Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 Manga Review – My Adult Fantasy

As you read manga, you begin to notice subtle trends in the fantasy offerings. You’ll have your typical over-powered male character who conquers every obstacle with wit and a group of females around him. While Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 manga doesn’t break this mold, it throws in some adult situations and comedic themes to keep up the pacing.

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 introduces readers to one of the best assassins in the world, Roland. After defeating the demon lord by himself, Roland requests a normal life as a reward. Yes, he’s offered riches and women, but a normal life is what he desires. This theme of normalcy is the crux of many of the punch lines sprinkled throughout the panels.

Roland travels to a town with a cat (who is actually the demon lord and kind of his lover when in human form) and gets a job as a staff member of an adventure’s guild. Here, he finds himself in several situations that demand the use of his abilities. Unfortunately, he’s pretty out of tune with what it means to be normal, which makes matters worse, and he only assumes others around him are as clueless as he is.

As the main protagonist, I strangely like Roland. He’s compassionate when it counts but really only acts when it’s something that will make people think of him as normal. The joke isn’t overused, but it is something that pushes the first volume along. Still, I believe he’s found his way back into a life of taking down monsters too quickly. This first volume could have slowed these scenes down if only to show him truly attempt to live a normal life. As of right now, it seems he only acts on it when it conveniently pops up.

The adult themes are unexpected, but it makes him more of a normal person. He’s not trying to be a wholesome suave lead. Instead, he’s mostly just being himself, if only a little reserved. His female co-workers are definitely drawn to him, but I wonder what will happen with his relationship with the demon lord. I like the snarky energy she brings to the scenes as she tries to convince Roland to stop what he’s doing.

The illustrations from Fuh Araki are amazing. I loved how each panel was filled with background art, which really sold the lively guild and surrounding town. Still, I hope the action scenes can last more than a few panels in the later novels because it’s definitely fun to see the contrast between Roland’s character.

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 has a bit of explaining to do as it fleshes our Roland’s character. I just feel like this clueless powerhouse stunt he has going on can only get the narrative so far. As of right now, I’m enjoyed the adult humor and scenes that allow this journey to push this fantasy genre to a more mature level. The attention to detail when pacing the humor and drama, along with some standout illustrations, shines in each panel.