Manga Tak

Mahoro Haruta the a top selling manga artist, who's series Revive Line has sold over 50 million copies, but the truth is it wasn't her idea: the original creator of the characters and the story were her High School Senpai, Shu Yukishima, who passed away while they were studying. After a fall though, she's somehow transported back before Yukishima's death! Can Mahoro right her wrongs and save her senpai...? Or is there some other reason she's been sent back?This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Marg (aka @MargReadsManga) to discuss Drawing From Your Memory by Shiki Kawabata! Join us as we dive into our feelings on time loop mysteries more broadly, why certain choices didn't work for us on a second read, and, more importantly, if we plan to see this 5 volume series through to its conclusion! ---Show Notes---Love at First Memory by Narumi HasegakiOrange by Ichigo TakanoTokyo Revengers by Ken WakuiThe Long Summer of August 31st by Ikkado ItoBlank Canvas by Akiko Higashimura---Shiki Kiwabata's SwitchedThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

As Billy Bat flys off American comic book shelves, it's creator, Kevin Yamagata is in emotional turmoil. After learning he may have copied the character from something he saw while stationed in Japan during the war, Kevin sets out to find it's original creator and make amends... what he finds instead is a web of conspiracy that threatens to insnare him, and the knowledge that the bat he thought he created, might be something bigger than he can ever comprehend! This week on Manga Tak, Mat sits down with Ramzee to discuss Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. While they mainly try to stay on topic about the book, it's central themes of stories, creation and symbolism draw out many tangents about authorial intent, the meta levels of storytelling in comics and a whole lot besides! ---Show Notes---Manga---Monster by Naoki Urasawa20th Century Boys by Naoki UrasawaPluto: Urasawa x Tezuka by Naoki UrasawaPineapple Army by Naoki UrasawaAsadora! by Naoki UrasawaMaster Keaton by Naoki UrasawaNew Treasure Island by Osamu TezukaOne Piece by Eiichiro OdaHunter x Hunter by Yoshiro TogashiJujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami---Books / TV / Essays / Ted Talks?!---Treasure Island by Robert Louis StevensonThe Singing Detective by Dennis Potter Manben on Naoki Urasawa (warning: contains spoilers)George Orwell's The Decline of English Murder Kirby Ferguson - Everything's a RemixKirby Ferguson - Creativity is a remixDo Conversation by Robert Poynton---People---Alan LomaxOrson WellesFranz KafkaHergéBob KaneBill FingerWally WoodThe Brothers GrimmRonald WimberlyTradd MooreThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Fuyunosuke is a quirky, fun-loving Tokyoite who's loved by his friends at the University in-spite of his idiosyncrasies (and kinks!).. But there's a reason for his odd behaviour... Fuyunosuke is an alien! His mission? Gauge Earth's potential for Alien colonisation! Except he's not doing his job! Despite being on Earth a whole year, he's failed to report back to high command, forcing them to send Fuyu's older brother, Natsutaro, down to the planet to see what's happening! This week, Mat is joined by Nick from Retrobreak to discuss Tokyo Alien Bros by Keigo Shinzo! Join us as we peel the invisible shrinkwrap on this NSFW book (and by extension podcast) to discuss it's themes, art and how it compares to Shinzo's later work, Hirayasumi! ---Show Notes---Hirayashumi by Keigo ShinzoMidori no Hoshi by Keigo ShinzoWash It All Away by Mitsuru HattoriThe story of Keigo Shinzo's hospitalisation is in 'No Sentimental Reactions' by Keigo Shinzo, available soon from Denpa---Keigo Shinzo Interviews!---Mangabrog: Asano, Shinzo and Matsumoto2018 Journal Du Japan Interview (machine translated)Misaki Takamatsu x Keigo Shinzo (machine translated)Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

On this Manga Tak-ked On (aka a Bonus Episode), Mat is joined one again by Marg (aka margreadsmanga) to talk about Strange Pictures by Kikou Aiba, adapted from Uketsu's NYT Best Selling Novel of the same name!Join us as we discuss how manga is the perfect medium for this visual mystery, how we'd love more books in the genre and what are hopes are for the next instalment!  Thanks once again to Titan Manga for sending us advanced copies of this book, available now wherever good comic books are sold!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

After borrowing a disk from their teacher that promised to open a rift between dimensions, the small three (aka Pyontaro Tezuka, Hiroshi Ochanomizu and Tsubame Azuma) find themselves in crisis when Pyon's little sister, Futaba crawls through the screen into this parallel world! But when they discover this world is filled with alien invaders who've abducted her, how will the boys overcome all odds and get her back...?This week Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to talk about Thunder 3 by "Yuki Ikeda"... The Mangaka's name is in air quotes because, well, we've got some thoughts on that! Join as we get spoiler heavy on this 1st volume! Discussing it's incredible premise, how we feel about "Ikead's" other work, the value of libraries, and how we could see this idea expanded to other works / media!----Show Notes---Manga---Goodnight Punpun by Inio AsanoGantz by Hiroya Oku Inuyashiki by Hiroya OkuGigant by Hiroya Oku---Movies & Video Games---Frog Fractions by Twinbeard StudiosPaper Mario by NintendoWho Framed Roger Rabbit by Robert ZemeckisThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Ichi is a orphaned hunter who lives his life by one motto: Death for Death: he only hunts creatures that seek to harm humans and come at him with the intent to kill. Which is why when he stumbles upon a battle between the world's most powerful witch, Desscaras, and the King of Majik, Uroro, he throws himself into the fray! But in this world, magic can only be controlled by women, and is not learned by earned by overcoming the trial of majiks: wild, animal-like forces that form the basis of a witch's power. Somehow, Ichi is the rare exception and becomes the world's first male witch! When Desscaras offers him the chance to hunt more majiks, of course he jumps at the chance! But what will the world make of it's first male witch?This week Mat chats with Undisputed Anime's Zane Reid to discuss Ichi The Witch by Osamu Nishi and Shiro Usazaki. Join us as we get into the world's interesting magic system, discuss how it mixes shoujo magical girl tropes with shonen battle manga and speculate on it's place in this golden age of fantasy manga!---Show Notes---Dragon Ball by Akira ToriyamaOne Piece by Eiichiro OdaMamaYuYu by Yoshihiko HayashiHunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro TogashiCardcaptor Sakura by CLAMPAct-Age by Tatsuya Matsuki and Shiro UsazakiWelcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun by Osamu NishiFrieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa AbeWistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino Ōmori and Toshi AoiDelicious In Dungeon by Ryoko Kui Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome ShirohamaFull Metal Alchemist by Hiromu ArakawaTower Dungeon by Tsutomu NiheiBleach by Tite KuboNaruto by Masashi KishimotoToilet-Bound Hanako-Kun by Iro / AidaChainsaw Man by Tatsuki FujimotoKagurabachi by Takeru HokazonoDandadan by Yukinobu TatsuBlue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke NomuraThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

As mankind tilts on the edge of the apocalypse, a young boy named Shinji Ikari travels to Tokyo-3 after receiving a cryptic message from his estranged father. But the summons isn't the reunion Shinji was hoping for: instead of reconnection, he is asked to pilot a giant robot known as an Eva... And just like that the fate of the entire human race rests on one boy's shoulders...This week, Mat sits down once again with Tom to discuss Neon Genesis Evangelion. While they try to stick to Volume 1 of the manga bu Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the boys cannot help but spill into broader discussion about Evangelion as a whole, so BIG SPOILER WARNINGS for the anime / End of Eva / the Rebuild Movies if you haven't seen them!If you have watched the anime (or just don't care about spoilers) get on your plug suit and sync up as we discuss the manga's similarities to the anime, it's length serialisation and how it's totally ok dropping a huge spoiler right in the 5th chapter! For Eva fans, this isn't one to miss!---Show Notes ---There aren't any ;) We somehow just manage too keep things to Eva, but for those a little confused about releases:Neon Genesis EvangelionNeon Genesis Evangelion: Death and RebirthNeon Genesis Evangelion: End of EvangelionThe Rebuild Movies!The Next Eva ProjectThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

After the disappearance of his classmate, mysterious telephone card leads Ageha Yoshina into an alternative reality called Psyren where his life is always at stake and things aren't quite as they seem... Can Ageha figure out the mystery of this death game? Can he save his friend Sakurako? And just who is the mysterious figure, Nemesis Q who's seemingly pulling the strings...?On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by Tsutsudae of the Undisputed Anime to discuss Psyren by Toshiaki Iwashiro. This is one title from the golden age of Weekly Shonen Jump that isn't often discussed, but with it finally getting an Anime adaptation in October, we thought now was the right time to get listeners in on the ground floor!Join us as we talk about what works about the book, notice it's similarities to Gantz and finally land on why we think this book wasn't held to the same lofty heights of it's contemporaries in WSJ.---Show Notes---Gantz by Hiroya OkuNaruto by Masashi KishimotoBleach by Tite KuboZombiepowder. by Tite KuboOne Piece by Eiichiro OdaD. Gray-Man by Katsura HoshinoReborn! by Akira AmanoMieru Hito by Toshiaki IwashiroThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Arboral Year 1294. It was an age when wars were fought over the spires. In the shadows of the battlefield lies one young boy, shunned by the mercenary troupe he accompanies because of a single horn growing from his head and bleeding out from a wound in battle, he desperately tries to sound the retreat... only for his song to unlock something within him he didn't know was possible. His name is Luca and he is one of the Branch-hexed. In a world plagued by war, all he wants is to stop using music as a tool for war and play for pleasure, but first he must help The Pontiff, the head of religion called Spiralism, defeat a mysterious power known only as The Garland. Does Luca have what it takes? And even if he succeeds, will The Pontiff keep his word?On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by SonMangaKing to chat about Vol. 1 of The Bugle Call: Song of War written by Mozuku Sora and illustrated by Higoro Toumori. Join us as we discuss the book's clear influences in other Seinen fantasy, how Luca's powers are used to dazzling effects on the page and why we'll be reading on with the story despite some initial apprehension! ---Show Notes---Attack on Titan by Hajime IsayamaBerserk! by Kentaro MiuraVagabond by Takehiko InoueVinland Saga by Makoto YukimuraChainsaw Man by Tatsuki FujimotoClaymore by Norihiro Yagi---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

When the quirky green haired Yotsuba and her father, Yousuke Koiwai, move in next door, the Ayase family don't know what to think. What soon become apparent to them (and us as readers) though is that this little girl is a ray of sunshine who's childlike curiosity and ability to find wonder in the most mundane of subjects is an infectious sight to look up! This week, Mat is joined once again by AC MacDonald of Twistwood Tales to discuss Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma. We discuss the Mangaka's past hit Azumanga Daioh and how Azuma's start in Yonkoma bleeds into his long form comic work, why this series is a masterclass in character writing, and why we think this series is a home made soup for the soul!---Show Notes---Find the interview with Kiyohiko Azuma on Mangabrog here.---Manga / Comics---Azumanga Daioh by Kitohiko Azuma Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi (listen to the previous pod here)Calvin and Hobbes by Bill WatersonGarfield by Jim DavisWash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori (listen to the previous pod here)---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

In a secret ninja village, a young orphan is ostracised by the people around him for an unknown reason. Determined to prove them all wrong, this young boy fights against all odds to surpass them all and become the greatest leader the villlage has ever known. His name is Naruto Usumaki and this is his story...This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined by professional chef Andrea Piras to serve up the last of the big 3: Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. Join us as we discuss how we both discovered the book as kids, how we feel it compares to the other titles that make up the 'big 3' before asking the ultimate question: would we recommend this book to a young reader today?---Show Notes---The link to the Kishimoto interview referenced during the podcast via fanverse.Follow Andrea's Copenhagen Pop-ups!---Manga--- Dragon Ball by Akira ToriyamaDr. Slump by Akira ToriyamaMy Hero Academia by Kōhei HorikoshiJujutsu Kaisen by Gege AkutamiBleach by Tite KuboOne Piece by Eiichiro OdaDeath Note by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi ObataFull Metal Alchemist by Hiromu ArakawaGhost In The Shell by Masamune ShirowThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Yan's Trilogy concludes with it's exciting (orange) third volume, so Mat and Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) jump on the mic to talk about Chang Sheng's latest work. Now the story's over, was it everything we hoped it would be? Was this super hero thrill ride all killer, no filler? Or did it stumble trying to keep so many plot points afloat? Listen along and find out!Thanks again to Titan Manga for providing advanced reading copies of the book!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Music has the power to take it's listener on a journey, and whether it's a recording of a song in an unknown language, or a scratchy bootleg from a rooftop jam session, you can find it all at Miyama Records! Sit back, relax and join us as we take a record journey of our very own!This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to discuss Record Journey by Ryoichiro Kezuka. Right from the off, we dive into the strengths of this book's art and it's anthology style story set up! From there, we weigh up the books pros and cons of it's nostalgic storytelling style, before getting into a list of other music manga we'd love to see make its way into print in English!Thanks to Titan Manga for sending advanced copies of the book for review before it's May 26th release date!---Show Notes---Otomachi Record by Ryoichiro KezukaWandering Island by Kenji TsurutaKids on the Slope by Yuki KodamaBoku Wa Beatles by Kaiji Kawaguchi & Tetsuo FujiiShiori Experience by Yuko Osada & Kazuya MachidaBlue Giant by Shinichi IshizukaThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

A man with white hair in a long, brown overcoat wanders from place to place, offering help to problems with no clear solution. His name is Ginko and he is a Mushishi: someone wise in the ways of Mushi. What are Mushi? Beings beyond our comprehension, that can only be described as life in it's purest form. They sometimes unintentionally cause harm to humans, and so Mushishi wander Japan to offer aid..This week, Mat is joined once again by Lea to discuss Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara. Join us as we discuss the differences between the original Del Rey editions and the new hardback collectors editions from Kodansha, how the book seamlessly blends melancholic vibes with slice of life storytelling, and how the stories somehow manage to be uplifting despite their similarities to campfire horror!---Show Notes---God Bless The Mistaken by Nio NakataniWitch Hat Atelier by Kamome ShirahamaYokohama Kaidashi Kikou by Hitoshi AshinanoSuiiki by Yuki UrushibaraWandering Island by Kenji TsurutaKino's Journey by Keiichi Sigsawa and Kouhaku KuroboshiGirls' Last Tour by TsukumizuTouring After the Apocalypse by Sakae Saito The Apothecary Diaries by HyūganatsuFrieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa AbePet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri AkinoThe Summer Hikaru Died by MokumokurenThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

In the prestigious Rigarden School of magic, young wizards hone their skills with a wand, hoping one day to ascend to the world's greatest honour: becoming one of the Magia Vander - the protectors of all. But one young man, born without magical ability, is set to change that. Wielding a sword instead of a wand, young Will Serfort aims to take on the world, graduate with honours and sit beside his childhood companion, Elfaria, as part of the Magia Vander. But with no magical ability, can Will make the cut?This week Mat is joined by Zane Reid from the Undisputed Anime podcast to talk about Wistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino Ōmori and Toshi Aoi just in time for the anime's second season! Join us as we get into the book's obvious comparison points, it's incredible artwork and discuss at great length about how in a time of top tier fantasy manga, the world needs more B-tier books!---Show Notes---Mashle: Magic and Muscles by Hajime KōmotoBlack Clover by Yūki TabataAttack on Titan by Hajime IsayamaWitch Hat Aterlier by Kamome ShirahamaFrieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa AbeDelicious in Dungeon by Ryoko KuiBlack Torch by Tsuyoshi Takaki Heart Gear by Tsuyoshi TakakiThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Facing extinction, an alien race travels to Earth and decides to blend in amongst the population to rediscover the technological secrets it has lost. After scanning the planet's inhabitants and declaring it's rulers to be cats, they descend upon the planet... Mumu, one such invader finds himself in the home of Sakurako Umeyashiki, a freshman university student who's a bit of shut in. Together, the two become proud members of the Human Regeneration Study Group in order to understand technology better!This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Ginta1jm to discuss the sci-fi comedy/explainer manga Me and The Alien Mumu by Hiroki Miyashita. Join us as we deconstruct this book and put it back together again, talking about it's similarities to other explainer manga, how effective it's comedy can be and why this might just be the cat manga Mat's been searching for all his life!---Show Notes---Find Ginta's Tiktok here---Manga---Slam Dunk by Takehiko InoueDr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki & BoichiDead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction by Inio AsanoMujina Into The Deep by Inio AsanoSet it and Forget it! by Kakaru, Kiri Tono & Five-star Rice Meister Rie ShibuyaYotsuba&! by Kiyohiko AzumaThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Ping Pong. For two young boys, Smile and Peco, it isn't just a game. For Peco, it's a way of life. For Smile, it's a way of keeping close to his childhood friend... but it soon becomes apparent that they both must walk their own paths in order to grow as players and as people. But with Peco so convinced he's invincible, and Smile not really invested in the game, will the two ever achieve their potential?On this 100th episode, as requested by you, the audience, I'm joined once again by tattooist and comic book artist CROM to discuss the epic Ping Pong by Taiyō Matsumoto. Join us as we gush about the book, ruminate on it's characters and reflect on where this book falls on our personal listings of Matsumoto's work!---Show Notes---Interview with Matsumoto from 1995Bird King Vol. 4 by Daniel Freedman & CROM Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Locker Loyed, one of the underground's best snipers, it forced to take early retirement after a job gone wrong. In the assassination industry, these things happen! Fortunately for Locker, his handler tells him that there's a support group for people like him, but as he soon learns maybe his past isn't quite done with him...On this Manga Tak-ked On (i.e. a Bonus Episode), Mat is joined one again by Georgie to discuss the newly released Unemployed Killers Support Group by RIO, published in English by Titan Manga!Join us as we give our quick takes on the book's unconventional take on hitmen, it's blend of dark and slapstick humour, as well as it's incredible art style! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

When an unknown 17 year old enters the 18th annual Real Fight Tournament, everyone is amazed as this kid takes down every pupil of the legendary Shinshinkai dojo... Even the tournament's reigning champion, Suedo, is no match! Just who is Hanma Baki? How did he get so insanely strong? And more importantly, why is he trying to become the world's strongest fighter?This week, Mat is joined once again by a formidable opponent: Georgie of the Shojo Style. Listen as they go toe-to-toe, squaring off to discuss Itagaki's unique illustration style, cackle at the book's irreverent violence and, with Kodama Tales being a new challenger to the English manga market, give their thoughts on the quality of the book overal! It's a bout not to be missed!---Show Notes---Manga---Dragon Ball by Akira ToriyamaFist of The North Star by Buronson and Tetsuo HaraSun-Ken Rock by BoichiLone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki KiojimaMe and The Alien Mumu by Hiroki MiyashitaIchi The Killer by Hideo YamamotoWitch Hat Atelier by Kamome ShirahamaThe Climber by Shin-ichi SakamotoJojo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki---NHK interview with Keisuke ItagakiWiki article on Kazuo Koike, featuring a section on the Gekika Sonjuku SchoolThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Hey folks, just a quick update from me explaining some of the unfortunate audio errors in the Witch Hat episode - hopefully the file should be fixed now and available for your listening pleasure! Sorry to those who listened and thanks to the eagle eared listener who flagged it... Fingers crossed they're not present in episode 98 or any future episodes! New processes will be implemented (and old mice reinstated) to make sure this doesn't happen again...Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Rei Kiriyama is a shogi prodigy who has overcome incredible hardship to become a professional player. Despite having his own Tokyo apartment at 17, he's incredibly lonely. After a young hostess takes pity on him, Rei is invited more and more to spend time with the Kawamoto sisters, who are themselves dealing with grief... Can they help to heal each others wounds? Or will they sink under the weight of their collective grief?This week, Mat is joined once again by Ramzee to discuss the excellent March Comes In Like A Lion by Chica Umino. Join us as we discuss the thawing of Rei's emotions, our hopes and fears about how this series balances tragedy on a knife's edge, and the excellent cat (and dog) energy that can be found within!---Show Notes---Link to the Manben Episode with Chica UminoLink to Ramzee and Claude T.C's new book, Rex Power!---Manga---Hikaru No Go by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi ObataYu-Gi-Oh by Kazuki TakahashiPing Pong by Taiyō MatsumotoHunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro TogashiHoney and Clover by Chica Umino---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Coco is a young girl who's had put her dreams of becoming a witch aside because she was not born one... However a child's curiosity can never be quenched, and so after discovering that magic is something one does with a pen and ink, Coco can't help but test out the book of spells and wand she received as a child from a mysterious figure in a brimmed hat...  with disastrous results!Before she knows it, her mother is turned to stone and needs the assistance of Qifrey, a witch seemingly obsessed with the brimmed hats, to help her reverse the spell she cast! She joins his Atelier as an apprentice, but Coco soon learns the road to saving her mother and fulfilling her dreams won't be so easy! On this week's podcast, Mat is joined by artist and designer Allie Oldfield to discuss Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama! Join us as we get into the incredible world Shirahama's created: discussing not only it's wonderful magic system, but the metaphor at it's heart. We even talk about the fantastic exhibition at Angouleme of Shirahama's original manuscripts, as well as the many, many artistic influences we see on the pages of the manga!---Show Notes---Mangaka, Artists and Writers---Alphonse MuchaBrothers GrimmGustav DoréTove JanssonJohn TennielLewis CarrollC.S. LewisJ.R.R. TolkienTerry PratchettChica Umino---Anitrendz TCAF Interview with Shirahama Crunchy Roll Germany Interview with Shirahama---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

To the casual observer, Yoh Asakura seems like a laid back teenager with street and book smarts in equal measure, but unbeknown to his new classmates, Yoh is actually a shaman: a human blessed with the powers to not only commune with the dead, but also use their abilities to help their shaman wielders! However, Yoh can't live a peaceful life forever! Between his classmate Manta discovering his ability, the constant attention of restless souls and rival shaman seeking him out, Yoh's dreams of living a carefree life soon turn to him focusing on becoming the Shaman King: a shaman so powerful they can channel the power of the great spirit and reshape the world!This week, Mat's joined once again by designer / illustrator Bastian Najdek to talk about Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King! We get into how big this manga was for Bastain (and in Poland in general) growing up, Takei's friendship with Eiichiro Oda, as well as the series' odd publishing history and sequels!---Show Notes---The Takei Doc we talk about all episode from AchipelLink to Polish Publisher, Studio JG's version of Shaman King!Manga---Shaman King: Flowers by Hiroyuki TakeiShaman King: The Super Star by Hiroyuki TakeiOne Piece by Eiichiro OdaDragon Ball by Akira ToriyamaD.Gray-man by Katsura HoshinoChainsaw Man by Tatsuki FujimotoDandadan by Yukinobu TatsuH2 by Mitsuru Adachi---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

A young girl is given a rose signet ring by a mysterious prince who saves her life... But when she grows up and finds herself at Ohtori Academy, where the student council also hold matching rings and end up challenging her to duel, what is young Utena Tenjo to do but throw herself in head first? This week, Mat is joined by Sarah and Joe of the Shoujoe Podcast to discuss Revolutionary Girl Utena by Chiho Saito and Be-Papas! As Shoujoe are currently watching Utena for their podcast, we spend a lot of this episode comparing and contrasting the manga to the anime, delving deeper into this cross media franchises' creative process before highlighting the strengths of each version of this classic shoujo story!---Show Notes---Utena Specific!---The very insightful Wiki page of Utena2017 interview with Chiho Saito and Kunihiko Ikuhara NYCC INTERVIEW WITH SAITO AND IKUHARA1998 UTENA CD ROM(!) INTERVIEWS---Manga / Anime---Red River by Chie ShinoharaKodocha by Mino ObanaChainsaw Man by Tatsuki FujimotoThe Rose of Versailles by Riyoko IkedaSkip Beat! by Yoshiki NakamuraOuran High School Host Club by Bisco HatoriKime no Todoke by Karuho ShiinaThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Stranded on a desert island with no hope of rescue, an unnamed writer suddenly finds himself face to face with a young pirate by the name of Portgas D. Ace. While he isn't much to look at, just a scrawny kid in a hat, after saving the writer's life and accidentally eating the mysterious Flame-Flame Fruit, it becomes clear that maybe he's destined for greatness!  This week, Mat is joined once again to discuss One Piece: Ace's Story (the manga) with Art by Boichi, Storyboards by Ryo Ishiyama, based on a concept by Eiichiro Oda, but more specifically based on light novels by Sho Hinata andTatsuya Hamazaki... That's a lot of names I hear you cry! Well strap in as we unpack this tale of Luffy' Older Brother...SPOILER WARNING: If you've not read past 'Marine Ford' in One Piece, maybe skip this one and come back later ;)---Show Notes---Manga--- One Piece by Eiichiro OdaOne Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji by Yuto Tsukuda and Shun SaekiDr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi The Marshall King by BoichiBerserk! by Kentaro Miiura ---'The Loss' Shirt Mat was wearing!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Eugene Korekishi is the smartest kid in his class, but despite his Grandma's promise to one day come back to haunt and hang out with him, he doesn't believe in ghosts. That is until one day, a young exorcist in training named Mogari Shishikuno joins his class! While Mogari can't see or hear ghosts himself, he can perform exorcisms by eating spirits who refuse to pass on! Another handy trick he has up his sleeve is the ability to touch someone with a supernatural ability and borrow their powers... Given this high school is seemingly filled to the brim with super natural talent, it's time to form a club and get recruiting! This week, Mat is joined once again by Zane Reid of Undisputed Anime to talk Phantom Busters by Neoshoco! Join us as we discuss the book's spin on the traditional shonen manga format, who exactly it's audience might be and how we feel about a book that delivers more punch-lines than punches! ---Show Notes---Manga---Mashle by Hajime KomotoOne-Punch Man by ONE and Yusuke MurutaSakamoto Days by Yuto SuzukiWistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino OmoriWitch Hat Atelier - Kamome ShirahamaHunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro TogarashiFrieren by Kanehito Yamada & Tsukasa AbeBlack Torch by Tsuyoshi TakakiDanDaDan by Yukinobu TatsuPhantom Seer by Togo Goto & Kento MatsuuraBungo Stray Dogs by Kafka Asagari & Sango HarukawaChainsaw Man by Tatsuki FujimotoThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Love can hit you when you least expect it... Sometimes it's up close with a 9mm, other times it's at a distance from an semi-automatic! Some people even end up falling in love as collateral damage from a stray grenade... All is fair in love and war when cupids are involved! Anything to earn that karma to get re-incarnated! This week Mat's once again joined by Behind The Manga co-founder Winter Venom to discuss Love Bullet by inee! We get into the book's premise, a yuri manga where gun-toting cupids take matchmaking to the extreme, discuss it's potential scope, as well as the mix of action and emotion that forms the foundation of a wonderful first volume.---Show Notes---Find MangaAlert's Review of Love Bullet here.---Manga---The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All (aka Green Yuri) by Sumiko AraiGokurakugai by Yuto SanoMechanical Buddy Universe by Takuji KatoMidnight Diner by Yarō AbeMaid to Skate by SuzushiroThis Monster Wants to Eat Me by Sai NaekawaLycoris Recoil by Yasunori BizenBlack Lagoon by Rei HireoChainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Daisuke Niwa's 14th birthday isn't going according to plan: rejected by the girl he has a crush on, and receiving no sympathy from his mother, Daisuke suddenly feels a weird transformation coming on... but this isn't puberty, it's something in his DNA! Before Daisuke knows it, he's transformed into Dark Mousy, the legendary phantom thief! With the only way to break the curse being to get his crush to return his affection, and his classmate, Satoshi Hiwatari turning out to be a young prodigal detective, Daisuke's going to need more than angelic powers: he's going to need a miracle!This week, Mat is joined once again by Tsutsudae of Undisputed Anime to discuss Yukiru Sugisaki's Shojo masterpiece, DN Angel, in it's shiny (and we mean SHINY) New Edition from Yen Press!We discuss how the series has held up during it's many hiatuses, talk  phantom thieves in anime / manga at large, before ruminating a little on how great it is that fans of this series from 1997 will finally get a chance to read it's ending almost 30 years later!---Show Notes---Manga---X by CLAMPCard Captor Sakura by CLAMPMan of Many Faces by CLAMPD.Gray-Man by Katsura HishinoSailor Moon by Naoko TakeuchiLupin the Third by Monkey PunchCat's Eye by Tsukasa HojoPhantom Thief Jeanne by Arina TanemuraSaint Tail by Megumi Tachikawa---Sugisaki Interview with  Comics NatalieThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Buntarō Mori transfers to a new school in the hopes of being left alone... Only for a school bully to send his life down an unexpected path: a new passion for solo climbing! Mori, a gloomy loner, soon opens up under the watchful eye of his teacher, Oonishi and the students form a climbing club... But after a climbing trip gone wrong, Mori's life starts to catch up with him... Maybe this is one climb he must face alone!This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to discuss The Climber by Shin-ichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Nabeta & Hiroshi Takano. We discuss not only the book's high-highs, but it's interesting publishing history, Sakamoto's other works and the author's own journey from a young Mangaka to almost retiring from Manga altogether before the success of this work! ---Show Notes---Manga---Innocent by Shin-ichi Sakamoto#DRCL Midnight Children by Shin-ichi SakamotoMonster by Naoki UrusawaGTO by Tooru FujisawaThe Summit of The Gods by Jiro TaniguchiA Journal of my Father by Jiro TaniguchiThe Solitary Gourmet by Jiro TaniguchiThe Walking Man by Jiro Taniguchi--Interviews Etc.---Shin-Ichi Sakamoto Manben Episode!Kerastyle Interview with Shin-ichi SakamotoThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

The passing of world-renowned wine critic Yutaka Kanzaki sends shockwaves through the industry... but perhaps nobody is more surprised by his passing than his son, Shizuku, who has been estranged from his father for many years and in an act of defiance after his harsh upbringing, never touched a drop of wine...But upon hearing from his father's lawyer, Shizuku discovers that if he wants claim his inheritance, the world's most expensive wine collection, he must correctly identity 13 wines: 12 'apostles' and a wine cryptically referred to as 'The Drops of God' in a competition against another renowned wine critic, Issei Tomine, who was adopted by his father just before his passing!This week, Mat sits down once more with Árni Beck Gunnarsson to talk The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi and Shin Kibayashi! Join us as we discuss if this wine manga had us reaching for another glass, or if it's approach to wine left us longing for something stronger. We speculate on it's tone and target audience, while Mat also gets into his thoughts about the Live Action TV show currently streaming on Apple TV!---Show Notes---Manga---Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi ObataMidnight Diner by Yarō AbeGreat Teacher Onizuka by Tooru FujisawaOishinbo by Tetsu Kariya Akira HanasakiFood Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma by Yūto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki---TV Shows---Drops of God (Apple TV)---Jarret Melendez' story about a Tokyo Jazz Bar can be found in Vol.1 of IDW's Full Bleed Anthology!Listen to Mat and Arni talk Manga more broadly on Tegenseriessnak here!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

After agreeing to marry a mysterious, beautiful girl after a near death experience, Nasa Yuzaki has his world turned upside down on his 18th birthday when she suddenly appears on his doorstep with a marriage form in hand! Who is this woman and why does she remind him so much of the fabled moon princess Kaguya?This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined once more by AC Yoshimura (aka prodtally) to discuss T̶o̶n̶i̶k̶a̶k̶u̶ ̶K̶a̶w̶a̶i̶i̶ Fly Me To The Moon by Kenjiro Hata! Join us as we discuss the dangers of 2am Don Quixote visits, how the manga compares to the anime, and watch in real time as Mat does a complete 180 turn on reading on based solely on the mention of one of his favourite movies...---Show Notes---Manga---Urusei Yatsura by Rumiko TakahashiRanma 1/2 by Rumiko TakahashiLove Hina by Ken AkamatsuTrigun by Yasuhiro NightowRevolutionary Girl Utena by Chiho Saito / Be-PapasNeon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki SadamotoWash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori---Other---Highlander Mamoru OshiiSeikima-II Japan's Culture CouncilThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

In the world of competitive ballroom dancing, there are two competing styles: standard and latin, but in order to be the best in the world, two Japanese 'kings of ballroom' will have to come together in order to rise to the challenge of 10Dance: a glittering triathlon that would see them compete in both styles! This week, Mat is joined once again by Ida to discuss 10Dance by Inouesatoh. It's the first BL on the show, so after taking some time to discuss what the genra is and isn't, we get into what's so appealing about the book! It's tension, the romance and at times, the artwork! Along the way, we talk BL tropes, the Netflix live action adaptation of the manga, as well as give some recommendations for other books that contain other queer stories that will leave you smiling at the end!Show Notes:---J-Pop Con Info!---BL Descriptors!---Shonen-ai / BL / YaoiBara Fujoshi Yuri / GL---Manga---Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide by Mone SoreiWhat Did You Eat Yesterday? by Fumi YoshinagaBlue Flag by KaitoBoy Meets Maria by PEYOI'm Kinda Chubby and I'm Your Hero by NoreWitch Hat Atelier by Kamome ShirahamaGorgeous Carat by You HiguriLove Hina by Ken AkamatsuGravitation by Maki MurakamiExcel Saga by Koshi RikudoShe Loves To Cook, She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki (podcast episode!)Even Though We're Adults by Takako Shimura---Movies---10Dance Live Action on NetlfixThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Just a quick message from me to ask with your help picking the manga and guest for the 100th episode of the show! Get your vote in now using this link - https://forms.gle/oiXmaX24ry6sHvEf9Voting will close on February 20th, so be sure to get your vote in ASAP!Thank you in advance!MatThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

A young Fujino publishes a weekly comic strip in her school paper to the fanfare of all her classmates, dreaming to become a Mangaka when she grows up... However, after another student named Kyomoto is published in the same paper, the way Fujino and her classmates see her work changes forever. It's the start of an unlikely friendship and a tragic story: one that echoes it's creator's feelings and real life incidents. But is it worth reading?This week, Mat is once again joined by writer and illustrator, A.C. MacDonald, to discuss Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto. In this spoiler filled episode, we look at Look Back in relation to Fujimoto's other works, discuss how the creator reflects his own thoughts and feelings through the story, as well as asking each other questions on the nature of art and why we both feel the need to create things!Join us for perhaps one of the most introspective episodes of the podcast ever, but we hope you'll agree: it's likely the kind of conversation someone like Fujimoto would want us to have about this book!---Show Notes---Twistwood Tales by A.C. MacDonald---Other Works of Fujimoto:Fire PunchChainsaw ManGoodbye, EriBefore Chainsaw ManLook Back (the anime)---MangaBlame! by Tsutomo NiheiTower Dungeon by Tsutomu NiheiThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Looks can be deceiving. Kaoru Suzuki is a towering boy who strikes fear into the hearts of his classmates with his intimidating looks... If they just got to know him, they're realise he's a kind, gentle boy but unfortunately nobody takes the time! That is until one day on the train to his new high school, he's saved by a delicate but tough boy called Arata Haruna. The two boys hit it off immediately and slowly Suzuki begins to come out his shell to his new classmates, by revealing his unexpected passions for baking and gardening!This week, I'm joined by once again by Marg (aka MargReadsManga) to discuss Suzuki-Kun's Mindfull Life by Yuhki Fujimoto. Can this Shojo slice of life win us over? What does this book about challenging gender rolls have to say? And more importantly, how do we feel about the prospect of an age gap romance...---Show Notes---Manga---The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity by Saka MikamiWash It All Away by Mitsuru HattoriAfter The Rain by Jun MayuzukiBunny Drop by Yum UnitaMy Love Story!! by Kazune Kawahara & ArukoHoney So Sweet by Amu Meguro---TV Shows (and Podcasts)---Pluribus (and the podcast!)---Yuhki Fujimoto Interview (Japanese)Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Duranki is book with two tales to tell... On one hand, it's the story of an androgynous child named Usumgal, born of the gods, but who is neither god nor human, neither male nor female. On the other, it's an experiment by Kentaro Miura to see if his manga studio, Studio Gaga, would be able to produce a work that could reach the high bar set by his masterpiece, Berserk. Unfortunately, with Miura's untimely passing in  2021, neither of these stories will see an ending. Like the ancient myths on which Duranki is based, we're only left with a fragment of those stories...And just like scholars do with those tales of old, Mat and Tom will speculate widely on what IS there!Join us as we dig into Duranki: exploring the stories' 6 chapters, contrast it development concept also included in the volume on which it was based, before finally asking the question: should a creator's work continue after they're gone? And perhaps more fitting for a podcast that mainly recommends manga, is Duranki a good starting point for the Berserk-curious reader?---Show Notes---Berserk by Kentaro MiuraGiganto Maxia by Kentaro MiruaDragon Ball Super by Akira Toriyama and Toyotarou---Production Interview on Duranki with Mirua (in Japanese)---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

If you've spent years thinking that the work of Mitsuru Adachi isn't for you because you have no interest in baseball, pull up a chair! This week on Manga Tak, I talk to designer and illustrator Bastian Najdek, to discuss Short Game! A collection of 5 short stories from one of Japan's masters of romance, that proves that while the book is about baseball, it also REALLY isn't!Join us as we take the field to discuss Adachi's beautiful compositions and writing, spend a little time in the outfield discussing badly dubbed Polish anime, before swinging for the fences and picking our favourite stories in the collection!---Show Notes---MangakaAkira ToriyamaRumiko Takahashi---MangaTouch by Mitsuru AdachiH2 by Mitsuru AdachiCross Game by Mitsuru AdachiShort Program by Mitsuru AdachiRanma 1/2 by Rumiko TakahashiDragon Ball by Akira ToriyamaH̶e̶l̶l̶o̶ What's Michael? by Makoto KobayashiThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Vikings have seen a resurgence recently thanks to shows like (ahem) Vikings, and games like Assassins Creed Valhalla and Valheim, but what if I told you the best piece of Viking fiction of the past 20 years was actually a manga? And more importantly, that it's story is based on real vikings!This week, Mat's not only joined by another passionate lover of comics, but a descendant of Thorfinn Karlsefni himself: author and translator, Árni Beck Gunnarsson! Join us as we really dive into Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura! We not only explore the book's story and themes, but actually talk at the length about viking history and the Icelandic sagas! It's an episode not to missed! ---Show Notes:----Podcasts:The excellent Mangasplaining episode on Vinland SagaÁrni's podcast, Tegneseriesnak ---Manga:Planetes by Makoto YukimuraDragon Ball by Akira ToriyamaAkira by Katsuhiro OtomoMy Hero Academia by Kohei HorikoshiFarewell My Odin by Chihiro Yoshioka---Danish Viking Comics:Valhalla Tall Tales of Midgard by Bjørk Matias Friis---TV Shows / MoviesVikingsNorsemenAkira Kurosawa---Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Takumi Fujiwara is a kid who doesn't really care about cars... Every morning he has to get up at the crack of dawn to make deliveries for his father's tofu shop. To him it's a hassle because of the strict requirements his father places on him... but those same requirements have also moulded him into the fastest racer on the Akina slope!This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to discuss Shuichi Shigeno's 1995 racing manga Initial D! With the volume being rolled out once more in sleek new omnibus editions (on which Mat and Georgie have wildly different opinions), is it time to take this classic out for a spin?Join as as we talk in length not only about it's presentation, including what's changed from the original English translations put out by Tokyo Pop, but it's contents! From art to story, we get behind the wheel and discuss what makes our motor's hum, as well as the potential potholes you might might experience in reading the book for the first time!Listeners, start your engines! Show Notes ----Interview with Shuichi Shigeno---Manga MentionedMF GhostMARSThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

After starting High School, Ruri Aoki thought that she was ready to deal with changes in her life... That was until she woke one day with a pair of horns growing out of her head, and her Mum told her it's because her Dad's actually a dragon!But this isn't a fantasy shonen title! In fact, it's actually a slice of life! Rather than battling mythical creatures with her newfound powers, Ruri is just trying to navigate the usual challenges of high school like meeting new people and fitting it... which isn't the easiest thing when your dragon powers decide to manifest in the middle of class!This week, I'm joined by SonMangaKing to discuss RuriDragon by Masaoki Shindo, a shonen title with a history of hiatuses and a ton of heart. We get into the book's interesting journey from One Shot, to Shonen Jump, to Jump Plus, how the fantasy elements mesh with the otherwise grounded tone of the book, and more importantly: is there enough good stuff here to make us keep reading?---Show Notes---MangaKingdom by Yasuhisa HaraMAD by Yusuke OtoriCITY by Keiichi ArawiRuriDragon Vol 2. Cover---MoviesWeaponsThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Hiroto Ikuta is a carefree, and optimistic guy who's totally fine taking each day as it comes. While those around him worry he's approaching 30 with no real ambitions or love life, he's not worried at all! However, after the older woman he befriended passes away and he inherits her house in Tokyo, his life begins to change in unexpected ways! The most notable of which is his cousin, Natsumi, moving in! She's struggling to figure out who she wants to be and trying to adapt to her newfound independence, but won't open up about it to Hiro! Can these two once close cousins reconnect now they share a roof? Will Hiro go back to acting? And just who is the mysterious girl he met at work?This week on Manga Tak, I sit down with Nick Westwood of RetroBreak to discuss Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzō! We talk about it's unique approach to slice of life storytelling, gush a little about the book's art and scratch a little deeper into how the book generates stakes and drama with a content MC!---Show NotesMangaka:Taiyō MatsumotoNaoki UrasawaIou KarudaInio AsanoTatsuki Fujimoto---MangaGo Go Monster by Taiyō MatsumotoTokyo Alien Bros. by Keigo ShinzōHoliday Junction by Keigo ShinzōSolanin by Inio AsanoSketchy by Makihirochi---Interviews Matsumoto x Asano x Keigō---Other IllustratorsSanLemoLucie ByronThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

All you need to do to hire the service of the City Hunter is to write XYZ on the bulletin board of Shinjuku station and they'll do the rest.... These Sweepers are guns for hire, with no case to big or small: anything goes...This week I'm joined once again by Tom to discuss the '80s cult classic City Hunter by Tsukasa Hojo! While the series debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1985, it's living proof that manga and the magazine have changed a lot in that time, and this one's definitely more of a seinen title!After really rolling up our sleeves and getting into the aspects that really haven't aged well with the book (see Ryo's pervy side), we get into discussing the nostalgic action movie feel the book offers and gush about how incredible Hojo's art is.---Show Notes:Other Manga:Akira (and the podcast episode)Trigun Maximum (and the podcast episode)Fist of the North Star (and the podcast epiosde)Gun Smith CatsCat's EyeMovies / TV:City Hunter 1993 (with Jackie Chan)City Hunter 2024 (modern Nexflix Reboot)Lethal WeaponDirty HarryMiami ViceThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Being an over 30's Toykoite is difficult: it's hard to find a man, you lose your passion for your work and your only way to let off steam is to goto the local Isakaya with your friends to let of some steam. But what if that's part of the problem?After being caught off guard by the announcement of the Tokyo Olympics, Rinko vows to get married before 2020! But being single is the least of her worries as things around her begin to fall apart thanks to a handsome but brash model named Key... Can Rinko get it together to thrive in her 30's? Or will she succumb to the temptation of spending the rest of her life as a 'what-if woman?'This week, Mat is joined once again by Tsutsudae from Undisputed Anime to talk about another Akiko Higashimura book: Tokyo Tarareba Girls. Join us as we unpack what we like and dislike about the book, figure out that it might well be the 'Peep Show' of manga and as per usual, gush over Higashimura's excellent dialogue and expressive art style!---Show Notes---Previous Episodes we discuss:Honey Lemon SodaBlank CanvasYou Can't Live All on Your Own---Other MangaPrincess Jellyfish by Akiko HigashimuraParadise Kiss by Ai YazawaThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Eita Ichiyoshi is a young man being driven slowly mad by the mundanity of his job at a confectionary factory. That is until while walking home alone on Christmas Eve, he catches a mysterious bouncy ball that he decides to take home. After throwing it to relieve his frustrations, he can't believe his luck when it turns into a beautiful, naked woman with perfect lips!But all it took was a kiss for Ichi to regret his actions! The girl suddenly begins to shoot more balls into the room that transform into more women! These monstrously strong women initially scare Ichi, before he vows to try and look after them… But as this book clearly sets out to be as horrific as it is a harem, Will he live to tell the tale?This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka mainly.manga) to talk Super Ball Girls by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Akira Hiramoto! What will these two distinguished gentlemen think of this shrink wrapped, ecchi, harem horror manga? Did it leave them jumping for joy? Or trying to bounce their copies into the nearest recycling bin? Listen in to find out!---Show Notes----Manga:JagaaaaaanBlue LockPrison SchoolRaw HeroGreat Teacher Onizuka---Films:The SubstanceJeepers CreepersSocietyTroma EntertainmentFull Moon FeaturesThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

The bike's charged, the skies are blue and the open road is calling.... there's one issue: there's seemingly only two women left to burn rubber and explore it! After leaving their bunker, Youko and Airi set out to retrace Yuoko's sister's footsteps by following her old social media... Why were they in a bunker? What happened to everyone else? Why are penguins so adorable? These are questions we hope to answer as we read Touring After the Apocalypse by Sakae Saito!This week, Mat is joined once again by Tom to cancel the apocalypse by reading a manga that's got enough going for it to make us gush over the art, but also enough uncertainty for us to dance around saying anything truly negative. With the release of the Manga's recent anime adaptation, we thought now was the right time for us to hit the open road and read the first volume! But the questions as always is, will we like what we see enough to carry on the journey?---=== Show Notes ===Similar Manga:Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou by Hitoshi Ashinano Girl's Last Tour by TsukumizuVideo Games:Nier Automata (I'm not linking The Sims...)Locations:Tokyo Big Sight's Big Escalators!Hakone's Pirate Ship Cruise over the lake!The Monorail the girl's use as a bridge!The Life-sized Gundam in Odaiba Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Jiro Azuma isn't your run of the mill Ninja though, oh no - he also has the unique ability to talk to animals. It's this special skill that leads him to nurse a dying cat back to health… but this isn't just any cat: it's Rago, the Black Star of Doom: a Mononoke of incredible power. Before he knows it, Jiro has fused with this vengeful spirit in the middle of a fight to the death and is immediately taken into custody by the Bureau of Espionage… But seemingly with the fate of the world at stake, can the Bureau afford to not use Jiro's skills to save it?This week, Mat is joined by once again by one half of the Undisputed Anime podcast, Zane Taichou!  Join us as we compare the book to it's clear inspirations, have differing opinions on the book's action and geek out about the cooler, capital S 'Shonen Moments' of the book!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Rintaro Tsumugi attends Chidori High. It's a boy's school that only takes the dregs of society, which just happens to stand next door to the prestigious Kikyo Girls' High! While the girls from this elite school never dream of socialising with anyone from Chidori, Kaoruko just happens to have a sweet tooth and when she notices Rintaro behind the counter of his family's Cake Shop, suddenly pastries aren't the only thing she's got her eye on! Can these 'star crossed lovers' from two different schools make it work?On this week's episode of Manga Tak, I sat down with MargReadsManga to discuss the excellent The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity by Saki Mikami! Join us as we discuss how Maki manages to successfully tell a Shonen romance with Shojo elements, compare the manga to the new anime from CloverWorks and give some manga recommendations on what to read next! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

CONTENT WARNING: This episode deals with some pretty heavy themes including suicide and physical abuse, so skip this one if you're not comfortable with those topics!After a small, octopus looking alien from the Planet Happy arrives on Earth, determined to spread happiness to everyone he meets, he runs into a morose young girl called Shizuka who isn't impressed with his happy gadgets... In fact, maybe it'd be better for everyone if he didn't get involved at all...This week, Mat is joined by RAMZEE for one of the most difficult books we've discussed so far on the podcast, Takopi's Original Sin by Taizan 5. Join us as we talk about how the book deals with difficult topics, the genius of it's open but hopeful ending and just how great the design of our foolish little octopus friend is!---Show Notes -Manga - Good Night Punpun by Inio Asano RAMZZE past appearances - Orb - Asadora! - Hunter x Hunter Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

Ten hopeful candidates embark on a test to survive for 53 days aboard an abandoned space shuttle to earn themselves a place at the prestigious Cosmo Academy. However, once inside the airlock they realise something is amiss: they are now eleven. Can they put their suspicions aside in order to pass? Or will the threats they face cause them to give into despair and abandon the test, and with it, their chances of getting into the academy?On this week's episode, Mat's joined not only by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) but also Pippa (aka StrawberryShojo) to talk about Moto Hagio's groundbreaking 1975 sci-fi shojo manga They Were 11! Join us as we discuss our feelings on sci-fi, the book's titular mystery, and, perhaps more importantly, it's core themes of gender and personhood!---Show Notes:Rachel Thorn interview with Moto Hagio.Who is Björn Andrésen?Death In VeniceMoto Hagio's other work in English: The Poe Clan - Otherworld Barbara - The Heart Of Thomas - A Drunken Dream - Lil' LeoThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

In a world populated by mechanical 'creatures' and humans, where the lines between man and man-made are blurred, a girl called Hyaku straddles the line between human and mechanical. Fuelled by rage, she is targeting the high profile krechs of the underworld to seek vengeance, and her stolen body parts! Will it ease her pain? And more importantly, in doing so, will she regain her humanity?On this week's episode, Mat's joined once again by Tom to discuss Search and Destroy by Atsushi Kaneko, published by Fantagraphics in partnership with MSX! We get into our knowledge of the source material, Osamu Tezuka's Dororo, reflect on the nature of 'covers' and 'homages' to pre-existing works, as well as gush about the themes and incredible art on display in the book!It's an episode not to be missed, and for the curious, the first chapter can be found online here for free!---Show Notes - ---Documentaries:The Atsushi Kaneko Documentary from Archipel.Podcasts:Mangasplaining!American Illustrators / Cartoonists:Daniel ClowesCharles BurnsFrank KozikLowbrow ArtMangaka:Moto HagioInio Asano (and Goodnight Pun Pun)Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod

This is the story of Shuuko, Eika, Misaki and Shio: four best friends who share an apartment together in the heart of the city. While they might share a roof, they all face individual problems! For Shuuko, it's the societal pressure to get married, for Eika, it's how to climb the corporate ladder. Misaki's trying to figure out her situation-ship and Shio's in a panic about how to balance her work / life balance now she's become a freelancer. Is isn't easy being in your twenties, but at least they've got each other!On this week's episode, Mat's joined once again by Tsutsudae of Undisputed Anime to discuss You Can't Live All on Your Own by Mizoko Tsuno. We get into how we feel about this first volume of the three part series, which of the women's stories most resinated with us and our hopes for Mizoko Tsuno's future after reading her first work!Thanks to the folks at Tokyo Pop for providing a digital review copy of this book!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod