Assassination Classroom really surprised me. Going in I thought it would be funny, but the comedy is sharper than I expected. And although it’s about a bunch of kids trying to kill their teacher, the violence is hilarious and doesn’t feel threatening in any way. And it’s sweet! The teacher is so charming and nice; you can’t help but love him. This is a special manga.

The setup is hilarious—a squid-like alien has blown up most of the moon and promises to blow up the Earth next. Because of his incredible abilities, the military is helpless. But just blowing up the planet would be boring, so he makes a deal with the government--he wants to teach a class and after graduation he’ll blow up the earth. But the students in the class can try and assassinate at him any time. And if they succeed, they'll get 10 million dollars!

Because normal bullets don’t hurt Koro Sensei (a play on words meaning “teacher that can’t be killed”), but plastic pellets do, the violence in the series is more comical than anything. In fact, all the weapons in the book are rubber and harmless to humans, a fact that’s pointed out several times in the volume.

One of the funniest reoccurring gags in the manga is Koro Sensei’s incredible speed. He can move at Mach 20, which is fast enough to easily dodge bullets. There are lots of hilarious gags based on his speed, including his penchant for grooming the students while they attempt to kill him. Trimming eyebrows, painting nails, putting clothes on them, all while they’re trying to stab or shoot him. The art is neat and clean so it’s clear what is happening even when it’s something quite fantastic.

Aside from the comedy, the manga's got heart. Koro Sensei seems to truly care and want to help his students succeed. It takes a special talent to make a manga about students trying to kill their teacher heartwarming, but Yusei Matsui has pulled it off. Koro Sensei goes out of his way again and again to get through to students and try and help them in any way he can. He helps with their studies, helps them follow their dreams and even helps them try to kill him—one thing is clear, he really cares about the kids in his class.

And he’s a big goofball! Which makes the manga even funnier, as he’s prone to screwing things up and making a clown out of himself.

This manga is one of those rare titles where a lot of elements come together perfectly to create a near-perfect reading experience. It has great art, hilarious comedy, a unique setup, a charming main character and a lot of heart. 

It is comedy manga at its finest.