“After losing a fight with a runaway truck, a karateka is transmigrated to another world, one full of swords and sorcery straight out of fantasy books. The goddess who sent him there offers him a superpowered cheat skill to assist him in his upcoming heroics⸺but naturally, he turns her down. After all, he already possesses the only technique he needs: karate! No matter what manner of otherworldly foe he may face, be they a minotaur, a gigantic steelclad knight, or a wicked sorcerer, none of them will discourage him from walking his own path in the way of the empty hand!” (J-Novel Club)
Placing a beefcake into an isekai world and forcing him to survive on his willpower and might alone is not a new concept to the genre at this point, with various series springing to mind, such as “Muscles are Better Than Magic“, “Karate Survivor in Another World” and even J-Novels Club's similar “Wataru” representing the concept. This states two facts about a project of this ilk, one being that it entertains an audience that meets at the cross-section of action and isekai, and the other being that there are plenty of options despite the outlandish set-up these books claim to boast. “Karate Master Isekai,” undeniably, does little to shake up the genre tropes of isekai meets martial arts, but the series still has a lot on offer.
Notably, D.P.'s artistic direction in bringing the work of Eito Terry from light novel to manga oozes with style and machismo worthy of a story based around a meathead punching his way out of every scenario. Containing several fights within the inaugural release, the action flows in an energetic and chaotic way that is still simple to follow given D.P.'s ability to capture movement. Furthermore, D.P. excels at David vs goliath scenarios, showing the karateka manhandling foes triple his size with confidence. Outside of the action sequences, the characters and environments have a crisp and defined aesthetic to help bring the isekai fantasy world to life in a convincing manner.
The downside of this particular release is it only exists in digital format for the time being. While easily accessible for those following the J-Novel Club, owning the art in physical form would certainly add to the charm of collecting/following the series. Still, J-Novel does an exceptional job of presenting the work in the digital format, a common trait within their manga and light novel releases.
Storywise, Terry Eitou's work balances humor and action well to make for a consistently entertaining read. However, the lack of depth in a deeper narrative or character development is obvious given how much the book relies on its sensational elements. The series is, simply, a man in another world punching a multitude of monsters and other meat-heads to prove the strength of karate. Dependent on the reader's taste and mood, it could be too immature to capture their attention in the long run.
“Karate Master Isekai” is all about entertaining the reader with fast-paced battles and quirkiness, yet, its lack of depth may deter those looking for an experience deeper than surface-level brutality, fan service, and silly humor. However, for those who want to see a martial artist punch all manner of mythical beasts, the series delivers from the get-go thanks to the sharp and stylish art direction of D.P. in bringing the work of Terry Eitou to manga. An ideal pick-up for a quick dose of action-fueled entertainment!
