<i>The Girl, the Shovel, and the Evil Eye</i> is an isekai tale that's a mix of the stale and the less-so. Tsuguru, our hapless modern teen protagonist, dies in a traffic accident, but it's not because he was hit by a truck - he's riding a bus when a thug threatens him for his seat and Tsuguru decides that not getting beaten up is the best route to take. Except that giving up his seat means that he's standing when the bus has an accident and as a result, he's the only one injured by the glass from the windshield, and to add insult to (deadly) injury, the thug films his final breaths as he lies dying in a pool of his own blood. All of this means that when Tsuguru inevitably awakens in a fantasy world he's got zero interest in stepping aside for assholes, which immediately lands him in the sights of local thug Danaroot.

All of that is fairly interesting; the problems begin to arise after a nine-year-old sheepfolk girl named Loulier teams up with Tsuguru and begins to do things like "get him registered at the Adventurers' Guild," "teach him about game stat style statuses," and "kill goblins." In fact, the story gets <i>less</i> interesting as it goes on, which feels like a major problem. Tsuguru's special Evil Eye ability shows some promise and the cliffhanger that ends the volume is pretty good, but mostly this feels like the author started out to do something different before being guided down the worn path of "same old, same old."

I will apologize again for this jargon, but this is just how I perceive the manga xD

The main character here isekai-ed himself quite brutally. I would now prefer to be beaten on the bus instead of being a good person like him xD

According to the cover, I thought it would be a more slimy title, or even ecchi. But it's actually something like the recently released anime Meikyuu Black Company + the absolutely traditional isekai genre.
In the first volume, everything is very moderate and I was actually interested, although the genre is already beginning to run out of ideas. The main character manages to be "quite ordinary", without being a fool or different with something else. In fact, it exuded a kind of melancholy in general. He looks like Shinichi from "Parasite" to some extent, without knowing exactly why, but the story is in a completely different rut. The boy finds himself in another magical world with a complex structure, where he will most likely become a powerful warrior or something like that. There he meets a mysterious lolita who is not quite human. Of course, there are some villains in this world...
The dialogue is clear, short, unobtrusive. Even most of the story is not presented as a dialogue, but as an internal monologue. Maybe this contributes to my impression that the protagonist is somehow more moderate in expressing his feelings. I also liked the art. I would recommend this title to fans of the genre.

The original review is in Bulgarian. Sorry for the translation errors.

There is an entire sub-genre of manga and anime where a character finds themselves inside a world that is very much like a video game. The Girl, the Shovel and the Evil Eye is a new addition to that genre. The characters have tags that let them see their own stats, an adventurer’s guild that gives them quests and can buy potions.

Tsuguto Sumihara has become nicer since becoming an adult. He’s on his way home on the bus, when a teenager demands his seat. Fearing being beaten up or prison if he wins the fight, Tsuguto gives up his seat and stands for the rest of the journey, The bus has an accident and Tsuguto ends up dying on the bus, with the teenager recording him and mocking him. He then wakes up in a world he doesn’t recognise and has to adapt to survive.

I really enjoyed this manga. It’s not the most original or ground-breaking, but it’s a good time. The artwork is clean so it’s always clear what is going on, the characters are interesting and the opening scene on the bus is great. I didn’t expect it when I was reading it.

This one is quite a quick read as well, with minimal dialogue for a lot of it, so the pages flew by. I like the fantasy/rpg world the manga is set in and it reminds me of the Final Fantasy games that I played when growing up.

There is a mystery at the centre of what is actually happening, and the Evil Eye that Tsuguto seems to have. I feel like this is going to be further explored in further volumes and I’m definitely going to be reading them when they come out. The Girl, the Shovel and the Evil Eye is a really decent, if very familiar, manga series.

A fairly generic isekai where a guy dies and ends up in a fantasy world with video game like stats (with very little effort made to reconcile the video game style with him being in a whole new world). It's made a bit better by a very consistent art style and good flow of panelling, along with a super cute design on the sheepfolk child. I'm also enjoying how he takes her in as a little sister right away (and hope it stays that way, lol) but I probably won't read more of it.

I enjoyed this. It’s another isekai, which I do feel is over saturating the market right now. However, it’s got a good cast of characters, and Loulier is adorable. I worry that there may be some loli later, but so far any fan service at all has been tame. I’d definitely continue reading this. I really enjoy that the world has video game style stat tracking. That part is kind of fun.

Rating: 4.25 🌟
First and first, I'd like to express my gratitude to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an e-ARC of this manga.

Loulier and Tsuguto's bonding is something I like to highlight. I admire how quickly they bond, despite the fact that they had only recently met. Tsuguto acts as Loulier's protective older brother. Loulier is such an adorable sheepfolk, ARGH!!!!
Furthermore, towards the end of the manga, the character has undergone significant character development. They grew in strength and boldness.
Altogether, it's an enjoyable read 🤍🥰

Anime Death Eyes but make it a super power.

I at first thought I'd be super interested in where this series could be going by the dialogue. (I mean a world where the towers of babel never fell, so cool)
Disappointingly it quickly fell into the ruts that every other "modern" Isekai trudges along in and honestly it got worse when the "tag" system was implemented. Especially because there is no logic as to how this Heads Up Display happens in this medieval-isk world.

While I honestly loved Loulier and didn't mind Tsuguto. I don't think I will be continuing with this series specifically because it is just one more isekai in the trash trap that is the market right now.

My first nitpick is the lack of consistency in the currency. The choice of only describing the denominations as Copper Piece, Large Copper Coin, Silver Piece, Large Silver Coins. Which are all part of the currency called "Rahks" (the breakdown being further highlighted in this section.)
But the very next page we already see these four denominations being used inappropriately as the shop keep says a night at the inn would cost Five Silver Coins (5000 Rahks). but in the very next panel the protagonist breaks this down to 500 Rahks telling us that this merchant should have said Silver Pieces.

The logical choice would be to ask for payment in the form of "2000 Rahks" rather then Two Large Silver Coins
My second problem is with the fact that sheep people don't have kinky hair, more similar to the wool of sheep. hair that is wool is unlikely to look like Loulier's runway curls.
Since we are talking about Loulier, we should talk about her change in elocution from in the cave to after waking up at the apothecary.

The Girl, the Shovel, and the Evil Eye, Volume 1 is a delectable, adventurous, imaginative graphic novel, the exciting first in a series which explores bullying and conversely, the power of the underdog. The hero suffers and dies without dignity, but instead of going in a splatterpunk gore-laden direction craving for vengeance, he instead demonstrates integrity, curiosity, determination, and the power of friendship, as well as a desire to right wrongs and bring justice. I'm eager for the next installment!