Search Results
8/10/2025, 3:48:43 PM
>the biggest flaw in Kagurabachi's current Swordbearer Assassination (SBA) arc—which began in chapter 46 and remains ongoing as of August 2025—is its handling of side characters.
>Many are introduced with potential but end up underdeveloped, sidelined, or killed off prematurely (often off-screen), reducing tension and making elite forces feel like disposable fodder rather than meaningful threats or allies.
>This issue is exacerbated by the arc's excessive length (spanning over 40 chapters so far, nearly half the manga's total run), which creates a sense of drag and missed opportunities for deeper exploration, leading to reader fatigue and complaints about characters "disappearing" for entire stretches.
>For instance, characters like Shiba, Hiyuki, Azami, Char, and Hinao are frequently cited as examples of this problem: they receive initial hype or emotional beats but fade into the background without ongoing relevance or growth, especially as new figures (e.g., Iori in the SBA arc) are cycled in.
>Critics argue this stems from author Takeru Hokazono's relative inexperience in his first serialized series, where the focus stays narrowly on protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira and a core trio, while broader ensembles suffer.
>This flaw echoes broader series critiques but feels amplified in the SBA arc due to its saga-like structure with multiple mini-conflicts (e.g., Uruha/Samura rescue, Kyoto battles, Kamunabi raid), which introduce even more underutilized players without sufficient downtime for character-building moments.
>Many are introduced with potential but end up underdeveloped, sidelined, or killed off prematurely (often off-screen), reducing tension and making elite forces feel like disposable fodder rather than meaningful threats or allies.
>This issue is exacerbated by the arc's excessive length (spanning over 40 chapters so far, nearly half the manga's total run), which creates a sense of drag and missed opportunities for deeper exploration, leading to reader fatigue and complaints about characters "disappearing" for entire stretches.
>For instance, characters like Shiba, Hiyuki, Azami, Char, and Hinao are frequently cited as examples of this problem: they receive initial hype or emotional beats but fade into the background without ongoing relevance or growth, especially as new figures (e.g., Iori in the SBA arc) are cycled in.
>Critics argue this stems from author Takeru Hokazono's relative inexperience in his first serialized series, where the focus stays narrowly on protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira and a core trio, while broader ensembles suffer.
>This flaw echoes broader series critiques but feels amplified in the SBA arc due to its saga-like structure with multiple mini-conflicts (e.g., Uruha/Samura rescue, Kyoto battles, Kamunabi raid), which introduce even more underutilized players without sufficient downtime for character-building moments.
Page 1