MAY Manga Reads
This is a concise list this time around, but that’s not a bad thing. We got some gems here.
The Promised Neverland-Kaiu Shirai
Let me just get this out of the way and then never mention it again. READ THE MANGA, DON’T WATCH THE ANIME (at least the second season)!
Okay, now then, The Promised Neverland. The world Shirai managed to create is horrifying, magical, and dripping in lore. And I think this story really shook up the Shonen genre, at least in relation to the “Shonen Jump” magazine.
I’m honestly shocked by how dark, sometimes violent, modern Shonen Jump stories can be. And I think in part The Promise Neverland had a hand in that. This is not a bad thing, in fact, it serves the series themes you would expect.
The story revolves around a group of children living in an orphanage. Although they have no parents, their life is not lacking. They have the best food, an excellent education, deep bonds between siblings, and a loving mother figure who cares for them.
Their world shatters when they discover everything is a lie. They live in a world ruled by Demons, and they are being raised as food for them! Now they need to discover a way to escape, conceal their knowledge from their mother, and figure out a way for every child to leave at once!
As you can imagine, demons, children in peril, and high-stakes situations can produce disturbing images. If you can get past that, you’ll find a thrilling mystery, a group of lovable characters, and a rollercoaster of events.
Read it.
Takopi’s Original Sin-Book by Taizan 5
*TRIGGER WARNING* For those who are sensitive to suicidal themes, disturbing images involving children, child neglect, and bullying, you have been warned.
I thought I was prepared when going into Takopi’s Original Sin, but it still managed to shock me in many ways. The Manga is only 16 chapters long, and you can read it for free on the Shueisha Manga Plus app.
Since the story is so short and the big reveal happens in the beginning, I will describe it as generally as possible. It’s definitely worth a read, and if you are interested, the less you know the better.
Takopi is an alien from a happy society whose purpose is to go across the universe to spread happiness. He is assigned to planet Earth equipped with “tools of happiness” to help the inhabitants. One day, Takopi meets a little girl who never smiles. He makes it his mission to bring a smile to her. However, Tokapi is unprepared for the cruelty, and complexity of humanity.
It’s a heartbreaking story, but damn, it’s definitely worth a read.
Show-ha shoten-Takeshi Obata
From the same creator as Death Note and Bakuman comes a very odd but intriguing story.
The Manga follows two high school boys who want to become professional comedians. They aim for a cutthroat competition to get their name out there.
Though the premise is straightforward, I tend to like simple plots. I’m not sure I’m knowledgeable enough to appreciate Japanese humor.
Let me elaborate. It’s a technical series that explores the skills and practices of joke construction. That. I like it and find it very cool to read. However, the humor seems to be specific to the Japanese. Either that or I’m just dumb and can’t take a joke.
Either way, I’m worried about the longevity of the series due to it being so niche. I hope it continues because it’s a refreshing manga that shines a light on how much skill is involved in becoming a comedian.
