The manga is a self-contained novel with only ten chapters to it, which I feel works to its advantage. The action is so fast-paced it really gives you a sense that it really is a race against the clock to end the curse of Portus. If it were drawn out in several more volumes, the story would lose the freshness and sense of urgency that is created. Visually, this book is aces. It’s become common practice among popular titles to develop very cookie-cutter art styles, but June Abe’s artwork is every bit as engaging as his story telling. He uses heavy tones and moody grey-scale combined with energetic and detailed line work to make the characters and their environment to be truly alive and give it depth. The story and art go hand-in-hand and I think if the quality of the drawings were subpar or generic, then the story would have also suffered.
Overall, Portus will keep the reader hooked all the way to the last page. The art will keep the reader engaged with the book all the way through, though there are some rather gory parts sprinkled throughout the book. And, while there’s no foul language, there are brief glimpses of frontal nudity and violence that makes this novel better suited for older readers, either late teens or older.
Overall: 10.0