Iris Zero

after reading this manga untill chapter 33 i think i should make a review of this great manga ( well according to me).

well at first the story is little slow but if you read further you will enjoy and continue to finish it.
the story is about people who have "iris",a special power to see something that varies from person to person but our main protagonist doesn't have that special powers, but he covered his weakness with sharp thingking and high deduction.
this manga have some strong point like the plot story, the problem of every character, problem solving but the most interesting thing is how he manages to make the most ordinary person of the story the most special in his own way. That is work of some kind of genius. the character development also astonishing and display much emotions.
the art is pretty decent but is not important right? its just a bonus. if you have a free time its good to read this manga, cheers 8-).

I actually started reading this manga one fine day when i was bored to death. To be honest back then i didn't expect much and just wanted to kill some time, oh how stunned i was when i found out how much i liked it

Story: Since the beginning of manga we have seen invincible main protagonists being able to solve everything almost on his own. In Iris Zero however, the main protagonist, Mizushima Toru, is actually powerless, gets bullied and wants as little attention as possible. Although his intelligence is above average and he can read others quite easily, he normally requires the help of his friends when dealing with problematic situations. This is a plus point as it makes it easy for us to relate to him as he isn't all that different from us.

Art: Hmm no real complaints here the art isn't THAT good but its definitely decent and clear. Backgrounds and other stuff are quite well drawn actually and art is definitely showing signs of improvement.

Character: Unique characters with their own traits working with each other and making up for each others failings. The character development is well paced. Unlike a lot of other manga and anime, love isn't forced or too dramatic. Character designs are quite good so no problems there. Also its good that there's no harem or anything like that.

Enjoyment: Interesting and definitely brings enjoyment. The story isn't that complex but at the same time it makes you go at its pace. By some point you'll find yourself hooked.

Overall: Definitely one of the better manga out there. If you haven't read it yet you should start it's definitely worth the time spent.

After catching up to latest chapter of this manga, I can gladly say it is on the right track.

STORY
I am really enjoying the story at this point in time. Iris Zero thus far is a supernatural story that focuses on a protagonist who is anything but supernatural. Toru is one of the 1% of the population born as an ordinary person and because of this, he faces discrimination at school everyday. It reminded me of Hana Yori Dango a bit with the amount of indirect bullying that goes on but less angsty with a touch of drama, mystery and romance. It isn't dark but reveals the consequences of having an Iris. What makes the concept for this story strong is how it works with Irises as plot devices and the development of the characters.

ART
The art is above average, neither stellar or terrible. The panels communicate what they need to without confusion for the most part. The character designs are okay as well.

CHARACTERS
I think this is one of the other areas where this series truly shines. The way all the characters interact together, Irises included, is fascinating to me. You really believe in the insecurities and troubles of each character and empathize with them. Toru's perception and keen ability to analyze are engaging to follow throughout the story.

OVERALL
Really loving this series so far, 5 volumes and 22 chapters in. Hope it goes the same route as it has thus far. I just it was over so that I knows what happens next.

I was curious as to how this new manga would go and so far, I have been gobsmacked in a very good way!!! Some may think this is another cliched manga where the main character has no special talent or power like everyone else has but in Iris Zero, the story offers an insight to a guy who offers viewers an insight everyone else can't see because of the limits of their irises. Although slow development of the characters emotionally, the characters melt together really well and the excitement of the plot continues to boil inside me, especially Kuga. I can't wait to read more of the manga very soon!!! :)

This is one of those hidden stories that no one seems to know about, a diamond of a find buried away.

Iris Zero is a high school drama set in a time when humans are slowly evolving to develop eyes that can see more than just the physical world. What sets Iris Zero apart is despite the unique premise, it still brings back themes that we experience in every age (love, jealousy, hate, discrimination, fear, hope) and the author's amazing ability to weave a story together and present it beautifully. The only criticism I can give about the presentation is the fact that it is given in small arcs from one to the next instead of one grand storyline. Aside from that, the stories themselves are outstanding.

Furthermore, the character development is fantastic. Each arc brings you deeper into the confines of each character, showing you their strong points, their weak points, where they shine and their deepest darkest corners. You will learn to love all of the characters, for both their good points and their flaws.

It's a shame that this manga appears to hitting so many bumps getting chapters updated. It truly is a joy to read and I would not be surprised at all if the popularity of it exploded one day if it ever makes it into an anime.

***UPDATE 2: This review is up 'till the 29th chapter. I will update as soon as more chapters come out.

I came across Iris Zero by accident. I was in a desperate search for some new series to look out for, that involves school romances (believe me, I'm really just a sucker for those kinds of stories).

I was in for a shock with this manga. It defies all expectations of a school romance (my expectations, at least), and its flow of story actually gets me hooked. Serious tones balanced with school comedy and a hint of romance keep me interested in Iris Zero, and I am happy to say that this manga is part of those "hidden treasures" of manga--titles that aren't famous, but have much potential.

Iris Zero revolves around the male protagonist, Mizushima Toru, and his apparent mastery of solving certain mysteries and issues on campus with his friends. This alone differs Iris Zero from other school manga; its uniqueness, however, doesn't end there.

Part of its ingenuity as a series comes from how stories unfold within the manga. Despite being a school manga, Iris Zero gives off a feel of being a serious-toned problem-solving mystery manga--but don't let this turn you off. Like I said, it only gives a "feel;" running along this is comedic moments expected of a school manga, along with short romantic moments that just make you warm inside. The "feel" refers to how Mizushima Toru deals with the problems; it's as if he's a detective! To be honest, this manga is more or less a school-based Detective Conan comedy (without anyone dying, of course).

Another key factor in this manga's potential is its romantic aspect. Being an Iris Zero, our main protagonist is under daily stress, being discriminated and all from the rest of the people with Irises. A chance encounter with Sasamori Koyuki, however, will change his daily life for who knows how long. The slowly unfolding story of a budding romance between these two characters left me warm inside, for the author expertly delivers emotions of mutual feeling between a school idol of sorts and a social introvert cast away by his peers.

With this, Iris Zero leaves room for great expectations and improvement. And with its already existing potential, it comes as to no surprise for me when the day comes that this manga hits the spotlight.

Story: 10/10
What captivated me the most was the story: it starts off easy, and eventually goes on deeper. With how events flow within the manga, readers won't even notice that the stories already took a serious turn until they notice the change in drawing style. This, along with moments of comedy and heartwarming bits of romance between Mizushima Toru and Sasamori Koyuki (along with other character pairings, of course), make a great story worth looking into.

Art: 8/10
Art is neat and tidy, which is a plus for me. I guess you won't need much detail for a school manga. But art style teams up with story development to give a unique reading experience, in which the art style itself delivers some story and tone. Another plus for me is the absence of fanservice. For once, I don't see panties and bras within a school campus. And in the case of Iris Zero, it doesn't really need fanservice anymore; the story is enough to catch your attention.

Character: 9/10
The manga is 27 chapters in, and I must say that I'm not in any way disappointed at how the characters are described within the storyline. The group of friends Mizushima has has now expanded; all members of this group are explained in sufficient--if not great--detail. We get a diverse group of people, all with background stories to boot. The stories explain pretty well their current situation and the reasons behind their mannerisms. It surprises me, however, that the author managed to give color to the characters in a way that they don't seem any different from Mizushima. Our main protagonist is the only Iris Zero on campus (so far), but somehow, his peers don't seem too different from him. If the author was trying to show that all people have burdens, no matter who they are, he is definitely doing a good job at it.

Enjoyment: 9/10
I really enjoy reading this manga. Art is pleasing, story is excellent, and characters are quite vivid (the character part is already a tedious task, given the number of characters currently active in the storyline). Overall, Iris Zero gives a colorful reading experience with its own twists and turns. It's sad, however, that the release of each chapter is quite slow in terms of pace. It also gets inconsistent at times. The story it gives, however, is enough to cope for its faults.

Overall: 9/10
Fellow lovers of school romances will be in for an unexpectedly enjoyable read with Iris Zero. Those who are just looking for a good read won't be disappointed, either; this manga delivers great stories, and it does so with style. I will certainly keep Iris Zero in my watch list for manga.

I came to Iris Zero looking for something in the same vein as Hyouka, and as such I did find here all that I was looking for. I enjoyed reading the manga, and could not stop until I couldn't find more chapters, yet it didn't leave that great of an impression on me, as an afterthought.


I wanted to keep my main point for last, but couldn't find a way to write about everything without refering to it. So let's start with the eponym set up : the irises. Most kids have the ability to see things normal humans wouldn't (and each individual have a specific thing they can see with their iris), and our main character, Mizushima, doesn't have such a special iris, hence he's an iris zero.

The idea is pretty good since it leaves a lot of room for creativity. But I feel like the author didn't make the best out of it. Firstable because throughout these 33 chapters that I was able to read, we didn't meet that many irises, which, to be fair, might not be that bad since it would rapidly become a mess in terms of story telling. Out of the maybe 7 I can think of, quite a bunch of them overlap in terms of the information it helps the main character gather, and would be easily replaced by any kind of sense of observation or deduction, especially as it is mainly a mystery manga. So I didn't find the "iris trick" that useful in terms of narrative, and I'd say it brings a bit of lazyness in terms of storytelling.


The characters' design is pretty nice overall. I especially like the girls' hair-styles, that somewhat reflect their personality. On that point I was a bit disapointed by the main character, Mizushima, as on the first page I thought "alright this time it's perfect !" I dislike when the design it too over the top, since I like my characters to be as credible as possible, but on the other hand it's a pain when in order to make the main character look ordinary, you confuse him with other characters (and it happens to me quite often). Mizushima looked great with his messy hair, but it doesn't catch the eye that much later on, and I ended up confusing him with side characters from time to time.

Anyhow, the characters are interesting, but lack depth. They often are a bit one dimensional, because they bear the weight of their iris, and we often don't learn much about them except their iris and the effect it had on them.

The main character is basically trying to hide because of his difference (his "minimal exposure motto"). In a chapter, the author takes the time to explain why he's so good at solving puzzles, saying that he developped an ability to conjecture, since he always was around people with an iris and tried to imagine what it was like. That's basically all we know about him in terms of personality.

His love interest, Sasamori, is paper thin in terms of character development. Amazingly I don't even recall the manga even studying the effect her iris had on her. She's the quite clichéd earnest and always full of energy, selfless young girl. We know about her popularity, her long lasting friendship with Yuki Asashi, the fact that she's somehow madly in love with the main character (I don't know if it's intended, but I keep trying to guess why she did confess to him in the first chapter), and that she loves meddling with other people's business (which isn't that clear to me, but you need that excuse for mysteries to be solved ; she doesn't have that amazing genuine curiosity Chitanda Eru from Hyouka seems to have about everything, yet they serve the same purpose as a character).

Yuki Asashi is one character that I'm quite sad about since I saw a lot of potential in her. She had an old conflict with the main character from younger days, and had quite an inner conflict herself because of her iris. Everything seems solved in one arc. To me, she's quite defined by her sole iris, in terms of personality, and becomes only a tool for mystery solving with her iris. Characters that join the group later on have a better background (a background at all), and better study even on the consequences of their iris. But she's the perfect example as to why the iris tends to lead to lazyness.

The manga does the usual mistake to forget about the characters' relatives. The parents all work late, or are absent somehow. It struck me as in one the last chapters I read (chapter 32 to be precise), Mizushima is woken up by his little sisters, and was amazed the author didn't use them before ! It would have been quite interesting, as oftentimes, when a character lacks social skills, their relationship with their siblings is even more important. Here what would have made it especially interesting is that it does seem that his sisters have an iris (one of Mizushima's friends comments saying they treat him "like an exotic animal"), so how does the family cope with the "iris zero" issue ? That would be interesting, and could take a frame here and there.


The romance in itself is forgettable. Sasamori confesses from the first chapter, and as the main character, I couldn't believe it was sincere. At first I thought it was a trick that was used to get him to help her, doesn't seem likely since she carries on with it. I thought she saw something with her iris, but it's contradicted by later events. Anyhow, Mizushima was quite suspicious but shows to be quite considerate towards her, and even protective later on, while he actually never responds to her confession (at least up to the 33rd chapter, but it's building up). That being established, their relationship is a bit of the common theme throughout every arc, but rather a tool to come to a resolution rather than the focus of the story.

Last arc I could read, a rival appeared, which pisses me off because I hold it as a pretty cheap trick in terms of romance stories : it's an easy way to get drama, but when they aren't a couple yet, it doesn't bring that many interesting questions, since their relationship has no solid grounds (for a counter-example, see Horimiya, the rival appearing while they already are a couple is much more interesting, asking the characters to reassure their love, deals with jealousy, its boundaries, can show other sides of the characters). But I can't hold that much of a grudge against the manga since it's pretty much used every time in romance stories.


All that being said, Iris Zero is mainly a mystery manga. The structure of the arcs revolve around each mystery the characters solve. The pacing is pretty good, and are interesting to read, although not that complicated (I could see the resolution coming from a mile away pretty much every time). This is where the "iris theme" is not the strongest. Although most mysteries revolve around the iris of a given character, the data the iris provide not that relevant, and the characters don't use the iris that much in order to come to the resolution, which makes sense since the main investigator is the iris zero.


Overall it's a pretty good read if mystery and romance are your thing, but is not the best manga you can find. I prefer Hyouka all the way, the characters are deeper, more credible, the mysteries are far more interesting, and the main love story far more touching.

Was great while it lasted, not quite sure what happened to the mangaka but an indefinite hiatus is a big turn-off.
Would recommend for people who liked titles like Hyouka, as it has that sort of feel.
If, in the case that a new chapter is released I would probably re-read the rest of the series before reading it, and still have more time before another chapter.
Great manga though, character development, the story, and the mystery factor were great. The art is good and the series is overall really well done.
Overall an 8/10 manga, doesn't have very high re-readability unless you take a long gap, i.e. the amount of time between chapters.

Premise and story:
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Iris Zero, being a manga set in a universe where high schoolers have supernatural abilities (Irises), needed to set itself apart in order to not be just another one of those series.

The MC (Toru) of the series is different from all of the rest of the cast, as he is one of the titular 'iris zeroes' and he lacks any sort of special ability. What he lacks in an iris power, he makes up for in a strong ability to think through problems and situations. Iris Zero is a manga with distinct arcs in which the MC is introduced to a new person bringing their own social/personal issue which he figures out a way to overcome. This plays out similarly to the story arcs in Rascal Does not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai; however, with more of a detective style spin a la Hyouka and Conan.

First and foremost, Iris Zero is a lightly/mildly serious mystery and supernatural series; however, later down the line, elements of romance are brought into the story (clearly to put the two MCs together). Iris Zero does attempt comedy at some points, but it is never particularly strong. The romance undertones are also somewhat bland and cookie-cutter; however, for me, this did not diminish my enjoyment of the series as I am quite fond of this type of romance plot.

While not particularly noteworthy in any way, the story of Iris Zero is not at all a disappointment. It is easy and enjoyable enough to follow along with.


Art:
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The art of the series stands out as neither particularly bad nor good. It is of decent quality and is enjoyable to look at while also reading. The main cast of characters have good designs that are neither too unrealistic or too mainstream.

Characters:
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Characters in this series clearly follow archetypical patterns. The MC, Toru, follows the trope of being a self-proclaimed loaner; however, Iris Zero actually puts good reasoning behind his choice, being that he is looked down upon as an 'iris zero'. The lead female, Koyuki, is an energetic character. The supporting cast of Iris Zero all have their clear archetypes, yet are still well defined in their own individuality. Characters are introduced through their story arc and personal issue, which adds depth to their backstories. Over the course of the series, the main cast of characters experience noteworthy developments and changes that positively move them forward. Iris Zero is not afraid to make good use of its dynamic characters, and it even is unafraid to showcase darker sides of the leads Toru and Koyuki.

Overall:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Iris Zero is a fun manga to read; however, it falls into the trap of being another one of the series set in a high school with supernaturally empowered students. It sets itself apart through its combination of mystery, drama, and romance. While not a standout in any way, for fans of this genre of manga, Iris Zero is a fun and worthwhile read.

Special Consideration:
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Iris Zero publishes very infrequently. The creator of the series has been in and out of the hospital with sickness, and as a cause, cannot promise a regular publishing schedule. In 2019, only two chapters were scanlated.

I was honestly very shocked by how much this manga captivated my attention. I almost could not let go of it and now that I am caught up, all I can do is wait for the next one.

Story:

The story is a mystery genre in my opinion because the reader becomes puzzled with the situation and it adds curiosity into the mix of everything. The supernatural aspect allows for the unknown to also be added into the mix of the mystery. A mystery becomes harder to solve right off the bat if there is supernatural aspects that are not seen in the real world.

Art:

There are small foreshadowing that the story does great. There are little details that not even the reader can notice until later. Overall, the art is among your basic styles.

Characters:

There is the commonality of protagonists not having abilities and becomes a nobody. The difference in this story though is that there is a source of understanding between the reader and the protagonist because they do not have their own powers just like the reader.

Enjoyment:

I had the best time reading this and am excited for more in the future. It is sadly not coming out as fast as I would hope, but we will see.

Overall:

Would highly recommend for those that enjoy a good mystery and love problem solving. The story can get quite emotional, but that is what makes it lovely! Enjoy!