Victorian England, and Jack the Ripper is haunting the streets. The terror striking the masses is simply fuel to the fire for a different type of hunter, Life Insurance Salesmen!
Tl;dr: supernatural london, save clients, hero with a heart of greed, very polished artstyle, humor beats hit well, action is exceptionally done, only 55 pages
Though the man we follow, Duran Hancock, is far from your average salesmen. He is the descendant of a Dullahan which grants him the boon of Death Foretelling, where blood will spray forth revealing to him the time and method of death to someone he knows. This allows him to cancel their contract right before they die so he doesn't have to pay out, and keep their coin for his own.
Or at least that's the easy way out, more often than not he will prove to be not quite the scum he seems to be by intervening and saving the client as "its more profitable for you to live longer and pay more."
It's a fun read. The artist's, Sho Shiromoto's, style is akin to that of Shinobi Underground's Santa Mitarashi, which is to say a fantastic balance of serious and cartoony. The action scene are incredibly well done for an artist that's only had two one-shots published. The humor is also executed beautifully, as this is more serious in tone humor is used lightly in just the right amounts and never undercuts any tension
The premise while not the most unique, it is executed wonderfully, especially for a one-shot. I would absolutely love to see more of the world depicted, though I fear if this would be serialized the formula presented would get stale quickly. In my opinion it could do well with a tweak like rather than the MC saving the dead-to-be with battle combat we shift in the direction of saving someone before moving into a "Heist Film-esque" flashback on the elaborate setup of how he put the rescue together. That's just my opinion though, the mangaka, Tomohide Hirao has had a short series before so they know better.
Anyway, this is one of the best One-shots I've read in quite a long while and am looking forward to what this pair gets up to if this doesn't get serialized.
Smiley & Lively☆Your Girl Happy by Nosuke Inujima is about a young woman by the name of Happy, a sweet and cheery woman who loves nothing more than helping others. Or that's what she'd have you believe! When her mask comes off we see she is actually a severely depressed mess that enjoys her daily cry and a nice can of beer.
We follow Happy as she tries to survive and become, well, happy! It's an encouraging story how she is constantly fighting against her depression and anxiety to enjoy the little moments in life, even if it doesn't always end the way she wants. You really can't help but root for her, which is a hallmark of a good Slice of Life MC.
The plot beats can get a bit repetitive if read in succession so I wouldn't recommend reading it in a binge. There are currently only 10 chapters out so it is still a relatively fledgling manga, but there is a lot of potential here for it to grow. Here's hoping Happy has a good run! The manga releases Thursdays biweekly on MangaPlus.
In this fantasy world the beloved Hero, defeater of the Demon King has just passed away. We follow Gil, the Hero's half-elf son, as he goes to claim his inheritance only to find that dear ol' dad fucked around, like, a lot, Gil has many half siblings covering a wide range of races. Following a 49 day mourning period, The Hero's riches and assets will be divided among those that present their copy of the will.
This, naturally sparks a war of the wills. Fights and factions begin to break out, some wishing to claim it all for themselves, some trying just to survive. The art style is a great parallel for of the serious tones and goofy personalities. The plot is a very refreshing take in the oversaturated medieval fantasy landscape and as a huge "death game" manga enjoyer I was absolutely hooked from chapter One. The manga is currently at chapter 18 and releases Thursdays on Manga Plus
Victorian England, and Jack the Ripper is haunting the streets. The terror striking the masses is simply fuel to the fire for a different type of hunter, Life Insurance Salesmen!
Tl;dr: supernatural london, save clients, hero with a heart of greed, very polished artstyle, humor beats hit well, action is exceptionally done, only 55 pages
Though the man we follow, Duran Hancock, is far from your average salesmen. He is the descendant of a Dullahan which grants him the boon of Death Foretelling, where blood will spray forth revealing to him the time and method of death to someone he knows. This allows him to cancel their contract right before they die so he doesn't have to pay out, and keep their coin for his own.
Or at least that's the easy way out, more often than not he will prove to be not quite the scum he seems to be by intervening and saving the client as "its more profitable for you to live longer and pay more."
It's a fun read. The artist's, Sho Shiromoto's, style is akin to that of Shinobi Underground's Santa Mitarashi, which is to say a fantastic balance of serious and cartoony. The action scene are incredibly well done for an artist that's only had two one-shots published. The humor is also executed beautifully, as this is more serious in tone humor is used lightly in just the right amounts and never undercuts any tension
The premise while not the most unique, it is executed wonderfully, especially for a one-shot. I would absolutely love to see more of the world depicted, though I fear if this would be serialized the formula presented would get stale quickly. In my opinion it could do well with a tweak like rather than the MC saving the dead-to-be with battle combat we shift in the direction of saving someone before moving into a "Heist Film-esque" flashback on the elaborate setup of how he put the rescue together. That's just my opinion though, the mangaka, Tomohide Hirao has had a short series before so they know better.
Anyway, this is one of the best One-shots I've read in quite a long while and am looking forward to what this pair gets up to if this doesn't get serialized.
Smiley & Lively☆Your Girl Happy by Nosuke Inujima is about a young woman by the name of Happy, a sweet and cheery woman who loves nothing more than helping others. Or that's what she'd have you believe! When her mask comes off we see she is actually a severely depressed mess that enjoys her daily cry and a nice can of beer.
We follow Happy as she tries to survive and become, well, happy! It's an encouraging story how she is constantly fighting against her depression and anxiety to enjoy the little moments in life, even if it doesn't always end the way she wants. You really can't help but root for her, which is a hallmark of a good Slice of Life MC.
The plot beats can get a bit repetitive if read in succession so I wouldn't recommend reading it in a binge. There are currently only 10 chapters out so it is still a relatively fledgling manga, but there is a lot of potential here for it to grow. Here's hoping Happy has a good run! The manga releases Thursdays biweekly on MangaPlus.
In this fantasy world the beloved Hero, defeater of the Demon King has just passed away. We follow Gil, the Hero's half-elf son, as he goes to claim his inheritance only to find that dear ol' dad fucked around, like, a lot, Gil has many half siblings covering a wide range of races. Following a 49 day mourning period, The Hero's riches and assets will be divided among those that present their copy of the will.
This, naturally sparks a war of the wills. Fights and factions begin to break out, some wishing to claim it all for themselves, some trying just to survive. The art style is a great parallel for of the serious tones and goofy personalities. The plot is a very refreshing take in the oversaturated medieval fantasy landscape and as a huge "death game" manga enjoyer I was absolutely hooked from chapter One. The manga is currently at chapter 18 and releases Thursdays on Manga Plus
I BET YOU THOUGHT I FORGOT ABOUT MY SEMI-ANNUAL MANGA RECOMMENDATIONS HUH?
YOU GUESSED WRONG BUB, Here are Five More Great New-ish Series!
Otr of the Flame by Yuki Kawaguchi: a world at war, the forces of Ice spreading across the land. Otr, a young boy whose job is to cook and keep the flames alight is caught up in a battle. Watching his comrades freeze and looks their lives, he doubles down on his duty, he must protect the fire no matter what so the survivors may warm themselves. This dedication sparks the interest of the Fire Spirit that joins forces with Otr to thaw the frost. The story here is nothing extraordinarily original, but Kawaguchi-sensei writes it wonderfully. The art is also stunning, with double page spreads and serious scenes done in an even more spectacular way. There is also just the lightest bit of humor that helps cut the tension of the serious tone. Currently at 32 chapters and we just had a plot twist drop so its a great time to catch up! New chapters release on Sundays
Care for Something Sweet? by Mato: A sweets loving boy takes a job from his old neighbor and moves to her family's estate which he finds out is in a different realm entirely! But more importantly, they lack the Cafe culture he so adores. He attempts to introduce it to the members of the household, however they are not supposed to indulge in sweets so it is an uphill fight but once they give in they learn the benefits of taking a short break in the day to enjoy a treat and chat with friends. This is going to be a short series by design. The art style is cute and it melds the setting with the cooking aspect really well. Also its in FULL COLOR, EVERY CHAPTER and the colors really enhance the artstyle. A nice, upbeat read. Currently at 8 chapters, make sure to catch the next one on Saturday
The Mage Next Door by Hideaki Nabe: Mages live in a separate world from humans and lately a lot more malicious mages have been slipping over to cause problems. Toya, our reluctant protagonist, is sent to find them and send them back. The real fun here is that most mages only have one kind of magic, but Toya is a protege and a real lazy guy at that so is has countless different types. His foes can use lightning or speed, Toya prefers magic that increases the strength of water guns, or magic that cleans a room, or magic that ties shoe laces together. All these seemingly mundane abilities makes fights very entertaining and unpredictable. The protag is kind of over powered right now, but the series is still new at 8 chapters so that might change. Combat is not really the focus here in my opinion, it feels more like a One-Punch Man where there is a lot of action but comedic elements really shine more. I hope this has a long future ahead so it is very funny so far. Catch a new chapter on Sunday.
Someone Hertz by Ei Yamano: A good ol fashion comedy romance. Mimei is an enjoyer of a late night comedy radio show and always tries to get his jokes read on the weekly submitted section. He finds out his classmate also listens to the show AND is the the joke submitted he had been aspiring to beat! She helps him grow his craft so they can one day stand on the same stage. But also,,,, she says she cant fall in love with someone unless theyre funnier than her so 👉👈 The art style is v fluffy and matches the tone very well. I hope the translator is getting paid big bucks to make all the one liners and puns make sense in english because they are doing a GREAT job. The romantic aspect sites in the background with the comedy being used to progress the plot and their mutual affections. Another very light and easy read! Currently at 15 chapters, and another Sunday releaser
Punk Gun by Naoki Oki: A group of orphans living on the outskirts of an outlaw paradise are doing what they must in order to survive. They dream of opening their own orphanage to help other like them. Aiboba who seems to have had an exceptionally bad upbringing decided to get in the bounty hunting business even if his family disagrees, it pays big money after all and he is more than okay with the risks. Art is simple but expressive, action scenes are drawn with a subtle intensity that you can really feel the malice behind. I am hooked and really want to see where the story goes. Fair warning, while the art isnt particularly detailed, the style can be quite jarring. This is bordering on being more of a seinen than a shonen so keep that in mind if you intend to check it out. The official release is playing catch up with two chapters a week. Currently 16 chapters are out on the MangaPlus app, but that'll go up faster than others each Wednesday
Just six months later and only two of these series remain running.
Otr of the Flame and The Mage Next Door we're clearly axed while Punk Gun seems to have been closed out the way the author intended.
Care for Something Sweet? is getting very close to the end but has had more EX/.5 chapters than actual story, not that it particularly matters since it's all still very fun and cute.
Someone Hertz hasn't changed much from a meta aspect, the translators need a raise tho for the number of puns they work with
It's June! That means its time for another installment of my semi-annual Manga Recommendations! I have Five manga that have begun serialization withing the last six months for you today
Blue Proustian Moment by Emofuu: A prudish rich girl whose father is gentrifying the town comes across a brash poor girl and is instantly drawn to her. The more time rich girl spends with poor girl, the more she begins to open up and learn about the effects her family is having on the not wealthy. Apparently the mangaka said this manga was about how having a friend is more important than a boyfriend at this stage of life. But this is definitely a yuri. Characters arent the most unique but are written well and the social commentary is great. Currently at 8 chapters and releases on Fridays.
Chuck Beans by Tsurun Hatomune: Chuck beans is a gag manga about a robot sent from the future to help a teen boy. The boy is incredibly in different to Chuck Beans but starts to warm up (just a bit) as the series goes on. CB has a lot of futuristic gizmos and gadgets he uses to try and help out. Chuck Beans reminds me of my favorite Yugioh card, Jerry Beans Man. The mangaka is the same one behind Service Wars, the mangas share the zanny over the top comedy. Currently at 16 chapters and releases on Saturdays
War of the Adults by Kappy and Masaaki Tsuzuki. 16 year old Yutaro aspires to be a great adult like his father, keepin examples and behaviors of respectable adults in a notebook. Yutaro is hit by a truck (the first chapters is titled YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T BE REINCARNATED BY A TRUCK?) while saving a cat and goes into a coma for 15 years. Upon waking up, he learns that a man witnessed his sacrificed and found his notebook. That man was so moved that he took the notebook as gospel and became a high ranking politician so he could implement Garden. A surveillance state program that ranks citizens of japan in levels of adulthood based on actions witnessed on that persons Garden page aka a near constant live stream of their life. Another manga with great social commentary. The characters are written very well and I personally find the political thriller of it all very compelling. Its gaining a decent amount of popularity so I see this running for quite a while. Currently at 11 chapters and comes out on Fridays.
Maison and the Man-Eating Apartment by Kuu Tanaka and Akima: Centuries in the future the Earth is one second away from being destroyed. Thankfully there is one building paused in that one second. The Apartment. Our hero, Maison, was designated at birth as the next Landlord of the place. Her job is essentially to help the citizens, keep an eye out for issues and maintain the status quo, but she is rather curious about some of the oddities around. I love the world building here, finding out about the weird secrets of this building. There are some wacky character designs here. The story is still relatively new so there is still a whole mess of things to discover and I am looking forward to every chapter. Currently at 9 chapters and comes out bi-weekly on Thursdays
Stellar Friends by Ichinohe: Yota and Octo-chan have been friends since they were little. They love the weird, mystical and supernatural. One day while exploring an abandoned building, Octo-chan is killed by the ceiling caving in. Draw in to Yota's desire to see Octo-chan again, a Wishing Star appears to grant his wish! Octo-chan is reborn, but in an incomplete state? Normally only one wishing star lands on a planet at a time, but it seems multiple have shown up now with only enough energy to grant one wish. To truly bring Octo-chan back, they have to crush others wishes. The characters are really fleshed out, the are is wonky (affectionate) and there is an amazing battle system. A very refreshing story that I really really truly adore but I'm not sure how much longer it has. Currently at 23 chapters and comes out on Saturdays
Blue Proustian Moment, Chuck Beans and Stellar Friends have all ended with the latter having a very rushed conclusion.
Maison and the Man-Eating Apartment seems to be entering its final arc or at least has the end point in sight but it still running strong with its eerie art style and intriguing world building
War of the Adults is in a very different place than it was a year ago, the stakes are higher than ever and a lot of progress has been made by the characters. If you still haven't checked it out, you should definitely get on that.
Let's begin the second list of my Bi-Annual New Manga Recommendations
First on our list is Get Away, Matsumoto! -100 days escape-: or as I like to call it, the combination Sports and Death Game Manga. After being framed for a murder, former competitive cyclist Matsumoto is now a fugitive on the run. The real killer promises to confess if Matsumoto can survive 100 days while following various rules and completing challenges along the way. Characters are very well written and the emotional storytelling is great. Matsumoto's catchphrase is Zoom Zoom which I love and say often. Action scene are phenomenally depicted. Its a manga I sprint to as soon as it's released. Currently at 16 chapters and comes out Fridays on Jump+
If you are looking for a wholesome goofy read, check out Taro Miyao Becomes A Cat Parent?!: Author Taro Miyao is gifted a cat. Initially hesitant but quickly falls in love with the little beast and begins to form the perfect "kingdom" for Niccolo (the cat) to thrive. Lots of reoccurring gags and quirky characters. Niccolo is drawn very cute (except for when he's going to the bathroom then hes depicted deadly serious) If you are a cat owner, you will likely have a good time with this one. Currently at 27 chapters and comes out Thursdays
DRUNK BULLET is set in prohibition era America. Soldier Gary got himself through WWI by looking forward to having a nice stiff drink when he returned only to find out, uh-oh no more alcohol. His search for his drink of choice ends up with him gaining a rag-tag group of misfits that travel across the US to try as many different forms of alcohol as they can find. 1920's US is an uncommon setting for a manga which is nice change of pace. The characters are all quirky and lovable. IMO the story is just the right amount of stupid for it to be fun but not too lighthearted as to take away the drama. Historical people also show up from time-to-time making me look up every character that is introduced. Currently at 22 chapters, check it out on Saturdays
Next up is Monocrhome Days: Child Art Prodigy turned Exceptional Office Worker, Hanaichi Fudo is roped into doing the backgrounds for his coworkers manga. He begins to fall back in love with his former passion as the two begin weaving a masterpiece. The characters are written great and are very expressive, I personally love the odd, unique way the mangaka draws faces. The art itself is okay but the mangaka goes all out on the backgrounds the protag draws, they are stunning. Only 9 chapters as of writing, but I am already incredibly invested in their journey, check it out on Saturday
The last and most recent manga I'll recommend is Syd Craft: Love Is A Mystery: Raised to follow of the family legacy of being a great detective, Syd Craft is at the top of his game and puts on a very serious professional act. Unfortunately he hates being a detective and would much rather be reading a romance story and falling in love, but mysteries keep popping up where ever he goes. The art is very cute. The contrast between Syd's detective persona and his inner monologue is refreshing. The story only has 5 chapters but it has a lot of potential. It's out on Sundays.
These are just the five series debuting within the last six months I like the most. If you want more recommendations feel free to let me know : )
Time for another edition of my bi-annual new manga recs
Super Psychic Policeman Chojo: A fun comedy manga about a psychic policeman who is kind of a dick (but in a fun way) and the antiques he and his partner get into. A very enjoyable read. Background characters include two kids Chojo bullies that are Ness and Lucas from Mother as well as a card game obsessed kid named Itz Miturn
Navigatoria: The Earth has finally has claimed its first planetary territory. Each nation sends one student to represent their nation in a challenge to see who gets to claim this new land. Our protag Manabu couldnt care less about representing his oppressive controlling home land and seeks to win solely so he can create a place free enough for him to be with his sweetheart, a romance forbidden by his country. Think Highschool Shonen meets Political Thriller.
Centuria: 101 slaves are taken aboard a ship set for sale in a far off land. During the journey a vicious storms hits and the crew decides the only way they live is if their cargo doesn't. After 99 of the slaves are killed the Sea God intervenes, saying it will provide its protection and the power of 100 men as long as one of the two remaining slaves agree to die. Our protagonist volunteers but the other slave, a pregnant women who has grown close to our hero makes the choice for him by removing her unborn child from herself and jumping to the sea. The young man now charged with unworldly power and the sense of duty to protect this infant deals with the crew and makes his way to this new land for a new life.
And last one for today: Psych House: A light hearted manga about a house for young people with supernatural abilities. Only Six chapters in so far but it is very enjoyable. Main character wears a bucket for a hat, how can it not be fun?
It's been over six months and plenty of new series have hit Jump+ so it's time for another installment of Currently Running Manga Recommendation
First up on the list is Red Cat Ramen. A slice of life story about a Ramen Shop run by Cats! It's very cute and wholesome. It has a good balance of Humor and Seriousness in regards to it's premise. Current has 69 chapters (nice) but its such an easy read that it feels like less.
Next up is Magical Girl Tsubame: I Will (Not) Save The World! Another twist on the Magical Girl Format, it's not gritty/edgy/dark like so many others while simultaneously taking a different path from its contemporary Magilumiere Co (shameless plug). In its world the sky is full of different colored Hearts called Notions that occasionally crack open and make people violent. It's up to new magical girl Tsubame and friends to figure out what caused these deadly Notions to appear and how to get rid of them. Mapollo-sensei's wonky artstyle amplifies the cute by unsettling story and at only 12 chapters it still has room to grow!
Hope You're Happy, Lemon: College boy has never gotten over his childhood friend turned middleschool girlfriend who cheated on and dumped him. He finally meets a girl with potential to finally get him through that funk until, uh-oh, that girl is roommates with his childhood friend?? AND it turns out the friend didn't cheat on him, it was a stupid lie that she feels bad about and still has feelings for him all these years later!!! AND THEN Mr.Boy and Ms.Childhood Friend start switching bodies every night, hijinks and comedy ensue. An interesting premise for romance manga. Currently at Eight chapters.
Last series this go-round is MamaYuyu. In this world there are two opposing forces, the Human Hero and the Demon Lord. That is until 18 years ago peace was made between Human and Demon. We follow the current hero Corleo, having grown up in peace times he doesn't really know what it means to be a Hero. When Heroes and Demon Lords from other worlds begin to appear in his, he has to learn fast. A lot of potential here, if it keeps building on itself I can see it being a new long running battle shonen so get in at the ground floor. Currently at 15 chapters
Welcome to another addition of my currently running Manga recommendations
MARRIAGETOXIN: awkward assassin Gero needs to find someone to marry and fast or else his family will force his older sister to break up with her girlfriend, and marry a man to become head of the family. With the help of marriage swindler Kinosaki, Gero pivots from killing to protecting in order to meet women. Great comedy, art and characters. It can be goofy jokey one moment and jump to a deadly serious battle the next.
OSHI NO KO: A fantastic read, an amazing recent anime adaptation. A nuisance take on celebrity/idol culture in japan. I cannot possibly do it justice describing it anymore, just read it
The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins: The entire family has amnesia after a car crash. The family sets out to learn about themselves and uncover mysteries along the way. The art can be a barrier for some but it really elevates the frantic and uncertain feel of the story. If you liked Taizan 5′s other work Takopi’s Original Sin, you’re gonna dig this too.
Me and my Gangster Neighbor: 10 year old Yuuhi lives alone most of the time since his Uncle is frequently away on business trips. One day his upstairs neighbor Mr. Aoi falls through the ceiling. An unlikely friendship forms and slice-of-life antics ensue. This manga is wholesome on wholesome.
There are plenty of other gr8 series running but these are some of my favs : )
Hello my little Pogchamps, its been a bit so here are some more Manga Recommendations:
Takopi’s Original Sin: A Happy Alien comes to Earth to spread Happiness, and befriends a young girl who ends up dying. The Alien uses Happy Gadgets to go back in time and try to prevent the girl’s death [A very dark story but short and a good read]
Magilumiere Co. Ltd.: In this world Magical Girls are common and have been commercialized. We follow a small Magical Girl startup trying to breakout into the market without surrendering their vision. World Building is really good and the characters are fleshed out,and magic is made by programmers. All of that mixed with the unique premise will suck you in and make you want to read more!
Akane-banashi: The story of a young girl trying to become a Rakugoga, a type of solo-storyteller. While the subject matter is not common knowledge in the West, the passionate characters and slick art will have you wanting to learn more!
Goodbye, Eri: A oneshot by the mangaka of ChainsawMan. A young boy is asked by his dying mother to film her until her last breath. After her passing he turns the footage into a short film and premieres it at a school festival only to be mocked by his peers. The ridicule leads him to the roof of the hospital where his mom died, intending to jump. On that roof he meets an intriguing girl that lights the movie making fire for him once more.
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