Square Enix Manga continues its publishing debut with the manga adaptation of Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town – a popular series of light novels by Toshio Satou which is soon to be an anime series. Optimistic young Lloyd would like nothing more than to achieve his life’s dream of becoming a soldier in the capital. Unfortunately, his neighbours and friends consider him the weakest boy in the village and are sure Lloyd will meet his doom the minute he sets out on his foolhardy journey. But no one realises that by living near the most dangerous dungeon in the land, what the locals consider to be everyday annoyances would be apocalyptic for anybody else! And when Lloyd defies the townspeople and makes off for a starter town for adventurers, the rest of the kingdom is about to find out just how overpowered Lloyd really is!
The immediate impression this series gives is how cheerful it is. Most series in the fantasy manga genre either go for the edgy or over the top (whether it be in violence or raunchy humour) approach, but this one is a far more light-hearted approach. For one, Lloyd is far removed from the protagonists that normally populate these types of series. His optimism and pure-hearted nature really makes him really stand out in the world he has been dropped in. It helps that where he came from, he was considered weak and was not worthy of the pedigree the cool, powerful heroes that populated his village possessed.
It’s refreshing to see a hero in this genre who has a humble personality as opposed to a typical brash upstart. Much of the humour from the series is drawn from how overpowered Lloyd is whilst being completely unaware of it at the same time. His witch guardian Marie is in constant awe over how someone like him can exist. Additionally, his strong contrast to more cynical characters like Marie (who is bitter that her tutor has taken such a shine to Lloyd after all the years she spent training under her) and fellow wannabee soldier Riho who seeks to benefit from Lloyd’s power.
This is all assisted by Hajime Fusemachi’s wonderful art. Once again, it is refreshing how light-hearted this series comes across and how it avoids anything edgy in both the style and narrative of the art. Additionally Fusemachi does a terrific job of making Lloyd look as cheery and carefree as possible, whilst giving him some more whacky and cynical characters to playoff against.
This is a tremendously fun fantasy series that will appeal to fans of that genre and has a lot to offer to younger readers or those new to the genre. Another promising entry in Square Enix’s new manga imprint!
Suppose A Kid From The Last Dungeon Boonies Moved To A Starter Town 1 is published on 26th March from Square Enix Manga (9781646090372, p/b, £9.99)
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