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Interview with Takako Shimura, Creator of the Scenes of AWAJIMA Manga
This past spring, Scenes From Awajima anime explored a kaleidoscope of perspectives as they filtered through the hallowed and haunted halls of its titular school. We asked manga author Takako Shimura (Sweet Blue Flowers, Wandering Son) about the series' origins, influences, and how it relates to her other works.
― The craft and artistry of theater mean many different things to the many people who int...
The Summer Hikaru Died Volumes 2-7 Manga Review
As The Summer Hikaru Died approaches its conclusion, who can say where it will take "Hikaru" and Yoshiki? The monster already ripped his heart out; will Yoshiki be next?
― The Summer Hikaru Died is one of Yen Press' best-selling manga series for a reason. The journey through these six volumes takes readers from one side of existence into the next as "Hikaru" and Yoshiki attempt to reconcile what "Hik...
This Week in Anime - 1 in 100 (GFs)
They really, really, really, really, really love you, but which of them is your favorite?
― They really, really, really, really, really love you, but which of them is your favorite? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Crunchyroll streams The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You. @Ride...
Historié Volumes 1-2 Digital Manga Review
Iwaaki moves from Parasyte to historical fiction, drawing Eumenes' path to greatness.
― Manga creator Hitoshi Iwaaki is best known for his hit manga series Parasyte, a supernatural horror story featuring bloodthirsty aliens who begin living in human bodies. Kodansha injected new blood into the ' 90s-era series with the premiere of its 2014 anime adaptation, with manga spin-offs and live-action series...
Billy Bat Volume 2 Manga Review
What does the bat want? Why does he want it?
― Some symbols are universal from the start. Others become so through the length of human use. A gesture that can mean “it's hot out” in one country can mean “I think you're attractive” in another. But how do these things evolve? Do they come naturally as people develop cultures? Or do they predate nations and form their very foundations instead? These que...
Beyond the Season Finale: 5 More Manga You Need to Continue Right Now
Watch the anime, then rush to read these series to find out what happens next. Here are five more series you should continue reading in manga form!
― While I'll forever lament the scarcity of original anime productions due to the economic conditions of this industry, I love that I'm able to compare and contrast so many anime to their source material! Doing comparative readings of different interpreta...
Akane-banashi Volumes 1-3 Manga Review
Determined to vindicate her father after the humiliating end of his Rakugoka career, Akane Osaki descends into the world of rakugo herself, but will she fare any better?
― Some of the comments about Akane-Banashi's early start were that it did not seem to fit within the confines of Shonen Jump: It didn't feature fighting, it wasn't explicitly a comedy, it had no romance, and most importantly, the pro...
The Shy Snow Woman and the Cursed Ring Volumes 1-2 Manga Review
Shy Snow Woman and the Cursed Ring's characters are far more interesting than you'd expect for a simple sex romp, and Puuzaki Puuna clearly has put a stellar amount of effort into ensuring that the cast sticks out for more than just their sexy designs.
― Puuzaki Puuna's Shy Snow Woman and the Cursed Ring has an extremely simple setup, and, at the risk of sounding overly simple, it handles the concept...
Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games Volumes 1-9 Manga Review
The thrill of combat, the agony of defeat, that’s all that matters for the dedicated gamers of Kuromi Girls’ Academy’s illicit Fighting Game Club…even if it means they give up everything else.
― The first thing that impressed me right off the mark in Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games is the obvious love of Fighting Games. True, this is not an incredibly insightful remark, since the story is lite...
Read It First: Manga, Light Novel Sources for Fall 2026 Anime
Get ready for the fall anime season by checking out the original manga, light novels, and webtoons!
― It's hardly a rule that you have to read the source material before you watch the adaptation, but what if you want to? A decade ago, anime fans who wanted to read the manga or light novel before the show debuted were out of luck (legally speaking). Now we can read most of the source material for a g...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 7--Steel Ball Run Volumes 6-8 Manga Review
Steel Ball Run is Hirohiko Araki at his most untethered to reality, and you should be equal parts excited and horrified.
― I get that it's not called Jojo's Totally Normal, Everyday, And Not At All Weird Adventure. Even so, it seriously can't be emphasized enough that, not unlike the way Johnny and Gyro find themselves traversing great stretches of lands unknown to them, Steel Ball Run (SBR) really f...
This Week in Anime - Journey to the Past
You know what they say about people who fail to learn from history.
― You know what they say about people who fail to learn from history. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Netflix streams Orb. Pluto TV streams Rose of Versailles. Crunchyroll streams other mention...
From Far Away Volumes 1-7 Manga Review
Once upon a time, in the distant days of 1991, girls sent to another world didn't land there with cheat abilities.
― Once upon a time, in the distant days of 1991, girls sent to another world didn't land there with cheat abilities. Their new worlds weren't facsimiles of games they'd played or books they'd read. They couldn't speak the language. Before the ubiquity of isekai (and specifically the male...
MARRIAGETOXIN Volume 12-14 Manga Review
You’ll be happy to know that the story is kicking things up a notch in the best way possible.
― MARRIAGETOXIN acknowledged that it couldn't just keep introducing new girls for Gero to court forever. While his chemistry with all the girls he met across the different arcs has been strong, he needs to sit down and build upon that foundation before deciding who he's going to spend the rest of his life wi...
The Demons Are Planning Something Good Volumes 1-2 Manga Review
This naughty workplace comedy benefits from its delightful streak of camaraderie; demons they might be.
― In the trend of subversive fantasy manga that portrays the all-powerful "Demon Lord" as a hapless victim of circumstance, The Demons Are Planning Something Good has one advantage: it's not about the Demon Lord; it's a workplace comedy. And a very kinky one at that! The artwork threatens to overpo...
8 Yuri Manga You're Missing Out On
Rebecca picks eight of her favorite girls-love manga stories to settle into.
― If you've been reading manga in English for a long time, you'll have noticed that things have come a long way. While there are definitely still genres and demographics that aren't getting the attention they deserve, the increased (and increasing) amount of yuri titles available is one of the benefits. Yuri, or GL (girls' l...
Super Psychic Policeman Chojo Volume 1-3 Manga Review
A gag manga's biggest nemesis is a stale premise.
― Classic gag manga series are like a lost art nowadays. Unless it's aimed at children or combined with a serious story, there aren't many popular or mainstream manga that are just a bunch of fun gags executed with a quirky premise or a bunch of major personalities. I was pretty excited to read Super Psychic Policeman Chojo because the first volume de...
The Detective Is Already Dead Volumes 1-4 Manga Review
Make no mistake, the actual narrative progression of these mysteries is far from graceful.
― One of the greatest strengths and weaknesses of The Detective Is Already Dead is that it always kept me guessing. The story is pretty front-loaded with its setup, highlighting a dynamic between Kimihiko and Sietsa that would inform the rest of the series, even though the latter is barely present as a characte...
Firefly Wedding Volumes 5-7 Manga Review
Firefly Wedding isn't billed as a series about the dangers of being a woman in the past, but it's impossible to read it without thinking about what it's revealing.
― A teacher I once had warned the class never to ask a question you don't want to hear the answer to – even if you think you do. Firefly Wedding is filled with those questions: what is Shinpei's true history? Why doesn't Asagiri want to be...
The Ogre's Bride Chapters 1-15 Manga Review
The Ogre’s Bride’s first fifteen chapters operate on two levels: the Cinderella dream, where a downtrodden girl is swept off her feet by a princely character, and Yuzu learning that she’s worth something.
― Cinderella is one of the most widely disseminated folktales in the world. At least one version of it exists in nearly every culture on the planet, and between 1893 and 1895, British folklorist Mar...
Blue Box Volumes 5-8 Manga Review
Taiki makes it clear multiple times that his feelings will not waver, and the problem is that I believe him.
― Blue Box's balancing act of sports series, slice of life drama, and romantic comedy is leaning towards the slice of life drama throughout this arc. As Hina starts progressively becoming more open and forward with her feelings towards Taiki, that puts this adorable teenager in a very interest...
This Week in Anime - Makerspace
Who says you can't learn anything from anime?
― Who says you can't learn anything from anime? Coop and Sylvia run down a list of DIY and creative series that can inspire you to get creating. The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Crunchyroll streams Eizouken, Zenshu, Journal with...
Beyond the Season Finale: 5 Manga You Need to Continue Right Now
Did the anime leave you hanging? Here are five series you should continue in manga form!
― In many ways, anime can be seen as an advertisement for the source material it is based on, whether that be light novels, video games, or manga. There's a lot of planning and effort that goes into producing an anime for this promotion, but as a result, many of these adaptations are not always able to fully real...
The World Is Dancing Volumes 1-6 Manga Review
This stunning spin on the origins of Noh’s greatest talent is not only visually spectacular but also speaks deeply to the plight of artists in every era.
― When setting out on a new creative endeavor, you're likely to start asking “why” almost immediately. However, that'll be far from the last time you'll ever pose that one-word question. The “why” of it all serves as the opening act to Kazuto Mihara...
Psyren Volume 1-8 Manga Review
The pages of JUMP run red with the blood of hundreds of canceled manga, so why has Psyren stayed in the public consciousness?
― If there's one thing that people who follow the magazine closely can agree on, it's that the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump are a battleground every bit as fierce as their most iconic action manga. For every Naruto or Demon Slayer that manages to survive and reach untold height...
An Interview With Rensuke Oshikiri, Creator of Geniearth, Sayuri, and Hi Score Girl
Kevin Cormack goes over Oshikiri's decades-long career, from horror and action manga titles to video game nostalgia.
― Manga creator Rensuke Oshikiri is best known in the West for '90s video game nostalgia-packed rom-com Hi Score Girl, which was adapted into a successful anime series back in 2018. Yet his career spans several decades and many other titles, of which only two others – supernatural hor...
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: IruMafia Edition Volumes 2-4 Manga Review
Original Azz would be horrified by his Irumafia character
― Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: Irumafia Edition has certainly taken some dark turns for a series that started as “what if everyone wore suits?” Not that the suits aren't still impressive – seriously, Azz looks good - but with these three volumes, the series really comes into its own. While there are still elements that are perhaps more ...
See Ghost in the Shell's Reach Across Decades at Official Exhibition
Want to experience Ghost in the Shell: The Exhibition yourself? The exhibition is currently at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art until August 30.
― Following the 30th anniversary of Mamoru Oshii's iconic anime film adaptation and closing in on the 40th anniversary of Masamune Shirow's original manga, Ghost in the Shell remains a stalwart sci-fi franchise. Starring Major Motoko Kusanagi, she and her...
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Volumes 17-20 Manga Review
Most of the misfits never even considered that there’d be a thirteenth member of the class, and that’s just how Soi Purson wants it.
― Sharp-eyed readers (and anime viewers) already knew that there was a thirteenth student in the Misfit Class. It makes sense even if you didn't spot the sleepy-eyed, bob-haired demon in the background: everything important in this series plays with the numbers thirteen...
Summer 2026 Manga Guide After Dark (18+)
Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Spring Manga Guide.
― Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Spring Manga Guide. All of these titles are for readers 18 and older, from spicy to something a bit more, and featuring a range of tropes, groupings, and fetishes. Come find your next adult read - there's plenty to choose from. June If I Let Her Ruin My Life Erica Friedman, Lucas DeRuyterBolts Bride of the ...
Summer 2026 Manga Guide
The Summer Manga Guide is complete! In our final update, we have the source manga for Clevatess, a new Elden Ring series, and the heartbreaking post-war manga On Their Frontlines, among others.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the be...
This Week in Anime - I Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts
Will the real Ghost in the Shell please stand up?
― Will the real Ghost in the Shell please stand up? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Amazon streams The Ghost in the Shell (2026). Tubi streams Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Netflix streams Ghost in the Shell SAC 2045 and One Piece live-action. Crunchy...
Witch Hat Atelier Volumes 9-14 Manga Review
From the moment the Brimmed Cap gave Coco the spellbook and wand, Witch Hat Atelier has been about who is allowed to learn and what they’re allowed to do with that knowledge.
― Any soul out there who tries to restrict the things you learn is only doing it to keep you square under their thumb. Thus, in one sentence, a character in volume twelve of Kamome Shirahama's superb Witch Hat Atelier sums up th...
This Week in Anime - Playing Chess With a Dog
Sylvia and Coop resurrect a meme to delve into the most important question about Goodbye, Lara.
― Sylvia and Coop resurrect a meme to delve into the most important question about Goodbye, Lara. The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Crunchyroll streams Mobile Suit Gundam: The Wit...
Summer 2026 Manga Guide
How does the anime stack up to the original manga for Draw This, Then Die? Come find out as the Summer Manga Guide continues!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tri...
You're Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-kun! Volume 1 Manga Review
It may not be an innovative shoujo romance, but it is a very nice one, comfortable like a peanut butter sandwich.
― Romance, particularly YA romance, which encompasses shoujo manga, has a reputation for being formulaic. We all know the basics: ordinary girl, extraordinary boy, he's awful to her, she eventually falls for him. Sometimes there's an element of one of them “saving” the other, often becaus...
Summer 2026 Manga Guide
You met her in anime, now see the real her in the source manga for Mistress Kanon is Devilishly Easy! Plus a new cat manga from Cat Manga Creator Extraordinaire, Pandania!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. N...
Beat & Motion Volumes 1-6 Manga Review
This charming romantic comedy strikes at the heart of being a working creative and dating one too!
― I initially stumbled upon Naoki Fujita's Beat & Motion in the first few days of January '25—not long before the series came to an end. Despite the less-than-opportune timing, I saw Beat & Motion as a solid little comic about rediscovering your creative passions and the doldrums that come with pursuing...
Summer 2026 Manga Guide
Come learn about wild animals the BL way with Wild Love: A BL Guide to the Animal Kingdom! Yes, really.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Summer 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing something like that for manga is tricky - there's no equiv...
ANN Manga and Novel Summer Reading List 2026
Remember those summer reading lists you used to get as a kid? While they could have a few gems, for the most part, they weren't all that exciting. But what if your teachers had given you manga and light novels to read?
― Remember those summer reading lists you used to get as a kid? While they could have a few gems, for the most part, they weren't all that exciting. But what if your teachers had give...
Kingdom of Quartz Volumes 2-5 Manga Review
BOMHAT’s world is well thought out and existentially horrifying if one considers its details too closely.
― It's been over two years since I reviewed the first volume of Canadian author BOMHAT's gorgeous dark fantasy manga A Kingdom of Quartz, and re-reading it to prepare for reviewing its remaining four volumes reminded me of why I loved it so much in the first place. Thankfully, the author (mostly)...
The Prescience of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell
When does science fiction start becoming reality? Kevin Cormack takes a trip through Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell to ascertain how much of its tech is on its way to the real world.
― There's a truism about science fiction in that it tends to say more about the era in which it was written than about the future it attempts to describe. The original 1960s Star Trek, for example, trailblazed con...
Natsume & Natsume Volume 2-10 Manga Review
They say looks can be deceiving, but actions also speak louder than words, and Natsume's actions far overshadow his intimidating demeanor.
― The "scary guy who actually has a heart of gold" trope has been done a lot, and I'll fault Natsume & Natsume for it because it occasionally falls into the predictable narrative beats often associated with that setup. There are parts in these volumes where Natsum...
Hide and Seek Manga Review
Naono Yoshiko’s line of '70s shoujo horror stories is as grisly, harrowing, and all-around entertaining a read as they come.
― My introduction to Hide and Seek went thusly: 70's shoujo manga focusing on children who meet horrible ends. I heard “70's” and “children who meet horrible ends” and immediately thought of Ringing Bell, which (cold take, I know, but) to this day is still my gold standard of o...
Magilumiere Co. Ltd. Volumes 1-12 Manga Review
Although it’s a bright and breezy magical girl manga with an adorable cast and plenty of fun, flashy battles, at its heart, Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. is a pointed criticism of dehumanizing mega-corporate culture.
― The dispiriting search for meaningful (or even merely paid) work is a depressing experience common to almost every twenty-something college graduate. Today's job market chews up and s...
This Week in Anime - Attack of the 50 Foot Women
There's just something about a woman who could squish you. Sylvia and Chris run down (up?) some of the giantesses of anime.
― There's just something about a woman who could squish you. Sylvia and Chris run down (up?) some of the giantesses of anime. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion ...
Thunder 3 Volumes 2-8 Manga Review
Thunder 3 is one of the most insane manga I’ve ever read, and it’s incredible.
― Thunder 3 is one of the most insane manga I've ever read, and it's incredible. It's a bizarre mash-up that I can only describe as “what if Crayon Shin-chan, but Gantz”. If that sounds like a wild combination, then it is. The first volume, which I reviewed for Manga Guide back in Fall 2024, certainly impressed me with its...
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Volumes 2-6 Manga Review
Author Jinushi seems to have taken more than a few leaves out of the Rumiko Takahashi book of “one step forward, two steps back” style of storytelling.
― How important is relationship progression to you regarding your enjoyment of romantic comedy manga? Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You's author Jinushi seems to have taken more than a few leaves out of the Rumiko Takahashi book of “one step for...
Read It First: Manga, Light Novel Sources for Summer 2026 Anime
From A Witch in Mongolia to a kaiju-sized girl, read Anime News Network's reviews of the original manga and light novels behind the upcoming summer anime season. Sponsored by BookWalker!
― It's hardly a rule that you have to read the source material before you watch the adaptation, but what if you want to? A decade ago, anime fans who wanted to read the manga or light novel before the show debuted w...
Ghost in the Shell: The Human Algorithm Volumes 1-8 Manga Review
Fujisaku’s work on Stand Alone Complex really shines through, as he absolutely nails the interpersonal banter between the lead characters in a way reminiscent of what made that series so iconic.
― For anyone new to legendary manga creator Masamune Shirow's expansive Ghost in the Shell (GitS) franchise, The Human Algorithm (THA) is absolutely not the correct place to start. First, go check out the abs...
The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Box Set Manga Review
This is a premium product for those who already know what they’re getting, and it’s absolutely the best way to acquire Ghost in the Shell.
― Does The Ghost in the Shell franchise even need to be introduced? For fans of my generation, after Akira, the 1995 movie adaptation was one of the main gateway drugs into the anime medium. Dark Horse comics brought the manga to English readers during the same pe...
This Week in Anime - Basketball Anime is a Slam Dunk
Lucas and Coop honor the Knicks' historic win by looking at some of the best basketball that anime has to offer.
― Lucas and Coop honor the Knicks' historic win by looking at some of the best basketball that anime and manga has to offer. Crunchyroll streams Slam Dunk, Kuroko's Basketball, and Left-Hand Layup. Netflix streams Slam Dunk, The First Slam Dunk, and Kuroko's Basketball. Deep 3 manga Avail...
My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked Volumes 1-7 Manga Review
My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked is a frothy confection of a series, and consuming it a little at a time will help to allow its sweetness to come through.
― It's a story that's been around for millennia: a girl is thrust into a terrible situation after her mother's death, when her father remarries and her new stepmother and stepsisters resent her for the crime of merely existing. Sometimes...
Red River Omnibus 2-5 Manga Review
Red River is a work of epic fiction, shoujo manga style, and it's still worth reading thirty years after its original publication.
― Historical fiction doesn't always owe history fidelity, but Chie Shinohara absolutely gives it more than its due in Red River. Although she fudges history a bit – the inspiration for Yuri was likely the wife of one of Kail's successors, a woman named Puduhepa – and chan...
Dara-san of Reiwa Volume 1-3 Manga Review
Dara-san of Reiwa feels like two manga stitched together, not unlike its monstrous central character.
― How should readers approach Dara-san of Reiwa, a story that feels like two manga stitched together, not unlike its monstrous central character? Creator Haruomi Tomotsuka shared at the end of volume one that the story originated as a web manga and was, at least at first, an outlet for his own fetish...
Reform with No Wasted Draws - The Legend of Koizumi Volume 1 Manga Review
When a manga has a two-page disclaimer, you know you're in for a good time.
― When a manga has a two-page disclaimer, you know you're in for a good time. And let me tell you, Reform with No Wasted Draws - The Legend of Koizumi's first volume is a hell of a ride. My initial thought was, “Why bother with using real people?” but after reading this volume, I've come to understand why it was a much more e...
Saved By the Ice Cold Prince's Embrace Chapters 1-19 Manga Review
Despite treading this familiar ground, Saved by the Ice Cold Prince feels fresh.
― Once upon a time, there was a count. He had two daughters, one with his wife and one with a maid. The daughter of the countess was treated with love, affection, and care – probably too much. The maid's daughter, on the other hand, was treated with cruelty and harshness, made to live with her dying mother in a cold atti...
This Week in Anime - Back From Far Away
One kind of isekai is on the wane, but another, earlier form seems to be ascendant! Chris and Sylvia hop in their time machine for a look at when the genre was primarily aimed at girls.
― One kind of isekai is on the wane, but another, earlier form seems to be ascendant! Chris and Sylvia hop in their time machine for a look at when the genre was primarily aimed at girls. Disclaimer: The views and op...
Creating Wordless Manga
How did the winners of the Silver Prize in Kadokawa's Global Manga Contest come up with their wordless stories? We sat down with masterlynx and REKU to find out.
― For many manga fans, the dream of publishing in Japan feels like just that - a dream. This is doubly true if you don't read, write, or speak Japanese, and while there's absolutely nothing wrong with publishing in another country or an onli...
MAO Volume 24 Manga Review
Stuck in Natsuno's eye, Daigo never really had the same chance to move on from the bad old days like the rest of the Goko Clan remnants.
― As a young man once said, life comes at you fast. Sometimes that means you don't have time to stop and really process what's coming your way. For Nanoka, that means that she has to keep moving forward, Natsuno's death notwithstanding. After all, there's still the ...
This Week in Anime - Girls in Boyland
It's becoming more common for girls to be the protagonists of shounen manga. Sylvia and Chris discuss why that's a good thing.
― It's becoming more common for girls to be the protagonists of shounen manga. Sylvia and Chris discuss why that's a good thing. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discu...
100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Volumes 2-17 Manga Review
No scene in any of these volumes feels like it exists solely for the gratification of the viewer, but rather like a natural consequence of these adorkable, horny characters being trapped in a room together.
― Hakari Hanazono, Karane Inda, Shizuka Yoshimoto, Nano Eiai, Kusuri Yakuzen, Hahari Hanazono, Kurumi Haraga, Mei Meido, Iku Sutou, Mimimi Utsukushisugi, Meme Kakure, Chiyo Iin, Nadeshiko Yamato, ...
Grand Blue Dreaming Volumes 1-23 Manga Review
Peekaboo Diving Club’s definition of “fun” is much less about love of the ocean than it is about drinking, getting naked, and failing classes.
― Grand Blue Dreaming has all the emotional depth and resonance of that friend of a friend who, well into your 30s, always says things like “Dude! Remember that time you got blasted and puked on the shoes of the girl you liked? That was awesome!” Iori, an aver...
You and I Are Polar Opposites Volume 8 Manga Review
I have a lot of respect for the relationship built between Taira and Azuma throughout the series. On the other hand, there is a part of me that feels just a little unsatisfied.
― If there's one thing I like about this finale of You and I Are Polar Opposites, it's how it managed to bring the series full circle. The entire series was built on the idea of characters being obsessed with appearances and o...
Love from the Tip of the Tongue Volume 1 Manga Review
Is this the first official license of a cakeverse manga?
― Is this the first official license of a cakeverse manga? I'm not sure, but I can say that it's the first time I've encountered this omegaverse spin-off. For the uninitiated, “cakeverse” is a variant of the increasingly omnipresent omegaverse where, instead of people being classified as alphas, betas, and omegas, they are separated into cakes ...
Kaiju Girl Caramelise Volumes 5-8 Manga Review
Who you are on the outside doesn’t matter nearly as much as who you are in your soul.
― While prior volumes of Spica Aoki's Kaiju Girl Caramelise have focused on the metaphorical aspects of Kuroe's dual nature as Kuroe the High School Girl and Harudon the Kaiju, these four books take the story to a more grounded place. Kuroe has always assumed she's really a human with the odd ability to transform in...
Land Volume 2 Manga Review
Land is neither fantasy nor science fiction, nor is it historical fiction. It's close to all of those, but it settles for none. What it is is an excellent read.
― They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In Kazumi Yamashita's Land, that takes on a very different meaning. At the end of the first omnibus, An and her twin Anne (this second spelling begins to be used in this vol...
Baki The Grappler Volume 9-12 Manga Review
Young Baki faces losses, but he finds purpose in returning to the hidden arena under the Tokyo Dome to defend his title as the strongest fighter.
― As Volume nine opens, Baki is training again to face his father. Baki walks into a Northern Japan wilderness to find a team of battle-hardened, bloodthirsty commandos that defeated thousands of elite JDSF soldiers by themselves. In Baki The Grappler, ever...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide After Dark (18+)
Welcome to the steamy side of the Spring Manga Guide! Come see what manga gets up to when the kids are all asleep.
― Welcome to the steamy side of ANN's Spring Manga Guide. All of these titles are for readers 18 and older, from spicy to something a bit more, and featuring a range of tropes, groupings, and fetishes. Come find your next adult read - there's plenty to choose from. March On the Job Trai...
Bleach Volume 56-74 Manga Review
If, like me, you’re a longtime Bleach reader, you owe it to yourself to see this manga to its completion. You’re going to have a bad time, though, and the goodwill the series was already running low on will not carry you to its conclusion.
― Stop me if you've heard this one before, but when a mysterious figure from an otherworldly race/organization appears before Ichigo and pals, their peaceful lives...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
It's the final update for the Spring Manga Guide, and we're closing out with a new series by Yuu Toyota of Cherry Magic fame: A Starlit Darkness! Plus a series about veterinarians, some zombies, and a contender for longest title!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime tele...
Glasses With a Chance of Delinquent Volumes 1-3 Manga Review
If there’s one thing that these volumes have going for them, it’s that both Ichikura and Momose earnestly want to change.
― The high school debut or glow-up has become a staple of shoujo and shounen romances in recent decades. You know the story: a kid who was bullied or ignored or perhaps bad in middle school decides that since high school is a chance to start over, they're going to make some seriou...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
Are you enjoying Aimi and Nami's Kirio-based escapades in anime form? Then check out the original manga version of Kirio Fan Club as the manga guide continues!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television premiere as it airs at the beginning of a season. Now, doing so...
Dangers in My Heart Volumes 9-12 Manga Review
Sakurai’s characters are so well-crafted, empathetic, and amusing, that I’d happily read a manga where they do nothing but watch paint dry.
― For fans of The Dangers in My Heart's excellent TV anime adaptation, we're into uncharted waters now. Although the recently released (mostly) recap movie features just under ten minutes of new material, it adapts at most a handful of short chapters from volume ...
Manga Author Keiko Takemiya Talks Toward the Terra and Its Deeper Meanings
"I grew up reading shōnen manga and didn't read much shōjo manga, so I felt there was potential in being able to draw for a shōnen magazine. I didn't want to miss my chance."
― To celebrate Toward the Terra's manga author, Keiko Takemiya, winning the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, three episodes of the 2007 anime were screened at the festival. Afterward, the now 76-year-o...
Spring 2026 Manga Guide
An arranged marriage doesn't quite go as planned in the yuri fantasy Marrying the Dark Knight (For Her Money)! Plus a charming new fairy tale-style fantasy, a magical girl, and the inevitable Junji Ito short story collection as the Manga Guide continues.
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Spring 2026 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writ...
Gunsmith Cats Omnibus Volume 3 Manga Review
This third volume of Dark Horse Comics' latest Gunsmith Cats re-release is arguably its most essential to long-term fans.
― This third volume of Dark Horse Comics' latest Gunsmith Cats re-release is arguably its most essential to long-term fans; it certainly is to me. Not only does it include the fantastic storyline “Mister V” which really acts as a de facto climax to the entire series (despite it co...
Versus Volumes 2-4 Manga Review
ONE took all of his favorite game, movie, and book antagonists, altered them slightly to avoid copyright violations, and mashed them all together in one almighty smorgasbord of madness.
― Versus is another gleefully over-the-top action extravaganza from the pen of Mob Psycho 100 and One Punch Man author ONE. After the first volume's extended introduction to this complex world, the next three volumes ...
Wandance Volumes 11-13 Manga Review
Dancing like no one is watching you is freeing, but it won’t win competitions.
― We all know that dance is a form of communication, and we know that dance is a form of storytelling. In Wandance Volumes 11-13, the club members at Ichirin learn an important lesson about telling the right story to the right people at the right time. Kabo is struggling more and more with trying to decide who he is, what ...
Tower Dungeon Volumes 2-4 Manga Review
What really sets Tower Dungeon apart is the ever-present sense of progression, of uncovering the unknown, of overcoming trials to progress further.
― Although manga creator Tsutomu Nihei is well-renowned for his sprawling sci-fi epics Blame! and Knights of Sidonia, with these further volumes of Tower Dungeon, he proves he's equally adept at creating fascinating, mysterious fantasy worlds. In place of...
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Volumes 11-16 Manga Review
Whether Iruma’s changing the Netherworld or the Netherworld was always more “human” than ours, the root of the story is the same: you don’t need to go it alone.
― Welcome to Iruma-kun's longest arc thus far – the Harvest Festival. Unlike the Battler arc and the upcoming Music Festival arc, this one doesn't really have an analogous real-world school event, although I suppose you could make an argument...
Drops of God: Mariage Volume 11-13 Manga Review
To truly be worthy of the Drops of God, Shizuku and Issei have traveled the world through cuisine. Now they will take on the complex and delicious Chinese table.
― We're heading into the last battle to determine if either Shizuku or Issei is worthy of even searching for “The Drops of God.” Volume 11 into 12 just hits it out of the park, with a perfect play of the best of this series. Also, that is a ...
Devil's in the Lunch Deals Manga Review
This tale of an outcast goddess of death who makes delicious food and tries to do good deeds as penance for being, you know, a goddess of death, is prickly and weird, and I think I love it.
― Fairytales play a significant role in human society. They stand in as simplistic moral education, tales of punishment and reward. They are also expressions of psychological and philosophical experimentation. Fai...
Oshi no Ko Volumes 9-12 Manga Review
It’s painful to read this flawed yet sympathetic character slide further towards self-destruction, but that’s all part of the dark appeal of Oshi no Ko.
― For readers wanting to catch up on the manga story after the point where the anime adaptation's second season left off, volume nine is the place to start. Oshi no Ko's anime maintains close fidelity to its manga source, and the four volumes covered...
This Week in Anime - ChainsawED Man
Sylvia and Lucas process their feelings on Chainsaw Man's ending. Was the real Chainsaw Man the friends we made along the way?
― Sylvia and Lucas process their feelings on Chainsaw Man's ending. Was the real Chainsaw Man the friends we made along the way? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discu...
Gizmo Riser Volume 1 Manga Review
When the system is designed to keep you at the bottom, there is no other way to go but up.
― This series checks all the boxes for “shōnen bildungsroman/Hero's Journey tale built on a foundation of social inequity that is actually about the cool gear.” Kuro is a slave among slaves. He's beaten and mocked by a man who claims Kuro as property, with no hope in sight, except for the very brief glimpses he...
Kowloon Generic Romance Volumes 9-10 Manga Review
While everyone else around her remains prisoners of their own regret, pulled into Kowloon like insects by a pitcher plant, Kujirai deserves to fly free, away from this place.
― Being a Kowloon Generic Romance fan is suffering. Since I last reviewed volumes 7 and 8 back in November 2024, only two further volumes have been published in English, with the eleventh due at the end of May 2026. The only bri...
GOGOGOGO-GO-GHOST! Manga Series Review
GOGOGOGO-GO-GHOST! is for the people who want to see a grown, tax-paying adult revel in petty revenge on everyday annoyances.
― Let's just be honest with ourselves: Broadly speaking, manga and anime are full of goody-two-shoes protagonists. They're usually teenagers. They tend to have selfless personalities or goals, and there's usually some element of needing to stop a superpowered bad guy for anyon...
This Week in Anime - The Interior Worlds of Tomoko Yamashita
Does manga creator Tomoko Yamashita know us better than we know ourselves? Sylvia and Coop have their suspicions.
― Does manga creator Tomoko Yamashita know us better than we know ourselves? Sylvia and Coop have their suspicions. The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Crunchyroll...
Wandance Volumes 8-10 Manga Review
Kabo gets closer to the beat, but the distance between him and dance is growing.
― One of the most delightful things about Wandance is that it continues to buck narrative trends repeatedly. In other sports/club stories, the focus would be on the way the team seems to lack cohesion, while one character or another fails to live up to their promise. Here, people do well sometimes and not so well other t...
Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Box Set Manga Review
At times, Gabimaru’s surprisingly vulnerable, and even a little adorable – like a white-haired, fluffy murder-puppy.
― It's telling that the Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku manga is unavailable to read directly on the Shonen Jump app, at least not on Apple devices. It can only be read digitally via the Shonen Jump website. This is no doubt due to the manga's much higher-than-average (at least for Shonen ...
Answerman - Hiding Behind Pen Names
How did the MangaONE scandal happen? Jerome explains.
― A Reader asks: "How does someone convicted of a serious crime simply reappear in manga under a pen name, and nobody raises a flag? Do publishers run any checks on the actual person behind the pseudonym, and why are pen names becoming more and more popular for manga creators, writers, and artists? Should proper background checks become a regulat...
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Volumes 7-10 Manga Review
Building on earlier information and seemingly throwaway comments and characters, the story continues to delight as it pushes its characters to develop in meaningful ways.
― One of the strengths of Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun is that it rarely lets anything become a one-off joke. Ameri's surprisingly demure alternate self in volume six not only makes Ronové look even more ridiculous, but it als...
Food Diary of Miss Maid Volumes 1-4 Manga Review
Despite it being about food, whether or not this manga will have you eating well is something up for debate.
― Oftentimes, my dinner is the biggest highlight of my day. I get so hungry that my appetite becomes insatiable, resulting in that moment mid-afternoon where I inevitably scroll through whatever food porn comes across my YouTube home feed (we're up to taking up a good third of the page). There...
Read it First: Manga, Light Novel Sources for Spring 2026 Anime
Not sure what to watch in the coming anime season? Read our reviews of the manga and light novels that inspired the shows from Witch Hat Atelier to Daemons of the Shadow Realm!
― It's hardly a rule that you have to read the source material before you watch the adaptation, but what if you want to? A decade ago, anime fans who wanted to read the manga or light novel before the show debuted were out of...
Oshi no Ko Volumes 3-8 Manga Review
This is a dark, haunting revenge tale with a side order of unsettling insights into the murkier side of the Japanese entertainment industry.
― Oshi no Ko is what Kaguya-sama: Love is War's author Aka Akasaka did next, this time delegating artistic duties to Scum's Wish creator Mengo Yokoyari. Those expecting another light-hearted romcom are likely to be surprised: this is a dark, haunting revenge tal...
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