Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought that my previous review is too long to be called one, hm? So, let's change it, shall we?
First, read the spoiler below if you think that this a stupid manga because God just created a self-destruct button called the "Heart"...
The Heart is the key to the war? snort With the recent development in the latest volumes, I think the so-called Heart is the evil one in this war rather than the Earl...
Ha, great going. If your brain didn't explode from ch. 202 - 213 I congratulated you, literally
Okay, first off: this is one of a heck complicated manga. You really, really need to actually READ the context of the speeches and thoughts in the manga CAREFULLY. Don't just skip from panels to panels like a mad rabbit.
Also, if you're NOT a fan of plot-twists and just love to be right, this awesome manga isn't for you. Why? Well, this manga has a LOT of plot-twists that almost no one can predict... Basically, everything after the first 15 volumes is a twisted wonderland of cliffhangers and plot-twists. I've read a lot of mysteries, and this manga definitely will make anyone think harder than Death Note, Sherlock Homes, and whatever out there. I mean, who had guessed about C.M.'s "death" in that way?! It's the best WTF moment, and ch. 212... and ch. 213... and vl. 17... All chapters ended with cliffhangers and suspense.
Second; don't babble out 'oh, the author is freaking slow and lazy...' As I said, this is a manga with many twists. Honestly, I've been a theorist for a long time and I couldn't imagine how hard Hoshino is doing to research for information. And her illness is taking a toll on her. It's the back bone, people; the most risky and painful to take care of after the brain and liver cancer. Impatient reader, just shut up and go somewhere else.
It's simple, really. If you're confuse, then you're NOT smart enough to understand anything as complicated as D.Gray-man. There are more than one reason this manga is rated for OLDER TEEN, you know.
And what is so much more unique other than the plot-twists in in D.Gray-man? It's the characterization. It's. Just. Perfect. Unlike most shounen manga, they don't just yell "I'll protect my nakama!" and fight then win. You can really SEE the bond that they make and share. With their friends as well as their enemies.
This manga is getting more and more realistic: no one is black, no one is white — why some humans are capable of doing inhuman things? Why some of us have no sympathy and just kill? In D.Gray-man, eveyone that are evil truly have their reasons for doing what they're doing. The church isn't the nice one, yet the Noah Clan isn't the bad one... So, which one is the other?
Really, you can't hate anyone in D.Gray-man. They always, always have a reason or two for every of their decision. The bad guys are NOT just any other antagonists where they are hungry for power, money, and other cliché things. Their actions are deeper than we all guessed on the first few volumes.
Complaining about the art? Well, I highly recommend you to buy the one released by Viz. They are FIXED by Hoshino and are much more comfortable to look at. The lines are thinned, the color are repaired... once you buy the volume, the word gorgeous just cross your mind. And remember, Hoshino loves to hide things and add a lot of details and symbolism. The art isn't too 'packet' or 'messy', it just has a lot of details that your brain backfired.
And my warning for any younger teens that are planning to read D.Gray-man: this manga is dark. Very, very dark and horror-ish. Though I won't call this gore. Yet... Anyway, this manga contains religious theme, explicit child abuse, few sexual hints, violence, a lot of blood, mechanical skeletons shoving themselve down people's throat, childern mutilating another child up... (I do regret buying volume 20 for that reason...) Since its move to SQ Jump, there's a high chance of D.Gray-man changing to seinen...
In short, this manga isn't for everyone. If you're impatient; love to be right; hate plot-twists; love cliché things, this manga IS NOT for you.