Reviews for Gangsta.

Okay, let me just get this started. I just read it couple weeks ago, and I fell in love instantly. Story : Gangsta tells you about two 'handymen' who lives in dysfunctional city of Ergastulum where crimes, thieves, prostitutes, mobsters, and corrupted cops are everywhere. Worrick, an easy-going freelance gangster and Nic, a deaf, aloof also a freelance gangster, together they sometimes got hired for doing 'dirty' work people normally won't do. And then the plot develops. From Worrick and Nic's daily life as 'handymen', some big problems began to show up. The story caught my interest, and I was surprised how interesting the story isand I'm looking forward how the story will be. So far, the story was an 8/10.

Art : The art was seinen-typical. But sometimes, it also has the comedic vibe that would made you giggles sometimes. (it works on me though). So, the art was an 8/10.

Character : The character was superb. As I said earlier, you have the easy going freelance gangster, Worrick and his deaf, aloof partner, Nic who do 'dirty' jobs that the police or other people wouldn't want to. Then, there's Alex, a former prostitute they met who then works as their secretary. There's also, the doctor, Nina, the police officers, the mobs who will be introduced later and I must refrained myself from telling you guys. The characters was a 9/10.

Enjoyment : So far, I enjoyed reading Gangsta. The fight scenes, the dramas, the story and the characters interactions were all interesting. I can't believe that this drama successfully made me almost teared up when I read one of the fight scene. So, the enjoyment was a 9/10.

Overall : 8/10. Overall, Gangsta was one of my favorite Seinen manga and I looked forward for the anime. You want a manga with gangster? mafias? dirty cops? fight scenes? dramas? with a little bit explicit content? Then Gangsta is your choice. Please do read it.

Gangsta is your overall enjoyable manga. The story involves around two guys that work for an assassination organization, it's nothing original, but what is now and days? Besides, Kosuke adds in her own plot twists here and there to keep the reader interested. In the story, the two main male characters Nicolas and Warrick, have dark pasts, which are revealed bit by bit, but not all at once and they have side jobs that they do extra to get by in their town of crime and mafias. Then there's Alex, who is trying to make her life right, but is psychologically haunted and disturbed byher past and is having a fierce battle between her new self and her old self. All three main characters are currently battling themselves.

Just add in gangs, drugs, crime organizations, mafias, prostitutes, transvestites, gigolos, extreme violence, super human people and you have Gangsta.

The art, honestly at first it was hard for me to look at, but I eventually got used to it. It wasn't a bad art style, just one that I wasn't used to. I eventually ended up enjoying the style.

The reason I enjoy this manga is for the plot lines that I don't see everywhere and for the diversity of the characters. The characters in this manga aren't all "Japanese" or whatever a manga focuses on, but Japanese, Caucasian, Mixed (I'm not entirely sure what race Alex is. She is half Asian, but the other half is unknown. It could be African-American, Native American, Indian, Hispanic, any ethnicity with dark skin. Kosuke has, yet to announce that. From the looks of other characters she has put in her series, I'm going with African-American, until told otherwise) and others as well. I am a woman who loves diversity and I don't see that in most anime and manga, so of course that caught my attention. Though those aren't the only reasons, I enjoy the whole gangs, guns and crime genre of anything. I'm a junkie for crime stories. I also enjoy reading about the character's dark pasts and the drama the mangaka provides for the story. Now, Gangsta isn't all serious. It has its funny moments as well. The characters, though battling within themselves also show their comedic side, which I happen to chuckle and laugh at.

Overall, it's definitely a must at least try manga. It's all up to you to decide if you do or don't like it. I happen to really like it.

- Unbearably cliché and boring. - Feels like it was written by a teenager by the way it treats sex and violence. - Extremely inappropriate clashing of tones between violence and humor. - A chore to read. ★☆☆☆ I saw a promotional image for the upcoming anime. It showed two tough guys and an attractive woman. Then I read up a description and thought it sounded kinda cool. But it turns out to be just so fucking cliché and boring. I gave it 3 chapters. I know first episodes, first scenes, or first chapters can be shaky because the creator is trying to find their pace. But Iwasn’t even finished with chapter 1 before it felt like a chore to read. I held out hope for the other 2 chapters, but they were just as boring.

What’s wrong with it? Honestly, the story so far seriously feels like it’s written by a teenager. It comes off as trying so hard to be cool and slick with its violence and mature nature. But then you have an ENORMOUS clash of tone with its extremely inappropriate humor and goofy characters.

The characters are so one-dimensional it hurts. The only interesting guy was Nick the swordsman because he talks with sign language. That was kinda cool. But everyone else is so cardboard. The way they talk and the dialogue is so dry. The writer clearly never had the script vetted by another critic. He obviously didn’t have anyone straight up tell him, “Dude, this is fucking boring.”

The art is fine. Backgrounds are very minimal. The details are in the character designs and props. I was expecting it to be more serious. If you’re going for mature themes then actually treat your material seriously. Don’t have one moment a guy getting his head cut off then the next panel one of your characters goofing off and making faces. It absolutely destroys the tone.

Aside from the guy that talks in sign language, not ONCE did I feel this manga was bringing anything new. Seen it all before.

This manga has defeated me and i will stop reading it now. I'm not very good with depressing material, but the intensity and mood this sets is unlike anything i've ever seen or read. The story is about two middle aged friends who live in a crime infested city filled with abnormal humans, some of which are very powerful. Not shounen type powerful, but very strong / hard to kill. The focus is on the two main characters who do odd jobs for the local mafia type gangs, from bodyguards, to delivering packages. Early they meet a prostitute doing trickson the street for her pimp and they bring her in as a secretary.

There aren't time warps or ancient dragons, its just raw ghetto style depravity all around them. It sets an incredibly bleak tone which just ramps all they way up the more your read. There's a bit of politics, a bit of action, a bit of SoL, a bit of almost everything, but there's alot of raw intensity and suspense that tries to strangle you after every page you turn. It's so suffocating, that it's masterful.

The art is bleak, with hard lines and minimal background, but it works incredibly well with the story. It flows so well that thinking back, its like i was watching an anime or movie.

The characters are very interesting and deep, with background stories that get told often but quickly and succinctly, and they're told in clever ways so that it doesn't feel forced out of nowhere. It's just like the right time for you to learn about certain things.

And that leads me to the pace, probably the best I've ever seen for what the story is. I don't see how it could be done better. It's like a perfect ramp that at chapter 34 continues to peak steadily.

And finally, if you looked at my individual scores, you'll see I rated the enjoyment at a 3. B/c i didn't enjoy this at all, i thought i was going to have a heart attack. It's so bleak, brutal and unflinching in its cruelty and realism, its extreme in its believability. There isn't much suspension of disbelief here, it catches you quickly and you believe it, which is why it has an incredible impact, a disturbing impact. Obviously some people are going to love this, but the cup is just too heavy to lift to my lips.

I strongly recommend it if you are into hardcore mafia type stories. But let me leave off with saying that, this isn't gore porn or death smut and i cringe away from it b/c its extreme in the content, i had to put it away because of the setting and mood it creates. It's just so heavy and haunting, i'm sure i'll be back, but not for quite awhile, probably until i hear it ends. And I'm sure i'll be dreading reading the conclusion.

It´s a shame that the last chapter came out nearly 5 years ago with no continuation in sight. Gangsta was the first manga I consciously bought. I watched anime growing up and even had some volumes of Shaman King, but I never gave it much thought as a medium. But sometime in the early 2010s I really got into anime and wanted to read some of its source material. When I went to get some volumes, Gangsta kinda fell into my lap and since then it holds a dear place in my heart. I still think Volume 1 is phenomenal. Gangsta looks stylish, the maincharacters seem interesting and it just has an edge to it. It doesn´t feel edgy but rather rough I´d say. Having a hooker, a deaf guy, and a gigolo as main characters also is something way out of the norm. And while I mostly enjoyed it till its hiatus I have to admit that the narrative kinda falls apart after the first 4 volumes.

It´s just too many characters pressed into little space. This feels especially egregious when you think about Marco Adriano becoming a full story while the main characters didn´t even have one full arc focused on them. Alex feels pushed far to the side after a short while and while Worick becomes more involved in the main plot during the ending, we will probably never see how that pans out. Also, the roughness switches more to edge and shonen tropes when the destroyers get introduced. This isn´t necessarily bad, but it wasn´t nearly as engaging as it had been before. Also the concept of twilights never made that much sense. Why do people hate them? Yes, they are stronger and dangerous but it is never shown how bad they are on a moral level. Also invoking Asimov´s three rules just seems out of place for them.

When I reread this now over a decade since I started it I have to admit that Gangsta isn´t this forgotten gem, but rather a roughly shaped one. There are great ideas, I love the vibe of Ergastulum and want to know how the story ends, but there are clear problems in many of the narrative aspects. Be it the clear lack of a focus for the story, too many characters, or the world-building. Despite that I still wish that Gangsta at least had gotten an ending and not just vanished into nothingness after a mere 8 volumes.

I caught up with this series in a few days, and I'm so happy that I gave it a shot. Pros: lovable and deep characters with ACTUAL human development and emotions, unique story line that includes blood, sex, and super humans known as "tagged", the use of a bad ass disabled main character, art that seems to improve with each new chapter, easy to follow fight scenes Cons: sometimes confusing story line because of all the mafia families and the characters within them that intermix and mingle that can sometimes confuse the reader as to who is who and who is doing what and why (thisis pretty bad because all of the names are english names...), some racist depictions of black people, no regular chapter updates (because the author has an illness that leaves her hospitalized often), sometimes hard to tell what speech bubble belongs to what character, hard to pick up that Nic is deaf (not sure if this is on purpose or not, but he does sometime speak, and when he is signing usually a black speech bubble appears, but sometimes it doesn't so it can be a little confusing)

It looks like there's a lot more cons that pros (oops), but I love this series so much, and I can't wait for future updates.

I started reading Gangsta after I watched the 1st episode of its anime adaptation.I have always been a fan of Black Lagoon and Jormungand and so I wanted to read something along those lines. Gangsta as the name suggests is the story about gangsters/mafia.The story is set in the fictional town of Ergastalum which has its own dark history.Nicholas and Worick , popularly known as BENRIYA are the guys who can sort out any kind of problem.They can take care of guys,can deliver things and are also ready to even catch cats.Along comes Alex who is a prostitute and the story kicks off from there. The storyin Gangsta often unravels through flashbacks which is one of its strongest strengths.The atmosphere of Ergastalum is dark and gritty and hides many evils in plain daylight.The action scenes are fast paced and simply awesome.Panels are beautifully drawn and the grayish contrast sets the mood.A heavy amount of grotesque violence is present but I think that was necessary to make the manga more realistic.Character interactions often drives the story and we get to know more about them.

Gangsta deals with many dark themes such as that of discrimination,xenophobia,prostitution,child labour,war crimes etc. and thus sometimes seems to loose focus as many things are thrown in at the same time.But on the whole the story has a coherent flow.

Gangsta was a hard read because of its mature content and emotional flavor.But it has its moments of bright lights as well.I enjoyed reading it and will recommend it to anyone who can stomach some violence and morbidity.

I started reading this manga after catching the first three episodes of the anime, which I didn't finish because I heard from others that it was abruptly ended when the studio that made it was shut down. Plus, I had heard that the manga was better, anyway. If you were told that, don't believe the hype. It's not that good. In fact, it's mediocre. The biggest problem? Gangsta feels like the author was dying to create some gangland action manga and had a hard time coming up with anything remotely original...so decided to add a supernatural element (as in vampires)...but then realized that vampires would betoo corny...so then invented a new type of human being that is kinda sorta supernatural (like vampires) except is called "twilights" (haha, get it? twilights?).

The manga already lost me with this premise, but I hung in there because I wanted to know the backstory behind the two main characters one of which is deaf. Afterward, I just lost interest. Basically, the manga is a generic story about a war between mafia families, needlessly complicated by this whole other angle about "twilights" and "tags." The fact that there are these new types of humans adds absolutely nothing to a generic gangland drama.

The backstory behind the twilights (all the laws, guilds, status, etc.) is are also incredibly convoluted, too horrible muddled and complicated to make it worth the effort of making sense of it all. Even the author has trouble keeping everything straight. In one scene, he explains that the twilights are called that because they have a short life. The reason? They use drugs that are so toxic that they shorten their lives, but the drugs are needed to extend their lives because otherwise they'd live a short life. I know. (I had to read that at least five times to make sure I read that correctly.)

By the time of the "twilight hunter" arc, I was done. Not only was it extremely derivative (there was a "superhero hunter" arc on One Punch Man), I just didn't care enough about the manga to continue. Besides, it's usually a bad sign when the author starts introducing a whole new bevy of side characters and subplots and veers away from the main characters. It shows he's lost interest or is wondering where to go next with the story. 3/10

Don't think. Just read the manga. It's SO good. Let me start off by saying if you don't like or are not okay with manga's that have sex, cursing, big boobs, prostitutes, psychological stuff, gangs, violence, bad-ass characters, then I wouldn't read it if I were you. This manga isn't for everyone. Moving along. Story: 10/10 If I could describe the plot in one word it would be interesting. It's very interesting. The climax is good. You want to know more about these people and what they're all about. The story-line is unique. I don't think I've really read a manga like this before. At firstI was skeptical about reading it, but you should like it IF you have an open mind. It moves kinda fast. Beware. So read it carefully or you'll end up confused.

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Art: 9/10 I love the authors drawing style. It's very different and good. The main female character is drawn so beautifully. I love the fact that she has darker skin. You don't see many characters in manga's and anime's that have dark skin.

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Characters: 10/10 SUPER likable. The two main guy characters are really cool. Nic is VERY interesting. I've never seen a character like him before. The main girl character isn't annoying as fuck which makes me happy. She's a strong character. Oh. And the manga leaves room for shipping. Nic x Alex

Overall Score: 10/10 (Personal) | 7/10 (Objective) Let’s get right into it. Gangsta. earns an 7/10 from a technical standpoint mainly due to some production hiccups but for me personally, it’s a flawless 10/10. The world it builds is raw, gritty, and completely unlike anything else I’ve seen. I absolutely love what this series set out to accomplish. This is a mature and visceral fusion of crime and dark fantasy. It drags you into a world of oppression that’s both captivating and heartbreaking. If you’re searching for noble heroes, this isn’t your stop Ergastulum lives and breathes only in shades of grey. Story (10/10) The concept is brilliant, andthe realism baked into its setting hits hard.

Everything unfolds within the city of Ergastulum a name that literally means “Dungeon of Slaves.” Once designed as a quarantine zone for Twilights (descendants of biologically enhanced soldiers), the city grew too large, forcing Twilights and Normals to coexist in a tense, delicate peace.

That peace rests on Three Rules and the authority of Four Families, who maintain an uneasy balance after the West Gate Civil War. This setup is where the story truly shines: the illusion of “freedom” that still chains the Twilights beneath strict control.

Each Family plays a distinct and vital role:

The Paulklee Guild: Enforces the Three Rules and manages the Twilights.

The Christiano Family: Oversees Celebre distribution—the essential drug Twilights need—but can’t directly employ them.

The Corisca Family: Profits from the weapons and sex trade; its leader’s vendetta against Twilights drives major conflict.

The Monroe Family: Controls commerce and support; Daniel Monroe possibly aligning with Corisca adds an extra layer of tension.

Watching that fragile balance crumble is both devastating and mesmerizing. The betrayals [spoiler]Delico shooting Yang, Worrick’s complicated role with Corisca and Big Mama hit different.[/spoiler]

If there’s one complaint, it’s that the story ends far too soon. The world is too rich to stop where it does. The “Destroyers” arc also feels abrupt at first, though Gangsta: Curse later helps smooth that transition.

Characters (10/10)

This cast is phenomenal—layered, flawed, and unforgettable. Kohske clearly poured thought into every single one of them.

Even minor characters stand out. Take Ginger—an incredibly powerful fighter, yet constantly anxious. Her exaggerated personality feels normal rather then out of place in such a mixed City and isnt overly forced.

But the beating heart of the story lies with Nicolas Brown. His background might seem simple [spoiler]an abusive father who abandons him, a mother that was never present[/spoiler] but that simplicity becomes a mirror of his raw humanity. His partnership with Worrick Arcangelo is one of the best-written dynamics I’ve read: loyalty, resentment, and brotherhood tangled in a tragic knot. Watching them navigate their history from West Gate onward is nothing short of compelling. Their dynamic as "Contract Holder" and Twilight is constantly tested, and their sensitive, often volatile opinions about whether they are friends or not is a highlight of the whole story

My only lingering gripe? Why don’t the Twilights remove or hide their tags during the manhunt? Even as symbolism, it’s a huge risk that’s never fully addressed.

Art & Presentation

Manga Art (9/10)

Kohske's art is phenomenal. It’s gritty, heavy, and drenched in shadow, perfectly encapsulating the noir atmosphere of Ergastulum.

The character designs are unique—every scar, every detail on a character's face tells a story. The action sequences, particularly those featuring Nicolas and the other high-ranking Twilights, are dynamic and easy to follow.

Anime Art (7/10)

The art gives Gangsta. its identity. Kohske’s work drips with mood—thick shadows, defined scars, and expressive faces. Every panel feels intentional, with energy that makes the action both chaotic and clear.

The anime, despite its tragic production collapse under Manglobe, nails the tone. That washed-out palette, the heavy lighting, the pulse of “Renegade” in the opening—all of it pulls you into the grime and danger of Ergastulum. (Soundtrack is incredible)

The only thing holding it back is the dip in animation quality during the final stretch. You can feel the studio’s struggles bleeding through those last episodes. Without that, this would have been an easy 9/10 adaptation.

I have not finished it yet, I have read the first 5, but they are amazing and I really enjoy the whole series, the manga and the anime. Worick and Nic are some of the best anime characters I have ever seen, and the way they are portrayed make them very cool. The art is fantastic, though some parts could use improvement, the story is very well written and I enjoyed it massively. Nicolas is best boy, an amazing character and I loved his back story, the way he deals with everything is admirable and his relationship with Worick is a very unique kind ofrelationship that I haven't seen before.

I watched the anime first, and came over to the manga, because the anime ended as the action was about to start. Little did I know, the action doesn't end, but not to it's benefit. I feel like the story drags out to very unnecessary lengths. They adding new characters and situations, and it seems like the people that made this don't want the story to end. And the pacing is awful. They used the same pacing in the anime, which is more tolerable in that medium, but in magna, it's frustrating. As much as I enjoy the story, I don't like things that drag on. Aspin-off started before they even have the main story finished, and that's weird to me. How would the spin-off not have spoilers from the main story that isn't finished, yet?

I gave it an enjoyment a 7 and the overall a 9, because I enjoy the characters and the story, for the most part. I just dislike how they're dragging out every detail, the pacing, and that a story that could have ended a long time ago is still going. They could have made this a successful short story.