Title

Jormungand

Also known as: ヨルムンガンド, 요르문간드

by Keitarou Takahashi, John Hunt

Score from AniList: 74/100finished11 volumes80 chapters

ActionAdventureDrama

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Jonah is a child soldier, born amidst the chaotic conflicts that rage across West Asia, his family lost to a war fueled by weapons supplied by the so-called Merchants of Death—international arms dealers. Despite Jonah's hatred of weapons and violence, he employs both extremely well in the service of high-flying arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar and her band of mercenaries. Their journey through the dark underbelly of the world's arms markets may lead only to damnation, but will Jonah one day make his way back to the light? Only one thing is certain: it's going to be a long, hard road out of hell... (Source: VIZ Media) Note: Includes 10 extra chapters.

Chapters available: 80
Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 4/5

A sharp, sprawling arms-dealer thriller with a morally complicated lead and a global scope, driven by tense set pieces and dry, cynical humour.

Pros

A morally complicated, memorable lead
A global scope with a cynical edge
Tense, well-staged set pieces

Cons

The violence is frequent and grim
The political detail can overwhelm

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Read the full take

Rin here. Jonah is a child soldier born into the chaos of conflicts raging across West Asia, and his family was lost to a war fuelled by weapons from international arms dealers. He hates weapons and violence, and yet he uses both with deadly skill. That tension is the engine of this series.The strength is the lead. He is morally complicated in a way that keeps you on your toes, and the story doesn't let you settle into easy sympathy. The global scope gives the plot a sprawling feel, and the cynical edge lands with real bite. The set pieces are tense and well staged.The weaknesses are the grim violence and the density of the politics. The violence is frequent and often unflinching, and the arms-trade detail can overwhelm readers who want simpler stakes. The series also asks for patience as its threads widen. Still, it's a strong, serious thriller for fans of gritty crime stories with a conscience. Go in knowing it will test you, and it will reward your attention.