My status as an Assassin obviously Exceeds the hero's vol 1 by Matsuri Akai

Illustrated by Hiroyuki Aigamo

This has a really long, very Japanese title, but it's overall a fun story. Akira’s entire class gets suddenly transported to another world where they are tasked with fighting the Demon King and saving the kingdom. Each pupil, upon entering the world, was given skills and a job class that best suited them. Tsukasa, the class president and star athlete, was obviously the hero, and he has to lead the charge against the Demon King. Akira, however, is an assassin, and his stats are much, much higher than Tsukasa’s as the hero. Not everything is as it seems in this world, and Akira uses his max level [conceal presence] skill to find out what’s really going on.  He befriends the commander of the guard and trainer of the Class, and uncovers a plot that speaks of more sinister intentions than just fighting a Demon King.

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This title mixes your classic tropes of Isekai and RPGs - the classmates can see their stats up a pop-up window, and they learn skills and level up similar to gameplay.  This does throw a few of the tropes on their heads that the hero is not the strongest, most assured character in the storyline, and instead, we have a semi anti-hero to root for.  Akira is the only person in his class to question what is happening when his class is transported, and I suspect the calm everyone else feels might have something to do with the plot Akira uncovers.  This volume also sees our first tragedy, and it's often refreshing when a mangaka is not afraid to kill of beloved characters early on.  

The art for this title is very beautiful with intricate details on clothing - armor and weapons in particular.  Some of the monsters are indeed scary and roughly drawn to give them a nightmarish quality.  

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 8-12

Publisher: Seven Seas
Publication Date: March 10, 2020​
ISBN: 9781645052890 (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Fantasy, Isekai, School Age, Action Adventure, Seven Seas