So we know you read manga. Are there any you wish would get localized or are surprised they haven't been localized?
I feel like I'm being called out and I dont know why.
Anyway, as a blanket catch all for certain authors it genuinely surprises me how many of Osamu Tezuka, Junji Ito, and Takemiya Keiko's works havemt been locized considering the historical treasures they have been to manga.
Now on to some specific examples.
First up is Mairimashita Iruma-kun, aka Welcome to Demon School, Iruma!
It follows a boy who's parents sold him to a demon and that demon adopting him as their grandson. Wacky hijinks ensue and this is such a standard shonen jump series that I was surprised of hadn't been localized and even more so now that there is an anime with an english dub.
Shuumatsu no Valkyrie, also known as Records of Ragnarok is an action manga where historical figures throw down with gods in a tournament battle to decide the fate of the human race. Some of the historical characters include Nostradomus, Jack the Ripper, Liu Bu, Sasaki Yojiro, and Adam with some of the gods being Thor, Shiva, Buddha (yes), Odin, Heracles, Loki, and Susanno-o.
It has some pretty good action scenes and also delves into the history of the fighters on both sides.
Sachiro no One Room or One Room of Happiness is one I'm sort of cheating with.
On one hand there is a localized digital version on Crunchyroll, but you cant get a physical copy which is my requirement for a true localization. Sachiro no One Room is what I was call a Psychological Thriller in a way in that it is about a young girl who was kidnapped by her older stalker and the two make a suicide pact if they are caught.
Except not really as the manga delves into the psychological trauma of the female lead who is trying to escape her physically abusive family, the male lead who has a past rife with abuse himself, and the two sides of the story that are at odds against each other and are kept together with a fragile thread.
The manga holds no punches for the effects of neglect, abuse, sexual assault, mental abuse/psychological trauma, abandonment, and just how far someone will go to leave a horrible situation so it can be a hard read.
If the art looks familiar it's because the mangaka for this is Daisuke Mariyama who also did the famous Chrono Crusade manga.
Which is precisely why I was shocked that his next work, World Embryo, never got localized. It is set in modern times and features a more demure but definately smarter hero than his previous work as the protagonist is able to play a chess game that puts even the most cunning villains to shame. Features body horror and a lot psychological mind fucks but that isn't new considering the final two volumes of Chrono Crusade.
Magico was never localized and I still think that is a crime.
The main plot is about a young girl who spent 16 years locked in a barrier of thorns and when she is released learns she basically has cthulu implanted in her chest and she is going to cause the end of the world. Then a guy in the mouth of a dragon bursts through the ceiling and proposes to her.
Magico itself is reference to the spell the manga is working to complete: series of wedding themed rituals between the two main characters that will rid the girl of her apocalyptic parasite. The manga has an amazing amount of plot twists, heartwarming elements, and comedy. Considering the manga industry at the time trying to appeal to a much wider audience than just shonen, and this sharing similair elements to the popular Tegami Bachi series, I was surprised it never got localized.
School Mermaid ended on a low note but it was an amazing suspense and horror filled manga that was worth the read in my opinion. Plus it leaves off on a massive cliffhanger.
It got insanely popular in the beginning for its horror elements so it does surprise me that never got it localization.
Surprisingly the only isekai on this list!
Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu or Moon-led journey through Another World is a manga about an average kid who gets ripped from his world and basically screwed over by the goddess after she finds two better alternatives for her Heroes. Another God takes pity on him and at least gives him an ability and helps him not immediately die.
Then we follow that protagonist go from Hero to Anti Hero to the possible end Villain against the other two heroes in a story that is more morally gray than Game of Thrones and far less sexual assault outside of the one princess straight up using sex to keep one of the heroes devoted to her (and considering shes in her 20s and the hero in question is 15 it is given the pedophilia undertones it needs to truly be creepy).
Has a slow start and slow update schedule, the manga is one of the better Isekais outside there and I'm genuinely surprised it hasnt been localized or given an anime despite isekai having a booming popularity in the last few years.
