Manga Review: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Vol. 1

A couple months ago I was thinking about starting to read a Light Novel, and one that was recommended was Mushoku Tensei. I didn't start any LN, but this week I decided to go for some manga. And then, for my pleasure, I found out that there's a manga version being published. Hooray!

A SECOND CHANCE IN A NEW WORLD!
An unemployed otaku has just reached the lowest point in his life. He wants nothing more than the ability to start over, but just as he thinks it may be possible...he gets hit by a truck and dies! Shockingly, he finds himself reborn into an infant’s body in a strange new world of swords and magic.
His identity now is Rudeus Greyrat, yet he still retains the memories of his previous life. Reborn into a new family, Rudeus makes use of his past experiences to forge ahead in this fantasy world as a true prodigy―gifted with maturity beyond his years and a natural born talent for magic. With swords instead of chopsticks, and spell books instead of the internet, can Rudeus redeem himself in this wondrous yet dangerous land?

As you can imagine by reading the synopsis, this isn't the regular transported-to-another-world kind of story. Here, we can follow Rudeus as he grows up, from his first magic lessons as a 3-year-old kid to his graduation when he's only 5 and onwards.

It's nice to see how he uses his past experience with bullies and people in general (and even dating sim games?) to deal with his parents and solve problems that involve him or his parents' marriage, for example. He proves to be smart, despite being a NEET on his previous life and uses that knowledge about adults to handle adult situations really well, surprising everyone around him.

We got to see as he makes his first friend and protects the weak, instead of being a target for bullies like his old self. It's nice to see how he chooses to use his powers for good, maybe trying to compensate for his uselessness before.

Of course, at least for a while, the manga jumps months or even years each chapter, so quickly we are looking to a 7-year-old Rudeus. But I like that, and I can't wait to see him going towards his adolescence.

I really recommend this manga if you are looking for something different yet familiar. It's a very creative work, and I hope that it turns into an anime. It would be awesome!

Rating: 4.5 stars

You can buy it on Amazon and BookDepository!

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Vol. 1