100 Blue Exorcist Chapters
(By Blue-Exorcist-Muse aka HailsShard)
I've put this off long enough. It's time to get into it.
How I Got Into the Fandom
I think I first got into the fandom after seeing Blue Exorcist show up on my Netflix recommendations after watching Soul Eater, my gateway anime. I decided to roll my eyes and give it watch, finding it was far better than I thought it was going to be.
Then I drifted off, got caught up in my first fandom, toxicity and discourse ensued and I left, deciding I needed a better place to stay. After spending days alone with no activity, wandering around DeviantArt, FFN, and Tumblr at the young age of 14-15-ish, I remembered my fondness for Blue Exorcist and thought maybe I'd dip my toes in the water over there.
If fandoms were a lake, then Blue Exorcist was one of the clearest lakes I'd seen in awhile and when I took the plunge, I was refreshed to find endless bounds of creativity and compassion.
From then on, I had found my new niche.
What the Series Means to Me As a Whole
Blue Exorcist holds a special place in my heart, it's my niche, the place I come home to after exploring. Those I follow in the fandom are kind, discourse-free blogs who respect each other's opinions and I appreciate that more than anything.
The anime is gorgeous, it's animation is bouncy and flexible and colorful. It's got the edgiest premise in the history of ever and it turned the first five episodes into a slice of life comedy, then as the darkness and seriousness increased, it was too late to back out and I watched until the end.
When I found out there was a manga, I read, starting at the Kyoto Arc, and was more than pleased to find such beautiful bonds and wonderful development. The Illuminati Arc brought forth some even more terrifying experiences and God I was hooked from then.
This series has been my life boat in times of stress, it's the one thing I looked forward to in life, and it helped me get through school. Fo that, I owe the series a loyalty that could never be paid away.
Why Anime Only Fans Should Read the Manga
I think a better question would be: Why shouldn't you?
From the breathtaking visual art to the beautiful plot to the 3-dimensional characters, there's so much to choose from.
Without spoiling anything, I'll summarize. It provides background and gives each of the characters a beautiful arc. It contains the best character development seen since the beginning of storytelling.
It showcases Shiemi's strength and lets her shine.
It puts a spotlight on Konekomaru's intelligence and leadership abilities.
It pushes Ryūji's desire for self-improvement.
It provides Izumo with the wonderful tragic backstory we were all hoping for.
It gives Renzō more of a reason to exist outside of "every anime needs a flirtatious playboy."
It lengthens Yukio's development in more than one way.
It tells how Rin fights his inner demons and grows stronger everyday.
And all of it hits painfully close to realistic and relatable. It's one of, if not THE MOST underrated and beautiful manga of all time. It deserves more attention.
That being said, I'll leave you with a close and stop wasting your time. These are my thoughts on the matter.