I’ve read “Mushoku Tensei - Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu” a number of times over the years, and been aware of it since it first started being translated into English. I even gave the novel a read once and was mesmerised by how garbage it was (light novels, whether a feature of the translation or otherwise, unanimously have poor writing). Each time I’ve read “Mushoku…” I’ve come away with a different impression, and it’s likely due to the relative importance I’ve placed all it’s disparate elements in my mind. On one hand you have an engaging fantasy story with some good ideas and competent execution, on the other hand you have the sex based comedy which can be rather tedious1. Having just read the 68 chapters back to back, I think there is enough content now that the more irritating elements of “Mushoku…” don’t stick out as much.

Light Novels and their adaptations are extraordinarily inward looking – a pot-pourri of various ideas and themes, at this point of unknown origin because of how many light novels exist with similar qualities and their incestuous reverence. So no, if you are coming to “Mushoku…” for “originality” or “creativity” then you are looking in the wrong place2. But, if you are looking for a story that takes it’s story elements and gives them a decent amount of breathing room, and has a plot that is wide in scope with relevance for the inhabited world, then I think you should give “Mushoku…” a try. I primarily refer to the magical disaster arc here as I was impressed with ground covered and the credence given by the story that this event was a big fucking deal with a large impact on the world. We even get some powerful moments of emotion and character development, even if it does feel like it’s all subsumed to the goal of making the MC seem like the best thing since sliced bread. The setting does remain rather undeveloped, which may have been a requirement for having the characters travel across a continent in good time, but the author clearly has a mind for scenario and the branching impact of action (e.g. first entering the adventurers guild, reuniting with Paul, the parallel adventure of Roxxy etc…). This is all occurring on the backdrop of lore that is typical for a fantasy setting, and strangely convoluted at points, but still present enough that there is some suggestion as to where the plot could move forward. If someone could explain to me why “saint” is a lower tier of mastery then “emperor” that would also be appreciated lol…

My primary issue with “Mushoku…” at this point may be intimately linked with it being a light novel and thus, being a bit of a mixed bag. In the current arc, what on earth is going on? The tonal whiplash from dour fantasy adventure to whacky school high jinks has been palpable. I still can’t work out how seriously the MCs impotence is being taken by the story, which may be one of these things that just translates better in the novel itself. With the update speed, I do worry that “Mushoku…” will exhaust those that have a lesser interest in it’s comedic chops and want to see the resolution of the broader mysteries in the plot.

In conclusion, “Mushoku…” is decent. It lacks coherency, which may be part of it’s charm, and it’s very much an adaptation of a light novel (for all the good or ill that means to you). But when the story gets going it’s an enjoyable fantasy adventure with some quality scenario writing and snappy premise. Let’s just hope it’s ends within 10 years lol.

Find below my responses to comments made in other reviews. I didn’t want to bog down my opinion on the manga with broader points about criticism and fiction.

1. I find moral stargazing in fiction relatively tedious. While there are interesting debates surrounding this subject, and I believe that an opinion on a piece of media can be coloured by whatever side one lies on, most people do not have the ability/haven’t thought enough about said issue to really justify them fat thumbing their keyboard. Does the presence of a character who sexualises minors mean that said work condones real world sexual abuse of minors and is thus, immoral and possibly also illegal? Can context change this relationship or is it black and white? What is the readers and authors stake in this engagement? And so on with the bellyaching… I feel this is important to address because it seems to be one of the primary reasons for people reviewing this manga very negatively. Personally I find the MC gross in a great many ways, which is why on previous readings I’ve come away with a poor impression of this series, but I also think there is a lot to like once the pseudo-comedic sexual foliage has been raked away. I would also like to note for the puritans in the room that this manga is one of the few to actually represent a blossoming young romance and takes it from infatuation to “love-making” in the good old Christian sense. Yes, it’s “depicting minors” but it also has a sex cursed 1000 year old elf who apparently has some taste for pubescent boys and goes to magic school to get her fill of it... The main character also develops “incurable” impotence at 15 (?) years old after his perceived rejection… In the context of manga and anime at large, this is pretty standard for the harem/ecchi tags, if not relatively benign. If your problem is with this creepy 30 year old NEET being a pervert in his new 10 year old body (while being 40 mentally), then welcome to the club of people that have recognised this as being weird for all isekai protagonists since the beginning of time… Ultimately you can come down on any side of the issue you want, I just wish commenters would leave higher quality points about it, to at least show the capacity for thought.

2. “originality”, “innovation” and Deux-ex Machina… I mentioned this before but it is far too common for my liking that rather than attempt an explanation of perspective on a series, reviewers will commonly utilise nebulous and quite stupid criticisms and slogans that are community sanctioned. “Real reviewers talk about “character development”, “pacing” and “originality” so I will too!” without the recognition that many of these terms are completely meaningless without context, or possibly even down right dumb. After all, please find me a series that is totally “original” or “innovative”. To bring this to the relevant argument I’ve seen on this “Mushoku...” – was the magical disaster that brought about random teleportation of all characters in the story a plot device for an “adventure”? Was it valid to do so, or was it trite and cheap? Was Bilbo Baggins being the first name on Gandalfs mind in the Hobbit a plot device for adventure? Was it valid to be so, or was it trite and cheap? Ultimately your answer to this will depend, but I think laying it out in this way demonstrates just how asinine the question is in the first place, as any and all plot points could be seen as artificially created for the sake of making a compelling story. But when is it right and when is it wrong?