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Dragon Knights

Dragon Knights, Vol. 1

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When the Demon Hordes threaten the kingdom of Dusis, the Dragon Lord and his tribe must use the magical dragon swords to protect their peace and prosperity.

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

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288 people want to read

About the author

Mineko Ohkami

52 books36 followers

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5 stars
157 (31%)
4 stars
112 (22%)
3 stars
129 (25%)
2 stars
69 (13%)
1 star
32 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Natalie.
421 reviews46 followers
November 27, 2025
As I’m currently unboxing all of my belongings after moving into a new home I have unboxed older manga I used to read and haven’t read in a long time. One of them is Dragon Knights.

A bit of interesting history of this manga is that this fantasy manga was technically the second manga that I've ever read after InuYasha. I was in middle school when I started reading it and I remember loving it so much that I ended up buying the whole series.

Now that I’m older and rereading this manga there are a few things about it that have caused me to open my eyes in alarm as to why I liked this so much.

And after reading it I will say . . . .

Wow . . . just wow.

The first two-to-three volumes of this manga are not good. I'd dare say it's bad. Dragon Knights gives more of a fantasy parody vibe more than an actual fantasy adventure. A majority of the stuff that happens in this manga series can really be . . . stupid.

I'm not going to lie, some of the plot threads thrown in the beginning are incredibly lame and don’t make any sense.

For example, there's this scene in the manga where the villain is trying to lure the three main characters into a cave so that she can trap them. Instead of doing something creative or manipulative, here is what she does:

She wears a ‘disguise’ (she literally just wears a hooded cape) and holds a sign that says "exit".

I kid you not. The worst part is the characters just go along with it. They don't use their brains and willingly follow directions from a questionable source.

On top of that, the comedy in this manga is cheesy. The jokes are portrayed as followed:

- Rune wants to go back to Draqueen as soon as possible but keeps running into problems involving the other two which usually gives him a hard time, and he becomes a grouch.

- Rath wants to hunt demons while the other two disapprove, which causes him to either rebel or breaks his sword.

- Thatz will have a scene involving his unending appetite and/or his love for treasure. He just eats, sleeps, and hunts for treasure.

- And for extra fluff: Rune is a knight that tries to keep the other two out of trouble but because they prevent him from completing the mission in a short period of time, he tends to have a short temper and blows up in their faces when his limits are pushed.

With those three morons as the main leads, I will say I love Cesia. She's just so powerful yet has such an excellent character to her. She's kind but she also has wind power that can kick some ass. She's stubborn but also compassionate. She's impatient at times but also determined. She also acts like a little girl at times as she can be very pushy and kind of manipulative.

I love this manga due to the nostalgia I have with it. It wasn't the best. Hell, I probably won't recommend it to most fans due to the strange artwork and awkward plot. But this volume and the second volume don’t reflect the series as a whole. Volume 3 is where it gets good and I'll be rereading and reviewing the rest of the volumes as I go.
Profile Image for John.
238 reviews11 followers
June 3, 2015
Poor visual grammar makes this one hard to read. It's frequently difficult or even impossible to tell what's happened in a sequence based on the art in individual panels. Typically there's a big build up to a battle, with a lot of expressionistic scribbling in the backgrounds, then people begin to fight in a way which makes the geography between them even less clear than in a Michael Bay film, and then after a few panels where something presumably happens but it's not at all clear what, they're talking about the battle afterwards.

After a while I decided to relate this to the smash cuts typical in certain types of comedy, except those are best used sparingly and the author uses that technique once or twice per story.

This is somebody's cup of tea, but it's not mine.
201 reviews
July 27, 2023
Read this as a young teen and was fun to pick this manga back up. It was as fun as I remembered it was and It reads like a anime show. The 3 characters are distinct and funny in their own ways. Lol 😂 hoping to read more of the series and see where the story goes. :)
Profile Image for Spacey.
3 reviews
December 17, 2025
*MOSTLY SPOILER FREE REVIEW FOR THE WHOLE SERIES AHEAD!!*

As someone who loves this series (and has reread most of it multiple times over the 13 years I've owned the books) and owns half of the volumes second hand from different library scrap piles I will be the first to admit that Dragon Knights is not for everyone- it's busy in every way, fails to set up or follow through with most of it's ideas, and can feel very convoluted at the best of times, but boy is it worth the ride if you want something a little out of the box and campy! I feel like the best way to describe the series is by adding "but, whatever" to the end of any compliment or criticism.

The world building is very interesting when they get it right and it tries to be creative in almost every aspect, setting up lots of mysteries for the reader that are fun to try and figure out as you go. However, not every plot point is followed through to its end, and it can leave a lot of the cast feeling as though their stories were unfinished while Cat Wolf adds another new member into the ensemble. Not to mention the occasional bout of tonal whiplash, as Cat Wolf often feels the need to switch up what she's doing- for better and for worse. The heavy use of comedy in the first volume might scare off readers looking for a more series experience while the intense and serious nature of the comics later chapters might turn away those who stayed for Cat Wolf's boisterous Slapstick.

The art is super unique and full of character and since Cat Wolf gets tired of her character designs frequently, she will try and switch hairstyles and outfits often- I can't think of a manga with a less consistent look. It's fun and weird to see what garish early 90s fashion will show up next. Most of the designs are super recognizable because of the artists love of "statement eyes", giving each Iris or pupil some unique traits that lets you remember minor characters from whole volumes before because their large eyes are unique to them as a character! However, the long lanky limbs mixed with the art style changed late in the series can leave main characters loosing their defining features- especially in regards to characters with lighter or longer hair- Cat Wolf's style changes can make blondes in particular have kind of gross stringy hair.

Character wise, there are some standouts, like Rath and Rune who's arcs up to the final showdown are extremely well written and deal heavily with their mental health, interpersonal relationships, and cultural identity, with side characters like Zoma, Gil, and Biereze all having interesting side stories, motivations, and development. Other side characters like Raseleane, Lykouleon, and Kharl steal any scene they're in with their presence and the dragon officers all feel adequately defined for their comparatively minor roles in the story.

The side stories with Rath, Rune, or Lykouleon especially are extremely interesting- I never got tired of tuning in to see what their current states were when they were on their own for the middle portion of the story, or in their many flashbacks and cutaways.

HOWEVER, not only is the last of the *main* trio, Thatz, underdeveloped (though solid and endearing in his own way. He only gets one flashback to counter the 700 the others get- even less important characters get more solo time) compared to his counterparts, but when a character is written poorly they're written *extremely* poorly. Cecia, the final of the main characters, is the worst offense. She's all over the place, never quite managing to be anything beyond exactly who or what the story needs at any given moment. In fact, most of the women are written rather poorly, especially Tintlet and Lim Kaana.

The worst offense in underdevelopment however, is the main set of villains- Nadil, Shyrendora, Shydemon, Fedelta, and whatever eyeball ladies name is (yes She's that forgettable) are NOT good villains. They're powerful, but the only villian who actually seems to give the story stakes, Demon Alchemist Kharl (yes, Kharl) and his assistant, who manage to do everything so much more competently, are sidelined and left be an afterthought in a story they very much should have been a part of.

Dragon Knights can be a very rewarding read, especially in the first 13 to 16 books, where most of the set up and exploration of characters happens, Runes solo volume (volume 6) being a personal favorite of mine. Volumes 4-9 have the perfect balance of comedy to substance, especially in scenes at the castle where the lead cast is naturally more relaxed. The solo volumes in particular have great character building moments and are done extremely cleverly, allowing you to get so much more insight into the relationships of the characters due to how they act around others- one character admits he hates multiple people that he's seemingly been close to the entire lead up, while another takes to looking after and protecting someone who reminds him of his friend since he can't be with him at the moment and he's worried about him. It's honestly super well written, contending with some of my other favorite manga in regards to relationship building despite it's many other flaws.

However, the proverbial autumn of the book, which begins directly after one of the main quartet is kidnapped, is an absolute slog which spends way too much time throwing in new characters and bringing back every side character you can think of- instead of feeling like an avengers call to action, it feels bloated and rushed. Trying to give every character in you're entire story an arc at the very end isn't rewarding, especially when they feel rushed, and because each new character needs to feel important it undermines the characters we've already had set up and weakens them. That's not to mention the rather...goofy payoff for Kitchel's solo story. It also suffers from a lack of backgrounds- the paneling makes it confusing to tell where you are in a given scene for the most part. To go out an a positive note, however, the manga sticks the landing in its epilogue, with every character actually getting a solid and believable ending for the story that played out, with the original trio mostly having come to a good ending point for their characters, arcs completed.

The TLDR of it is that in the end, Dragon Knights is a product its its time and the inexperience of its author, and while Cat Wolf had brilliant ideas and a wild and vivid imagination, it's up to the reader to decide where and when she's made the right choices. Every negative has an equally strong positive and vice versa, making this an interesting read if you can stomach the Camp (tm) and roll with the punches. Enjoy! 🙀 🐺
Profile Image for Melissa.
778 reviews17 followers
February 19, 2016
I bought the first three in this series in a bulk lot. And it was a shame.

The story is garbled, the artwork is weak and the character building....Just no. I literally struggled with who was who because it jumped around so much. The pacing is not good.

I guess there were some cheesy moments which might appeal to someone? And big battles too I suppose.


I'm sorry. Find something else to read.
Profile Image for Heidi S.
170 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2025
This first volume of "Dragon Knights" opened too brashly, but closed on an intriguing note.

Firstly, the beginning of this book was very difficult to understand. Not being overly accustomed to manga, I failed to make sense of the storyline. The rapid introduction of characters left the plot difficult to follow. For more seasoned veterans to manga, I don't believe this critique would stand.

Continuing into the second half of the manga, the story began to take flight. Characters begin to get spotlight moments in the chapters that help the reader relate and differentiate the knights. The setting evolves as the knights are on the move and the antagonist's plot begins to make sense.

Thirdly, the humor in this book is spot-on. I believe it will relate with a teenage audience as much as it will older readers who want to give the series a try.

Wrapping up this first volume, I am curious about the future for these knights. I will be continuing this series with hope that the good vs. evil will become more tense.

I recommend this book to fans of knights, dragons, and action. If you like humor and adventure, give this book a try.
Profile Image for (╯`▭´)╯︵ ǝɔnɒꓷ.
919 reviews
June 4, 2017
I love this series to bits, but volume one is definitely one of the most confusing of the installments, and probably one of my least favorites. It's a little off-putting to someone who has never read it before, but as someone who has read this series multiple times, I love seeing the little hints about what the future has in store. Rath is my absolute favorite, then Thatz. But I just love Rath's interaction with Fire and his goofy obsession with demons.
Profile Image for Wardah.
952 reviews172 followers
February 24, 2018
Jauh sebelum terpengaruh gaya gambar CLAMP, saya ketemu komik ini duluan. Sejak awal langsung naksir sama gaya gambarnya, naksir karakternya, dan ceritanya. Belum lama ini reread semua bukunya dan tetap ketagihan.
Profile Image for Cassandra Alvarado .
219 reviews3 followers
January 23, 2019
I've actually read this series in middle school, so I figured I'd like to re visit the world. Unfortunately my love for reading manga has changed, and I didn't enjoy this as much as I once did. The old me would've given this 5 stars, but the adult me will give it 1 star.☹
Profile Image for Hana Eka.
1,393 reviews5 followers
July 3, 2018
Dulu saya ingat kalau saya menyukai komik Dragon Knight ketika kuliah.
Jilidnya sederhana dengan gaya gambar jadul.
Mari kita lihat apakah saya dapat menyukai komik ini kembali. :)
Profile Image for Fuuma.
322 reviews6 followers
December 2, 2020
It's gimmicky but other than that I still love it.
Profile Image for Stacey.
87 reviews43 followers
November 5, 2011
I started this series back in high school (I'm currently about to graduate from college), and I really enjoyed it back then. I saw the first two volumes for sale at a local Half Price Books and decided to pick it back up again.

I'm only giving Volume 1 a two-star rating because it's a little spastic and the pacing isn't all that great. The author makes it obvious that these three knights are returning to their country's capital with the head of an enemy wrapped up in a bundle of cloth, and that a lot of other people want to obtain this head because it may have supernatural powers. That's all well and good, but my issue is that it doesn't really make sense for knights to slack off on the job as much as these guys do. It does introduce some characters that come into play later, but I really feel like there would be a better way to introduce them.

Anyway, it's not the best read on its own, but the story and art does improve drastically as the story movies on through the different books. So don't let the first few volumes push you away.
27 reviews
April 9, 2013
Rath, Rune, and Thatz are on a journey back to the Light Kingdom with their dragons. They are the Dragon Knights. They have many adventures on the way back, and get into quite a bit of trouble...which seems to follow them everywhere. This is book one of twenty six (I think).

My graphic novel, a manga. I actually own most of this series, as I absolutely love it. The first book, this one, leaves a little to be desired in the way of actual plot, but it is absolutely hilarious. It makes you think that the series is going to be a lighthearted one with a lot of humor--and it is...up until book 11 when everything comes to a head and people start dying left and right. Anyway, this book is definitely a good read. However, if you want to continue into the series, be warned of blood, language, violence, and some partial nudity that may or may not occur...
Profile Image for Selena Pigoni.
1,941 reviews263 followers
October 16, 2011
The first book was epic. The first three, really, were epic. The series started out like a really screwed up video game meets the Odyssey. They'd beaten the demon king and were going home, when all kinds of bizarre stuff happens on their way back, delaying them.

Then they get back and this series goes blegh. It loses that witty sarcastic parody feel that made me fall in love with it. It's kinda like Pirates of the Caribbean. One was hysterical and the rest took themselves way to seriously and alienated many of the people who boost it to awesomeness in the first place.

Basically, read until they get back to the castle with this series. Afterwards, it gets too complicated, too serious, and too, well, boring.
Profile Image for Brook.
379 reviews
March 25, 2017
I have read the entire series of this manga(actually, it's the only one to keep my attention all the way through!), and I one thing I should say, is don't get put off by the first book. It gets so much better. Okhami shows so much improvement throughout the series. If you compare the first book to, say vol. 19 or so, you will be completely shocked at the difference in the artwork and storyline.

The first book itself is not that good. It's more of a comedy than anything else. But if you stick with it, you won't be disappointed. It gets much more serious, while still retaining a bit of it's original comedy.
Profile Image for Starbubbles.
1,639 reviews128 followers
December 20, 2010
this was one of the worst beginnings i have ever had to wade through. i don't mind having stories told out of chronological order, but for it to make sense, you need to first establish key charcters' uh, charcteristics, and well something that resembles a plot going in some sort of direction. if i didn't already have 17 books already purchased, i would have stopped here. i totally need to reconsider buying into these half priced books' grouped deals.
Profile Image for Caroline.
1,201 reviews165 followers
January 26, 2020
I had been thinking to revisit this series I never finished as a teenager...but it's a lot rougher story-wise than I remembered. I vaguely remember the story really not taking off for a few volumes, so I'll give this re-read a bit more of an attempt before I give up on this series. Definitely a rough start, either way.
Profile Image for Esme.
133 reviews4 followers
October 5, 2017
I love this manga sadly its an old one. It is not being published due to the company it published it is gone. Funny, magical and romances its all included in this manga showing the progress of the characters in their destiny to protect their kingdom from a longtime enemy from the rival kingdom of demons and evil magicians.
Profile Image for Mal.
464 reviews133 followers
December 12, 2013
Dragon Knights is - and I know I say this a lot - brilliant. It's original but not completely over the top. It's way to get to know the characters and the names are easy to pronounce. They all have these cute little flaws and it's like you seriously know them. It's easy to read and adorably creative <3 Looking toward to all the others!
Profile Image for sucker4synth.
315 reviews13 followers
February 12, 2016
Kickin' it old school with this fantasy book about Dragon Knights carrying around the severed head of their sworn enemy and fighting demons as they try to make it home. Have I mentioned this is a comedy? A lost manga-type that isn't full of jiggling lady parts and panties that fall into the faces of everyone. Funny and a great old school style.
Profile Image for Sarah Maddaford.
913 reviews11 followers
May 28, 2010
I was almost okay with the story breaking the fourth wall on the first page, but the whole thing is just too corny. I bet that teens enjoy it because they seem to like humor more than I do, but I couldn't keep reading this...
Profile Image for Cara Patel.
Author 1 book8 followers
June 27, 2020
Fun and funny but a bit ridiculous and silly. I didn’t really like it enough to continue with the series. I really like the 90s art style but some of the action scenes were a bit messy and hard to follow.
Profile Image for Kat.
38 reviews6 followers
Read
November 14, 2007
well i've read this before but it was a while ago and my library had it so i decided to pick it up
Profile Image for Patty.
298 reviews
September 7, 2008
At this point it was very much like it was influenced by the sentai (costumed hero) series, with a fantasy spin. A good deal of humour and a vibrant fantasy world.
Profile Image for Bradley.
Author 4 books2,411 followers
March 14, 2011
Priceless manga. Totally silly and irreverent. I like this manga besides the fact there is the word dragon in the title. =)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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