I am not a manga supremacist by any means like quite a lot of manga readers. I generally prefer watching anime instead of reading manga. Golden Kamuy though is one of the few exceptions to that. The animations of the anime adaptation don’t really sit well with me plus the manga is just so much better in almost every way. The manga also ended rather recently so it is a good time to catch up.
So welcome to another edition of our weekly manga recommendation series. This week we are talking about Golden Kamuy. A series that I believe more people should give a shot. I won’t call it underrated because it has a pretty high rating on MAL but, more people should check it out. So let’s get started right away.
Introduction
Golden Kamuy is written and illustrated by Noda Satoru. It was published in the Young Jump magazine from 21st August 2014 to 28th April 2022. The manga is 314 chapters or 31 volumes long which is not much for a weekly series. It is also the 78th highest-rated manga on MAL, which is kind of crazy if you think about it.
Golden Kamuy also has 3 seasons of anime adaptation if I remember correctly. If you don’t have time to read the manga, you can watch the anime. It is just that I prefer the manga over the anime in this case. So let’s move on to…
Plot
Golden Kamuy has a very interesting plot. It is set during the Russo-Japanese war. This ex-soldier, Sugimoto is trying to find the gold of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido to keep a promise to his lost friend. There is this legend stating someone stole the gold of the Ainu and hid it somewhere. The place where the gold was hidden can only be found through a specific map that is tattoed on the bodies of escaped convicts. The series follows Sugimoto through his search.
Golden Kamuy is such a complete package. The story is exceptionally well written and interesting. This is one of those series that is very hard to describe in a boring way. There are so many plot twists to keep you interested, the manga does a good job of keeping the reader’s attention. In the end, though, it is a story of greed and revenge. The plot alone is good enough to solo carry Golden Kamuy but, it also has other stuff to make it good.
Characters
Golden Kamuy has a lot of characters. Sugimoto is one of the most interesting MCs in recent memory. At first, it is hard to like Sugimoto but over time he grows into a really good character. And then there is Asirpa, she acts as a really good counter to Sugimoto. Their dynamic is also extremely well written and developed.
Art
Golden Kamuy has some really good art. Sometimes I don’t like the character design preference but, I love the setting. The background is always so so well done. The whole setting of Hokkaido, and the fact that most things generally happen at the night give it a cool flare. I love the feel and the vibe that Golden Kamuy art gives.
Why should you read Golden Kamuy?
Quick pointers on why you should check out this manga:
- Rather short
- Interesting plot
- Great characters
- Good art
Conclusion
That is it for now. Let me know what you guys think in the comments. Golden Kamuy is a great manga and it really deserves more attention. With that said, I will take my leave here. See ya!
