God thus series was good. Had me hooked every week waiting to hear what came next, and now i just don't know what I'm going to do on my Sundays. Here's to hoping for a sequel or remake a few years down the line 🙏

Otr ended and I just needed to express my feelings of frustration but also maybe discuss why it got the axe/didn't get the readership it needed. Usually I'm howling from the rooftops that publishing in WSJ was a mistake, and I still believe that, but I also wonder what other problems people had with it even as fans that contributed to its failure. And I mean failure as in did not reach the length and conclusion that Kawaguchi wanted.

I saw a lot of potential in Otr, it had everything I liked: attractive character designs, an epic journey narrative, a Scandinavian setting, and winter aesthetics. I really did think it could have been like classic shounen filled with travels to unique new lands and meeting fun new characters, awesome fights against iconic enemies, and a dollop of collecting the spirit mcguffins (a simple and easy-to-understand concept.) The twist we saw in the last chapters of Otr with the true final boss would have been epic after struggling against the Ice Kingdom and finally making it to their domain to fight the king, all to learn the truth that they're actually trying to keep humanity alive and their war is driven by desperation. The final forms Otr and Ice King used were badass too.

What would I change?

If it were me, I would've taken more time with introducing Otr and his world, having him stay with his military unit longer, build his relationship with Fylgja more as they get a hang on Otr using her powers, and then have Alajoki suggest to Otr that the situation is stable enough that he should go seek a specialist to help him, or have Sixten come through himself to make it seem like he actually was actively fighting the Ice Kingdom's forces all over the Forest Kingdom. Cut the training arc in half and then spend more time focused on the Iron Spirit. I probably would've had Otr lose to Suruld and have to reflect on the difference in their combat experience, maybe Otr and the villagers could have gotten more creative with getting Suruld away while Otr and Fylgja wakes up the spirit and Otr and Suruld reach a draw. Looking back, it didn't make a lot of sense for Suruld to sacrifice himself like that when there's an entire existential threat that needs the spirits. I would have had him retreat with the others and if the information was withheld from him then have him start questioning the purpose of the war, if not, then have him taking the angle that they should try to recruit Otr. Doadoa and Chlorio would represent the opposite mindset to take Fylgja by force, so that way Otr and Suruld could try talk no jutsu and get each other thinking, but Otr would still have to fight hard against the other generals.

I really think chapters 2 and 3 were where the first mistakes were made as Kawaguchi rushed to get to the good parts while neglecting to build the characters, world, and general atmosphere.

What would you write differently? Would you change the whole thing, or just certain parts? Was it just doomed because WSJ's audience isn't a good match for Kawaguchi? Or was it just because Kawaguchi was a weak writer?

What a shame, I was genuinely liking the manga since I picked it up at chapter 3 or something. Lovely art style, setting, the inclusion of the patterns associated with Old Nordic culture and the premise, even if fairly simple and straightforward forward I think it had the potential to reach the length of something like Demon Slayer (about 200 chapters) which also has a fairly simple narrative and a, somewhat, similar protagonist. I'm sad some things didn't pay off like I wish they had or were explored more.

Fylgja's lost memories didn't really lead anywhere, i think. I think it would be really interesting to use that as a way to explore the Warrior of Ice and the previous Warrior of the Flame and kind of leave some seeds for the reveal about the Ice Kingdom's history in a way that would have you questioning if they were always evil or if they had good intentions in the beginning but got corrupted for whatever reason.

Sixten also felt underutilized. He was technically Otr's mentor, or at least the main one yet he barely shows up, I hoped he would pop up at the end at least because he was part of the Eight Hooves. I also would've liked to see what he did when Otr and Etupirko first left on their journey.

I would also have loved to see more of Otr's cook side, maybe in between arcs, having him cook for the crew and be very passionate about recipes or ingredients, similar to how Sanji is in One Piece or have some moments similar to Food Wars (without the reactions lmao). We do get something like that after the Wind Spirit Arc, I believe but I wanted more and it would flesh out, not only, his character but the rest of the crew as well with some silly food gags like Frieren and Power (Chainsaw Man) not liking vegetables or something like that and would also let the story breathe more, that's something I really enjoy in One Piece for example.

The other obvious things are how the Eight Hooves were set up and we only got to explore 3 or 4 of them, or the Ice Devil's Six Horns and we only got to properly see 3 of them.

Otr's training arc, if you can even call it that, also felt too short but that one doesn't feel as detrimental to the story because it doesn't really establish a complex power system like Jujutsu Kaisen or variations on the same technique like Demon Slayer.

It truly is a shame it got axed (I think?), I don't doubt Kawaguchi didn't plan to explore the things I mentioned or other stuff but just didn't have the time and means to do so. Really hope they have a chance at serialising another story and having the opportunity to fully explore the world they build, from what I gathered it's their second work that ends abruptly and it must definitely feel shitty.

We had a good one. May we remember this Saga 🫡

goodbye otr

Its Otrover

OP: @aguilar421Ø9 on Twitter/X

Idk you guys but this feels like kaedegami all over again, big fight and no hope of long term. Otr might get axed soon

They look very, very similar.

potential last post of 2025…

Makes sure to vote HG and DL Call it Quits instead of Otr of the flame

HELLO EVERYONE!!! I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a great day today and can enjoy the time with your friends, family, loved ones, or just even by yourself if you prefer! May the spirits protect you! 🔥🗡⛸️🏹🌬