For ten years, Yuri has lived alone in the forest, training his muscles day and night to hone his body into the ultimate fighting machine. But when the beautiful elf Filia stumbles upon his home, she begs him to help her escape the forest. There's just one problem: Yuri's never left the woods, and besides, this odd couple can't seem to agree on anything. It's the beginning of a wacky journey through strange lands and stranger adventures! (Seven Seas Entertainment)
Brain versus brawn is a long-standing trope across various media, especially in comics/manga. There is an undeniable charm about two polar opposites coming together for a common goal and having to struggle with the awkwardness and inadequacies they can present to one another. Alternatively, these roles when pitted against each other, also work to craft heroes and villains where these attributes oppose each other. So, where Doraenko's “Muscles are Better Than Magic” may seem slightly absurd in concept, it does not necessarily offer anything unique to the power structure often found in the medium. Thankfully, DORANEKO seems to be aware he is working within familiar tropes and focuses on crafting an engaging story.
Notably, comedy is king in the land of Muscle, and protagonist Yuri is an ideal main draw. A lovable idiot whose focus on muscles comes from an extreme passion for working out and getting as ‘swole' as possible. The way of muscles trumps everything, and even apparent traps like a crudely written invite to ‘muscle land' puts him in a euphoric frenzy to share his love of bulking up. Chants of “Muscle” and random flexing are common behavior, yet the varied reactions and humorous logic behind ‘muscle magic' do not allow the joke to grow stale.
It can't just be beefcake humor, however, which is where mild-mannered elf mage Filia acts as the perfect counterbalance to the boisterous and oafish Yuri. The two make a charming pair, and while romance is only hinted at in the first book, there is a chemistry between the two that is oddly endearing. Filia acts to humanize him, as a devoted companion that can playfully tease him or cheer him up based on the situation. Furthermore, the two humble each other to make them empathetic characters despite their eccentricities and powers–it is an ideal capitalization on the beauty vs. brawn trope.
For those interested in action, DORANEKO does an admirable job of bringing ‘muscle magic' to life, and the moments, for example, of Yuri flying by butterfly kicking, punching an opponent into oblivion or bulking up his body as a shield are clearly described and not just leaning on the absurdity of the situation. The first book ends in a battle tournament, and the action makes the closing chapter a page-turner. Still, the focus is on comedy and the relationship between Yuri and Filia so those wanting an ‘all muscle all the time' action title may find the dips into sentimentality and absurdity a slight deterrent overall.
The art of Relucy adds a degree of levity to the book in rather expressive illustrations strewn throughout, with the cover itself aptly conveying ‘muscle energy'. That said, the actual characteristics of the cast feel rather simple with how DORANEKO describes each, and the illustrations don't necessarily add value or clarity–muscles on muscles and cute mages, essentially. The series itself is complete at three volumes and there is a manga adaptation for those who prefer that format. Translator Timothy Mackenzie does deserve praise here for being able to capture the flow of humor while interjecting scant western terminology–like swole–without losing the comedic beats.
The light novel is deceptive in presenting a rather silly yet familiar premise that manages wonderfully executed humor and effectiveness in building sentimentality between Yuri and Filia (I started on the second book right after finishing the first). Ultimately, “Muscles are Better Than Magic” is one of the best comedic works you could check out in the light novel format and is certainly worth a shot if the synopsis tickles your pectorals.
