MANGA REVIEW: The Raven Dark Hero Vol. 1

The Raven Dark Hero: From White Knight to Villain Vol. 1
by Tonkye and Akira Mitsuya
Available November 4

The more anime and manga I tear through, the more I realize that certain stories in certain subgenres go in phases. A while back, we had our "overworked by an abusive company" boom. Right now, we seem to be in a "revenge for being underestimated" boom — especially in, but not limited to, the realm of isekai. The Raven Dark Hero is one of those rare non-isekai series veering into that trend, centering a character whose abilities fall short but who will turn out to be a force to be reckoned with.

Suou Kouki lives in what appears to be a darker spin on the My Hero Academia universe: one in which people develop superpowers by a certain age and use them to either protect the weak or go full villain mode. He's dreamed of developing a power and joining up to do his part: a dream that begins to fray as his (alleged) friend jumps on just that opportunity. But a dangerous encounter soon reveals that Suou may be more powerful than he thought.

Now, with an ability that evolves in an unconventional (and frankly terrifying) way, Suou is on the path to becoming a hero... or perhaps a villain. Because the two aren't that far apart.

This first volume of The Raven Dark Hero sets an intriguing stage in a superpowered world, hinting that even walking down the path of heroism may not be all it's cracked up to be. The introductory phase of a put-upon protagonist at the mercy of a fair-weather friend feels a bit overdone in the current anime and manga climate. That said, Suou's unique ability and how he contends with it will be what carries this story. An angsty, put-upon protagonist isn't a crime, but a strong story that makes his rivalry more than envy and revenge will make all the difference.

All that aside, the art is very nice. Some action-based manga can only do solid character art or solid action, with nothing in between. But Mitsuya has struck a very good balance that makes this story visually appealing.

Whether The Raven Dark Hero makes good on the more appealing aspects of its story remains to be seen. At this early stage, it could go either way. But fans of dark superhero stories will want to get on board early.

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