Abstract

Carnivorous and herbivorous animals live together in civilized society. The most deserving and honored of them can hope to acquire the rank of “Beastar”, an individual of great talent recognized by other animals. However, under this facade of perfect acceptance and well-orchestrated worldliness, resentments and the divide between the two major types of diet in the animal world do not take long to reappear.

What’s the story?

A student and member of the Cherryton Institute Drama Club, Gray Wolf Legoshi is calm and seems a bit strange for this world. When the murder of a herbivorous student, perpetrated by a carnivore, takes place within the school itself, tensions between the high school students increase. Legoshi, as a canine and close to the victim, becomes suspected, but what worries him the most are the feelings he begins to develop for the dwarf rabbit Haru, as well as the special attention paid to him by Louis, the red deer, star of the institute.

History and success

The 22 volumes of Beastars, from the manga artist Paru Itagaki, were released between September 2016 and October 2020 in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion. The completed series is edited by Ki-oon in French and Viz Media in North America.

2018 was the year of awards for Beastars as the manga won the 11th edition of the Manga Taishō for recently created series; the “New Creator Award” at the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award as well as the “Best Manga Shōnen” award from Manga Kōdansha. Finally, the saga also won a “New Face Award” at the Japan Media Arts Festival Awards.

As of March 2021, the series achieved 6 million printed copies.

The story arcs

• The theater club – Setting up the decor: Volumes 1 to 3
• The Meteorite Festival – Peripheries: Volumes 3 to 6
• Solving the Predation Case: Volumes 6 to 12
• Inter-species relations – Disruptive elements: Volumes 12 to 14
• Revenge of the failed love – Grand finale and curtain wall: Volumes 15 to 22

Characters

Legoshi, a Carnivore & Gray Wolf, resigned to being seen as a predator, yet he never uses his strength and his gentle and discreet temperament contrasts with his imposing physique. Listening and ready to help his comrades, he comes out of his loneliness following the death of his alpaca friend Tem and he will discover new feelings when he meets the rabbit Haru and the passionate deer Louis.

Louis, Herbivore; A red deer who runs the theater club and is aiming for the title of Beastar. A true star of Charryton, he is unifying as well as manipulating. This perfectionist will take Legoshi under his wing so that he can use his peculiarities to his advantage.

Jack, Carnivore, Labrador, Legoshi’s best friend, he shares the same dormitory with him with other carnivores. Very attentive to his friend and his states of mind, he will notice his change of temperament and he will be the keeper of his secrets.

Haru, Herbivore, Dwarf Rabbit, the only member of the gardening club, the other students avoid her because of the rumours who follow her. She can’t stand being treated like a fragile little herbivore anymore and will be enterprising and joyous with the dark Legoshi.

Juno, Carnivore, a grey wolf with curly fur, part of the same theater club as Legoshi, she is as sociable as her male counterpart is misanthropic. She can be kind and gentle, but also ambitious and calculating. Her feelings for Legoshi fluctuate, although she inevitably draws closer to him.

The mangaka

Paru Itagaki was born in September 1993 and intended to study cinema. To be able to express herself more freely, as a Mangaka’s daughter (Keisuke Itagaki, author of the manga Grappler Baki) turned to the pen. In 2016, she began to develop her universe of anthropomorphic animals with short stories published under the name Beast Complex. Less than a year later, she released Beastars.

Paru Itagaki is an animal lover who drew from a young age and is as low-key as her main character Legoshi, having a habit of hiding her face behind a chicken mask during her public appearances.

The name Legoshi is inspired by actor Béla Lugosi, known for his role as Dracula, while his facial features are based on those of French actor Mathieu Amalric.

Derivatives

An anime was premiered in 2019, directed by Shinichi Matsumi with scripts by Nanami Higuchi. The season was released in October 2019 in Japan and season 2 in January 2021.

A collaboration with the online video game Caravan Stories for an event was set up in 2020 in Japan and a Beastars card game was released.

There are also a good number of figurines of the star animals of the manga.

Our recommendation

Paru Itagaki’s particular line work  fits perfectly with the universe she created for her work. There is a struggle against its condition very well transmitted in its main characters such as  a strange and conciliatory wolf, a deer with carnivorous ambitions and even a dwarf rabbit in the role of hunter. The anthropomorphic animals of Beastars sometimes show more humanity and emotion than some characters from other manga!

Abstract

When the negative emotions of humans become concentrated, it births a Curse. These demons are therefore more generally born in places full of strong feelings, such as schools or hospitals. These Curses can only be fought with more powerful Curses or exorcists. This is why relics, receptacles of Curses, are kept in this kind of place.

The story

Yūji Itadori is a high school student with no history, albeit unusually strong. Wanting to save his fellow high school students from the Spiritism Club after they broke the seal of an S-rank relic, a finger of the mightiest Curse, the demon Ryōmen Sukuna, Yūji will absorb Sukuna’s strength by … eating the relic! First condemned to death by the high authorities of the exorcists, his control over Sukana, whom he did not manage to fully possess, gives him a reprieve as well as a mission: he will have to learn the exorcism and find the 20 fingers of Sukuna to eat them before stepping on the scaffold, ending the threat of this Curse.

Success and History

Created in March 2018, the Jujutsu Kaisen series is ranked the same year on the Honya Club site in 1st place in the category “comics recommended by employees of Japanese bookstores”. The work is also nominated for the 65th Shōgakukan Prize in the shōnen category in 2019.

Prior to its anime adaptation in October 2020, the manga had already sold 8.5 million copies. As of May 2021, more than 50 million copies of Jujutsu Kaisen were in circulation. The adaptation received the title of “Anime of the Year” at the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards and the saga was named 31st in Da Vinci magazine’s “Book of the Year” series in 2021.

Currently, 16 volumes of Jujutsu Kaisen have been released in Japan, plus a prequel, called Jujutsu Kaisen: Tokyo School of Exorcism. The series is published by Ki-Oon in the French version and Viz Media for the English version.

The different arcs

• Introduction: the relic = Volume 1
• Birth of the Matrix: 1st mission = Volumes 1 to 2
• Initiation to the occult: return to strength and training = Volumes 2 to 3
• VS Mahito: a new enemy = Volumes 3 to 4
• Inter-college tournament: all against one, all together = Volumes 4 to 7
• The painting of death: the fetus of the nine phases = Volumes 7 to 8
• The Youth of Satoru: Mission at Risk = Volumes 8 to 9
• The Shibuya Incident: The Trap in Place = Volumes 10-16
• Yuji’s execution? : Change in the world of exorcism = Volume 16 to current

Characters

Yūji Itadori, a young college student forced to fight against a Curse, he swallowed a relic to become stronger. He is saved and helped by the exorcist student Megumi Fushiguro as well as his master, Satoru Gojō. He does not fall under Sukuna’s grip after eating her finger which allows him to make a deal with the exorcists: learning their techniques and hunting down the Plagues with them while eating Sukuna’s fingers as they go. they will find them. When they have the 20, he will accept to sacrifice himself to eradicate the king of Curses.

Megumi Fushiguro, a second year student at the Tokyo School of Exorcism, controls shikigami, spirits created from shadows, to eliminate plagues.

Nobara Kugisaki, a new second grade student at Tokyo School, aspires to a luxurious life in the capital. She accompanies Yūji and Megumi on their first mission together. She wields a hammer and nails as well as a voodoo doll to exorcise demons.

Satoru Gojō, an extremely talented exorcist, considered one of the strongest in the business. He is a professor at the Tokyo School of Exorcism and it is he who convinces his superiors to give Yūji a chance.

Kento Nanami, former employee, class 1 exorcist who will train Yūji. He fights with a sword enrobed in a seal.

Masamichi Yaga, director of The Tokyo School of Exorcism, he has the power to create and animate puppets to fight the Curses.

Suguru Geto, a mysterious character who spawns with curses. He seems intelligent and manipulative, it is not known whether he is a former special class exorcist or a demon.

Mahito is a dangerous and sadistic curse who looks like a young man. He can control souls and bodies and thus change his form. He experiments on humans and places no value on life.

Sukuna, the Two-Faced Specter, this four-armed demon was never beaten during his lifetime, his 20 fingers were cut and sealed to make them powerful relics until one day it would be possible to destroy him permanently. He doesn’t appreciate being the “guest” of Yūji’s body.

The mangaka

Gege Akutami, was born in 1992 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. He admires the works and characters of mangaka Yoshihiro Togashi (Hunter x Hunter, Yuyu Hakusho). He is the student of Yasuhiro Kano (the creator, among others, of M × Zero and Kiss x Death) before embarking on his first manga in 2018 with Jujutsu Kaisen. He wrote a prequel to his series, in one volume: Jujutsu Kaisen 0: tokyo toritsu jujutsu kōtō senmon gakkō.

With the author having health concerns, the series is in a state of hiatus in 2021.

Derivatives

The first season of the animated series consists of 24 episodes released in 2020. A mobile role-playing game was announced in June 2021. There are two light novels written by Ballad Kitaguni, the first; Jujutsu Kaisen: Soaring Summer and Returning Autumn released on May 1, 2019 and the second, titled Jujutsu Kaisen: The Path of Roses at Dawn on January 4, 2020.

Our recommendation

If the universe of demons, called Curses in Jujutsu Kaisen, and the fighting techniques explained in Naruto are not new, they are nevertheless perfectly mastered by the author. We quickly understand what will be our hero’s quest and his search for “macguffins” (relics) that will make him stronger and stronger. The variety of characters, both on the side of the protagonists and the antagonists, helps infuse a certain freshness and intensity into the exchanges and dialogues. A thrilling and successful first work from a young mangaka.

What is it about ?

The world no longer belongs to humans, gigantic creatures called Titans who dominate it instead. Measuring between 3 and 15 meters, these monsters forced humans to take refuge behind three concentric walls measuring fifty meters high. Behind these almost sacred ramparts, humanity tries to survive and organizes the reconquest of its territory thanks to its armed forces. These are divided into three branches: the garrison which protects the Walls and their inhabitants, the exploration battalion which ventures beyond the protections of the city and the special brigades which are under the orders of the king at the center of the fortifications. Gradually regaining hope thanks to the protection of the ramparts and to technological advances such as rechargeable blades and three-dimensional maneuvering equipment, humanity’s ambitions are humbled the day a 60-meter Colossal Titan appears and destroys one of the entry gates to the first wall …

What’s the story?

Young Eren Jäger and his friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlelt, witnessed the assault on the Colossal Titan that further reduced the size of the humans’ territory. Growing up and training hard, they joined the 104th Training Brigade and enlisted in the Exploration Battalion, decried as a waste of time, money and people by the population. Inspiring and motivated, Eren believes there is a way for humans to take back the world, but all will change in a clash in which his abilities are awakened to protect his comrades and his city. Eren will then represent one more step in understanding the origins and the will of the Titans and he will become in spite of himself a political and military cog, sometimes a bearer of hope, sometimes treated as an outcast in the fortress city.

Historical background

In 2009, Attack on Titan was featured in the monthly Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. The first hardcover volume appeared in 2010 and the 34th volume was released in June 2021 in Japan. The English version is published by Kodansha Comics in North America and the French version by Pika, in the Seinen category.

Attack on Titan has received numerous awards in Japan (Kōdansha manga award, Manga Taishō award, Osamu Tezuka cultural award), North America (Harvey award), France (Anime & Manga Grand Prix) and Italy ( Micheluzzi Prize).

The different arcs

• The Fall of Shiganshina: Volume 1
• The Battle of Trost: Volumes 1 to 4
• The 104th Training Brigade: Volume 4
• The Female Titan: Volumes 5 to 8
• Clash of the Titans: Volumes 9 to 12
• The Major Turn: Volumes 13 to 17
• Return to Shiganshina: Volumes 18 to 22
• The Mahrs: Volumes 23 to 26
• Return and War in Paradise: Volumes 27 to 34

Characters

Eren Jäger, eager to exterminate all titans after seeing his mother get eaten by one of them, he always wanted to join the Exploration Battalion and will prove himself worthy. He is the son of Doctor Grisha Jäger who left him a legacy laden with secrets by bequeathing him extraordinary abilities.

Mikasa Ackerman, having been taken in by the Jäger family following the murder of her parents, she follows Eren to protect him. With a cold temperament and a combat prodigy, she will stand out for her extraordinary abilities.

Armin Arlelt, less robust and resilient than his two best friends, he more than compensates with his sense of observation and his analytical mind. Needing his friends to motivate himself in order to push his limits, he proves to be an excellent strategist.

Levi, renowned member and recognized as the most powerful soldier in the army of the walls, the Chief Corporal lacks diplomacy and tact, despite his excellent combat skill.

The mangaka

Like his characters, Hajime Isayama is a prodigy but manga for his part. It was only 19 years old that he imagined and designed a one-shot on the universe of Attack on Titan. Not having wanted to modify his story despite the request of the Weekly Shōnen Jump, he submitted his work to another editor and then worked with him on two one-shots: Heart Break One and Orz in 2008 before embarking on his series Attack on Titan that ended this year.

Derivatives

The series has been adapted into a 4-season anime, several OVAs and animated films.

A two-part live movie was shot in 2015, and an American adaptation was officially announced in October 2018.

Several light novels have been written:

• Before the Fall, written by Ryo Suzukaze and illustrated by Shibamoto Thores.
• Attack on Titan: Hope of the City and Attack on Titan: Harsh Mistress of the City, both written by Ryō Kawakami and illustrated by Range Murata.
• Attack on Titan: Lost Girls, written by Hiroshi Seko
• There is also a Rachel Aaron novel called Garrison Girl: An Attack on Titan Novel.

Four derivative manga series, two of which adapt light novels, will emerge:

• Before the Fall, written and drawn by Satoshi Shiki
• Attack on Titan: No Regrets, written by Gan Sunaaku and drawn by Hikaru Suruga in two volumes which have also been edited in color.
• Attack on Titan: Junior High-School, comedy series written and drawn by Saki Nakagawa.

In 2014, a crossover was created with the Marvel universe and we see in Attack on Avengers, a New York devastated by the onslaught of Titans against whom the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers will fight.

Several video games ranging from collectible cards, mobiles and visual novels to action games for Nintendo DS and Playstation have been created.

Our recommendation

Attack on Titan shuffles genres by offering a Shakespearean work in a post-apocalyptic steampunk universe. Mixing the canon of giant mechs and zombies, Hajime Isayama created remarkable antagonists with the titans. Along with the physical and palpable horror of comic situations that might make us look away, is added the psychological and intellectual terror that the author makes us feel through his characters. It becomes difficult to stop reading when you start Attack on Titan. Between political, military, religious intrigues, questions about humanity and the Titans’ chases, this manga perfectly captures the pangs of agoraphobia.

We recommend Attack on Titan to those who enjoyed the vicissitudes of Games of Thrones and who want to rediscover the suspense and fear of losing the characters they are attached to in a manga. Adding “titanic” fight scenes with an art-style that continually improves over the volumes, results in a Seinen saga that you will have to know!

Abstract

Immersed in a darkly sordid medieval era, the Kingdom of Midland fights against the Tudor Empire. When the soldiers aren’t brave or numerous enough in the battles of power, the nobles call on the many groups of mercenaries who fight to survive in this world.

Gradually, in addition to the vices of men, it is the forces of evil that humans have to face as well as the terrible God Hands who serve Evil and are continually in search of sacrifices.

What’s the story?

In Berserk, we follow Guts’s struggles from birth to adulthood. Adopted by a group of heartless mercenaries, he learns to fight for survival and wields a blade much too large for him since childhood. Gradually becoming an impressive fighter, he joined the Falcon Troop and its charismatic leader: Griffith, as well as his second officer, Casca. For the first time in his life, Guts feels like he is part of a family and he helps his friends in their battles and conquests. This camaraderie is strained against the nightmarish forces lurking in the shadows and in the Beherit, evil relics by which demons are contacted.

Historical

Kentaro Miura debuted a Berserk prototype as a one-shot in 1988. The first chapter of the manga as we know it was prepublished the following year in Young Animal magazine by the publisher, Hakusensha. In 2018 came the 40th volume of the late master Miura, who died in May 2021, leaving his manga currently unfinished. It is published by Glénat for its French version and Dark Horse for the English version.

The dark fantasy universe is not common in manga circles, and Berserk has made a name for himself both in Japan and abroad among the renowned seinen. It is among the 50 best-selling manga in the world with more than 50 million copies in 2021. In 2002, Berserk received the award of excellence at the Osamu Tezuka cultural ceremony, behind Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond.

The different arcs

• Dark Warrior: Volumes 1 to 3
• The Golden Age: Volumes 3 to 14
• The Age of Punishment: Volumes 14-21
• The Millennium Falcon: Volumes 21 to 35
• Fantasia: Volumes 35 to current

Characters

Guts, a ruthless mercenary whose name refers to the bowels of his deceased mother in which he was found. He has wielded an oversized blade since his youth, making his fighting style unique. His weapon is said to be more like a plate of steel than a blade: “Too big, too heavy, and too coarse to be a sword.” Searching for a purpose in his existence, he thinks he finds it when he joins the ranks of the Falcons with Griffith and Casca.

Griffith, founder and commander of the Falcon Troop, this unparalleled and shrewd strategist notices Guts’ talent and asks him to help him fulfill his dream of founding his own kingdom. Despite his low birth, his patter and his genius allow him to climb the ranks of the nobility by counting on his comrades and especially on his best element and friend, Guts, who will become leader of the Choc Troop within the Falcon Brigade.

Casca, a formidable fighter (she is matched only by Guts and Griffith among the mercenaries of her brigade), she was saved by the leader of the Falcons in her youth and has had a secret love for him ever since. However, she behaves like a perfect soldier, putting aside her femininity and her desires in order to be able to best help Griffith. She dislikes Guts upon joining the troop as his bellicose and lonely character places him at odds with Griffith’s, but she eventually respects him.

Puck, a mischievous elf Guts unwittingly saves, the latter will then make it his duty to accompany the dark mercenary. Extrovert and emphatic, he tries to help people he meets despite his weakness.

The God Hands, demonic lords and supernatural creatures who appear in sacrificial ceremonies to those who possess a Beherit or during the creation of the Evil Apostle.

The mangaka

Kentarō Miura was born in July 1966 in Chiba, in a family drawn to art and drawing as the son of an advertising storyboard designer and an arts and crafts teacher. He drew his first manga at the age of 10 for his elementary school friends. Young Kentarō’s manga, Miuranger, and its 40 volumes, were then published in his school.

After several awards and preparation for the Berserk universe, it was in 1992 with the Golden Age arc that the mangaka achieved the most success with his work.

He then focused his forces on expanding the world of Berserk by overseeing his animated adaptation, the release of books, video games, cards, etc.

Between 2019 and 2021, Maitre Miura is working on Duranki, a work based on ancient Mesopotamian and Greek mythologies. He died in May following an infection of the aorta.

Kentarō Miura was inspired by movies, books, but also his friends to create his manga.

Thus, the Falcon Troupe pays homage to his high school friends, Pipin’s facial features represent those of Miura himself, and those of Judo, Corkus and Rickert, those of his three mangaka friends.

Guts and Griffith’s relationship is inspired by his rivalry / friendship with Kōji Mori.

For the Age of Punishment arc, Kentarō Miura took inspiration from The Name of the Rose movie while Griffith’s helmet and Femto’s face come from the mask from the movie Phantom of the Paradise.

The names of the God Hands come from science fiction novels: Ubik by Philip K. Dick, Slan by A. E. van Vogt, Destination: Void by Frank Herbert, and Conrad for … And Call Me Conrad by Roger Zelazny.

Derivative Works

Berserk‘s Golden Age Arc was adapted into an animated television series in 1997.

Three animated films directed by Toshiyuki Kubooka were released between 2012 and 2013: Berserk Golden Age Arc I: The Egg of the King, Berserk Golden Age Arc II: The Capture of Doldrey and Berserk Golden Age Arc III: Descent.

A new animated television series was created in 2016 with 2 seasons adapting the manga sequels and therefore continuing the previous films.

Three video games on Berserk have seen the light of day: Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage on Dreamcast in 1999; Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō on PS2 (only in Japan) in 2004 and Berserk and the Band of the Hawk released in 2016 on PS4, PlayStation Vita and PC.

A novel co-written by Kentaro Miura was published in 2017: Honô Ryu no Kishi. This spin-off tells the story of Apostle Grunbeld.

Our recommendation

Miura’s extremely clean and crisp line contrasts with the dark and violent nature of his work. The drawing makes the fights very legible and the violence, the sex and the cannibalistic monsters of Berserk are magnified. This is an adult manga that sets the tone from the first book with scenes of torture or murder that immerse us perfectly in the fantastic and horrific Berserk universe. We get attached to Guts, we suffer with him, we look away from the horrors he experiences (or does), we hold our breath … in any case, we can never remain indifferent to this manga!

Series summary

• What is it about ?

The best job in the world is to be a Hunter! And for good reason, when you become a Hunter, you can do whatever you want: archaeologist, chef, bodyguard, diplomat, treasure hunter, consultant … But it is also one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The exam to become a Hunter is so difficult that only 1 in 10,000 candidates find the place of the exams and the membership card can sell for outrageous prices. There are many who attempt to become a Hunter without ever being successful, while others have come to master the Nen, the energy of this world that particularly strengthens his abilities.

• What’s the story?

Gon Freecss has lived on the tiny Whale Island he has explored for 12 years. He dreams of becoming a Hunter to follow in the footsteps of his father Jin, who left to live his dream when Gon was a baby. Despite his young age, he will try to take the exam to become a Hunter too and find Jin. Meeting precious comrades as well as terrible enemies, Gon will mature and move forward in the vastness of the world around him.

The history

The incredible Hunter x Hunter began in 1998 in the Weekly Shōnen Jump. As the author of the work, Yoshihiro Togashi, has health problems, the chapters are released irregularly and several hiatuses mark the existence of Hunter x Hunter. The series currently consists of 36 volumes, the last of which was released in 2018, and is not yet complete.

The different arcs

• Hunter’s Review: From Whale Island to the Deep Bath = Volumes 1 to 5
• The Celestial Arena: Discover the Nen and Become Stronger = Volumes 5 to 7
• YorkNew City: The Phantom Squad = Volumes 8 to 13
• Greed Island: Game on the Island = Volumes 13 to 18
• Chimera Ants: The New NGL Diet = Volumes 18 to 30
• Hunter’s Election: The Hunters Association Measures = Volumes 30-32
• The War of Succession for the New Continent: Battle for the Dark Continent = Vol. 32 to current

Success

Hunter x Hunter (pronounced “Hunter Hunter”) is one of the 30 best-selling manga in the world with 78 million prints sold. Its sporadic release rate bothers its fans as much as it intrigues them. Several volumes of the series were among the best-selling manga in Japan during their week of release.

The characters 

Gon Freecs: He is close to animals and very athletic by dint of rubbing shoulders with the wild nature of his island. Gon has, in addition to his extraordinary physical capacities, an unusual moral sense. His purity will amaze more than one, but he will never deviate from his course.

Killua Zoldik: The son of a renowned assassin family, he is happy to meet a boy his age during the Hunter exam. It is the light of his friend Gon that will illuminate the dark sides of the cold-eyed young boy to make him a promising and balanced duo.

Kurapika Kuruta: Last member of the Kurata clan, they seek to find the members of the Phantom Squad who stole the eyes of their tribe. Their very great composure and their capacities for judgment sometimes distance them from their companions. It is not known if Kurapika is male or female.

Leolio Paradinaito: Presented as egocentric and mercantile, we quickly discover that the young man’s attraction to money lies in the fact that he wishes to finance his medical studies. Older than his comrades, his instinctive reactions do not necessarily make him more mature.

Hisoka Morow, or Hisoka the magician: a sociopath dressed as a jester, he is extremely violent, bloodthirsty and as dangerous as he is disturbed. He is interested in Gon who he believes could one day become a worthy opponent. He fights by throwing playing cards.

 The mangaka

Yoshihiro Togashi was born in 1966 in Shinjō. From the age of 21, he won an award that allowed him to write short stories in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine as well as his first series Tende shōwaru kyūpiddo (“Not quite bad cupid”). Following these 4 volumes, Togashi will embark on his first successful manga: Yū Yū Hakusho, written and drawn between 1990 and 1994, in 19 volumes. This series like the next one, Level E, in 3 volumes, will be adapted as an anime. In 1998, Hunter x Hunter began, which was to be acclaimed in Japan and abroad. In 1999, Togashi married the creator of Sailor Moon, Naoko Takeuchi.

Derivatives

There are not one but two Hunter x Hunter anime. Released in 1999 and 2011, both series follow the story of the original work fairly well, although the violence has been toned down in some scenes of the 1999 series.

Alongside this, 3 OVAs will be released, as well as 2 animated films: Phantom Rouge and The Last Mission.

There are no video games specific to the series outside of Japan but appearances in cross-over combat type games (J-Stars Victory Vs, Jump Force, etc.), however two musicals and an original play were staged: Musical Hunter × Hunter, The Nightmare of Zoldyck and Real Stage Hunter × Hunter: A Longing for Phalcnothdk ~ A Spider’s Memory.

Our recommendation

Master Togashi’s descriptions are impressive in detail and provide a perfect understanding of the amazingly vast universe of Hunter x Hunter. After having put in place his rules, the mangaka breaks them brilliantly, surprising us in the process. The pasts and histories of each character are so full that the saga abounds in many inexhaustible stories. In this work, figures with designs as dark as their aesthetics rub shoulders with others with a typical Japanese “chibi” appearance. Hunter x Hunter is a dense and more adult manga than it looks, violent in its fights like its plot but still hopeful thanks to the precise dosage of Yoshihiro Togashi.

A classic shônen you’ll definitely have to discover!

Series summary

Takemichi Hanagaki is a young man who has little success in his life. An uninteresting job, a tiny apartment and no passion. He sadly learns of the death of his first, and only, girlfriend in a brawl between local gangs. Remembering his college days, he falls to his death in front of the metro, but instead of dying, he returns exactly 12 years in time. Reliving the best years of his life, he vows to try to make a difference by saving the beautiful Hinata Tachibana. In order to do this, he must understand his strange time-jumping power and learn about the events that led the Shibuya gang he knew to become the murderous Tokyo Manjikai gang who would inadvertently end Hinata’s life.

The author and his biography

Ken Wakui made his debut in 2005 with Shinjuku Host published in Bessatsu Young Magazine and his first series Shinjuku Swan was published the same year in Weekly Young Magazine. In 2015, he moved to Weekly Shonen Magazine with Desert Eagles and started Tokyo Revengers in March 2017.

To date, 23 bound volumes have been published by Kōdansha Publishing in Japan. Glénat publishes the bound tomes in French while Kōdansha offers to purchase the English version tomes online.

Discreet and solitary, Ken Wakui does not particularly enjoy working with editors or assistants.

In 2020, the manga won the 44th edition of the Kōdansha Manga Prize in the shōnen category.

Characters and Arcs

Takemichi Hanagaki, an anti-hero who catalogs himself as a “loser,” struggles from the moment he finds a goal in life: to try to save his first love thanks to his mysterious power to return to the past. Investigating sometimes in 2005 and sometimes in 2017 to find a way to change his story and that of Hinata Tachibana, he is helped by her brother, Naoto Tachibana, who believes in his power and accompanies him in his quest.

Hinata Tachibana is cheerful with a strong character and very popular. She loves her boyfriend Takemichi very much even if she reproaches him for constantly fighting. She notices his new maturity and appreciates it, but doesn’t change her behavior.

Naoto Tachibana, a believer in Takemichi’s time travel story, will find him after becoming a police officer, 12 years later, to help him understand his power and make the best use of it.

Atsushi Sendo, great friend of Takemichi, is the leader of the small band of college students. His future is the first to be changed due to Takemichi’s actions and choices.

Tokyo Manjikai:

2017 = Mafia gang that largely rules the city of Tokyo, responsible for numerous crimes, murders, thefts and other abuses.

2005 = Group of bad boys including middle school students, high school students, unemployed young people and disillusioned in awe of their leader and his unifying values.

Chiefs:

Manjiro Sano a.k.a The untouchable Mikey, a true ace in combat, his natural charisma allows him to command respect. He wants to revive the golden age of Bosozoku and other motorcycle gangs in honor of his late brother.

Ken Ryuguji a.k.a Draken, number 2 of the 2005 Tokyo Manjikai, he guides & focuses Mikey while idolizing him. With a calm and measured temperament, he is the perfect second for the impulsive Manjiro Sano.

Tetta Kisaki, formerly leader of a rival gang of Tokyo Manjikai, her meeting with Manjiro Sano marks a change in the organization’s hierarchy. His attitude and virulence influenced the Tokyo Manjikai, which he would command with violence. Takemichi will try to prevent his path from crossing that of the gentle Manjiro of 2005.

Story Arcs

• Toman the Tokyo Manji Gang: Volumes 1 to 2
• The Moebius clan: Volumes 2 to 4
• Valhalla and Ascension: Volumes 5 to 9
• Black Dragons: Vol.9 to 14
• Tenjiku: Volumes 14 to 21
• Bonten: Volumes 21 to current

Derivatives

A 17-episode anime adaptation premiered in June 2020, directed by Koichi Hatsumi who previously worked on the Deadman Wonderland adaptation.

A live-action film was released in July 2021 in Japan, and a theater adaptation in Tokyo, Osaka and Kanagawa is scheduled for August 2021.

A Memory Game App: Tokyo Revengers Onet Connect Game has been released on Google Play while a game is reportedly in the works for likely release on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Android.

Our Recommendation

Ken Wakui effectively uses time travel with an easy to understand concept of linearity, which is not so common in works of the same genre. The storyline of Tokyo Revengers, like its character Mikey, brings us back to the heyday of the bad boy, thug and biker era of 1980s Japan.

Beneath its allure of love and rescue story, Tokyo Revengers has its fair share of dark sides: ransacked, suicides, beatings, etc. that Ken Wakui manages to alleviate by making us discover a Bosozoku gang not so “bad” as that. A contrasting lightness that only reinforces the stakes of this journey through time.

Abstract

Today, 80% of the world’s population has a power called “Alter”. Badly-intentioned people go to great lengths to impose their superiority and commit misdeeds. However, heroes abound too and to learn how to use their superpowers and save as many people as possible, they will train at the school of heroes: Yuei (UA).

The story

How do you do this when you have always dreamed of becoming a hero and idolized the No.1 savior but you are part of the 20% of the population who does not have power?

This is the story of Izuku Midoriya, a good student with a pure heart who redoubles his efforts to attend Yuei when he has no Quirk. His life changes the day he is noticed by the No.1 superhero, the great All Might, who becomes his mentor.

History and Success

In July 2014, the pre-publication of My Hero Academia began in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. The series, written and drawn by Kōhei Horikoshi, was a huge success from its first volume in the Land of the Rising Sun. In 2016, the series was published abroad in print by Ki-oon in French and by Viz Media in English.

My Hero Academia was nominated for the 8th Manga Taishō Prize in 2015 and won the Sugoi Japan Awards 2017 in the manga category. A year later, the series was recognized as the 2nd best-selling manga in Japan. In 2019, the manga received the Harvey Award for Best Manga at New York Comic Con. In 2020, the series’ sales total exceeded 26 million copies.

30 volumes have been published to date in Japan and the manga is still in progress.

The different arcs

The beginnings of the Heroes of Yuei

• Entrance exam, Alters test and Battle test: Volumes 1 to 2
• SCA Arc (or USJ), first battle against villains: Volumes 2 to 3
• Yuei Sports Championship: Volumes 3 to 5
• Stain, the Hero Slayer: Volumes 6 to 7
• End of term exam: Volumes 7 to 8
• Summer training camp: Volumes 8-10
• Raid against the Alliance of Super-Villains: Volumes 10 to 11

The rise of evil

• Provisional License Exam: Volumes 12 to 13
• The Eight Precepts of Death: Volumes 14-18
• Catch-ups and discussions: Volumes 18 to 19
• Yuei Cultural Festival: Volumes 19 to 20
• Pro Heroes! : Volumes 20 to 21
• Common training, mixed class A and B: Volumes 21 to 23
• Super-Powers Liberation Army: Volumes 23 to 25
• Endeavor Agency: Volumes 25 to 26
• War for the Liberation of the Paranormal: Volumes 26 to current

Characters

Izuku Midoriya “Deku”, born without an Alter but an owner of All for One. Young boy without power who dreams of becoming a hero, he undoubtedly has the values to make one. He does not fully master the Quirk that has been transmitted to him, which leaves his blows devastating, both to his enemies and to his body.

Bakugo Katsuki “Katchan”, Alter: Explosive Hands. Belligerent and confident, he aims for the top and gradually positions himself as a rival to his former “childhood friend” Izuku when the latter proves to be more heroic than himself.

Uraraka Ochako, “Uravity”, Alter: Mastery of Gravity. Sweet and caring, she meets Izuku on the day of the entrance exam at Yuei.

Iida Tenya, “Ingenium”, Alter: Motorized Jambes. Serious with a deep sense of responsibility, he stands out for his authority and will be a great ally for Izuku’s debut in Yuei.

Todoroki Shôtô, “Shoto” Alter of Ice and Fire, inherited from his two parents. Son of No.2 of the heroes, Endeavor, he refuses to use the fire power of his father. Despite the fact that he is one of the best students in Izuku’s class, it is only thanks to him that he will understand that his flames belong to him and that he is not obliged to associate them with his father. and his dream of glory.

All Might, the No.1 hero, Alter: All for One. All Might is the symbol of peace, not to mention Izuku’s idol. He always comes to the aid of the population with a smile on his face thanks to his superhuman strength and his phenomenal speed. He chooses to become Izuku’s mentor so that he can join Yuei and eventually replace him.

The mangaka

Kōhei Horikoshi was born in Aichi Prefecture on November 20, 1986. He studied at Nagoya Art University which led him to win the Tezuka Prize in the New Hope category at the age of 20. He was the assistant of Yasuki Tanaka (Time shadows) and wrote many one-shots, notably Boku no Hero in 2008 which would later become the related manga My Hero Academia, as well as 3 other manga: Barrage (2 volumes ) and Crazy Zoo (5 volumes).

Almost every character in My Hero Academia has a name with meaning that describes their personality. For example, Iida Tenya comes from “Idaten”, a Buddhist name for Skanda, a Bodhisattva, that suggests someone fast, or Bakugo which comes from Baku “Bomb / explosion” and Go “Force / power.”

Derivatives

Five seasons of the anime adaptation, based on a screenplay by Yōsuke Kuroda and Yuki Hayashi’s musical compositions exist to this day.

Two mobile games were also released: My Hero Academia: Smash Tap in Japan in 2017 and My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero in Europe in 2021. A Nintendo DS game from Bandai released in 2016 in Japan: My Hero Academia: Battle for All. Both My Hero Academia: One’s Justice games released on Playstation 4, Switch, Xbox, and Steam in 2018 and 2019.

A first derivative series called My Hero Academia Smash !!, published on the Jump + app and in print format in English only, was written and drawn by Hirofumi Neda. A second series entitled Vigilante – My Hero Academia Illegals by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court has been published since August 2016. This second series explores the adventures of unaccredited “vigilantes” whose actions border on legality.

Our recommendation 

Kōhei Horikoshi quickly and efficiently exposes his colorful and whimsical universe to us. His work begins with a mixture of the ambience of the X-Men mansion and Naruto’s ninja academy. The great Masashi Kishimoto has also indicated that, according to him, My Hero Academia will be “the next Naruto“. Like Master Kishimoto, the author of My Hero Academia explores as much, if not more, of all aspects of all of his characters, including Villans by granting them a full-fledged arc. My Hero Academia is therefore a simple looking manga, but simply very well done and addicting!