Takei Hiroyuki) is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of the manga and anime Shaman King. His brother, Hirofumi Takei (武井宏文) is also a manga-ka.
This manga (along with the anime) have so much santimental value to me and it always bring that sweet feeling of childhood. It's needless to say i'm very fond of it and it completely deserves it's place as my all time number one favourite. I did enjoy the overall style and the characters. Good thing Hiroyuki Takei eventually completed the series.
The idea for this shonen was good, but the author fell into the trap of just pilling repetitive fighting with events that don't surprise readers. With pointless concepts introduced, he even managed to make dying irrelevant. This makes for overpowered characters, even if none of the heroes become the king in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is possibly the best manga series that I have ever read. The art is so cool and the storyline actually makes sense. I would highly recommend the whole series
This is the series that has the most significant impact to my virtue and way of life. The story and character development is amazing that I can see a flaw in every characters and there are so many lessons to learn. That makes them so humane and touching, real close to even my friends. Even after so many years, this still hold true. - Yoh is as calm as the earth. Whatever happens, there will always be a way out. - Ryu have shown that even delinquents have the rights to find their best place, where they belong. His belief is: Everybody will have a place to return to. - Horohoro's father teaching: The strong feeds upon the weak. But that doesn't mean give up. - Anna: For human beings living is like fighting. Even when they eat, sleep or dress. They find themselves in difficulty when they try to reach happiness. And to find the happiness between people is the most difficult thing to do. - There is no wrong or right. Only different ideology. Therefore, the best way to win a fight is to reach each other's heart. For a 16 year old kid who moved to a new country without any friends, this series had opened a new world.
It's one reason why I love manga, sometimes it gives you great impact to think more about life :). I enjoyed this manga in my junior & high school waiting patiently for each volume coming up. A great plot and character (*I'm a fan of Anna Itako!*), but I'm a bit disappointed for the ending, it's look like being forced to facing the end of the journey.