Sci-fi, seinen, and Boichi fans are in for a big treat in 2023 with the release of Origin, which is coming in Fall 2023 from Kodansha. Boichi is well-known as the artist behind Dr. Stone, but he has also brought us amazing series like Sun-Ken Rock and... moreSci-fi, seinen, and Boichi fans are in for a big treat in 2023 with the release of Origin, which is coming in Fall 2023 from Kodansha. Boichi is well-known as the artist behind Dr. Stone, but he has also brought us amazing series like Sun-Ken Rock and Origin.
I’m a huge fan of his works, he is one of the most incredible artists I’ve ever seen and he’s one of the best of our time. Origin was first released in Japan in 2016 and finished releasing in 2019 with 10 volumes. It has been released in a number of different languages, but this is the first time it will be printed in English! I really hope this means that Sun-Ken Rock is coming soon too.
Origin is set in the future in the capital city of Tokyo, which is now connected to Eurasia by a transcontinental railroad. Criminals and terrorists live in its metropolitan darkness, as well as mysterious creatures who prey on humans. Only one stands against them...Origin.
Boichi’s series always have a great sense of humor as well as emotional... less
Dark Gathering is an exciting supernatural horror series releasing from Viz in 2023. The story follows Keitaro Gentoga, a college freshman who has been haunted by his ability to attract spirits and the collateral damage it's caused in the past. In an... moreDark Gathering is an exciting supernatural horror series releasing from Viz in 2023. The story follows Keitaro Gentoga, a college freshman who has been haunted by his ability to attract spirits and the collateral damage it's caused in the past. In an attempt to blend into society, he becomes a private tutor—but supernatural danger returns when his first student, Yayoi Hozuki, enlists him in her quest to find the spirit that took her mother away.
It’s really good, has a unique art style, intriguing premise, and cool designs, and it shows a lot of promise so far. For these reasons and more, it’s one that I highly recommend keeping an eye out on, because it’s one that’s going to catch fire in the next few years.
Dark, supernatural fantasies, like Kemono Jihen, Shadows House, and Mieruko-chan are series I enjoy, and Dark Gathering is very much in the same vein as these types of series. It contains topics and themes, like the occult, that are interesting too. This one is pretty dark and... less
Helck is an amazing action fantasy coming from Viz in 2023, and it is releasing under their Sig imprint. It’s one of my most anticipated of the year and it’s a hidden gem. In Helck, the Demon Empire holds a tournament to choose the next Demon King.... moreHelck is an amazing action fantasy coming from Viz in 2023, and it is releasing under their Sig imprint. It’s one of my most anticipated of the year and it’s a hidden gem. In Helck, the Demon Empire holds a tournament to choose the next Demon King. The favorite contestant to win is Helck, a kind-hearted human who says the reason he wants to become the Demon King is to defeat his own race, or does he have an ulterior motive?
Dark forces are at work, and Red Vamirio—one of the Four Heavenly Kings who rule over the empire—must discover why Helck has such a strong following among some of the demons and find out exactly what he's planning.
While it has a seemingly simple premise, it’s a fantasy story that flips the script in a lot of ways. Not only is the individual that wins the demon king tournament a human, but he despises humans as well, which makes for an interesting and unexpected story. It also has a lot of depth. The series starts out as a fun, heartwarming read, but as it develops, it... less
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun has been releasing since 2017 in Japan and it is finally getting an English print release thanks to Kodansha in 2023. You may have already watched the anime, which is incredible as well, but the manga is even better, in... moreWelcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun has been releasing since 2017 in Japan and it is finally getting an English print release thanks to Kodansha in 2023. You may have already watched the anime, which is incredible as well, but the manga is even better, in my opinion.
It has a great sense of humor and lighthearted comedic moments, fun as well as lovable characters, and the fantasy demon world that this one is set in and the world-building in this one makes it a true joy to read.
Our MC, Iruma, is transported to another world when his parents sign a contract with Sullivan, a high-ranking demon. He will have to keep the fact that he’s a human hidden and convince everyone he’s a demon, which becomes increasingly more difficult when he begins attending demon school. Of course, though, there’s more to this story than we initially realized.
A lot of the humor in the series is a result of Iruma’s interactions with the students as well as his teachers, but it’s through them that he also begins to... less
Yen Press is releasing Oshi no Ko in 2023 and it is from the creators of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War and Scum’s Wish. An Oshi no Ko anime is on the way in 2023 as well, so you'll want to keep an eye out for its release in the future.
Oshi no Ko is out... moreYen Press is releasing Oshi no Ko in 2023 and it is from the creators of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War and Scum’s Wish. An Oshi no Ko anime is on the way in 2023 as well, so you'll want to keep an eye out for its release in the future.
Oshi no Ko is out there, but in the best way possible, and it's one of the most unexpected and unique titles I've ever read that involves reincarnation. I was also excited about this one because it’s written by two creators, whose previous works I've enjoyed. If you are looking for a series about an idol, the MC is one, but if you are thinking this is going to be your typical idol story, you are in for something else entirely. It shines a unique light on what it means to be famous and the struggles that come with it, like always being in the public eye and having to fake emotions for the camera, but it’s a supernatural story too.
In this story, Ai Hoshino, an idol, ends up pregnant and heads to a rural hospital to secretly have her twins. The doctor there, Gorou,... less
Takopi's Original Sin is a short sci-fi manga by Taizan 5 that has skyrocketed in popularity over these past few months. I couldn't be happier that it has because it is one of my favorite new manga series to release within quite some time.
I thought... moreTakopi's Original Sin is a short sci-fi manga by Taizan 5 that has skyrocketed in popularity over these past few months. I couldn't be happier that it has because it is one of my favorite new manga series to release within quite some time.
I thought Goodnight Punpun by Inio Asano was a tough read, and don't get me wrong it definitely is, but there's something about the compactness of Takopi's Original Sin and the topics it explores that makes it just as much, if not more, of a heavy read. While Goodnight Punpun is a story that unfolds over multiple volumes, Takopi's Original Sin hits you hard from the get-go and continues to do so over the course of its two volumes.
The two share a lot of similarities. Both are incredibly difficult to get through, but they are some of the most amazing stories I've ever read. What's unique about Takopi's Original Sin, though, is that it's a sci-fi story about Takopi, an alien from Happy Planet, a utopia where everyone is kind and happy, who meets a girl named... less
Not one, but two of Shinichi Sakamoto’s manga are releasing in 2023! In addition to Innocent, which is being released by Dark Horse, #DRCL midnight children is being printed with English translation thanks to Viz.
Shinichi Sakamoto showcases his... moreNot one, but two of Shinichi Sakamoto’s manga are releasing in 2023! In addition to Innocent, which is being released by Dark Horse, #DRCL midnight children is being printed with English translation thanks to Viz.
Shinichi Sakamoto showcases his highly-realistic and detailed art yet again in this series, but it's also one of my favorites thanks to its subject matter. #DRCL midnight children is based on Dracula by Bram Stoker. Horror is one of my favorite genres, so I couldn’t wait to see how Shinichi Sakamoto would reimagine this original classic. #DRCL midnight children also features some of the best body horror I've seen in manga as well.
Set in a quintessential gothic setting in the 19th century, the landscapes as well as the backdrops that Shinichi Sakamoto drew further bring the world of Dracula to life, and our MC, Mina, is a well-written and strong character. #DRCL midnight children pays homage to the classic by maintaining the same atmosphere and feel of the original, but it brings the... less
Mr. Villain’s Day Off is a feel-good, slice-of-life manga that takes a comedic look at what a supervillain does in his free time. When he's not planning world domination, our MC is off doing unexpected things like visiting the pandas at the zoo or... moreMr. Villain’s Day Off is a feel-good, slice-of-life manga that takes a comedic look at what a supervillain does in his free time. When he's not planning world domination, our MC is off doing unexpected things like visiting the pandas at the zoo or trying out the latest ice cream flavor.
Since it follows him on his days off, it's rather episodic in nature, but I really enjoy this about the series. You never know what he's going to do or get himself into next, which makes it an exciting read, and the humor is top-notch. You also have a defensive unit called the Rangers that is trying to thwart his plans, which adds even more humor to this story.
Mr. Villain’s Day Off shows us the life of a supervillain through a new lens. It's a wholesome, fun read and it's one of my favorite new comedy manga to release within quite some time. Square Enix announced that they are releasing Mr. Villain’s Day Off with English translation with the first volume expected to release on August 15, 2023. less
Kodansha officially announced that they are licensing Gachiakuta by Kei Urana. It is a shonen manga that's full of action and mystery. Gachiakuta is a series you may already know thanks to a recommendation from Atsushi Ohkubo, the creator of one of my... moreKodansha officially announced that they are licensing Gachiakuta by Kei Urana. It is a shonen manga that's full of action and mystery. Gachiakuta is a series you may already know thanks to a recommendation from Atsushi Ohkubo, the creator of one of my all-time favorite shonen manga, Soul Eater. He even went as far as to say that he is passing on the baton to Kei Urana, who was his assistant at one point in time.
Those are big words and big shoes to fill, but I couldn’t agree more after reading Gachiakuta. The style, character designs, and world-building are amazing. It has a similar vibe and feel to two manga I love, Deadman Wonderland and Fire Force, but it’s still so unique. On top of all that, it’s gritty and emotional and it has amazing art. I could go on and on as to why I enjoy this series and why it's one you'll want to pick up when it releases in Fall 2023.
If you are new to the series, Gachiakuta follows a boy named Rudo, an orphan living with his adoptive parent in the slums. He has... less
How about an amazing shounen that would make your day? Sounds good? Well, you get Assassination Classroom. Assassination Classroom is 47 episode anime that started airing in 2015. It is an anime adaptation of a manga. The manga was written and... moreHow about an amazing shounen that would make your day? Sounds good? Well, you get Assassination Classroom. Assassination Classroom is 47 episode anime that started airing in 2015. It is an anime adaptation of a manga. The manga was written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui.
An octopus-ish creature destroys 70% of the moon in one go and decides to do the same with earth. He reaches out to Government officials and tells them about his plan. The government officials try to stop him but fail.
That creature has the same speed as Mach 20. With the failure of the Government, the creature gives them an offer. He wishes to become the teacher of a special class and wants to get killed by them. He promises that he won't attack the students and instead teach them about 'Assassination'.
How is this class going to kill such an incredibly fast being? Well, find out for yourself. Assassination Classroom is one of the best anime out there. The narrative, as you can see, is a bit weird. However, the way it is executed... less
Deinately in the Top 5 weebs! My Hero Academia? My Hero Academia is a 13-episode anime that aired back in 2016. It is adapted from a manga of the same name.
The manga was written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi. The story is set in a world where 80%... moreDeinately in the Top 5 weebs! My Hero Academia? My Hero Academia is a 13-episode anime that aired back in 2016. It is adapted from a manga of the same name.
The manga was written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi. The story is set in a world where 80% of the human population has an uncanny ability. It can be spitting fire, having long fingers, a bird's face, or anything. These abilities are called 'Quirks'.
Now as you would expect, these quirks are misused by some. So to stop them, a new profession has arrived called 'Heroes'. Heroes use their quirk to save the day. Simple right? Well, Izuku Midoriya isn't fortunate enough to be in the 80% and was instead born without any quirk.
With the intent of becoming a hero someday, Izuku works hard but lack of quirk becomes a hurdle. However, this changes when the biggest hero, All Might bestows his quirk on Izuku. Now Izuku tries to enroll in the best Hero academy and become the next biggest hero.
Even though the narrative sounds pretty standard, the... less
Another incredible anime is on its way, anime fans. And I am certain that you would have heard of this one. It is the stunning Death Note. Death Note is a 37-episode TV series that aired back in 2007. It is an anime adaptation of a manga.
The manga was... moreAnother incredible anime is on its way, anime fans. And I am certain that you would have heard of this one. It is the stunning Death Note. Death Note is a 37-episode TV series that aired back in 2007. It is an anime adaptation of a manga.
The manga was created by the duo of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The story follows an incredibly bright student named Light Yagami. One day, while peeking out of his school building, he finds a weird notebook. The notebook was called 'Death Note' and the content inside claimed something insane.
The book said that anyone whose name is written on it will die. Initially thinking of it as fake, Light soon realizes that this book is legit and he can use it to kill criminals. With that intent, Light Yagami becomes the God of the new world called Kira.
However, to stop his actions, the world's greatest detective, L comes into play. He tries his level best to catch Kira while Light tries his level best to escape. With their sense of justice, these masters of wit... less