Oh, the first volume sucks. The art and story don't get good until you find out Hakkai's backstory, and then it doesn't get really, really addicting until about... the sixth volume, when Gojyo's first arc kicks in, and it's amazing.

Which is not to say that you must must must read it, because if it's not clicking, there is no need to try and force it.

And if I had any skill at iconning at all, I would.