Summary

  • Black Clover offers a unique blend of serious and playful tones, which may deter some viewers.
  • The series centers around Asta and Yuno's rivalry for the title of Wizard King.
  • Now is the ideal time to start Black Clover as the series nears its conclusion and becomes more accessible.

Black Clover is a series that wears its influences on its sleeve, and it isn’t afraid to contrast dire seriousness with goofy playfulness. That's likely part of the reason it hasn't been given a fair shake by viewers. It's intimidatingly long for an uncertain payoff, with the anime at over 150 episodes and the manga at nearly 400 chapters. If time is invested, then just beneath its occasionally heavy-handed tropes, viewers will find one of the most endearing, gripping, and hype-heavy shonen franchises ever put to paper.

Black Clover’s narrative finds its footing with something familiar to anime fans: a rivalry. To be exact, two orphan brothers: Asta and Yuno, both wishing to become Wizard King.

Asta floating in a hall of magical stained glass windows.

While Yuno's naturally adept at magic, Asta has no magical potential. However, he is chosen in episode #1, “Asta and Yuno”, by a five-leaf clover grimoire containing a massive anti-magic broadsword. This is the weapon used to start Asta's launch through the ranks in a society where magic is rank. With Black Clover season 5 on the horizon, there's never been a better chance to watch his journey unfold.

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Why Do Fans Of the Series Love Black Clover?

A spell-binding world and a bewitching cast make Black Clover unforgettable.

Yuno and Asta provide an excellent jumping-off point to discuss the things that make Black Clover one of a kind. Their hometown feels alive, and it's used (alongside their orphan origins) tastefully and intelligently to ground their stories. There's a sincerity to the franchise's universe; from the humble village where Yuno and Asta grew up to the taverns and fairs of the Royal Capital, the world abounds with settings, situations, and characters that Black Clover fans connect with.

Taken for what it is — a shonen where the viewer can let their guard down and embrace even the parts that are harder to take seriously — Black Clover can quickly become a second home. The emotions and ambitions of the main cast are infectious, too. Put simply, it feels good to watch Asta become stronger even through great hardship, and seeing him grow close with characters like Noelle is rewarding in its own right. For Asta, everything is hard-earned, even friendship. As a result, he becomes a complex protagonist whose journey is genuinely engaging to follow.

What Makes Black Clover Worth the Time Investment?

With Asta's story full of twists and turns, Black Clover never fails to reward viewers' patience.

Asta holding a sword over his shoulder in Black Clover's third opening

Every story has faults. But in all respects, Black Clover is criminally underappreciated. Just like Naruto's quest to become Hokage, Black Clover viewers who think becoming the Wizard King is the point of the franchise will be sorely mistaken. It's only one motor driving the plot along, which whips between scenarios, answering one question and then asking another. It can be one of the most marvelously dark mainstream shonen, and those moments are beautifully contrasted by hilarious and heartwarming ones. Black Clover's tonal range is immense, competitive with series like Demon Slayer where emotional complexity is a primary draw.

Many battles will have viewers on the edges of their seats, anticipating a tide-shift that can just barely be made out.

It's perhaps a series for a certain "battle shōnen" mood; it's not going to scratch the same itch as Attack on Titan would. However, it balances its extremes particularly well, with hardly any dull moments across hundreds of chapters — a feat in itself. Black Clover's arcs are also well-balanced, interesting, and never fatiguing. Many battles will have viewers on the edges of their seats, anticipating a tide-shift that can just barely be made out. Hosting what are among the most dynamic casts, climactic fights, and intriguing magic systems around, Black Clover is easily in must-watch territory.

There's Never Been a Better Time To Be a Black Clover Fan

New releases and new platform availability provide the perfect opportunity to try Black Clover.

Screenshot from Black Clover anime shows Asta yelling and throwing his arms up in the air.

Black Clover is gearing up to reach its finale, meaning now is a better time than ever to start digging into the franchise. It moved from Shōnen Jump to Jump GIGA in 2023, shifting from a weekly to a quarterly release schedule. That means updates are released once per season. Netflix also picked up the anime in 2023, making Black Clover more accessible than ever to prospective viewers. By getting into it now, future fans will be able to follow along as the final chapters release, experiencing the conclusion of this wonderful series in real time.

A hit movie, Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, was released on Netflix in 2023. While it's claimed not to be canon, it does tie into the manga heavily. The final episode of season 4 covers up to chapter #270 of the manga. Since season 5's release date is unconfirmed, fans will have to either read the manga or wait to see how the story progresses. But like any great series, anticipation is part of the appeal of fandom. Fans are eagerly waiting to see what's next for Asta, Nero, Noelle, and the whole wide world of Black Clover.

Black Clover (2017)

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Black Clover
Release Date
2017 - 2021
Directors
Tatsuya Yoshihara, Ayataka Tanemura
Writers
Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, Kanichi Katou
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Dallas Reid
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Jill Harris

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Asta and Yuno, orphans with a shared dream of becoming the Wizard King, follow distinct paths: Yuno with natural magic abilities, and Asta through determination despite his lack of powers.

Franchise(s)
Black Clover
Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix
Creator(s)
Yūki Tabata